Just got told to get tested for Hepatitis

[Inquizitive]

I know this is going to sound strange, but I was given the hep b vaccine years ago by a Dr. to be safe since I wasn't married.  I just got off the phone with my significant other of 4 years and was told his liver function tests are off and his Dr. is mumbling about hepatitis C possibly or something else. All he has had are blood tests, no biopsies and I am sitting here going what the ??????    His Dr. told him to avoid alcohol and vinegar and come back in 1-2 weeks for another test.  

He was really concerned and told me to go to my Dr. tomorrow and get a complete Hepatitis panel, etc.  Am I being neurotic to do this?   I am in good health as best I know, he had liver tests with some shakey results about a year ago and this never came up back then.  

I feel like I just got kicked in the gutt.  He is out of town and I won't be able to see him until possibly tomorrow and I am sitting here staring at the four walls and not sure what to do.

Thoughts?  Insights?  

Thank you so much for reading this...
K

[liverquestions]

i need to take lamisil and i have the prescription filled already, but have recently started my round of childhood immunizations over again. the only reason i'm doing all the immunizations is because i'm about to start school where i need proof i have them all, and some new ones that weren't offered as a child, and i've lost all proof i had them while young, but i did. i received one each of MMR, diptheria, hep a and hep b. i have never had any liver problems, but want to know what the chances are of having these immunizations has weakened my liver at the time being, since lamisil is a very risky medicine to take if your liver is in bad shape. can anyone share any info on what immunizations like hep A and hep B do to your liver please?

[Inquizitive]

Well...  After a roller coaster and visiting my Dr for blood work, found out I test negative.  That is a good thing for me, but now we have to find out why his blood work has elevated liver function.  I found out that it was found during a test at a foot specialist to see if he could take Lamisil to get rid of a chronic foot fungus.  Basically, the Dr. gave him all sorts of things to worry about and he really focused on the fact that one of them could have been transmitted to me inadvertently.  Then without giving him more data, he sent him on his way full of all sorts of ideas of what could be wrong without a plan or understanding of how to proceed.  In other words?  He wound him up and sent him out!  Needless to say, he did react out of the office and that is why I came here and wrote my original post.  You are a great group of people to be so kind and offer great information.  My Dr. completely agreed with you about the difficulty of transmission of Hep c.  I had been vaccinated against Hep B so I wasn't that concerned about that one for myself.  

Now, I am going to try and stay grounded, read up on all the great information you guys share about improving or protecting the liver so I can be there and help him sort through what ever is wrong with him.

Keep up the great support.. and I will continue to listen and learn...

K  

[Bill1954]

HCV is considered very difficult to transmit in the absence of blood. Here is a study abstract to give you an idea regarding the prevailance of sexual transmission:
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1: Am J Gastroenterol. 2004 May;99(5):855-9


http://tinyurl.com/258a2l

"

[sunspot]

Hep C is a blood to blood infection. Unless you have very rough sex that causes a bleed, you will not likely catch Hep C though sex.
That is the only precaution. IF your SO tests positive then you just take a test yourself. I don

[Inquizitive]

The reading I did last night said it could be transmitted sexually?  With what you have said, were there any special precautions you were supposed to take to prevent the transmission?  

I am planning on seeing my Dr. today if I can so I wouldn't be worrying and I can allay his concern.  I think he is pretty shocked that it was even brought up and he is worried about me on top of being worried about himself.  I figure the least I can do is find out for myself so he has one last thing on his plate.  

Can someone explain the differences in the tests so I can be sure to understand?  I know there is a liver function test and there are different antibody tests.  But that is about all I have figured out so far.

Oh.. and for the vinegar?  I believe there are similar chemical makeups between alcohol and vinegar.  Not sure --  If you think of wine, it goes through a state where it is wine and has a certain alcohol content but when it has aged too long, it turns to vinegar.  My assumption, no founding in Drs. advice is that the vinegar would possibly be as caustic/toxic as alcohol might be to the liver.  Just assumption at this point.

Thanks once again...

[sunspot]

Why jump the gun and get yourself all worked up before your SO has even got a confirmed diagnosis? IF he has Hep C, your chances of having it are almost nil. I had it for 37 years and my Wife does not and this is considered pretty normal for most of us Heppers.

[Inquizitive]

Thanks for the kind words, and it is hard to ramp back with the void of uncertainty and lack of information.   In the absence of fact it seems that a mind (including mine) will envision the worst.  Creative imaginations are not good in this regard!  Let me tell you.    From what I can tell, I was in the middle of whirlpool of lack of information and have since been seeking more.  I didn't realize that Hepatitis C was so hard to catch.  The information is quite helpful.  It is great that things like this forum exist for people to find and share information.  

Appreciate it!
K

[willows]

I do not understand the vinegar part.  That sure would seem to be a misunderstanding, sounds like you need to start with a good doc and listen to his advice.   Percentages and numbers aren't really helpful until you know what your dealing with, genotype, vl, etc.  

We love to offer support here, but anyone else will tell you to find a good doctor before they start giving you SVR rates, etc.  It may be a waste of your time, Hep C is not usually transmitted sexually among heterosexuals.

Good luck, it might help if you write all your questions down, it helps avoid miscommunications about vinegar, etc.

Willows wondering

[Inquizitive]

Whodey - thanks so much for the thoughts.  I just am feeling like the floor dropped out from under me and I don't know why.  Co-pays are nothing when it comes to my health.  I can do without other things.  I will try to check on it tomorrow if I can get in.  I just don't even know where to read up on this to even know what to ask the Dr. when I see them if I can get in.

[Whodey777]

until he gets an antibodies test come back positive, I wouldnt worry too much, but if you can afford the $20 co-pay go get the test. I just got tested yesterday and the doctor called me at 7pm tonight and told me I was cleared, so its not a big deal, and 20% of people exposed to hepatitis c their body fights it off, the other 80% have a 40-60% chance of being cured with medication, so the odds are against having it chronicly, and if you do the medication is very effective. But b4 you jump the gun, get tested for peace of mind.