Fear of having Hepatitis

[Vaidhya]

Dear all,

This is the fist time I am posting my message on this forum.

My history:

Unprotected Anal and Vaginal sex with a prostitute on 3 Oct 2003.

Tested -ve HIV Elisa after 4, 6, 8, 10, 14 weeks.

My symptoms: Had all symptoms of ARS. No diaroeeha, but had constipation.

My current status: Passed 20 weeks. Still having stiffness in neck and constipation.

I was so much worried about HIV, that I never thought about the possibility of getting Hepatitis. Last week (18 weeks after exposure) I tested for HEP A, B and C. Results:

Hep A: +Ve
Hep B: -ve
Hep C: -ve

Can anyone advise me on the results. Why my Hep A is +ve (though no jaundice)? Can I take my HEP B and HEP C -ve status as final? I am constipated very much and also having frequent burpings and stiffness in neck.

I am fed up. I don't know what's behing all this? But I am sure it is all happening due to unprotected sex.

I would be grateful if someone can advise me.

[berlynn]

Girls...don't EXPECXT  the hair loss to happen!!!!. Remember we all suffer these sides differently. I HAVE HAD NO HAIR LOSS

[cuteus]

Don't count on the weight loss yet.  I did not loose any, but I've found myself eating 2 slices of pizza, snickers bars, cookies and cream ice cream and did not GAIN wt!  Is that a positive or what!  a hairless whale fly with Hagan Daz in hand.
well, maybe not a whale since i did not gain an oz.  I am going to have to do major readjustment to my eating post TX if i don't want to be part of the "beaching".

Girls, the hairloss don't look too bad, but the handful of strands can be disheartening.  It gets better for most. Is the kelp help only for blondes?

[happyhepper]

Oh shiiiiiiiiiiiiiit - you tellin me I am gonna turn into a fly????????I really am looking forward to starting the treatment on the 18th March now...............This aint fair - I already look like a washed out whale........: (  Oh well - at least I might lose some weight bzzz bzzz

[happyhepper]

oh-oh - forgot about the hair loss - a washed out whale fly with no hair...............i am havin one of those lifetimes.......

[honey1616]

Awwwww...Didn't want to hear that one about the 24 week marker!! Has anyone out there...not had hair loss??  I know everyone says it grows back and yes...I agree if we get well...that I could handle but I don't know...just hate the thought of looking like **** for a year!

[cuteus]

I was told by my second GI practice not to expose my skin to the sun, I did not know if they meant ALL skin or just the shot site.
Well! i got some sun on my leg (shot site) and it got a huge red area that turned dark (I thought it was gangrene!), it lasted more than a month before it faded.  Someone doublecheck with your pegasys buddies before tanning or exposure.  as for hair, thanks befud for the tip, I needed that.  and Gals, unfortunately my PA said that hair loss starts around week 24 "like  clockwork" was her phrase.  Itching is the sure sign, that it will happen (weeks later though).   Enjoy the ride with the Kelp Help!

Ive

[cindee]

Hey girl, I also meant to say I couldn't have faked it either. I've always been one to wear make-up and do my hair everyday, about the starting of the 3rd month was when I felt like I had been "run over" by that truck.(that everyone in here talks about)My skin was also kind of gray looking, and you could see my swollen body...esp. face. But now at 4 months post tx this Saturday, I feel like I have my skin back, and I am not to tired to do make-up and hair each day. I honestly thought I'd never get back to even feeling "this" good, and it's not so great. I'm just so happy to be done with tx. I wish you all the luck in the world! Talk to ya soon, Love ya, Cindee

[berlynn]

Hi, I also miss hearing from you as well. How are the sx going? I was also wondering how your daughter was doing. My friend who is starting TX soon, has a son who has been having all sorts of problems..ADHD....riddlin and other meds as well. He is only 7 poor thing...she told me yesterday that she thinks he may be bipolar. She is at her wits end...and with getting ready to start tx. I am worried about her as well as her son.
I try to look in here... only a couple times a week now..just to check on the progress of everyone...my computer has been taking a major dump lately and I have to get it revamped..hopefully this week.
It was good to see that you are still checking in and remmember...I am in PHX...If I can ever do any thing for you. Take care, berlynn

[jg2001]

You're one tough cookie! As I've heard mentioned on this board numerous times...POST IT NOTES!!!!  Do whatcha got to do and then go home and go to bed!!  Happy Monday!  Oh, and congrats on your test results!



Audrey - How is your mouth?  Hopefully, it is getting a little better.

Jamie

[honey1616]

LOL Am I ever glad you tossed all the above symptoms out there because I have so many at different times and yes sometimes all at same time...you almost hate to ask anyone of forum for fear they think you are a complainer haha  The spaciness...awww #1 for me, Honestly I feel like I'm heavily drugged (lol I guess I am) Yesterday it rained all day and I laid on my bed and watched out the window the raining and did nothing else and realized 3 hours had passed!!  LOL  That is freaky!  When I do get comfortable in bed...I could lay there forever and never get up!I'm constantly itching my scalp and my face is looking weird...haha  I don't know how to explain,,,just kinda like my skin, hair and nothing seems bright or pretty or maybe its just my inside feeling coming out. LOL  I keep thinking..I'm going to wake up one morning and have changed into something else like a monster LOLOLOLOLOL  Did you ever see the show "the fly"  Thats me looking close in the mirror and saying Oh My God!! LOL

[cindee]

I'm doin' just okay, don't feel any better than I did before starting tx. But I have been diagnoised w/ fibromyalgia. It's taking me a little longer to get where I wanna be. But as far as the sx, most are gone...still have brain fog..BAD, some ringing in my ears (not too bad)...and fatique, which is probably the fibro. A friend I met after I had started tx. is a month behind me. She was here today and says she has had 4 real good days in a row. We both have the same thing with our stomach's swelling up. It's like it happens so fast you can sit and watch it, really! My swelling stays a few days and then goes away. She said hers only lasted about a few hours???? Weird huh? I hope you are well. Love and prayers to you, Cindee

[DebbieDo]

how do you feel since finishing tx??.......i think i read its been four months.......just curious.....do things get back to normal......is the fatigue  and(staring ino space thing gone)......im like befuddled, i dont like noise, it seems to bother me, and i can just space out and then i realized that a couple of hrs has past......Does things get back to so called normal......anyone else finished with TX........interested in the aftermath of TX...Deb  :)~

[honey1616]

lolololol That sounds like a bunch of tx talk...that only a tx person would understand!  haha And I hear ya!

[honey1616]

Great...I'm trying some of that product on my hair because lately it really just doesn't look right.  Flat looking! Yes...I wanted to ask you guys about this one...Spring here and I love to get out and get some sun but can we??? I mean with the drying of the skin...I'm wondering if a good idea?  And also...I sometimes have gone to a tanning bed for 1st month to give me color but now I'm thinking...what would the results of that be?  Has anyone tried this one on tx?  I mean...I have this picture of me leaving the tanning salon and all these horrified looks at me and then the owner is running after me..Ms...you left some of your skin in the bed...ROFL  Awwww Geeze..this can be bad!

[cindee]

Girl, and I can say is .....DITTO.......!!!!!! Luv ya, Cindee

[cindee]

Hey Girl! You know I love ya and always will. You crack me up!!! I wish we were neighbors.....it would be a blast trading "past" stories!!!! I enjoy and I WANT TO THANK >>>YOU<<<<< for being here. Us oldies miss one another....and I miss Ringading!!!!! Hope you are feeling good...great to see ya here, and still with that wonderful sense of humor!!!! Luv Ya girl, Cindee

[cindee]

First of all I will not judge you. Your health is most important. I learned this from the Hep C disease. I always thought I was healthy. I had led a tough life...(by My choice, I guess I thought I was indespencable!!!!!) But after having tx for 48 wks. @ almost 4 months post now.....I would have been much different back then!!!!!! I thought maybe I had beaten the odds, because I have changed my life totally around! WRONG! Well what I want to say is I wish you the very best Health. And as well as; to all of my family here. love @ many prayers...PS READ ON>>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>~Neal~<<<<<<<<<<<
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU !!!!!!!! You're well educated on our HepC. Thank-you from the bottom of my heart for being here  for us. We love you @ we need you!!!!!!!! prayers to all, Cindee

[jonihs]

I wasn't having trouble w/ either ammonia or edema til this last little adventure w/ Efexor and too much xanax, but doc put me back on Spirolinacto and Lactalose(yuck) My ammonia is down and staying there, but 25mg. of spiro a day keeps the edema away. I still eat liver friendly and try to exercise and get lots of Mont. fresh air, but I don't Think a little medical help is bad if we watch it and check w/ our other Dr.s.   Lottsa love and luck.   Joni

[jonihs]

Just wanted to tell you how much I missed you while I was off-line. Not just your wisdom, but your sense of humor. Also I'm glad to see you're hanging in there.

Maj. My soul mate, I think we both got this licked and my prayers are w/ you daily. Keep bein nice to your liver and brace fot the possibilities!
                                   Love, Joni

[oldhippiechick67]

It looks to me like your Hep A is positive, but I dont know what the "ve" means, could and probably means you have been exposed to it in the past.  Since you didnt have any jaundice, or fatigue then you can be pretty sure it was in the past, but I am not a doctor and can only use my nurse experience.  The Hep C said negative, as did the Hep B.  So you dont and havent had it.  You should get vaccinated against the B type.  There is no vaccine yet for the C type.  I am pretty sure the ve may mean "viral exposure".  The HIV being neg each time is great.  The Hep B and C being neg is pretty dang final!!  The Hep C takes years to show any damage, but like every one else said, you need to ask the doc to be certain if those are the last testings you need for now.  I had elevated liver enzymes for years, and the docs always asked if I drank alcohol.  Well, hell yes I told um...so they said Cut down.  hahaha, very funny.  I was having FUN.  And I had Hep C and was wreckin my liver.  But now the partying is over.  I am glad of that, and I am in my 35th week of tx.  My advice to you, dont do anything STUPID like that again, I am sure you realize that!

[nolee]

If it were me, I would march down the Dr. office and ask politely (at first) what all these results mean. According to my research you shouldn't have any physical symptoms from the HCV for many years. If you indeed test positive for HIV (something again you NEED to discuss w/Dr.) a question I would ask would be if I was also HCV positive and if so what can be done to treat it. If his aswer is pos. to the HCV they will run a PCR and genotype test to determine your vl (viral load) which is counts of the HepC per 1 millimeter of blood. Another indicator would be a higher than normal liver activity which is a common test run with blood workups. Now I'm not very familiar with HIV but there are a number of other bacterial and viral complications that may occur if you are indeed pos. HIV. We at this forum are not Dr. but freely discuss info assemalated from our Dr. on our particular methods of treatment. Go get a 2nd opinion and a 3rd if neccessary, but instead of wondering and worrying, take action NOW and get educated and all you can from your healthcare professionals. This forum is unique in that we don't try to give medical advice but rather help each other know and feel comfortable with asking the right questions to the right professionals. ~Neal~