What Are the Symptoms of Hep C?
People experience hep C in different ways. They may not have any symptoms at all. In fact, symptoms of chronic hep C may not appear until advanced liver disease is already present. It is also possible to have symptoms but minimal liver damage. This is why tests of your liver’s health such as enzyme levels in your blood, other blood tests, a liver ultrasound, or a liver biopsy are important.
Remember: how you are feeling does not always match up with the severity of your condition. If you wait to experience symptoms before you start treatment, your liver may already be severely damaged.
Symptoms that may be related to chronic hep C include (but are not limited to):
- Fatigue
- Flu-like symptoms: fever, chills, muscle aches, joint pain, and headaches
- Nausea, aversion to certain foods, unexplained weight loss
- Psychological disorders, including depression
- Tenderness in the abdomen
- Jaundice
These and other symptoms may be related to your condition. Many of them may also occur as the side effects of treatment. Talk to your doctor or nurse about how you are feeling and what it may mean for your future health.
