Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
a late post for nordicguests question about hep b
by my world collapsed, Apr 01, 2005 12:00AM
Hi, I have been lurking in this group since my wife was diagnosed with hep b fourteen months ago. our obgyn failed to notify us that my wife tested positive for the virus during the typical neonatal testing of pregnantcy.This was our first child and despite going to lamaze, as well as parenting classes, we never realized that we should have picked a pedeatrician before my daughter was born. to make a long story short, we finally got one the day after my wife was released from the hospital. a week after my childs birth, we found a pedeatrician and contacted him for a one week check-up. This wonderful man called us on new years day to tell us that my wifes obgyn left the hep b test results off her chart. franticly he tried to contact this guy and was unable to. as a precaution, because he could not confirm the results, he had us go to the emergency room to give the baby an imunoglobulan shot.
This set in motion a series of tests that resulted in determining that i was infected but developed an imunity. my wife was not so lucky, she had chronic hep b as well as cirociss (determined by biopsy). being unable to stick herself with a needle (yet she was ok with child birth..lol!!)i gave her weekly interferon injections for 7 months. she also took hepsera daily. the therapy was working but she was a a slow responder. the viral load droped very low, but wasn't totally clear. she now takes the hepsera as well as epivir daily and we are awaiting the results.
on top of this were both worried sick about our new baby. after her initial globulin shot we started the immunization series and had to wait untill she completed the 6 month booster. she was 8 months old when the docter felt it was appropriate to test her.
we were on pins and needles as well as very upset with the world during this time. we determined that my wife,who is of asian decent and has lived here since she was 2, has been infected since birth. she was 29 when diagnosed. we tested her whole family, at least those who would be tested,and found that three of her four siblings are also positive.
Thankfully my child tested negitive, dispite being born by cesearian section. My wife is still infected and has severe liver damage, but i know we are blessed. our baby is healthy and a joy to us both. my wife is a wonderfull mother and she is the part of me that i was missing since birth.
I know you are probably wondering why i posted this responce. i just wanted you to know that your not alone. i beleive the alt level of you child is high, but alt level (a liver enzyme)alone is not the indicater of infection. i am not a doctor, but this is what i recall from my experience.i think i also read that the vacinatin can raise the alt level, hep is considered chronic when not cleared by month 6 of infection, but clearing can happen after this point and it does. i would suggest calling your doctor and make him explain the conditon in laymans terms. if your child were positive i would guess that a viral load would be a test he has already preformed, ask him,find out. if theres a viral load then yes the baby is infected.
lets assume he/she is infected. there are many positive steps that can take place. there is always the possibility of clearing the virus via the immune system , but this possibility deminishes with duration of infection.if cronic infection is determined, then drug therapy will be prescribed and tese drugs work!!! being a child and being infected for months not years greatly increases the odds of successful treatment. Many times the virus is just watched very closely and not treated untill there are negitive test resulr. a person can be a carrier and have minimal or no effect due to the virus.
I wish i was a doctor and could set your mind at ease, but i am not. i just want you to remember that even if you child is positive ..IT IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD! the odds of clearing are very high, much better than with hep c according to my doctor. i am not a religious man, but if you are a person of faith, use it to help you through, be positive, make healthy choices and thake care.
best of luck,
DPN
This set in motion a series of tests that resulted in determining that i was infected but developed an imunity. my wife was not so lucky, she had chronic hep b as well as cirociss (determined by biopsy). being unable to stick herself with a needle (yet she was ok with child birth..lol!!)i gave her weekly interferon injections for 7 months. she also took hepsera daily. the therapy was working but she was a a slow responder. the viral load droped very low, but wasn't totally clear. she now takes the hepsera as well as epivir daily and we are awaiting the results.
on top of this were both worried sick about our new baby. after her initial globulin shot we started the immunization series and had to wait untill she completed the 6 month booster. she was 8 months old when the docter felt it was appropriate to test her.
we were on pins and needles as well as very upset with the world during this time. we determined that my wife,who is of asian decent and has lived here since she was 2, has been infected since birth. she was 29 when diagnosed. we tested her whole family, at least those who would be tested,and found that three of her four siblings are also positive.
Thankfully my child tested negitive, dispite being born by cesearian section. My wife is still infected and has severe liver damage, but i know we are blessed. our baby is healthy and a joy to us both. my wife is a wonderfull mother and she is the part of me that i was missing since birth.
I know you are probably wondering why i posted this responce. i just wanted you to know that your not alone. i beleive the alt level of you child is high, but alt level (a liver enzyme)alone is not the indicater of infection. i am not a doctor, but this is what i recall from my experience.i think i also read that the vacinatin can raise the alt level, hep is considered chronic when not cleared by month 6 of infection, but clearing can happen after this point and it does. i would suggest calling your doctor and make him explain the conditon in laymans terms. if your child were positive i would guess that a viral load would be a test he has already preformed, ask him,find out. if theres a viral load then yes the baby is infected.
lets assume he/she is infected. there are many positive steps that can take place. there is always the possibility of clearing the virus via the immune system , but this possibility deminishes with duration of infection.if cronic infection is determined, then drug therapy will be prescribed and tese drugs work!!! being a child and being infected for months not years greatly increases the odds of successful treatment. Many times the virus is just watched very closely and not treated untill there are negitive test resulr. a person can be a carrier and have minimal or no effect due to the virus.
I wish i was a doctor and could set your mind at ease, but i am not. i just want you to remember that even if you child is positive ..IT IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD! the odds of clearing are very high, much better than with hep c according to my doctor. i am not a religious man, but if you are a person of faith, use it to help you through, be positive, make healthy choices and thake care.
best of luck,
DPN
Post Comment
Related Communities
Recent Videos
Recent Activity
Most Popular Trackers
RSS
Expert Activity
Community Members
Popular Groups
I wish you many years of familial happiness.
It makes me angry about the obstetrician, though, it sounds like he should be reported to the medical board to prevent more stories like yours. Please report him to the board of Professional Conduct.