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'Healthy carrier' status
Good morning,
After being pronounced to be a healthy chronic carrier by a hepatologist at Duke Medical Center I was advised to begin tx with Sofubuvir when it became available end of 2013.
While I was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this summer I went to a very modern
comprehensive clinic to consult with a specialist there. He told me that I was a
healthy carrier with a reactivity number of 15 and that he recommended a yearly blood test to monitor that number. With such a low score he maintains tx is not
necessary. I ought to add that I acquired the virus 40 years ago.
Does anyone have any opinion on my 'course of action'?
Thank you, Lili C.
After being pronounced to be a healthy chronic carrier by a hepatologist at Duke Medical Center I was advised to begin tx with Sofubuvir when it became available end of 2013.
While I was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this summer I went to a very modern
comprehensive clinic to consult with a specialist there. He told me that I was a
healthy carrier with a reactivity number of 15 and that he recommended a yearly blood test to monitor that number. With such a low score he maintains tx is not
necessary. I ought to add that I acquired the virus 40 years ago.
Does anyone have any opinion on my 'course of action'?
Thank you, Lili C.
Heck I almost got turned down for the trial cause my viral count went down to low. It sounds strange but luckily they did another and it ended up much higher. My fibroscan was 9.9 and my liver enzymes always jumped all around. My gt is 2a//2c,been in the trial for sofosbuvir and GS-5816. In one week I went from 190,000 viral count to 44, my ast went from 94 to 26,and alt 86 to 33. I would make sure you get a viral count somewhere no matter what they tell you. And soon too. I don't think you wanna hear the words you waited to long.
I agree with what you stated. But here is a link that explains the
confusion. Doesn't sound very healthy to me.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asymptomatic_carrier
Best to you
confusion. Doesn't sound very healthy to me.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asymptomatic_carrier
Best to you
Who said that? If you haven't had a biopsy or fibroscan there's no way they can tell you whether you liver is damaged or not. Blood tests do not indicate the level of fibrosis in your liver. This is the key information you need to make a decision on how to proceed..
Thanks to all. The doctors had told me that I was carrying the virus but that it was not doing anything; that was after they reviewed all tne bloodwork.
Yes I see that now. But the terminology does confuse people. Its used for
those who have tested positive for antibodies. I know someone who this happened to applying at a University Hospital. The person was a masters in Nursing and found this confusing. It appears to be a old term still used.
Best to you
those who have tested positive for antibodies. I know someone who this happened to applying at a University Hospital. The person was a masters in Nursing and found this confusing. It appears to be a old term still used.
Best to you
Maybe this will help. All of us that are now cured will always "carry" the andibodies. But they will do no harm.
"It seems that "carrier" doesn't mean actively infected."
While that is true, the difference here is she has been genotyped and that can't happen unless you have a viral load which then means you carry the virus. In other words your immune system did not beat it back. So she does have the active virus.
While that is true, the difference here is she has been genotyped and that can't happen unless you have a viral load which then means you carry the virus. In other words your immune system did not beat it back. So she does have the active virus.
It seems that "carrier" doesn't mean actively infected.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Hep-C-carrier/show/1395418
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Hep-C-carrier/show/1395418
When you talk about "reactivity #s" numbers you are talking about having the antibody test which is the first one done. Once it is confirmed that you have the active virus and your genotype is known then there is no reason to repeat this test as you have the virus. As for viral loads go those number can and will change all the time. Mine was as high as 10 million and as low as 800,000. This can happen at any given time.
"What were the reactivity #s?"
The numbers associated with an antibody test don't mean anything other than you are positive for HCV antibodies, there is no connection between those numbers and how far the disease has progressed.
The numbers associated with an antibody test don't mean anything other than you are positive for HCV antibodies, there is no connection between those numbers and how far the disease has progressed.
If your talking about Harvoni which just hit the market it is for genotype 1. And if I'm not mistaken so isn't the ABBvie drugs that are about to be approved soon.
I'm not sure what is in the pipeline for genotype 3. Maybe someone on here can shed some light on that. Harvoni which was just approved by the FDA is for genotype 1 only. There are trials for Gileads GS-5816 that are recruiting now. Most treatments do use Sovaldi in combination with another drug. I think AbbVie and Merck have some drugs about to be approved but you would have to look into what genotypes they are for. It's a complicated landscape out there with different treatments for different genotypes with different SVR rates.
The info is out there but you have to go looking for it.
I did find this from January 2014:
http://hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/GT_2_and_3.pdf
The info is out there but you have to go looking for it.
I did find this from January 2014:
http://hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/GT_2_and_3.pdf
By the way, I should mention that I do want to be clesr of it but I am trying to get as much information as possible.
one question I have is for the folks who thoght they were healthy carriers: during that time what were your #s? What were the reactivity #s?
one question I have is for the folks who thoght they were healthy carriers: during that time what were your #s? What were the reactivity #s?
When is the newer drug coming out? I do not know what
stage it is in. It is said it will be superior to Sofosbuvir.
stage it is in. It is said it will be superior to Sofosbuvir.
As mentioned before by can-do-man if you have a genotype you have the virus. If you have the virus it is in your best interest to get rid of it.
It's very tempting to accept bad information when it is presented in a "don't worry you will be fine" wrapper. In March 2013 My PCP sat me down and told me in a sweet reassuring manner that I would be fine. That "active" Hepatitis C has viral loads in the millions and mine was only 44,000 "proving" that I was indeed healthy. She also told me that treatment was brutal and I should avoid it at all costs. I wanted to believe her and for a few days I did. In March 2013 the SOC for genotype 2 was 24 weeks of Ribavirin and Interferon. I imagined the worst and was scared ****less.
Luckily for me I did my own research, got myself to a specialist and realized just how wrong the advice I was being given was. Also lucky for me the new drugs were just around the corner and I did wait a few months to treat. The treatment was a breeze for me with no side effects. As a genotype 3 you would do the same treatment of Sovaldi and Ribavirin but for 24 weeks not the 12 weeks I did.
Not everybody has an easy time as I did but it is a HUGE improvement over interferon treatments and for most very do-able.
Viral load is an indication of how much virus is free floating in your blood. The virus lives and replicates in liver cells. The viral load test does not say ANYTHING about viral activity in the liver.
Hope this is of help.
It's very tempting to accept bad information when it is presented in a "don't worry you will be fine" wrapper. In March 2013 My PCP sat me down and told me in a sweet reassuring manner that I would be fine. That "active" Hepatitis C has viral loads in the millions and mine was only 44,000 "proving" that I was indeed healthy. She also told me that treatment was brutal and I should avoid it at all costs. I wanted to believe her and for a few days I did. In March 2013 the SOC for genotype 2 was 24 weeks of Ribavirin and Interferon. I imagined the worst and was scared ****less.
Luckily for me I did my own research, got myself to a specialist and realized just how wrong the advice I was being given was. Also lucky for me the new drugs were just around the corner and I did wait a few months to treat. The treatment was a breeze for me with no side effects. As a genotype 3 you would do the same treatment of Sovaldi and Ribavirin but for 24 weeks not the 12 weeks I did.
Not everybody has an easy time as I did but it is a HUGE improvement over interferon treatments and for most very do-able.
Viral load is an indication of how much virus is free floating in your blood. The virus lives and replicates in liver cells. The viral load test does not say ANYTHING about viral activity in the liver.
Hope this is of help.
I have heard this " healthy carrier" comment before. The person tested positive for hepatitis C on employment at a University Hospital. This was the term used due to the fact her PCR test (to see if you active hepatitis C in your blood) came back negative. She didn't have hepatis C. So she was healthy.
25 percent clear the virus on their own and don't need treatment. They are "healthy carriers" of the "hepatitis C antibodies". It is chronic.
Hope this is the case and you don't have Hepatitis C.
Best to you
25 percent clear the virus on their own and don't need treatment. They are "healthy carriers" of the "hepatitis C antibodies". It is chronic.
Hope this is the case and you don't have Hepatitis C.
Best to you
There isn't anything remotely healthy about having the virus. It's in a constant fight to kill the 'host'. Sooner or later it will do it's damage if left untreated. The body is under a tremendous amount of stress with this virus even if the infected person doesn't recognize it because they are few and far between in the beginning or explains symptoms away altogether.
Why anyone has to wait on the treatment to prevent damage is beyond me. That's the dumbest thing I have ever heard of. The famous line of "you've got time" is hogwash. Each day you have the virus, puts you one step closer to severe damage. It attacks the entire system and not just the liver. My guess is if you got cleared of the virus you would notice an improvement in your health regardless if they think you are now "healthy". They do refer this as a "Deadly Virus" so why all the minimizing?
You don't have to "look" sick to be sick. People only see sick people when they are having good days and feeling okay. Doctors should Know that. I'm one of those people who doesn't "look sick" either. We have turned the page to getting well. What went on in the past with all the 'jargon' is in the past. It's a new day and by 2016 everyone with the disease will get the cure.
Why anyone has to wait on the treatment to prevent damage is beyond me. That's the dumbest thing I have ever heard of. The famous line of "you've got time" is hogwash. Each day you have the virus, puts you one step closer to severe damage. It attacks the entire system and not just the liver. My guess is if you got cleared of the virus you would notice an improvement in your health regardless if they think you are now "healthy". They do refer this as a "Deadly Virus" so why all the minimizing?
You don't have to "look" sick to be sick. People only see sick people when they are having good days and feeling okay. Doctors should Know that. I'm one of those people who doesn't "look sick" either. We have turned the page to getting well. What went on in the past with all the 'jargon' is in the past. It's a new day and by 2016 everyone with the disease will get the cure.
What blood tests are used to detect HCV infection?
Several blood tests are performed to test for HCV infection, including:
•Screening tests for antibody to HCV (anti-HCV)◦enzyme immunoassay (EIA)
◦enhanced chemiluminescence immunoassay (CIA)
•Recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA)
•Qualitative tests to detect presence or absence of virus (HCV RNA polymerase chain reaction [PCR])
•Quantitative tests to detect amount (titer) of virus (HCV RNA PCR)
-----------------------------------------
Being that you have been genotyped then you do carry the active virus and would have a viral load. I've got to be honest with you and say if any Doctor said I was fine by just looking at me I would run as fast as I could. When I found out I had cirrhosis no doctor could have told by just looking at me as I wasn't the least bit sick looking I would at least be curious as to their reason for just repeating the antibody test as that does not tell you what your viral load is nor does it tell anything about liver damage.
Best to you.
Several blood tests are performed to test for HCV infection, including:
•Screening tests for antibody to HCV (anti-HCV)◦enzyme immunoassay (EIA)
◦enhanced chemiluminescence immunoassay (CIA)
•Recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA)
•Qualitative tests to detect presence or absence of virus (HCV RNA polymerase chain reaction [PCR])
•Quantitative tests to detect amount (titer) of virus (HCV RNA PCR)
-----------------------------------------
Being that you have been genotyped then you do carry the active virus and would have a viral load. I've got to be honest with you and say if any Doctor said I was fine by just looking at me I would run as fast as I could. When I found out I had cirrhosis no doctor could have told by just looking at me as I wasn't the least bit sick looking I would at least be curious as to their reason for just repeating the antibody test as that does not tell you what your viral load is nor does it tell anything about liver damage.
Best to you.
"What is PCR.?"
NUCLEIC ACID DETECTION
The diagnosis of HCV infection can also be made through detection of HCV RNA using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques (Figure 1). HCV RNA can be detected within one to two weeks after exposure to the virus, weeks before the onset of ALT elevations or the appearance of anti-HCV.42 In some patients, the detection of HCV RNA may be the only evidence of HCV infection.
http://www.aafp.org/afp/1999/0101/p79.html
NUCLEIC ACID DETECTION
The diagnosis of HCV infection can also be made through detection of HCV RNA using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques (Figure 1). HCV RNA can be detected within one to two weeks after exposure to the virus, weeks before the onset of ALT elevations or the appearance of anti-HCV.42 In some patients, the detection of HCV RNA may be the only evidence of HCV infection.
http://www.aafp.org/afp/1999/0101/p79.html
The local clinic and the doctor in KL did regular bloodtests and the doctor at Duke referred to the clinic's test. The clinic had also informed me that I was genotype 3 .
The doctor in KL measured the antibody presence and that score was 15. I have not been to a doctor for anything but trigger finger since I don't know when and I am 65.
They said the virus is not doing anything but hanging around (my words) thus the Duke hepatologist said I was a healthy chronic carrier and there was no hurry to treat. He also said that he knew all that just by looking at me when he met me. An individual on this forum last year catagorically proclaimed that no doctor would ever say such a thing. However, a Duke hepatologist said such a thing.
What is PCR.
?
The doctor in KL measured the antibody presence and that score was 15. I have not been to a doctor for anything but trigger finger since I don't know when and I am 65.
They said the virus is not doing anything but hanging around (my words) thus the Duke hepatologist said I was a healthy chronic carrier and there was no hurry to treat. He also said that he knew all that just by looking at me when he met me. An individual on this forum last year catagorically proclaimed that no doctor would ever say such a thing. However, a Duke hepatologist said such a thing.
What is PCR.
?
I'm a little confused by your post. Have you ever had a PCR done to see if you even have hep c? I see where you are talking about having an antibody test done but nothing about a PCR. Many people are "reactive" but do not have the actual virus as their immune system beat it back.
As for being a "healthy carrier" are they talking about just the antibodies?
As for being a "healthy carrier" are they talking about just the antibodies?
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