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Can being a Heptitis C carrier cause problems in later years?
15 years ago I was told I was a Hepatitis C carrier by my OB/Gyn
Then 2 years later my primary care physician told me the same and said my liver count was up some. He done a sonogram of my liver and said it was ok.It has never come up again. My question is...What does being a carrier exactly mean and can I start developing symptoms at this point...15 yrs later? And what are the symptoms?
Then 2 years later my primary care physician told me the same and said my liver count was up some. He done a sonogram of my liver and said it was ok.It has never come up again. My question is...What does being a carrier exactly mean and can I start developing symptoms at this point...15 yrs later? And what are the symptoms?
Hello. Welcome to the Forum.
Firstly, and most importantly, you have tagged this question onto a post that started 9 years ago, and hasn't been visited for more than 6 years. You need to repost this as a new question, using the brown box up the top of the page with Post a Question written in it.
I also am not sure what you are asking.
Do you mean by 'carrier', that you have HCV antibodies? If so, that means you have come into contact with the virus, but do not necessarily have HCV.
If you think you may have come into contact with HCV, then ask for a test to see if you carry the virus. It is called an HCV RNA by PCR test. The antibody test could have given you a false positive, or your body could have been exposed to HCV but fought it off on it's own, or you could have hep c. You will need to go back to your doctor and qualify this, and ask for the test for the virus.
As for passing it on to your unborn baby, there is a 1-5% chance.
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hcsp/articles/Mother_child_2006.html
Please repost your question, as there are many, many other people here who are mothers with HCV that can assist you with your queries.
Good luck.
Firstly, and most importantly, you have tagged this question onto a post that started 9 years ago, and hasn't been visited for more than 6 years. You need to repost this as a new question, using the brown box up the top of the page with Post a Question written in it.
I also am not sure what you are asking.
Do you mean by 'carrier', that you have HCV antibodies? If so, that means you have come into contact with the virus, but do not necessarily have HCV.
If you think you may have come into contact with HCV, then ask for a test to see if you carry the virus. It is called an HCV RNA by PCR test. The antibody test could have given you a false positive, or your body could have been exposed to HCV but fought it off on it's own, or you could have hep c. You will need to go back to your doctor and qualify this, and ask for the test for the virus.
As for passing it on to your unborn baby, there is a 1-5% chance.
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hcsp/articles/Mother_child_2006.html
Please repost your question, as there are many, many other people here who are mothers with HCV that can assist you with your queries.
Good luck.
Im new with this.iv just been told im a carrier for hep c im 28wks pregnant i was told 1yr ago after labour with my other baby i was a carrier but my 2 yr old all my test were clean.Wat i want to know is how will it affect my babies.my new born im going to have and my 1yr old and why did the test now say positive to being a carrier but not six mouth before hand wen i had blood test odeberete my oné yr old was born .i dnt get it.Wat does carrier mean please help mean im stresssing out
it's almost impossible to determine exact times, although a lot of guessing goes into an effort to.
mine is somewhere between 20 and 43 years ago.
why is it hard to pin down?
1. there's no "original symptoms" at the onset of this disease, for many.
2. there's a longer timeline between minimal exposure, from a mild exposure, compared to extreme exposure, from say tainted blood given during surgery. Both ways will get you sick, but if you were transfused in the 80's or earlier you could have received millions of viral copies at one fell swoop, and so your disease progresses faster towards damge that way.
3. there is no direct correclation between viral load and amount of liver damage. Liver damage can take a long time to begin, especially if the person has good health, and takes good care of themselves.
4. liver damage is dependant on more than this virus, it genetics, rate the body repairs at, other health conditions impinging on and taxing the system, other drugs used whether prescription or illegal can both cause damage, and especially both alcohol and pot consumtion can accelerate the rate at which damage occurs, ten fold in fact. Although some prescription drugs are just as damaging as these.
In any case, there's very little chance of pinning down actual physical exposure unless you lived in a bubble that only got breeched one time by one human being.
I know it would be nice to pin it down, or perhaps even know due to whom or what or where you may have gotten this, but in the end, I almost think it's better not knowing. Such is life, it's fatal ultimately to us all....and if we know the when and the how exactly....well it just gives us both ourselves, or someone else to be angry with, none of which is condusive to our own sanity. Really more detrimental long term than anything else, this thinking.
However we got it, somehow, that person got it too, and they are also a victim of a disease that's been here since the dawn of man. Ergo I think acceptance, and moving into what can be done about it are the more healthy choices. Although it's hard not to want to try to figure it all out, we all know.
Have a merry Christmas and try to not let your mind spin out on this too much.
maryB
mine is somewhere between 20 and 43 years ago.
why is it hard to pin down?
1. there's no "original symptoms" at the onset of this disease, for many.
2. there's a longer timeline between minimal exposure, from a mild exposure, compared to extreme exposure, from say tainted blood given during surgery. Both ways will get you sick, but if you were transfused in the 80's or earlier you could have received millions of viral copies at one fell swoop, and so your disease progresses faster towards damge that way.
3. there is no direct correclation between viral load and amount of liver damage. Liver damage can take a long time to begin, especially if the person has good health, and takes good care of themselves.
4. liver damage is dependant on more than this virus, it genetics, rate the body repairs at, other health conditions impinging on and taxing the system, other drugs used whether prescription or illegal can both cause damage, and especially both alcohol and pot consumtion can accelerate the rate at which damage occurs, ten fold in fact. Although some prescription drugs are just as damaging as these.
In any case, there's very little chance of pinning down actual physical exposure unless you lived in a bubble that only got breeched one time by one human being.
I know it would be nice to pin it down, or perhaps even know due to whom or what or where you may have gotten this, but in the end, I almost think it's better not knowing. Such is life, it's fatal ultimately to us all....and if we know the when and the how exactly....well it just gives us both ourselves, or someone else to be angry with, none of which is condusive to our own sanity. Really more detrimental long term than anything else, this thinking.
However we got it, somehow, that person got it too, and they are also a victim of a disease that's been here since the dawn of man. Ergo I think acceptance, and moving into what can be done about it are the more healthy choices. Although it's hard not to want to try to figure it all out, we all know.
Have a merry Christmas and try to not let your mind spin out on this too much.
maryB
1 Comments
Pot does not excellerate hep C, that information is incorrect
i have a lot of pain in both arms and bothlegs thighs and i have hep cand i have know for 2 yers and my dr. h ave not given me no treatment and im tired all the time please let me know something tyrone
i have a lot of pain in both arms and bothlegs thighs and i have hep cand i have know for 2 yers and my dr. h ave not given me no treatment and im tired all the time please let me know something tyrone
Hi. I was diagnosed a couple of months ago with HCV and I am genotype 1a. I just ordered scripts for the pegasys/copegus. I was told all of my tests were good but when I had the biopsy it showed mild inflamation, does anyone have a clue how long I may have had this since I am not sure when I contracted it and I have three children that I am concerned about.
Also does anyone know if the side effects (if I get any serious ones) are permanent?
I am so happy to find a site that I can go to for people that have this disease. It really sucks to know that I had to donate blood to find out that I had this.
bless you all
Also does anyone know if the side effects (if I get any serious ones) are permanent?
I am so happy to find a site that I can go to for people that have this disease. It really sucks to know that I had to donate blood to find out that I had this.
bless you all
sounds like symptoms of chronic hep c infection, keep us posted after you get the RNA PCR test.
It does seem as your body did not clear your hep c and you are now chronically infected, I hope I am wrong, though.
I had many of those symptoms before I was diagnosed last year.
It does seem as your body did not clear your hep c and you are now chronically infected, I hope I am wrong, though.
I had many of those symptoms before I was diagnosed last year.
Thank you all for your comments and support. I dont know if I have the deasease or not. I just know that I have had alot of syptoms develope here recently (last couple of mo's) and I was curious if it could have anything to do with being told I was a Hep.C carrier.(??) My sypmtoms are and include fatigue,tired all the time,no energy for anything ,seems I cant get enough sleep/rest and I used to be fairly active & full of energy,muscle and joint soreness,aching,occasionall dizzy spells,loss of concentration,menstraul irregularties and weight gain.I know this could be symptoms of many different things so I was just wondering if it could be related to Hep.c.I guess the only way to know is go to my Dr. Seems the smart thing to do. LoL
Thank ya'll again tho. It gave me an insight about being a carrier.
Thank ya'll again tho. It gave me an insight about being a carrier.
I did not get diagnosed until 2003, and I probably was already infected during my last pregnancy in 1989. Child is negative also, TG. Hcv was not part of the Ob/gyn tests.
The test for hcv is not included in the regular blood work up, you have to request it, even today. If your children are negative by today's sensitive tests, they should not test positive later on, unless infected by other sources. Enlighten them on how to avoid infection.
Drs did not start testing for hep c until early 1990's. If you were one of the lucky ones to be tested for the non a non b, hepatitis, then you have a fairly good idea when you might have been infected. Blood banks did not test for hcv either, until recently (1989, I believe) so you see how new this whole thing still is.
hope you do well
The test for hcv is not included in the regular blood work up, you have to request it, even today. If your children are negative by today's sensitive tests, they should not test positive later on, unless infected by other sources. Enlighten them on how to avoid infection.
Drs did not start testing for hep c until early 1990's. If you were one of the lucky ones to be tested for the non a non b, hepatitis, then you have a fairly good idea when you might have been infected. Blood banks did not test for hcv either, until recently (1989, I believe) so you see how new this whole thing still is.
hope you do well
Connie , Don't let the biopsy scare you off. You can get tested for HCV and even treat it without biopsy if you so choose. I found I had HCV and decided to treat without biopsy. I expect there's damage after 30 years I don't care to know how much as I knew I wanted to treat. Biopsy helps many determine whether or not to treat right away. Definitely get tested-the sooner you face this the less the chance of damage to your liver-be brave!
Hey Lucky Luigi,
I think that our friend.....aka genedog....needs no words to communicate. He's too efficient to waste words.....LOL.
PKid
If I could go back in time and examine all the aches and pains and generally not feeling well for years-I would have suspected Hep c from what I know now. BUt through all the years of doctor visits for misc. stuff-and even giving blood to the public:( I never came up positive for Hep C. Now I am, and suspect I have been since the late 70's-I had kids after that-they've been tested and are neg. Will they show up positive one day like me?
I think of all of the people I have worked with in my job and can actually start to identify who might have been better diagnosed-(I'm a Physical Therapist working with arthritis, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia patients)Amazing info here on this sight. I now encourage difinitive testing and treatment!!! WE've got to stop this disease!
I think of all of the people I have worked with in my job and can actually start to identify who might have been better diagnosed-(I'm a Physical Therapist working with arthritis, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia patients)Amazing info here on this sight. I now encourage difinitive testing and treatment!!! WE've got to stop this disease!
Hep C has been erroneously labeled a "silent" disease or a disease that has little or no symptoms until significant liver damage is apparent. Well, this is not exactly true.
There are often symptoms, but not ones that shout LIVER DISEASE! Nevertheless real symptoms of the disease. Cognitive impairment (so called "brain fog"), depression, fatigue (chronic fatigue syndrome is not an uncommon diagnosis), fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis-like symptoms (sometimes diagnosed as sero-negative RA), and others. Of course chronically elevated liver enzymes, even slightly, doesn't seem to trigger any alarms, but often is the only "real" symptom to many doctor's minds that indicate chronic hep c.
There are indeed many vigorous, mentally sharp folk with this disease that don't have these symptoms. Who knows why?
There are often symptoms, but not ones that shout LIVER DISEASE! Nevertheless real symptoms of the disease. Cognitive impairment (so called "brain fog"), depression, fatigue (chronic fatigue syndrome is not an uncommon diagnosis), fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis-like symptoms (sometimes diagnosed as sero-negative RA), and others. Of course chronically elevated liver enzymes, even slightly, doesn't seem to trigger any alarms, but often is the only "real" symptom to many doctor's minds that indicate chronic hep c.
There are indeed many vigorous, mentally sharp folk with this disease that don't have these symptoms. Who knows why?
Hi Chev55,
Thanks for asking this is week #3 and the sx haven't been bad, hopefully I'll follow in your foot steps and only need 24 weeks of tx, How are you doing??
Thanks for asking this is week #3 and the sx haven't been bad, hopefully I'll follow in your foot steps and only need 24 weeks of tx, How are you doing??
It sounds like you have HCV, ask your doctor to do more testing, it seems this disease can stay dorment for years, I was exposed somewhere around 1972 - 1974 I was told I had Hepatitis Non A, Non B they didn't have a diagnosis for Hep C back then.
It was never an issue after that - I put it out of my mind, until last December when I had pre-surgical blood test, my ALT & AST levels were elevated so my doctor did more testing. Prior to that I'd had my labs done every year during a routine physical, but the liver enzymes weren't elevated for 30 years.
I'm not trying to scare you and I hope you don't have this disease, but if you do keep coming back here, there are lots of smart and loving people who can answer your questions and give you support.
Good luck
It was never an issue after that - I put it out of my mind, until last December when I had pre-surgical blood test, my ALT & AST levels were elevated so my doctor did more testing. Prior to that I'd had my labs done every year during a routine physical, but the liver enzymes weren't elevated for 30 years.
I'm not trying to scare you and I hope you don't have this disease, but if you do keep coming back here, there are lots of smart and loving people who can answer your questions and give you support.
Good luck
There is no such thing as being a "carrier" of Hep C. You either have it or you don't. Most of us never had any symptoms, but that didn't mean our livers weren't damaged. It is a very slow moving virus which some people have for thirty years without any noticeable problems. What you need to do is to have a test (PCR) to see if you have the virus, then they will probably give you a biopsy to see the state of the liver. After that, you may decide to go on treatment, which works in 80% of the cases if you have one sub-type of the virus (genotype 2 or 3) and 50% if you have another (genotype 1). I had the virus for eighteen years before I was treated, no symptoms, did 24 weeks of treatment and cleared the virus. But I would advise you to make an appointment to get this sorted out. And don't take any of this "carrier" nonsense!
the term hep c carrier is not accurate, I have never seen it used in any modern literature. You either have hep c, or you don't. If your body did not clear the virus within a year of infection, you are now a chronically infected individual. You have hep c, you are infected with it, it can damage your liver and other organs and you can infect someone who comes in contact with your blood.
You need to have a pcr test qualitative and quantitative. the first can tell if the virus itself is present in your blood, the second can tell what the viral load is. You need a biopsy to tell what damge was caused by the virus, if you are chronically infected. COntact your dr for a pcr test ASAP.
If you did not clear it, you are infected, not "carrying" it, the virus can be causing further damage year after year.
keep us posted and best to you
You need to have a pcr test qualitative and quantitative. the first can tell if the virus itself is present in your blood, the second can tell what the viral load is. You need a biopsy to tell what damge was caused by the virus, if you are chronically infected. COntact your dr for a pcr test ASAP.
If you did not clear it, you are infected, not "carrying" it, the virus can be causing further damage year after year.
keep us posted and best to you
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