Boyfriend Just Received Test Results of Hep C, Anemia & Enlarged Spleen
Hello, my boyfriend recently received test results that say he has an active case of Hep C, Anemia and a severely enlarged spleen. I have been doing research like crazy, of course, and am concerned about the possible Hep C treatment with his anemia since I have read that it anemia is a side-effect of many of the medications. Feeling a little overwhelmed and sad. He goes to the hematologist on the 29th. He still needs to be tested to determine his genotype, but does anyone know what the usual course of action will be when someone already has anemia? Will they address the anemia first or will they try to treat the Hep C with a medication that doesn't cause anemia as a side-effect? Thank you so much. Well wishes to everyone.
Amy
Thank you for sharing. Although I’m not a medical professional, in my case I had took one pill daily of Epclusa for 3 months for hepatitis C. I didn’t have any real side effects, but I don’t think I really would have known the difference since I was taking 40 pills daily post heart transplant. I willingly received a Hep C donor’s heart in 2019.
Leslie (Community Moderator)thank you so much for you’re reply. I’ve been trying to log back on here via my phone for a while with little success! I’m so sorry for everything that you’ve gone through. 
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! I see that you were having difficulty logging in with your phone but managed to get in. If you run into any trouble again, please don't hesitate to let us know and we'll try to help you out the best we can. Warmly, Kayleigh, Team Member
Hi Amy. I am sorry your BF is going through this. The newest treatments for hepatitis C usually do not cause severe anemia. My guess is they will address the anemia first. It is never an emergency to treat hep C. Most patients have it for years before they are diagnosed. Acutely anemia needs treatment sooner rather than later. I hope your boyfriend gets sorted out soon.
thank you so much for your reply. We have been waiting weeks for the hematologist to refer my boyfriend to a GI doctor. It’s enraging, as this delays treatment. The hematologist seems to think that the enlarged spleen and slightly low platelets will be resolved with Hep C treatment, but we will see what the GI doctor says if we can ever get a referral. I understand your frustration. Waiting is hard. But it won't hurt him to wait a bit on hep C treatment. As for getting that referral, can his primary care physician give him the referral? Or, if his hemoglobin is low enough to make him dizzy or breathless he can go to the ER. They will get a GI to do the tests he needs to fix that anemia. By the way, the hematologist is correct. Treatment will help the inflammed spleen and low platelets. It may resolve with treatment, but if not, he likely won't get worse. Keep in touch and let us know when he gets to see the GI.
Thanks for the response. The hematologist has already done pretty in-depth blood tests and an abdominal ultrasound, which is what determined the enlarged spleen and the low platelets. The spleen is probably causing the slightly low platelets. My major concern right now is the research that I've been reading about EBV (Epstein Barr Virus), which is what we believe caused the Hep C. There are two conditions caused by EBV that can be fatal and I pray that he doesn't have either, but he has the symptoms. One is Acquired Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and the other is Chronic EBV. I'm terrified to be honest and want to get this thing moving. I'm hoping that they can start Hep C treatment immediately without any further tests except for the genotype test, which is something the hematologist should have already done as well.
