Hepatitis C and Lichen Planus

[chitah]

Im 40years old female. I've been diagnosed with Lichen Planus( however biopsy results are not yet avilable). On my request I had blood work done and it came positve for Hep C ( with the RIBA test). I have no risk factors for Hep C. I had a cold when my blood work was done. From my blood work only my Iron is low(5.9), MCV 98.5,MCH 34.0, Sed. Rate 30. All other results are normal ( including ANA). I understend I should still be tested for HCV PCR. I have problem for the past few years with bloating and I had two " attacs" of indigestion. I'm quite tired lately but my Iron level is low ( I've been taking Iron for the last few days). My question is: what can you tell me about the conection between Hep C and Lichen Planus ( I don't have it in my mouth)? Also can Hep C be false positive in my case? Thank you in advance.

[britgirl]

Sometimes we may forget "risk factors". Have you never had a tattooo, ear piercing, tranfusion, manicure, snorted coke, given blood abroad.....? Let's hope it is a false positive......

[chitah]

Thanks. The only thing I had done was ear piercing( done at home by my friends mom)...We'll see what the other test will show...I'm a little afraid

[britgirl]

Don't be worried. It sounds as if you can't possibly have HCV and , even if you have, there is a cure which works for most people. I had HCV for 18 years before finally killing it off last year. I feel fine now. Relax and keep your fingers crossed!

[ringading]

also a few other possible risk factors, could be ...dental, as well as inoculations  when we were school kids, i seem to remember one of them being done , with the 6 needle, thingy, that left the ugly mark on my upper left arm...maybe for T.B....

[LvdByGod]

there is also that slight possibility of contact thru sex. and what about kissing someone with bleeding gums? if we have an open soar in our mouth too. my husband and i don't even kiss (that way) anymore until i am clear, not that we have bleeding gums, but what if we did and didn't notice that there was a cut in our mouths. also what about cleaning someones wounds if you have a open soar on your hand. other ways to get it could be being born with it, getting it from our mothers who have it. or going to a dentist or doctor... that could care less about sterilization standards.  i know all this sounds bizare and almost imposible, but i believe the chance still exists. i'm actually amazed more people don't have it and aids for that matter which is much easier to get and is even found in small quantities in saliva,tears and sweat even. they must not be that easy to get. chitah, i pray that yours is a false positive. my doctor says that happens alot. please let us know. sandi

[jonihs]

I can't help w/ the kissing, but I keep Surgical gloves all over my house. My husband knows if i cut myself, he automatically grabs gloves, and ditto if he cuts hymself. If you can't get any from your doctor you can get a box from a hospital pharmacy for about 15.00.           joni

[LvdByGod]

is any one else afraid to kissssss? they don't make condoms for that:o) believe it or not though, the first time my husband and i had sex after finding out i had hepc, our condom broke! no kidding. i guess your not suppose to leave too much room at the tip for the stuff. (too much detail, i know, sorry). gosh glad i don't have aids. i thought these rubber things were for safe sex. it really is only for "safer sex".
joni, we just do the bondage thing, oopps i mean bandage thing. we haven't had any surgical proceedures lately :) in other words, we haven't had any big blood events. just paper cuts and scratches. he covers his,i cover mine seems to work out. but, the kissing part, i miss!!!!

[jonihs]

We have never worried about the kissing thing. My doc said if he hasn't got it by now, he never will, but if it's something youre uncomfotable w/, then I don't have any help for you.Maybe someone else has.   I hope so, because hubby says he isn't giving up kissing me me unless I start wearing poison lipstick. (I don't wear lipstick)    joni

[cindee]

HI HEP FAMILY  SORRY FOR JUMPIN' IN HERE...JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW I HAVE FOUND A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE IN DELPHIFORUM....THE CHAT ROOM IS HEP C HIDEOUT.

I WILL NEVER LEAVE THIS MEDHELP FORUM, BUT IT IS GOOD TO CHAT IN REAL TIME, ON THESE SLEEPLESS NITES. WOULD LOVE TO SEE YA ALL THERE. THERE ARE NON-RESPONDERS, PPL WHO HAVE BEEN THRU TX. MORE THAN 2X, AND PPL WHO ARE ON TX. LOTS OF LAUGHS IN THERE. I ENJOY IT. JUST WANTED TO PASS IT ON.

BUT LIKE I SAID BEFORE YOU GUYS ARE MY #1 !!!!!!!!!
Love and Prayers to all. Cindee

[cuteus]

ty for the info, i need to go somewhere where there are more jokes.  I desperately need it.  ringy, can you go there and let us know about Mr. GAD?
ive

[ringading]

hey thanks for the info...thats sweet of you....i am slightly AFRAID to start to go anywhere else though....hahaha, as i really don't want to get too caught up again and spend more than an hour a day on this stuff anymore....tee hee...as i was a wee bit OBSESSED for a bit there!!

cindee...afraid to ask...but....WHAT is mr. gad???...
hugs!

[jonihs]

Chita- I just looked up Lichen Planus and it says that some oeople w/ lichen Planus also have Hep C. Wish I had better news.   MY best to you,   Joni

[jonihs]

Also, if it is Hep C, I would lay off the iron. That's not good for you're liver. Get more tests and find out for sure and if you test poss., keep coming back hear and read and ask questions. We'll be more than happy to help any way we can.    Joni

[cindee]

Hey!!!! Mr.Gads?????? I am clueless. But what else is new??? Now you've got me wondering?????? LOVE YA'LL, Cindee

[jonihs]

Go to Dermadocto.compages/newsletter 125ASP        Joni

[jonihs]

Go to Dermadocto.compages/newsletter 125ASP        Joni

[chitah]

Hi, thanks for all your comments. I got my HCV for PCR back. Positive. Interesting is that all other tests are O.K.Normal!
Just Iron and Sed. Rate... I'm waiting for appointment with specialist. Thanks again. I'll be in touch.

[chitah]

How long ago have you been diagnosed? How are you doing now? How is your Lichen Planus? Sorry for so many questons but your case is more like mine. Did you have any symptoms? What kind of treatment did you get? Do you know when or how long ago you've got Hep C?

[half]

Hi,  will hcv be transmitted via kissing if the infected person has bleeding gums or bleeding sore on the tongue or in the mouth?

[Kalio1]

It's scary and hard to believe when you first are told you tested positive for Hep C. All the stigmas around hepatitis don't help one bit! The more you learn about the disease, the more in control you are in managing the disease. Knowledge is power, so it''s a good thing you are seeking info.
As others mentioned, there are ways to contract Hep C that aren't well known. I contracted mine during one of a number of surgeries I had between 2000 and 2003 and several others here contracted it through either a surgical or dental procedure. There was a recent article in the NYTimes about anesthesiologists passing Hep C to their patients. It is a very durable virus and in surgical arenas, where there is blood vapor floating around, exposure is possible. You don't hear about it because hospitals settle cases quietly behind the scenes. when I got it, I was not the only patient who contracted it that day in the outpatient clinic that performed these spinal epidurals all day long.
It doesn't matter anyway, it's a mystery you will probably never be able to prove beyond doubt, but lots of us didn't contract Hep C in the "typical" way.
Im no doctor but some of what you posted made me worry a bit. If you have not had a biopsy or been thoroughly checked out and had our liver condition evaluated by a doctor, I wouldn't take the iron until you have been evaluated because iron promotes viral replication and you don't want to encourage or "feed" the virus. I'd stop drinking alcohol if you do drink as alcohol is also known to enhance viral activity. The viral activity is what promotes liver damage (fibrosis)
Most people with Hep C are instructed by their doctors not to take iron pills.