Aa
Just found out
I just found out today I tested positive in the hep c antibody blood test... I am devastated!!! I use to be an iv drug user but have been clean for 5 years! The doctor did more blood today but it won't be back for 1-2 week... I know nothing about this... Could my liver already have damage? Does anyone have any advice for me???
The liver enzymes indicate inflammation NOT liver damage. Your Dr is absolutely wrong. Bottom line, you have some inflammation and need to find the cause. Having a score of 80 is not that high. I've been in the hundreds and with treatment (did have Hep C) my #s are back in the 30s.
Should you find you are Hep C+ now is the best time to treat it and cure it. Only 2 years ago the treatment was barbaric and wasn't a guarantee of a cure. Please know that with a pill or 2 in 12 weeks or less you will be cured.
You actually are very lucky to have found this out sooner then later as down the road damage could have occurred. Once you treat if you are infected, your liver enzymes will go back to normal and your future will not change. We are all so lucky to have the meds available so that liver disease will NOT be a concern.
Please know that in a few years this event will become a distant memory.
Take care
.....Kim
Should you find you are Hep C+ now is the best time to treat it and cure it. Only 2 years ago the treatment was barbaric and wasn't a guarantee of a cure. Please know that with a pill or 2 in 12 weeks or less you will be cured.
You actually are very lucky to have found this out sooner then later as down the road damage could have occurred. Once you treat if you are infected, your liver enzymes will go back to normal and your future will not change. We are all so lucky to have the meds available so that liver disease will NOT be a concern.
Please know that in a few years this event will become a distant memory.
Take care
.....Kim
The numbers fluctuate. Who knows, you could have had a couple glasses of wine that made the test outcome be out of range. I find it difficult to believe you have liver damage even if you have HCV from 5 or so years ago. Everyone is different though but it's highly unlikely.
Check back and let us know please.
Check back and let us know please.
I have had hep c my entire life... I am 29 years old and found out during pregnancy. My enzymes have been mildly elevated and a few times pretty high, but have always come back down. I have minimal to no liver damage. As others have said, try not to stress out too much until you know everything! I know easier said than done!
I have been with my husband for 15 years and he is negative. We didn't know I had hep c for 9 years while together. I also have 3 kids... 2 are virus free and my baby is just too young to get an accurate test result. I chose to treat after having my kids. I just recently treated with harvoni and got my SVR 12... Meaning I am cured! It is a lot to take in with a potential diagnosis like that! I remember getting my diagnosis I was 23 , and 8 months pregnant... I was a mess! I had 3 normal pregnancies no issues at all. I am sure everything will be fine regardless if you have hep c or not! My fingers are crossed for you! Just try and relax deep breath, until you have all the facts, then you can figure everything else after! It's easy to let your mind go and think the worst, but really if you were to come back with a viral load, there has never been a better time to treat!
Positive vibes your way! I don't think you could have major liver damage! I have had this like I said my whole life so close to 30 years and I am perfectly healthy!
I have been with my husband for 15 years and he is negative. We didn't know I had hep c for 9 years while together. I also have 3 kids... 2 are virus free and my baby is just too young to get an accurate test result. I chose to treat after having my kids. I just recently treated with harvoni and got my SVR 12... Meaning I am cured! It is a lot to take in with a potential diagnosis like that! I remember getting my diagnosis I was 23 , and 8 months pregnant... I was a mess! I had 3 normal pregnancies no issues at all. I am sure everything will be fine regardless if you have hep c or not! My fingers are crossed for you! Just try and relax deep breath, until you have all the facts, then you can figure everything else after! It's easy to let your mind go and think the worst, but really if you were to come back with a viral load, there has never been a better time to treat!
Positive vibes your way! I don't think you could have major liver damage! I have had this like I said my whole life so close to 30 years and I am perfectly healthy!
So I went back to the doctor this morning and he told me that they haven't received the hepatitis test back yet but they did get the HIV test back.. It was negative.. He also said that they got the liver enzymes test back and they were slightly elevated... He didn't say which test but I asked him what my enzymes were and he said normal was between 40-50 and mine was 80.... He said that meant I did have some liver damage!!! I am freaking out a little!!!! Can anyone tell me what this means??? He also said he would have to check with a high risk pregnancy doctor to see if he can go forward with the IVF scheduled next week!!! Is 80 too high to become pregnant??
I appreciate everyone on here so much! It does make it easier when you have someone who can relate and not judge you!! Everyone's information has been so helpful!! I will definitely update when I get the results!
It's perplexing news I know and very devastating but you aren't sure yet if you have it or if you have just the anti-bodies. You are going to ok. I doubt you have any damage. You can raise a family and not be afraid.
You can get it from dirty tattoo needles or even ear piercing if the needle was not sterile. It's hitting the younger generation who share needles to inject drugs. In Delaware County, there were 152 newly reported cases of HCV in 2013 - a rate of 130 cases per 100,000 population, according to the Indiana State Department of Health
You are going to be ok. No doubt about that. There are cures now. Just don't share personal Items if you have HCV. Chances are it was a false alarm. Let's hope.
You can get it from dirty tattoo needles or even ear piercing if the needle was not sterile. It's hitting the younger generation who share needles to inject drugs. In Delaware County, there were 152 newly reported cases of HCV in 2013 - a rate of 130 cases per 100,000 population, according to the Indiana State Department of Health
You are going to be ok. No doubt about that. There are cures now. Just don't share personal Items if you have HCV. Chances are it was a false alarm. Let's hope.
There is good sense in your concerns. I understand why you do not want to share with others, many people on the site have had bad experiences with that. I, on the other hand, told people. I was either too naive to know when so,some had a bad reaction, or I have been very blessed with the people around me, family, friends, work, church, etc? When people asked questions, I took that as a sign of interest and explained as much as I knew about the virus and always made the point that it was NOT an STd, nor was it only for druggies; that anyone could get it, from dental care (back befor sterilization was not so advanced as now and)"from tattoos, body piercings, including earring piercings, from sharing razors or toothbrushes with someone who had it and that MOST of the people who had it did not know they had it and that a great number who did know, never knew where they got it.
However, a couple of points, if you decide to wait til after treatment, you can always say that you have decided to wait a while to try again for conception because you are getting discouraged and because of the cost.
Also, as Kim said, less that 4 % of babies born to Hep C Moms contract the virus, and some of those clear it themselves in their first year to 18 months.
Finally, as can-do said, liver damage usually takes a very long time to develop. as I mentioned above, I still did not have liver damage after 20 years of having the disease. I did developed it by the time I had a 2nd biopsy - 40 years after contracting the virus. Of course, I had the genotype which tends to cause more liver damage and I was much older (I am 73). The younger and healthier you are, and the better you watch your diet, hydration and exercise, the slower anything like that should progress.
I am thinking that EVEN IF you do have Hep C, you probably don't have liver damage.
As I said before, please keep us informed as to your status. This is a great community for caring, support and information.
Blessings,
Pat
However, a couple of points, if you decide to wait til after treatment, you can always say that you have decided to wait a while to try again for conception because you are getting discouraged and because of the cost.
Also, as Kim said, less that 4 % of babies born to Hep C Moms contract the virus, and some of those clear it themselves in their first year to 18 months.
Finally, as can-do said, liver damage usually takes a very long time to develop. as I mentioned above, I still did not have liver damage after 20 years of having the disease. I did developed it by the time I had a 2nd biopsy - 40 years after contracting the virus. Of course, I had the genotype which tends to cause more liver damage and I was much older (I am 73). The younger and healthier you are, and the better you watch your diet, hydration and exercise, the slower anything like that should progress.
I am thinking that EVEN IF you do have Hep C, you probably don't have liver damage.
As I said before, please keep us informed as to your status. This is a great community for caring, support and information.
Blessings,
Pat
Honestly there is no need to tell anyone unless you feel comfortable doing so. Personally only my immediate family knew that I was infected.
As far as liver damage as Can-do-man has said it typically takes decades for serious damage to occur.
As far as having a baby prior to treatment it's rare to pass this on to a child. The only thing you need to think about as Patra has explained, don't get pregnant if you decide to treat. That is when serious complications can occur.
Take care
......Kim
As far as liver damage as Can-do-man has said it typically takes decades for serious damage to occur.
As far as having a baby prior to treatment it's rare to pass this on to a child. The only thing you need to think about as Patra has explained, don't get pregnant if you decide to treat. That is when serious complications can occur.
Take care
......Kim
Yes all of that made sense!! I think the hardest part for him is that neither of us had any idea nor do we know anything about it or anyone with it!! He is very supportive but neither of us could believe what we heard!!! We have actually been trying to concieve for 2 years and have recently been visiting a fertility specialist!! We were planning on doing the IVF this month... Next week in a matter of fact and they did the blood work and this has came back.. The doctor said he will continue if I am positive with no liver damage but if I have liver damage he won't go forward until I see a specialist!!! We have already been through so much.. Plus we have already spent $11,000 to have this done.... We are praying we can continue and I can get treatment after the baby for I for sure have the virus!! If I In fact do have liver damage and cannot go forward with the IVF procedure we just don't know what we will tell everyone... We definitely don't want to tell them hepatitis!!!
Tell him that I just (in June) received my SVR 24 which means, in English, that I am now considered cured, AFTER 40 years of having Hep C. My point is not my cure by itself, but that I was married to my husband when I contracted the virus - blood transfusions before and during surgery in 1974.
I was diagnosed in 1994. We, together talked to our family Dr to get information. He was, and is, still one of the most well informed PCP I have known. I asked him if my husband could be tested, back then. dr agreed but said he did not expect him to have contracted the virus from me as it is not a sexually transmitted disease and he had another couple where the husband had had Hep C for 20 years but the wife never got it. Well, my husband tested negative. Fast forward 21 years. I became SVR24 and at our annual physical (same Dr) asked Dr again if my husband could be tested. he again came back negative. We got the results in July.
Now, tell him, I said, he doesn't want me to come over there and whip him into shape! My husband is my best friend as well as husband, lover. He has been ther through this all, helping me, cooking, making sure I did what I should, etc. he has been and is an amazing man. I wish such husbands (and wives) for all Heppers!
On to the next important issue. IF, indeed, you do have Hep C, I strongly suggest the two of you sit down and have a heart to heart talk with each other, and then with the Dr about the issue of trying to conceive.
If you have the virus, you have a couple of choices:
1. put off treatment until you conceive and have your child.
2. Put off conceiving, USE DOUBLE PROTECTION SO AS NOT TO CONCIEVE, and treat the Hep Cfirst, wait 2 to 3 years AFTER reaching SVR, which now days usually only takes 3 months of treatment then 3 months after tx. (Mine was longer because I was genotype 3 and FDA has just approved the treatment for that genotype, which will be the shorter version). The waiting is so that you are clear of any and all medications when you CONCIEVE, so the strong meds will not cause disabilities for your child.
This sounds like a lot, and it is, in a way. But, these are important points nod must be thought of and talked about. A marriage has to be strong to go through these things, or, if you are blessed, these things will help, with love and commitment on both sides, to make it strong.
Hope I didn't overwhelm you with this. Just want y'all to have a heads up so you can be prepared.
Having said that, I further hope that this is wasted information and that you do not have Hep C.
oh, one last thing, I was biopsies in 1994 and had no liver damage. That was 20 years after I had contracted it. If you are eating well, exercising moderately, and drinking enough water for your weight, it should take a very long time to have liver damage.
blessings to you both.
Pat
I was diagnosed in 1994. We, together talked to our family Dr to get information. He was, and is, still one of the most well informed PCP I have known. I asked him if my husband could be tested, back then. dr agreed but said he did not expect him to have contracted the virus from me as it is not a sexually transmitted disease and he had another couple where the husband had had Hep C for 20 years but the wife never got it. Well, my husband tested negative. Fast forward 21 years. I became SVR24 and at our annual physical (same Dr) asked Dr again if my husband could be tested. he again came back negative. We got the results in July.
Now, tell him, I said, he doesn't want me to come over there and whip him into shape! My husband is my best friend as well as husband, lover. He has been ther through this all, helping me, cooking, making sure I did what I should, etc. he has been and is an amazing man. I wish such husbands (and wives) for all Heppers!
On to the next important issue. IF, indeed, you do have Hep C, I strongly suggest the two of you sit down and have a heart to heart talk with each other, and then with the Dr about the issue of trying to conceive.
If you have the virus, you have a couple of choices:
1. put off treatment until you conceive and have your child.
2. Put off conceiving, USE DOUBLE PROTECTION SO AS NOT TO CONCIEVE, and treat the Hep Cfirst, wait 2 to 3 years AFTER reaching SVR, which now days usually only takes 3 months of treatment then 3 months after tx. (Mine was longer because I was genotype 3 and FDA has just approved the treatment for that genotype, which will be the shorter version). The waiting is so that you are clear of any and all medications when you CONCIEVE, so the strong meds will not cause disabilities for your child.
This sounds like a lot, and it is, in a way. But, these are important points nod must be thought of and talked about. A marriage has to be strong to go through these things, or, if you are blessed, these things will help, with love and commitment on both sides, to make it strong.
Hope I didn't overwhelm you with this. Just want y'all to have a heads up so you can be prepared.
Having said that, I further hope that this is wasted information and that you do not have Hep C.
oh, one last thing, I was biopsies in 1994 and had no liver damage. That was 20 years after I had contracted it. If you are eating well, exercising moderately, and drinking enough water for your weight, it should take a very long time to have liver damage.
blessings to you both.
Pat
Well Hep C can happen to anybody. While IV drug use is the top way to get it there are also other ways. Prior blood TF before it was known, Tattoo's, Non sterile medical devices and direct blood to blood.
Here are ways you can't get it.
Hepatitis C virus is not spread by sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing. It is also not spread through food or water.
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/cfaq.htm
Also having sex with your partner carries such a low risk that the CDC does not Recommend using condoms for married people. You will find like myself there are many here that was married and had children for many years and were infected and did not know it and neither their spouse or children have it.
-----------------------------
Sadly most people have no clue about Hep C, like you said they hear the word Hepatitis and freak out. And yes the stigma will come with it. Just try and make sure people that have to know reads the correct info and not just any posting on the internet as there is a lot of wrong info out there.
As for your husband and anyone else you tell if they really care they will learn about it and realize not just prior drug users have it and they are not at risk.
You say you thought you were super healthy. More then likely you are right now. What you have is a slow moving virus that is very easy to cure now if indeed you do have the virus. Trust me time is on your side so don't think your about to get ill quickly. Like I said prior it takes many years in most cases for any symptoms to appear.
I would advise you to be careful who let know as most people do not need to know and with this new treatment they wouldn't have a clue when you do end of treating if needed. Hang in there and don't beat yourself up.
Here are ways you can't get it.
Hepatitis C virus is not spread by sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing. It is also not spread through food or water.
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/cfaq.htm
Also having sex with your partner carries such a low risk that the CDC does not Recommend using condoms for married people. You will find like myself there are many here that was married and had children for many years and were infected and did not know it and neither their spouse or children have it.
-----------------------------
Sadly most people have no clue about Hep C, like you said they hear the word Hepatitis and freak out. And yes the stigma will come with it. Just try and make sure people that have to know reads the correct info and not just any posting on the internet as there is a lot of wrong info out there.
As for your husband and anyone else you tell if they really care they will learn about it and realize not just prior drug users have it and they are not at risk.
You say you thought you were super healthy. More then likely you are right now. What you have is a slow moving virus that is very easy to cure now if indeed you do have the virus. Trust me time is on your side so don't think your about to get ill quickly. Like I said prior it takes many years in most cases for any symptoms to appear.
I would advise you to be careful who let know as most people do not need to know and with this new treatment they wouldn't have a clue when you do end of treating if needed. Hang in there and don't beat yourself up.
Thank you very much!! You have no idea how much this has helped!! I just hate it so much because I am so uneducated on all of this and my husband is kind of standoffish about this whole thing right now... I am a super heathy (or so I thought) active, 115 pound, 25 year old girl.... I never in a million years would have thought this could happen to me!! Do yall have any advice for what I could do to help my husband understand?? I feel like everyone will be afraid to be around me because they are scared they are going to catch it... I know it's hard to catch (blood to blood) but the words hepatitis just sounds so bad!!
While 5 years seems like a long time it really isn't in the hep C world. In most cases it takes many years and even decades to cause serious damage.
If you do find out you have the actual virus then your next step is to see a doctor who has a lot of knowledge in Hep C, like a GI doctor or a Hepatolgist and get their advice.
As was stated by patra staying away from alcohol is the best thing you can do to limit damage.
Best,
Cando
If you do find out you have the actual virus then your next step is to see a doctor who has a lot of knowledge in Hep C, like a GI doctor or a Hepatolgist and get their advice.
As was stated by patra staying away from alcohol is the best thing you can do to limit damage.
Best,
Cando
Thanks guys! That helps a lot! The only reason they found it is because my husband and I having been trying to have a baby.... They don't want us to continue treatments for infertility if my liver is already damaged!!! I didn't know how long it took for the liver to start to be damaged.. I read it was a slow process but 5 years is a long time!!!
Welcome to the Forum.
Just saying 'What Can-do-Man said' - He called it perfectly.
Take a deep breath, exhale, and relax. you will be fine even if you have Hep C. by the way, congratsulations on being 5 years clean! That was a great step in keeping your liver from being damaged. If you drink alcohol, you might stop that too.
Substitiute drinking lots of water - very good for not only the liver - washing all the toxins out - but the kidneys and the rest of your body.
Good luck on your tests. Let us know what the results are.
Pat
Just saying 'What Can-do-Man said' - He called it perfectly.
Take a deep breath, exhale, and relax. you will be fine even if you have Hep C. by the way, congratsulations on being 5 years clean! That was a great step in keeping your liver from being damaged. If you drink alcohol, you might stop that too.
Substitiute drinking lots of water - very good for not only the liver - washing all the toxins out - but the kidneys and the rest of your body.
Good luck on your tests. Let us know what the results are.
Pat
The last blood work your doctor run more then likely was a RNA PCR to see if you have a viral load. About 20% clear the virus on their own. If you do have a viral load then at some point you should treat. Depending on what your genotype is will tell the best treatment.
Of course your worried as we all were. But seeing your age is young it is likely you have very little liver damage. Treating has never been easier and cure rates have never been higher so try not to worry as things will work out.
Congrats on being clean, any questions you might have just ask as there are many of us here that have been through it. Wishing you the best.
Of course your worried as we all were. But seeing your age is young it is likely you have very little liver damage. Treating has never been easier and cure rates have never been higher so try not to worry as things will work out.
Congrats on being clean, any questions you might have just ask as there are many of us here that have been through it. Wishing you the best.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
