Acute HCV

What time does it take to detect Hep C antibodies?
I had an unprotected  sexual risk early December. Would about 5 months be the timeframe for Acute HCV if one is going to develop it?
The last couple of months I've had cloudy urine, dark urine a few times, extreme fatigue (had to sleep at work), nausea (particularly bad in the mornings), lymph node discomport//pain throughout body, stomach pain, all over itching.
Would Biluribin in my urine indicate necessarily HCV?

I tested negative for HCV antibodies 3 months after the incident. They don't do any fancy tests like core or envelope proteins.
If I do test +ve what are best chances for clearing it (ddiet, lifestyle, meds) or is it too late for that?

[meki]

Wow Frank.

You've already tested Negative over the issue...

FIRST --- Hepatitis C is not really ALL THAT CONTAGIOUS via Sexual transmission...

It is a BLOOD to BLOOD virus that needs blood interaction in order to cross over.

Chances are that you have passed the phase from THAT contact - to be in Acute HCV status.

Chances are your NEG test for that contact is perfectly correct.

If you are having those types of pain - and issues --- you need to go see your doctor for something OTHER than HepC.

I would suggest finding a decent Internist --- by getting referred by your normal General Practicioner.

And stop worrying about Hepatitis C.

Meki

[Frank303]

Many thanks, it's just a few things raised a red flag - 3 big bottles of milk thistle (liver 'cleansing' herbal remedy) in her cupboard, her ex-husband is Egyptian (11-20% adult HCV seroprevalence), she looks yellow sometimes, he looks well jaundiced in some but not all photos.
The text message from the GU clinic asking me to call them, well I'll just have to deal with that tomorrow.
That has been my only 'risk'.

[meki]

Did you test for HEP B?

Wow --- ok - well -- I can understand your concerns then . That kinda makes sense in an odd way.

But I have to say this. While sexual transmission DOES occur --- It only occurs RARELY.

My hubby ---- whom I've had incredible fun sex with for over 12 years while I was infected (unknowingly) does not have it. My daughter who was born while I was infected - does not have it. Nor does any other family member.

So I don't think transmission during sex --- UNLESS --- there is blood to blood contact is at all possible for HEPATITIS C.

But that does not rule out other HEPATIC problems. OKAY?

And if you do have HCV - come back here and we'll help you get on the right track...

It's just that sexual transmission --- it just doesn't click into place 99% of the time as a transmission route.

Now if you had said she was a dentist --- and you fell in love in the dentist chair ---- and you started feeling ill right after that --- well that would be different... LOL!

But seriously - HCV  The "C" part --- just isn't usually transmitted sexually. If you have HCV - it's probably most likely that you've had it for some time and didn't get it from this incident... provided your sexual act did not include blood exchanging.

But that does NOT preclude the possibility that you could have gotten something else...

Hugs - and good luck - I hope all goes well at the doctors...

Meki

[Frank303]

I've a prince albert piercing and she (S) said after it was her period.I got ill a few weeks after 25th Dec (elevated temperature, rashes, painful nodes, quite severe muscular pains and quite severe joint pains....) and went and got tested 31 Dec.
I got Chlamydia from the sexperience and can absolutely rule out any previous 'risk'.

I tested for everything (HIV, Hep ...) a few months before as my previous partner before had dated an IDU, though it emerged he started using after their relationship. I tested 9 months after the last (protected) sex.  

Feh!, 'S' isn't dentist by profession. I was at her house over a week and was with her to the Depatment of Work and Pensions so apparently she was unemployed too. She saw fit to tell me her 'profession' after sex, which came as a shock to me - the oldest 'profession' in the book. She since told me her husband was an escort too!

I can't rule out other Hepatic problems either:

I've had proteinurea before and I monitor that irregularly but frequently as my father had a kidney removed due to a stone in the 70s . He's tough as old boots as was I until recently. Neither Urobilinogen nor Biluribin has been indicated before.

I did Multistix tests today as I haven't done them for a few months:
3rd pass was very cloudy Biluribin - moderate,; Blood - non hemolysed trace; Urobilingen  -off the scale. Verified with another multistix. Ten minutes later there was a large amount of white sediment in the bottom of the sample container.
A few passes later urine is clear (I've been passing frequently) .
Biluribin: small, Blood :Neg, Urobilingen - off the scale. (Verified with another Multistix)

I was immunized against B in 2003, tested neg 3m after exposure. Rxed the 'booster' on Monday.

[meki]

WOW - ok - so you do know what you're looking at.

Unfortunately - I still don't think sex is as easily transmittable for HCV.

Everything else - sure.

My hubby had a prince albert --- and I have had sex with him on menses. So I know that that did not transmit to hubby.

However - it sounds like she has a lot of experience to go on - and unfortnately it could be any of a zillion things out there that may have affected you.

I'm so very sorry that you're not feeling well - and do hope that you get to the bottom of this.

Please --- do go see a doctor and advise him/her of your situation - so that in case you do have any specific disease - you can get rid of it quickly if it is possible.

Sounds like you had a heckuva a week tho.

*grin*

Hope goes well tho.

Meki

[Frank303]

Many thanks Miki,
I just called the clinic-Hep C negative

[Jakied]

Your three month neg for hep c is, probably, conclusive.  i would tell you to move on

from that.  Hep C is NOT considered to be a Std as Hep B and Hiv are.

Hep B is easily transmitted through sexual activity.  Have you been tested for that?

A neg test for hep c is no assurance you are neg for hep b.

If I were you, I would get the antibody test for hep B.  Early Dec to now is almost 7

months. A neg antibody test for hep b, at this time, would be definite.

I am certainly not trying to put you in panic mode but I believe you should be tested

for hep B.  If it comes back pos, don't panic.  It is a serious illness but not as serious as Hep C.  Do this for yourself.

[Jakied]

I see in your later post that you have the vaccine for hep B.  Good for you.  

I would see a doctor about your symptoms.  

Hep b and c are probably not your problem.

[Frank303]

The clinic wouldn't test me for Hep B. I had a 3 month neg Hep B, Hep C, HIV test at my Doctor's. The GU Doctor phoned my Doctor to find out if he did core and envelope protein test or just the antibodies at 3m. He just tested for antibodies.

Also I had a 22 week negative HIV test (INSTI rapid) and this 28 week negative Hep C Antibody test.

[Jakied]

A 22 week neg for Hiv is definite.  A 28 week neg for hep c is definite.  

A 13 week neg for Hep B is probably definite.

I wouldn't worry about hiv/hep b or c if I were you.

[Rockerforlife]

You probly just got another strain of  STD...its doest look like gonnera ...but it could be some form of a regular STD...YOU CAN ALSO RULE OUT BIRD FLU...lol

[Frank303]

I was tested for Gon, Syph, Chlamydia 28 days after the risk. While waiting for the results I got antibiotics from my GP for a sore throat (Erythromycin, which should have killed off those) then I got more antibiotics (Azithromycin) for Chlamydia which they found. They won't retest for Chlamydia.
Hmmm, bird flu you say....goes to check medical dictionary ...

[Frank303]

Just out of interest, if a Dr runs a 'bog standard' HCV (or any other Hep Virus) antibody test which one is it they run-  anti-core protein or anti-surface protein or ..?

Do some of the tests look for Antigen and Antibody?

[meki]

I dunno Frank - mine looked at both.

BUT -- ON THAT NOTE -- you're fairly conclusively NOT HCV/HIV/HEPB... so you're already batting 1000!

That's awesome.

Don't forget that worry can cause some signs and symptoms.

But you could have just the typical standard STD --- or something entirely different. Please make sure you discuss the whole issue with your doctor and let him/her know what your symptoms are - and that you possibly had  sex with someone who USED to be an escort and she just told you that.

Much luck - but you can pretty much mark HEP C off your plate...

Check in the STD forum - they have a lot of information.

Meki

[alagirl]

oh hell no.  one to three weeks from exposure.  By eight weeks you should know for sure.  And you need to begin treatment in about ninety days from exposure if you can.

[alagirl]

if you have it acutely I mean,

[alagirl]

you would know for sure you had by eight weeks after exposure to hcv, actually i think even hiv is that way now where you dont have to go have all these tests months down the line depending on which initial testing you do.

[alagirl]

also, its thought that it would be pretty difficult for the sexual transmission of hepc to go male to female

[alagirl]

ya know what?  That didnt make any sense at all.
I meant that to go the other way around.  Lord.  LOL  I have a migraine tonight.

[Jakied]

Sexual transmission of Hep C, when it does happen, is usually male to female.

Simple anatomy.

[meki]

Honey - nothing about anatomy is simple when you throw women into the mix.

LMAO!

[zellyf]

Oh man.  I wish I hadn't googled Prince Albert piercing.  I was hoping for a simple explanation and really could have done without the 15 pictures that popped up onto my screen.

[zellyf]

Sometimes I wonder how effective sexual transmission is for HBV, even.  I belong to an email group for HBV and many of us were not diagnosed until after many years of marriage and I can't think of one person who ended up passing it on to an unvaccinated spouse.  I think there may be certain types of sexual activity that are higher risk than others.  

[meki]

Never google some things... LMAO!

Prince Alberts aren't really that pretty of a sight to beholden --- especially without coffee in the early morning.

I really am finding sexual activity to be of low level transmission at least for C.

I don't know enough about B --- and whether it has to hit a mucosal spot - or be ingested --- because --- I don't know how it absorbs into the system.

C just blends into the blood - and toodles on --- growing in viral strength... La la la...

But B --- I'm not sure how it adheres.

Meki
Ps. Sorry for the graphics you got to see... *GIGGLE*