Hep A/B Vaccination

My hepa recommends I get the Hep A/B vaccination. From my reading, one of the situations it's highly recommended for is "people with chronic liver disease".

I see a few smatterings of articles linking the B vaccine to increased risk of MS... but there are other studies that refute this. I'm gonna do it, not worth risking getting A or B on top of what I already have IMO.

Did you get vaccinated?

Return to Poll

0%

 (0) 

Hep A Vaccination Only

0%

 (0) 

Hep B Vaccination Only

82%

 (19) 

Both

17%

 (4) 

Neither

23 Members voted

[RobertBeWell]

My browser flaked out on me, this got posted twice. Apologies.

[spectda]

every hepatologist I've ever seen said to have both without hesitation, it's standard practice. As you said, you definately don't want a or b on top of c.

[desrt]

Never needed the vaccinations - I got my antibodies the 'natural' way before contracting HCV (I don't recommend this method). Get the shots.

[Trish77]

I got the Hep A vaccination and didn't need the Hep B vaccine as had developed immunities to it the "natural" way also - and I concur, I don't recommend this method.  Thankfully, with Hep B most people clear on their own and go on to develop an immunity.   Still, get the shots.  

[carol411]

I'm the dope that never got either vaccination.  When the hep C was diagnosed I was seeing a despicable doctor.  He would not administer the shots from his office I was to go to public health.  In denial, angry, and embarrassed, I would not go.  He would not order shots for the office.  It took me over a year to look for another doctor and start treatment.  In this rural area patient poaching is frowned on so it probably took a year for someone to agree to treat me.  Anyway, we jumped right into treatment.  He never asked and I never thought about it.  I figure I've lived 55 years without being protected, I'll risk another year and take care of it after treatment.  I just don't want any more ugly things in my system right now.  Maybe I'm being stupid; it sure wouldn't be the first time!

Carol

[22hamilton]

Have been exposed to both hep A and hep B in the past and have antibodies to both-I was never one for doing things by halves !

[desrt]

It's *extremely* important that you get those shots *now*. If you were to be exposed to HBV or HAV when you already have HCV it could be a very serious matter. Let me be clear that I had already had those other viruses and fully resolved them on the antibody and antigen levels *before* I contracted HCV. Please discuss this with your doctor as soon as possible.
One of the first things my doctor did when I switched doctors and before I started tx, was to make sure I still had those antibodies, since I had hep A when I was 5 and hep B when I was 17 and you can lose that immunity over the years.

[RobertBeWell]

Got my shots yesterday. No sides at all, my arm didn't even get sore!

[carol411]

Thank you for your concern.  I will at least tell my doctor of the omission and let him make the call.  And if public health is still the only option for a quick remedy of the situation, I've lost so much privacy and dignity already it would be hard to notice any new embarrassment.  That sounds whiny!!  I'm not, just resigned.

[Marcia2202]

I got A before I knew that I had Hep C, as I travel a lot.

I got the B shots when I was on treatment.

I would NO WAY risk getting A or B already having C. As mentioned before, it could become life threatening, if one was to contract any of them on top of the C.

[RobertBeWell]

"And if public health is still the only option for a quick remedy of the situation, I've lost so much privacy and dignity already it would be hard to notice any new embarrassment.  That sounds whiny!!  I'm not, just resigned. "

I just got my shots at the health department. Most physicians here just don't even do them anymore - it's faster and cheaper to just get them at the public clinic.

I'm not sure how they operate where you live, but my visit was fast, pleasant, and clean. Your medical records receive the same legal protection as anywhere else.  The staff was friendly and knowledgeable.

If it makes you feel any better, you don't have to tell them anything about why you want the shots. I just said "I'm going to be traveling, and my doctor wants me to have them." No questions were asked.

Good luck.

[Peach803]

I have HCV...and oddly enough, I'm not embarrassed that I have it.  My daughter seems to be more embarrassed than I am, if I'm in her company and somehow the conversation leads to my revelation that I have it.  I am of the opinion that with so many millions of "us" out there...it NEEDS to be talked about, just like HIV became part of peoples conversations.

I met SO MANY of the criteria for contracting it...that it does not embarrass me.  I have O Negative blood, just as my mother did...it's the "universal donor"...and she and I used to donate blood at the blood bank, and I'm sure it was WAY before the sterile practices in today's blood banks.  Then came the 70s...and I fully participated, having move to LA in the Summer of 69...yeah that was the "Woodstock Summer"...crazy, hazy days for sure.

On top of that I had several back surgeries, prior to 1992, when they began testing donated blood for use in surgeries.  I lost the majority of my blood, during my first back surgery, and had to be infused...during that 10 hour surgery...and there were two other back surgeries after that...the last was in 1988.  I had to stop working in 1990, due to the back problems.

Next...was my stupidity being in FULL BLOOM...when I left LA, and married a guy 15 years my junior...and the 'trouble' insued...with me getting back to the days of the 70s I swore I'd never get back to...and THAT part of my life DOES embarrass me, mostly because my daughter suffered because of it.

At any rate...life is life, this is what "we got"...don't be embarrassed, be 'active' here and elsewhere, because your words no doubt will help other people...just as my dear friend Marcia2202 has helped me through these past few years.  NOW...on this very day, I have found that the Tx is WORKING...I started treatment on May 7th, 2010...yeah, just three months ago...with a viral load of 1,167,270...today I found out that it's 8,570..so, I am blessed and grateful that I have the insurance to cover it.

Br proud to be who you are, and work your way through this thing that you never "asked" for...who would?  BUT...in your walk, offer a shoulder to another...it's a good thing.  Peace.

[betscruise]

I would advise that before anyone gets a Hep B vaccine, to study carefully the side effect and response rates of this vaccine. The effectiveness of the vaccine drops dramatically for people over 40, and even more for those already infected with Hep C. In other words, it doesn't work for many people.
I was one of the ones that didn't respond to the vaccine. My hepa recommended that I revaccinate at a double dose. In the course of researching this...I discovered that the Hep B vaccine can cause neurological problems, the same ones that I had been experiencing since my vaccine, and had stumped the doctors - most noticably peripheral neuropathy pain. I'm now in the middle of vaccine injury case for the injuries recieved from the vaccine.

Because of this vaccine, I'm in pain, have nerve damage, and have vision problems. I won't vaccinate for anything ever again.

[pcds]

Thanks for the information.  My vaccine didn't take the first time in 2003 now having a second round.

[burned74]

I have seen 4 Doctors and all have recomended that I get A and  B vaccines, which I did.
Seems like a no brainer to me.