Treatment Questions

[b4bb]

I've been recently diagnosed with chronic Hep B
I posted earlier regarding the test results which were

HBV Real-Time PCR, Quant  HBV IU/mL            174,600 IU/mL 02  
log10 HBV IU/mL        5.242 log10IU/mL  . 02  


Hep Be Ag                     Negative  
Hep Be Ab                     Positive
Hep B Core Ab, Tot            Positive

lkaline Phosphatase, S    34
AST 48 / ALT 42


my doctor called and said that the high viral load means the disease is active despite that the Hep Be Ag is negative. He also said that my liver ALT/AST are slightly elevated so he is going to schedule me for a fibroscan.

Now he said that if the fibroscan results come back normal there is no need for treatment. Could that be right? Or should I seek a second opinion?
He also said there is no need for me to adjust my diet or anything (like having a occasional drink etc)

To me that sounded like a relief as I would rather not be on meds...however I'm concerned with the high viral load. Does having a high viral load + slightly elevated ALT/AST means it's damaging my liver "right now"?
Should i take any dietary precautions, supplements etc to reduce the damage (if there is any occurring) while I wait?
The fibroscan won't be scheduled for another few weeks and I don't want to make things worse.

I would appreciate any suggestions, this forum has been very helpful.

[hepbcurepls]

hbsag is hepatitis b surface antigen. once this becomes negative and you develop hbsab or hepatitis b surface antibodies you are cured. in order to develop hbsab you must have hbsag negative. the main goal of any hep b cure is this. in the US they do not offer this test but other countries do. since you always go to europe it is better to get this test there.

also i would test genotype and mutations since you currently have detectable hbv dna in the blood. if you go on any nucs and it becomes negative, the only way to test is through biopsy.

before i started treatment this year my dna was fluctuating between 220 and 5190 iu, my doctor did not want to treat but due to hcc in the family, genotype and mutations...we decided to treat.  

[b4bb]

Also if it's not a preexisting liver damage can the high viral load alone cause you to feel miserable? Because it feels like some days are ok and others terrible...regardless of diet....

[b4bb]

Thank you so much for your response, I really appreciate it.
I just finished reading your thread on the treatment, very impressive results and seeing your dramatic improvement for the first time I'm less opposed to meds...lets just see if my doctor will want to put me on them or not.

I saw that your viral load was very high before the treatment but no liver damage, which gives me hope.
I used to be the type of person that lived off coffee burgers and chocolate but after seeing my energy levels declining i needed to do something to stop it. I had no idea at that time that I was hep b+ and thought the diet change to organic, cutting out sugar, less meat etc will make a difference, but it did only a little :( however i did keep drinking...so maybe that was the cause.
I saw some of the threads stef posted and will get the vitamins tonight, hope it will help me to feel better..i just want my energy back.
Also from what I understood you're on a clinical trail and the drug is not available yet, am I correct?
From your posts i can see you felt better and started to enjoy life again after starting the treatment so if that's the case i will push my doc to put me on meds as well...
thank you again for the help!

[luckyman316]

Ok, to answer some questions:

how did you feel in general? energy levels?
-- Yes, I felt HORRIBLE. I was weak. VERY weak. I actually got all the symptoms of an acute infection and they lasted for about 2 months. I was close to death. So many things happened that could have been avoided if I just went on treatment right away. Mine went "active" but it spiked up QUICK. Into the Millions (23 million was the highest)

"and did you go on treatment? And if so, did the treatment make you feel better?"

-My original GI doctor wanted me to wait 12 months before going on treatment. He was treating it as a long term acute infection and assured me it would "go away". After 8 months, I made the decision to go on treatment and participate in a clinical trial. My posts should be on this forum for more info. I didn't feel better right away but as time went on,  discovered the right Vitamin regiment thanks to Stef and many others on this forum, I felt much much better within 6 months. Not perfect but BETTER.

"I did notice my energy levels declining in the last months or so, hence the diet change....that was before I found out I have hep b.... "

-The diet change will only help you. I wish I had your willpower, as I love organic fruits and veggies. But they are expensive and I'm close to broke, so that won't happen any time soon. I also don't live near enough farms to get it myself. I tried a diet like this at some point and all it did was make me feel weak. I'm pretty sure my body desires meats and chicken more than fruits and veggies. I try to stay away from anything fatty though.

[luckyman316]

I'll try to answer a little bit more later on this.... because it's a lot lol

[b4bb]

Thank you, I'm scheduled for a ultrasound and Fibroscan but that won;t be for another few weeks.
Also what is the hbsag quantity and how will that help? My doctor did not order this test?
I'm in the US but  travel to Europe frequently.

[b4bb]

Thank you for your advice.
I've been on a organic fresh veggies/fruit, low meat diet for a while now....however I do have a glass of wine now and then :/
Also I do take milk thistle daily and some raw garlic as well. Milk thistle used to give me tons of energy, reason why i took it, but now it doesn't work that well anymore :(
I will definitely get the Vit D supplement and get tested for the levels...I go outside a lot cause I feel like it helps me feel better too.

Since your numbers sound similar to mine when it went "active": how did you feel in general? energy levels? and did you go on treatment? And if so, did the treatment make you feel better? I did notice my energy levels declining in the last months or so, hence the diet change....that was before I found out I have hep b....

[hepbcurepls]

Just reading your other post I think you are in europe. you should also check hbsag quantity.

[hepbcurepls]

Make sure your doctors schedules an abdominal ultrasound. Your 6 month check up should be cbc, hepatitic blood work, ultrasound. Fibroscan once a year.

[luckyman316]

Welcome to the forum. You'll get the best advice here. Most will tell you that your doctor is ignorant, and 90% of the time they are right. You need to monitor for 6 months to see if your viral load count goes up any higher. Don't use your doctor's advice as an excuse to drink "here and there". It won't do you any good and can harm you down the road. Cut it out of your diet if you can include lots of fruits and veggies in your diet. T

he best Vitamin to take at this point for you is Vitamin D3 (get the levels checked, if it's not near or above 100, then you need to take 10,000iu daily) plus Vitamin K2 w/MK-7. Since you're not on treatment, I'd suggest milk thistle daily. If you do go on treatment, stay far away from that. You're numbers sound eerily similar to mine when it went "active". I was told this is the stage when it is best treated.