New to Hep C and this site and need of some help

Hi everyone,
My wife has been diagnosed with Hep C. Honestly I'm lost as in where to look for accurate information and what to do next.  I believe she has the genotype that requires treatment for one year.  Currently her viral load is "undetectable" and we were told to not worry about it for now but to come back in 6 months for another blood test.  I am having a really hard time not worrying about it.  I do know that i know very little about hep c in general, possible treatments, what questions to even ask and where to ask. Any help or even a point in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. I'm just scared and dont know what to do.  Thanks everyone :)

[vik97]

hi tslake and welcome to the forum!

do not worry.  things are not as bad as they seem.  what we need from you is more information.  when was your wife diagnosed with hep c and what was her viral load when she was diagnosed?  if her viral load in undetectable that is very good.

[GreatBird]

Sounds to me like you should get copies of her blood tests. A person with an undetectable viral load can't be genotyped because there needs to be virus in order to determine which strain it is.

How long ago was the diagnosis? Has she had more than one viral load taken and was there virus present earlier?

If not, no virus means no hep C. Antibodies mean exposure. They don't mean she has it.

[JennyPenny2009]

Take a deep breath. Your wife actually is in no danger at all. If her viral load is undetected, she does not have chronic hepatitis C.  Although I don't know how they would genotype her if she has no viral load. People who have antibodies to hepatitis C, who have no viral load (undetected), usually have either a false positive antibody test or have been exposed to the virus and their body fought it off, or they have been treated successfully, which is obviously not the case with your wife. Her doctor is doing the right thing to recheck in 6 months. That will make sure that there was no error in the viral load test which is extremely unlikely.

I truly believe there is nothing for you to worry about. Up to 40% of people who were exposed have fought the virus off on their own. They used to say 15-20%, but we know now the figures are 40%.

I'm happy for you and your wife. Now go have a great weekend.

[frijole]

Please do try to get the actual copies of your wife's bloodwork.  In my experience a lot of the nurses can't read the tests.  The bloodwork will show what test was taken.  MY suspicion would be she just had the antibody test but it is confusing when you say she was "typed."

In any event, Hep C is not a death sentence.  It is a chronic condition which causes inflammation of the liver.  Many people live their whole lives with this and never have abnormal liver enzymes.  

frijole

[tslake1909]

Thanks everyone for the help. Ill try and get copies of the blood test and get more information. I figured after I posted that more information would go a long way into everyone being better able to help me.  Thanks so much :)