19 yr. old son just diagnosed with Hep C

[catladi]

My son is currently in boot camp and apparently gave a blood donation there.  We received a report at home telling him that he has tested positive for Hep C and can no longer give blood.  I have been numb since I heard this and still haven't heard from my son.  I don't know if they will send him home, treat him in the army, etc.  No one has let us know anything.  We called the Red Cross and they said that he would have been notified.  He still  has another 9 l/2 weeks left for his military training before they send him home.  Do you think he will be ok if he is feeling well to have no further testing until the end of March?  I have been reading up on Hep C but before this had no clue what it was.  I would appreciate any information you have.  Thanks.

[catladi]

I just want to thank everyone for their input.  You all seem like wonderful people.  I, of course, am still quite worried and would feel a lot better when I get a phone call from my son.  We have not heard from him for about a week which is unusual.  Since his AIT training was supposed to start this past Monday, maybe they are not sending him home.  He will be devestated if they do that.  I still have so many questions.  He is training to be a military police and I don't know if the workplace accepts people with Hep C.  Also, one of the tests he tested positive was called nucleic acid multiplex test for HIV/HCV and I wasn't sure if that meant he could have HIV also.  The separate HIV tests show all negative though. Good luck to all of you with your treatments.  God Bless.

[MichaelT]

Even though the exact "how" of an hcv sufferer smoking makes the liver worse it appears to be so. If you have normal ALT it may not be as important to quit as someone with elevated ALT, but it is still something positive you can do help your liver.

Hope this helps!  -Michael

[britgirl]

I've just re-read what I wrote and I'm sorry if i came over harsh! I didn't mean to be. Of couse, it is much easier to say relax than to do it. You must be going through hell. I have never had children so I can only imagine......All I wanted to do was to put your mind at rest that there was nothing urgent here. Your son's illness before going away probably had absolutely nothing to do with the Hep C.

[MichaelT]

News of having hepatitis C or another chronic disease always seems to knock us on our butts. We tend to react emotionally as if we received a death sentence and have 6 months to live. Fortunately for most folks, this is rarely the case since the disease progresses slowly and many die from old age before the disease get them. So, you really can relax - concern rather worry or anxiety is probably the "temperature" to be operating at.

http://www.hepatitisneighborhood.com/ is a good site. There are many, but this is a good place to begin.

Smoking, consuming alcohol, and cocaine are absolute no-no's for someone with hep c.

God bless!  -Michael

[WackyKilkins]

Why is smoking a no-no for Hep C.  My doctor did not warn me to stop during treatment.  Thanks.

[GwithHepC]

I was most likely infected 37 years ago from a blood transfusion.  Not one doctor I have visited over the years screened me for this risk factor; I found out by accident because I was not feeling well and asked for a bunch of blood tests.  My 13-year-old daughter has hepatitis c also; infected probably by me since birth.  I have three points:

1.  Never assume that doctors will test or have tested for hepatitis c.  Also, you can be chronically infected and have normal liver enzymes, so do not rely on liver enzymes as an indicator.  From my experience the medical community is doing a horrible job screening people who have risk factors.  Your blood transfusion is a definate risk factor.  You very well may NOT be infected, but it is much better to know, so you should get tested.
2.  If you are infected, there is only about a 5% chance that your son was infected by you via pregnancy/birth.  In the worst case scenario, if both you and him are infected, for some unknown reason people infected as infants do remarkably well with the virus.  My daughter and I are living proof of that.  So please do not worry about your son; he will likely do fine.  
3.  This disease moves very, very, slowly.  

It is hard not to worry, but even if you and your son, or just your son, are infected, there is a lot you can do to help yourself/s (don't drink for one); again, this disease usually takes decades for damage to occur (when and if it does occur).  Best wishes...

G

[odessit]

Your son probably got tested positive for HCV-antibody. Presence of antibody is a sign of exposure to HCV virus. Immune system could have fought the virus off and your son may be healthy now. What you would need is to get tested with PCR test which shows the presence of HCV virus in blood.

[PhilaGuy]

Cigarette smoke is filled with carcinogens that, of course, the liver has to process, making it work harder.  It's not the "miracle grow" that alcohol is, but is one unecessary and avoidable thing that taxes an already compromised organ.  I quit a year and a half ago with hypnosis - it really worked for me!

[catladi]

Thanks Britgirl for your comment.  I did have a kidney transplant 27 years ago and had blood transfusions but they have never tested me separately for Hepatitis.  I assume it would have shown up in my liver profile that I have done frequently.  I will be tested to be sure.  I will try to relax but it is easier said than done.  My son was very sick about two weeks before he went to boot camp and was diagnosed with gastroenteritis, he had severe stomach pain, vomiting, etc. and the hospital just gave him iv fluids for about 5 hours and sent him home with no mention of possible hepatitis.  Thanks again.

[WackyKilkins]

Thanks for the info.  I never thought much about the smoke (carcinogens) going through my liver - just my lungs.  (which I know is bad enough) Damn, smoking is my last vise.  I'm not sure my nerves can take me quiting..... nor can my liver take me not quiting.  Something else to think about.........

[WackyKilkins]

Thanks, I really like the way you put that.  I am only in my 3rd week of treatment (4/48 on Friday) and I have already gone from one pack a day to 1/2 pack. I was hoping this would make me quit but not only am I fighting the dragon; my daughter is crack addicted, I have 4 grandchildren who depend on me emotionally, my father has lost most of his memory and I am hiding my sickness from my 76 year old mother whom in her "golden years" has more than anyone needs to handle. (BUT IT COULD BE WORSE)  Maybe I'll put the thought of quitting on the back burner for a while....thanks to all who answer!!!  I need you all alot.  You're my salvation.

[BD146]

MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU.....YOU HAVE SO MUCH ON YOUR PLATE BESIDES TX....REMEMBER THAT WE ARE ALL HERE FOR YOU AND THAT YOU ARE NEVER ALONE.....EDGAR


BEFUDDLED:   THANK YOU FOR YOUR CIGARETTE INPUT....YOU MADE ALOT OF SENSE....I BELIEVE THAT THE STRESS OF QUITTING SMOKING AT THIS TIME WOULD DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD...EVEN THOUGH I AM SMOKING LESS ( 6TH WK OF TX)...I AM NOT READY TO QUIT...MAYBE SOMEDAY BUT DEFINITELY NOT TODAY...EDGAR


A GOOD AND RESTFUL EVENING TO ALL.....EDGAR

PS. IF ANYONE NEEDS SOME LAUGHS THEN DONT  FORGET TO WATCH AMERICAN IDOL....LOL

[odessit]

Smoking during tx is bad enough and may worsen sx. Smoking is known to affect immune system as well as lowering Hemoglobin - which would be lowered by Ribavarin.
One month before tx my Hgb level was 15.6, I started smoking that months and prior to tx my Hgb dropped to 14.5.

To all:
I had to climb stairs today up to 10th floor - building was out of power. That was something:) The worst I ever felt.

[chitah]

http://www.medicineau.net.au/clinical/medicine/hepc.html#anchor24
Very good side.

[harley dude]

You made a good point, Alot of docs don't take blood tests on a regular basis and alot of people only go to Doctors when they absolutely can't go anymore(usaually for the flu, a real bad cold or sinus infection or things like cuts or broken or dislocated bones ect. Since I found out about my HCV, I've asked alot of people when was the last time you had blood work done, and most of the people I asked had never had extensive blood work done, That's the scary thing about HCV and not really having any symptoms- can you imagine how many people in the world that has HCV and don't know they have it. See ya and have a good week-- HD

[britgirl]

Most people with Hep C have no symptoms at all and only find out, like your son, when they give blood or have routine medical. So, it isn't something that would make him feel ill, so i doubt he would be sent home. Do you have any idea how long he could have had this? Has he ever had a blood tranfusion? a tattoo? Is it possible that you have it and transmitted it to him at birth? Hep C is not a cancer; it is very, very slow moving and many of us on this forum have/had it for up to 30 years. I myself had it for 18 years and never felt ill with it, before I was treated and cured last year. Theere is a cure, but unfortunately it doesn't work for everyone. There are more blood tests and possible biopsies down the line, but nothing that can't wait. You should try and relax and not panic your son. He is an adult and he will have to deal with it.