Born with HCV

I am a 17 year old male. I was infected with HCV at birth, so unfortunately I have been infected for 17 years (of course lol).

I have several questions regarding my position, and I'm certain there are some people on this forum who could answer them!

1. I have heard that people can live long lives without ever knowing they have HCV. However, since HCV has only recently been in the US and Europe since the seventies, the longest that most people could have had the virus is around 40 years. Since I have been sick for 17 years, would this mean that I am very likely to end up having late-stage cirrhosis some time in the near future? I have not had a liver biopsy since I was 12, but apparently the results weren't bad, and my viral loads weren't bad either (I don't remember the exact details).

2. I've never had a good diet, I have always been a passionate lover of junk food (especially those with lots of refined sugar, which I hear is very bad for your liver because of glycogen). I have been eating healthier foods lately, but was wondering if there are any specific types of food that people with HCV should stay away from, and specific types of food that people with HCV should definitely eat.

3. I have on occasion drank a little alcohol here and there, however I have never gotten drunk (the most I've ever drank was 250mL of wine give or take 100mL). Could even this small amount have a detrimental effect on the liver?

4. Is HCV sexually transmissible? I have heard very contradictory reports on this, some people say it is not transmissible by sex, and others say it is.

5. (To people who know a thing or two about viruses) I have recently read [i]The Hot Zone[/i] by Richard Preston (GREAT BOOK). Preston writes that viruses will cause a lyse in cells it infects. After infecting a host cell, after the cell creates many copies of the virus, the cell will eventually "explode" with viruses (such as Ebola, or the flu). However, the book went on to explain that the HIV virus avoids that, and will tell the cell to slowly churn out the virus. I am curious, is HCV like HIV in that it does not immediately destroy the host cell it infects?

THANKS to everyone who takes the time to answer my questions! Some of these questions have been bothering me for quite a long time and any clarification on the matters will help me greatly.

[Nightsd01]

Oh, and what the hell is "tx"?

[desrt]

1. HCV has been called "HCV" for about 20 years. There is some genetic evidence that we've coexisted with the virus in one form or another for over 100,000 years. Eighty percent of people infected with HCV will not die from it. Most people infected with HCV will die of something other than cirhosis or heptacellular carcinoma, the most often cited hepatitis C related diseases. There is some debate whether hypertension related death, diabetes, and 'metabolic syndrome' are linked to HCV. There are probably some links between them. I don't know what the statistics on disease progression are for those infected since birth, but a biopsy every few years might not be a bad idea if you are not going to treat at this time.

3. Don't drink if you have a detectable viral load.

4. HCV is not considered a STD. It's transmission is blood to blood.

tx is treatment as opposed Tx which is Texas which is sometimes confused with hell.

[lanier]

1) If you were born with the virus, why has it gone un-treated in any form or fashion?  how did you find out you have the virus and not have treatment information given to you?  

2) you are young do not worry about the microbiology so much as the things you can do to help "heal" your liver.

3) where are your parents and are they involved in your understanding and coping with possible treatment options?

4) processed "fast food" on a regular basis is not good for a healthy person.  In the United States it is a real part of the problem with overweight children especially in depressed or low income areas.  It is a cruel marketing tool putting the junk food store in, instead of a grocery store.  

I wish you well, hope your reading your acedemic books as closely and hope you keep us informed, you should be under the care of a Doctor and I hope you are.

thinking the good thoughts for you
Lanier

[Nightsd01]

I'm not fat and rarely eat fast food :P My diet is not BAD, it's just not that healthy.

I am not under treatment for the virus because ribavirin and interferon treatments are not prescribed to minors. Even at 17, I can't get treatment. Another question, does ribavirin and interferon treatment really make you miserable? From what I read here it seams that it is a lot like chemo...!

[merryBe]

of course eat better, drinking...no...knowing you have this "handicap" should result in a more proactive health regime.

the virus continually taxes the immune system, so unless you were born and cleared the virus, as in "no detectable virus", no viral load, the assumption that compromised are made to other vital body systems is quite valid, everything is connected in the body, you don't live with any virus continually without it having some domino effects elsewhere.

OK, you are 17, but I work with teens now, and believe they need to be spoken to soberly, as if they are young adults and deserve truth, so here goes:

Instead, of you are "too young to concern your little head" I would advise you to learn all you can so you can make a quality and informed decision as to if and/or when to treat...Knowledge in this regard is power, it is life, it is the possiblity of even being cured with more hope on the horizon.

some genotypes are 90% curable now, you need to find out what Geno and Viral load etc you have now, this will influence all your forward motion and decisions.

stay in here and you'll learn more than you will at the book store.

Sexual transmission is rare but NOT entirely unknown.
My husband of 10 years is negative while I have it, thank God, but some are not so fortunate.
Had I known I had this disease, I would have told him. In fact we both went in and asked for testing to make sure we had no tranmittable diseases before marriage....but the doc, alas, only tested for HIV, and we did not even think of HCV....although the doc should have.
It is a heart break to give this to another, or even expose them.
It turns out my son was exposed, probably from me at birth, but he cleared the virus himself.
Still, not many do clear, and a mother's heart aches to pass anything to a child.
best thing going for you is your youth, and you have a chance at a normal life and a happy healthy family....but you have some choices coming up as to how to get there.

here's the real concern:
Any blood to blood contact can cause viral transfer. even on surfaces with blood, virus can survive short time periods. whether for minutes or hours....there may be stats somewhere...
but bottom line,

you owe it to others to inform them, and use protection, just as you would appreciate this being done for you. How much "love" would it be to not tell someone?
I think anytime you carry a lifelong virus, that may do serious harm to another's vital organs, you must start off telling any potential partner. There is no hope of love, without a trust and honesty first.

Do not share razors or toothbrushes, small amounts of blood are the only exposure known for some HCV patients, (meaning no other known exposure ever) so it is a concern that there be no tares in mouths or genitalia during intercourse.

riba INF is chemo therapy but your youth is in your favor. Usually the younger you are the better you far on tx and the more likely your are to sussessful clear the virus and hence avoid the 20 plus years of deteriorating health many in here experienced while being undiagnosed and untreated.
sometimes being young makes us not feel the effect of the virus, sometimes the liver keeps springing back, but none the less damage occurs and can get ahead of the curve at any age, and the higher viral loads do seem to play a part in treament outcomes so you want to keep a good eye on disease progressions if you say have stage 1, geno type 1a (50% curable) and you do decide to wait to treat for better drug.
you really need to read and do some homework here to make good choices.

[Nightsd01]

Thanks! I'm genotype 1a (as are around 80% of all Americans with HCV).

[kittyface]

Why you want to dis Texas?  We're the greatest state in the country.  Go Cowboys!

[desrt]

lol
I've lived here many years myself including a long time in and around Austin.
It was a joke.

[dancegirl54]

I have 2 children a little older than you that have HCV and though the practice USED to be not to treat under 18, it has changed. My son did need to treat as at 17 he was a stage and grade 3 but I waited until he was 18 so he could get into one of the best centers in the US. He has cleared by the way. My daughter is 21 and has not treated and still shows a stage and grade 0.

My doc made a few suggestions for my diet but as far as my kids he said let them be kids. Youre doing wonderfully in that you are asking questions at 17. My 21 year old still doesnt want to deal with it - and the doc says "Let her be".  She shows up for her yearly monitoring appts and he says thats all she needs to do for now.

Don't let this define you.  Youre on the right track getting info so that you can make an informed decision at some point

[lanier]

Hey,

If you are under a doctor's care I would wager the discussion about treating and when has come up, that was my point regarding under a doctor's care,  Your a young person and as meerybe said that is a big time advantage for you.  

I did not see anything about your parents or personal support mentioned in your response, i hope you have someone who can be there for you.

how tall are you and how much do you weigh?

Nobody should face this without some kind of support, someone to talk too whatever, this blog is a real blessing, but real life connections matter more.  

Merrybe gave you so much great information I think your on the way.  I wish you well

Lanier

[denzelbrown]

I most probably got my hep c when i had my heart surgery done in 1986 when i was 12, now i am 32 and worried about my prognosis my liver biopsy is not till jan 2008, i am type 1b, 2.3 mill, normal ALT levels, i was wondering about the prognosis for transfusion associated hep c , i am now with 20 years of hep c, i see lots of people here in their 50s with cirr and grade 3 and 4, most of them got it in their 20s, 30s so they have it for around 20 years, i am scared that i already have it for 20 years and i am only 32, will i live till even 50?
thanks,

[Nightsd01]

dancegirl, how long have your kids had HCV?

lanier, I am 6'2 and weigh 160 lbs

[desrt]

I probably contracted HCV when I was 17 and after almost 30 years had only progressed to mild fibrosis. The only difference in disease progression I've ever heard of between transfusion associated hep c and other types is that people who get it from transfusion don't have the 20% chance of clearing it on their own.

[mom713]

Our daughter was also born with HCV. We treated her at age 14 that was three and half years ago. We debated a long time about treating her. I only  can say I thank God for her pediatric  hepatologist. He was adamant about treating and treating her young. I did alot of research and debated a long time before I concurred with him.  We treated because on biopsy she was progressing.  She tolerated treatment very well and was undertected two weeks in to treatment. She remained on treatment for a year and remains virus free. I agree with merryBe learn all you can about it. Educating yourself about HCV empowers YOU to make choices about what is good for YOU.  Everybody responds differently to treatment. Keep posting.  mom713

[dancegirl54]

They were both infected at birth

[Nightsd01]

Thanks for all your responses!

mom713, what was the treatment like? How did your daughter react to the drugs and such?

[divya1082]

i m 26 yr old married woman i ve just got my blood test 10 days before. i m realy scared the doctor told to husband too to get blodd test. he ll go for that on 30th. i m really scared , dipressed,. i dont know where i got this virus. i never ever had sex with any body before marriage o even a kiss.
i want to how long i can survive . i want to get baby the doc told me yes u can have babay we will get him hep vaccine then no risk abt ur baby reagarding hep B. but i m thing that when i ll be dead then who will take care of himor her.
i m not pregnant i m planning to get pregnant. thats why i went to the gynecologis and i ve got the blood test.

please help me and i want to know how long i can survive. i m not able to even sleep. i ve headeach continiuously,
i ve back pain too may be becouse of dipression tension.
i will be appriciate and very greatful if u ll reply if my meassage.

thank you.