Hep C maybe back after 7 years? Anyone know what Hep C Antibodies are/mean?

[DMPA]

I try and get tested once a year since i kicked it in 99.  i was on just interferon for 12 months then immediately upon stopping TX was positive again so they then put me on the onterferon/ribovirin mix which was relatively new at the time for 6 months and it worked!!  I was Hep C free until last week (that i know of).  my doc tested me and my liver functions were elevated and my Hep C antibodies were reactive really high 28.7.  they are supposed to be non-reactive and at 1.0 or lower?  I called my old Hep C doc who immedaitely ordered more blood work.  i had it done yestreday.  Anyone have any thoughts?  I am 14 weeks pregnant so it's just scarier then if i were not.  i'd hate to pass this dreadfulness on to a baby!!!

[hopeful57]

i went through a year of hep c tx pegasys and copegasys 6 years ago and my doctor said i was cured for life no worries about it coming back ever. i thought that was the best news ever but i still worried about it over the years. i am 6 weeks pregnant now and the nurse just called to tell my my blood work was positive for hep c. i immediately felt i had a ton of bricks dropped on me.  thanks to this forum i feel the outcome could be positive.  thank you. i will get a more thurouh test but i feel a lot better now.

[NYgirl]

Thanks that takes a bit of wonder out of my day! :)  I have life insurance through work but it's not enough and of course I was thinking about getting it right before I was diagnosed (not that it would have mattered since I"ve had it 25 years or so).

So...now all I have to do is get SVR and then stay clear a couple of years and my kids can retire when I die hahaha.  You'd think I'm talking like I am a rich guy and we're thinking $$$$$$$s here instead of enough to cover my burial  ;)

Thanks...it is the kind of thing I might joke around about BUT really DO think about!

[Mister beagle bailey]

I could be wrong but from what I understand is that even if you clear the virus you will still show antibodies of hep C .  It means that you were exsposed to the virus at some point, not that you have it.
I sent a sos out for help, you'll heare from someone soon.

Beagle

[DMPA]

Thank you all so much!!  I hope that's all it is, is antibodies showing i fought it before?  That would be so GREAT!!!
I did have all the quanatative follow-up tests for three years after my last treatment all were great, no viral load, no hep C.  Then after 3 years my Hep C doc announced I was cured and sent me on my way. I was even able to get Life insurance in 2001, which was huge.  i had beeen denied up to that point bc of the hep C!
It was my regular PCP who did the blood work that showed the reactive antibodies and he is clueless about Hep C.  I'll let you know once i hear from this quanatative test from my hep c doc.
Either way i feel incredibly positive.
this forum is great!  i wish they had it or i knew about it back in 98!!  you are all so great!!!

[DMPA]

That's so awesome Revenire!!  I just saw this website from an old posting (sorry i forget who posted it so i can't give credit) http://www.hepc8690.com/content/documents/SOPs/SOPtestCriteria-e.shtml
and like you said it says there will always be antibodies present.  whew!!  I don't know what my liver functions were, my PCP said it was slightly elevated but i'm waiting on that paperwork from him.  they only gave me one page.  I'm picking it up tonight.  Shouldn't my PCP know that?  He totally made me think i'm positive.
I'm on preg vitamins and synthroid?  Who knows??

[NYgirl]

I thought of this the other day - since we will always show antibody reaction, will that stop us from getting life insurance in the future?  I know we cannot get it while positive but - Say you are indeed clear for a few years ... will that (antibodies) cause problems for us does anybody know?

It's not like we could say we were just "exposed" like another person would be able to.  I am wondering if I can ever UP my insurance someday.

[NYgirl]

Lots of us in here didn't know we had this disease and carried healthy non-HCV pos children.  I think the number is very low although it sure IS always possible. We do have a member who was born with HCV so while it is rare let's just pray you don't have it back!

[DMPA]

I was tested yesterday by my Hep C doc.  i'll let you all know.  
NY Girl, I  had to be 2 years HepC free to get Life Insurance.  it had to be a permanent policy at the 2 year point, they would not issue me term then.  but once i was 5 years free i could and did get term policies.  i was even issued at a preferred rate which was HUGE!  And if these guys are right and my hepC antibodies were probably always there.  I actually have had 3 policies issued since i have been negative.

[jmjm530]

Curious, Did you have a viral load test six months AFTER your last treatment and were you negative for the Hep C virus? If so, then the odds of relapse are only around 1%.

Not sure about antibody levels, but it's normal to be positive for antibodies after a successful treatment. That said, given your elevated liver enzymes, your old Hep C doctor is correct to order more blood tests, which I assume will also include a viral load test.

Regarding the baby, I'm not sure of the exact odds of mother to child transmission, but I believe it's under 5%.

All the best luck and let us know what happens.


-- Jim

[beamishboy]

forgetabout it..buy your family some undeveloped land,preferably w/ potable water...yu can make paymnts & enjoy in the here&now-they quit makin anymore of it and it would be just our luck to live longer than the insurance company -carpe diem baby!

[friole]

I think a lot of general practitioners are not familiar enough to read these tests. I have had nurses read PCR's to me incorrectly, so I would make sure I get copies of everything, if I were you.   When I first found out I had the antibodies - in about 1992 - I cheerfully deceived myself into thinking my bod had fought off the infection.  It was not until 2004 I had the PCR done which, of course, showed active hep C.  Good luck to you.  I hope it is just the antibodies

[NYgirl]

Said: I cheerfully deceived myself into thinking my bod had fought off the infection


AH I tried to do the SAME THING!  I think we all do...but the doctors just won't let us get away with it ;)


BMW - I haven't seen you on here in SO LONG!  How in the world are you doing?  I can't honestly remember the last time I talked to you...it was making me cry I tell you!  ;)  Seriously - if I had any money to buy any land...I would.  But I am a broke single mom without too many extra pennies...which is why I want life insurance for my kids!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe I should buy oil insurance - at this rate that might be better than life insurance or gold!  ;)

[beamishboy]

i am doin the meds and hangin in there...don't cry for me brooklyn baby(justa bit of poetic license & sung to the of tune "Argentina") my iMac mouse is drivin me nuts,,i'm keepin myself busy w/ dad stuff,yardcare,trx of sx's.......
seriously-real estate can be purchase w/ a small downpaymnt and monthly premiums,not unlike life insurance in that respect....heck w/ the oil co -they are part of the problem......have a good one girl,and i don't mean to imply yur from brooklyn,whatever 'that' means......you're pure highrise,doorman, central park west to me!

[2irish]

i don't want to rain on anyones parade, either, but just want you to know that my 17 yr. old was born with HCV.  Of course, i did not know i had it then.  I also have 2 older children NOT born with it.  They said chances of my kids having it were less than 3%.  so there you go.  I bet you don't have a full blown case anyway, you will be fine.  Just please be aware, happens even with low odds.  (My son is fine by the way, 0 liver damage & healthy in every other way).  The very best to you

[stangshelly]

life insurance ?? i have multiple policies and when i do die which i feel is not soon enough somedays my family is going to do well..like 1/2 million .try to get your insurance through a credit union..very little ?'s and you do have a patients bill of rights and do not legally have to tell anything. just a little ins info.

[stangshelly]

i can only say that i am new to tx but had my daughter 17 years ago and i was hcv then passed nothing to her i believe it can't be transmitted through birth but the tx has severe birth defects risk  please don't quote me on this i am sure others know lots more...good luck..my sisterinlaw just had bbgirl on 052906 nad i am know an aunt :)