Douglas T. Dieterich, M. D.Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Cabrini Medical Center
Assoc. Prof. of Medicine NYU School of Medicine
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. Dear Doctor,
I REALLY hope you can give my some advice! I am having problems making it through each day, especially at work!!!!
My med's are Viread, Viramune, Epivir, and Ziagen. Viral load, 684, and CD4 520. I am also HCV+, genotype 2 and viral load 26,800,000.
I wake up every day feeling bad, NO ENERGY (not anemia or testost.) and in pain. I have to DRAG myself into work and at the end of 8 hours, I'm almost in tears, I am exhausted and my feet, legs and back have me to the point of insanity!! It's always something, Neuropathy in my feet, legs, and hands, pain in my kidneys from polycystic kidney, scoliosis, etc. etc.......1. Do you have ANY advice concerning all the problems I am having??
2. Would I qualify for disability? ( I have private disability. insurance)
THANK YOU, in advance for any advice you might be able to give.
Douglas T. Dieterich, M. D.
Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Cabrini Medical Center
Assoc. Prof. of Medicine NYU School of Medicine
You sure would qualify for disability. You should consider HCV as a cause of your problems, it can cause all of those things. You really need a liver biopsy and a consultation with someone who does a lot of liver disease. Treating the HCV might make you feel better! In the short run, you might not, but getting rid of it will certainly help!
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