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Pls help, reactive hep test

Hey guys, before I ask my question, it's important for you to know I'm a recovering heroin addict. For 7 or 8 Yeats I used iv heroin and participated in Manu high risk behaviors, mainly sharing of needles and reuse of my own needles. I was tested last week to get on Accutane, and they said my test came back reactive and I had to go for a second test to see if I have the active virus. They also told me my liver enzymes were high. My question is, is with elevated enzymes, is that indicative of active virus? I'm going crazy waiting for results. And is there anything that could've made my levels high besides an active virus? And if I have the active virus, I've had it for at least 3+ years, because I haven't used or participated in that behavior or drank in 3 years, so what will be done to treat it?
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683231 tn?1467323017
well frankly because of the cost of the meds seems to be the reason so insurance wants to hold off on treatment until the person has developed liver damage. either F3 fibrosis (near cirrhosis) or F4 (cirrhosis) which makes little sense as those with more damage are more difficult to treat and don't respond quite as well as those with little to no damage although treatment even for those with cirrhosis has been very effective as well but for patients like myself I had to be treated for 24 weeks doubling the cost.

Harvoni costs $1150/pill so a 12 week treatment costs $94,500 and my 24 weeks cost my insurance $189,000 which still beats the cost of a liver transplant and antirejection drugs for life.

I have read that insurance companies are getting better about approving people and if you are not approved the first thing to do is appeal a minimum of 3 times then you can appeal to a 3rd party which is how some have had to go.

But first things first. Find out if you have hep c then get a prescription submitted and go from there

Good luck
Helpful - 0
317787 tn?1473358451
Great detailed answer Lynn! Thank you so much!! Very informative, Dee
Helpful - 0
683231 tn?1467323017
Yes elevated enzymes could indicate hep c however elevated liver enzymes can be caused by different things.

Many diseases and conditions can contribute to elevated liver enzymes. Your doctor determines the specific cause of your elevated liver enzymes by reviewing your medications, your signs and symptoms and, in some cases, other tests and procedures.

More common causes of elevated liver enzymes include:

Certain prescription medications, including statin drugs used to control cholesterol
Drinking alcohol
Heart failure
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Obesity
Over-the-counter pain medications, particularly acetaminophen (Tylenol, others)
Other causes of elevated liver enzymes may include:

Alcoholic hepatitis (severe liver inflammation caused by excessive alcohol consumption)
Autoimmune hepatitis (liver inflammation caused by an autoimmune disorder)
Celiac disease (small intestine damage caused by gluten)
Cirrhosis (early stages of liver scarring)
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection
Dermatomyositis (inflammatory disease that causes muscle weakness and skin rash)
Epstein-Barr virus
Gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis)
Heart attack
Hemochromatosis (too much iron stored in your body)
Hypothyroidism
Liver cancer
Mononucleosis
Pancreatitis (pancreas inflammation)
Polymyositis (inflammatory disease that causes muscle weakness)
Toxic hepatitis (liver inflammation caused by drugs or toxins)
Wilson's disease (too much copper stored in your body)



But as you have tested positive for hep c antibodies it is possible that is the cause.

Once you are diagnosed you will need another test for genotype to determine the correct treatment for you. Treatment could be as simple as one pill a day for 12 weeks or in some cases just 8 weeks. The new meds are well tolerated by most with in general few side effects primarily occasional mild headache. The cure rate for patients without cirrhosis who have not been previously treated is around 98% for Harvoni. There are several other meds available with more coming. Harvoni may not be the correct med for you depending on your genotype but the other meds are also highly effective.

Good luck

Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Thank you so much for the info! Very helpful. I will be posting my results on here next week. I hear so many people have trouble getting insurance to approve treatment. Why is that
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317787 tn?1473358451
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