10 year remission

[cigh]

I was treated for Hepatitis C for 18 months (the old fashion 3 shots a week deal). From October 1996 to April 1998. Since then there has not been any dectection of the virus until now. My question is, could it have been in remission all this time or could I have been reinfected, or both? I have read that there is no cure so I am assuming it has been in remission. Have they done studies for people like me that has been in remission for so long?

I guess I have ask more than one question, ha!

Thanks

[mremeet]

LOL Please everyone, let's stomp out cooties in our lifetime. DD I hope you're in on this, because we can't do it without you.

[Trinity4]

Have you ever felt like your junk was going to explode?  That was a hoot!!!

[mremeet]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQt7q6BTuJ8

[Trinity4]

I think it's a little of both.  Patients have a responsibility to educate themselves as well in order to ask the right questions.  Had Cigh known the difference between positive antibody test and PCR the confusion and anxiety may have been avoided.  It had been 10 years since tx and we tend to forget some important things in between.  
Trinity

[FlGuy]

Tomato juice doesn't work?  There are a lot of Bloody Mary drinkers out there that are going to be surprised when they realize that their beverage of choce is not helping their blood and liver conditions.  Maybe Martinis, with a twist lemon of course.  Can't expect much theraptic value from an olive or a baby onion.

[jmjm530]

There are probably thousands of people walking around thinking they have this or that (when they really don't) based on sloppy communications like this.

Had this person not called back their doctor, they would have thought the virus was back. Then they'd probably go to some "miracle cure" health site, buy a lot of stuff, and see another doctor in a year or two -- take a PCR and find out that they were now cured. and find out that they were "cured". Then they'd come to a site like this and post they were cured from tomato juice or something. Then we'd get another very long thread :)

[HCA]

I had the same communication.Hepatitis nurses are often rotten sources of information.

[DoubleDose]

I received a note from 'cigh' today indicating that his recent PCR test was actually 'undetectable'.  The nurse was looking at, and only gave him results for, the antibody test, which of course, is always going to be positive for HCV, even though the virus is gone!  So, it looks like another case of 'false alarm!'  and that's great news!

DD

[Rockerforlife]

This is interesting i must say....is it maybe the '"occult virus " thing taht was discussed numberous times here?
"

[jmjm530]

Could you please post the date and test results (including the name of the test) of:

(1) Your last test that showed you undetectible;

and (2) The current test that showed you are detectible for the virus.

-- Jim

[DoubleDose]

Can you please provide some clear details of your treatment and testing history.  Did you become undetected after tx and get tested regularly by sensitive PCR over the years?  How frequently, which tests were used, and what were the results?  What test showed that you are NOW infected again?  Was it a sensitive PCR?  What were the viral load results?  When was your most recent PCR that showed an undetected result?
Have you had any risky behaviors at all in the recent few years?  

If you can provide detail to these questions, you will receive much higher quality responses.  Who told you you were in 'remission' anyway.  Usually doctors use the terms cured, eradicated, gone, etc.  Tx is not considered to produce 'remission' by the medical community (although there is much research driven debate on that subject today).

I hope to hear more about your medical history.

DoubleDose

[Ness69]

That must be really dissapointing for a start...testing positive again. Ten years is a remarkably long time to be in remission..is the current HCV the same genus as previously?

[Rockerforlife]

Have you been doing risky things?...tattoes,,,slamming drugs....snorting coke?....anal sex?....nail salons....sharing toothbrushes?

[Trinity4]

When you say not any detection of the virus until now do you mean you had a PCR and it shows a viral load or are you showing positive for the hepc antibodies only?

[HCA]

If you were clear six months after finishing treatment you are clear now.The stuff you have been reading is either wrong or talking about weak quasi species of RNA.
If your liver numbers are normal you're as clear as anyone ever was i.e cured.