Really Worried, Need some Advice Please :(

[scaredgrl85]

Hi Everyone,

Please if anyone has any advice I'd truly appreciate it.

I had unprotected sex in early April and contracted chlamydia. I've been tested thoroughly for all STD's including HBV and HCV.

Everything was tested to 3 months except for HBV and HCV- I tested these at the 8 week mark.

They tested me for the Hepatitis B surface antigen and that came back negative, and tested me for Hepatitis C anti-body and that was negative as well at 2 months. Are these conclusive?

I've been having the following symptoms:
Itchy right palm
Yellowish-Brownish Stool

Other than that, I feel fine. Is it possible that I contracted Hepatitis from my exposure. The itching is only on my palm, is itching associated with Hepatitis more systematic. Please anyone, I'm very worried.. I have an appt with an internist next week! Thank You.

[GoofyDad]

Meki: had wild sex during every time of the month with hubby....
In the name of science and patient education  - I'd say we need more information...

Bill: I put lotion on my palm every evening… works like a charm
Funny, dude!

Scared: "10mins without any ejaculation"
You're not planning on letting him get away?

Meki: my friend strokes her couch continuously when she talks
Do you notice the guys want to sit by her at the cocktail parties?

[jmjm530]

Sorry, missed the fact that the horse was "dead". I guess that takes it out of the "high risk" category and into something else :)

[jmjm530]

RGlass:   Can you get Hepc by beating a Dead Horse?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, wouldn't that be considred a "high risk" sexual practice?

[indyjo]

LMAO

[R Glass]

Can you get Hepc by beating a Dead Horse?

[scaredgrl85]

Ughhhh this sux.. and now I have to wait a week for the results :(
This whole situation is horrible cuz I got chlamydia from a ONE TIME EXPOSURE... so I feel like i got everything else with it..Does it increase my chance of getting HCV if he had chlamydia?

[jmjm530]

The odds were slim to none to begin with on a single incident of unprotected sex. What's more you tested negative at two months post treatment. Unless you have highly elevated liver enzymes or something else liver related, I think you're worrying needlessly. Itching palms mean nothing other than you are probably more aware of everything going on in your body now that your dermatologist mentioned Hep C. BTW dermatologists know as much about Hep C as liver specialists know about zits. Nothing.

-- Jim

[debnevada]

your doctor is wrong in saying that HCV is in bodily fluids.

Only blood

[joachim2007]

one more thing, it is indeed very encouraging that your 2 month test is negative. Actually, most people who get infected will test positive witin 6 weeks. However, not all, that's why re-testing at 6 months or 12 months is recommended.

12 months is extremely conservative, of course, and will probably only apply to people whose risk was very high (exposure to somebody who is HCV+, or high risk exposure like needle stick) or who had indicative hepatitis symptoms (not itching palm)

- all of it does not apply to you, so you can already be very comfortable with your 8 weeks tests. All testing you may or may not do in the next months, are surely primarily recommended for peace of mind, not really a necessity. (And in terms of hepatitis/STDs, peace of mind is indeed good to have.)

[joachim2007]

to be honest, i think your statistical HCV risk is really extremely low (probably well below 0.1%, even if the other person was infected! (*).   And indeed, i share your doubt about your doc's remarks: HCV may be in "body fluids", but not in the required amount to cause an infection. It's really a classical blood borne disease. You need to have small wounds, direct blood contact, etc.

And i would not consider an itchy palm indicative for HCV (or any other pathology i am aware of)

However, i am not a medical doctor, and the comment about liver enzymes of your physician (who, in the end, is a medical doctor) raised my suspision.

So, i think this would be a starting point to get some closure on the issue: it is very easy to find out if your liver enzymes are ok or not. A cheap blood test. BTW, If a nurse suffers a needle stick exposure, they usually monitor the liver encymes every couple of months for a year. After that year, the final antibody test is done, and then one can forget it. (that's why i mentioned the idea in the previous post)

However, i understand, that this is probably too extreme for your case (needle stick cannot be compared to intercourse in terms of risk).

So, perhaps  just get a single blood test, to see what is behind the statement of your doctor (about enzymes), and if that's fine, just do the Hep B/Hep C antibody  tests at one year. (That's the time needed for 100% sure results - a PCR can give a 99% accurate "preview" already right now)

But, personally i am convinced that your problems are not from hepatitic C. The odds are incredibly much in your favor that you are not infected by neither.

But there is a difference between "reckoning" and "knowing", hence the testing, especially the follow up testing at 1 year. However, don't worry. Your symptoms do not sound concerning at all. So, i hope you will manage NOT to worry, and NOT spend the next months in worry!! It would be wasted time :-)

~~

(*) i use the <0.1% figure because HCV is more difficult to transmit sexually than HIV, and HIV has a per-exposure risk of <0.1 (see http://www.dcp2.org/pubs/DCP/18/Table/18.2)

[scaredgrl85]

My only exposure was one unprotected sex encounter, my dermo said that Hep C is transmitted in blood and body fluids but i've been reading otherwise. I'm so concerned. Right now, my symptom is my itchy palm and that's it. Is that enough grounds to say that I can potentially have Hep C? I have a negative HCV antibody test at 2 months. Please anyone comments?

[joachim2007]

first, i believe there is no reason for you to be scared. Yes, there can be a medical issue , but be aware, that if you keep cool and do the right things now, then all will be well.

So, if your doc thinks your symptoms are indicative of liver problems/hepatitis, i would recommend to:

- monitor liver enzymes, bilirubin, platelets, wbc (e.g. every 2 months, for one year). Any virus should be visible on this picture
- repeat Hep B and C antibody tests at 12 months post exposure (to be sure)
- if your physician REALLY thinks you have Hep C, then she might want to order a PCR right away, same could be done for Hep B (although most would think it's not really indicated, but on the other hand,  other than the costs there is no real risk associated to this test)

In case any of the tests show the slightest trouble OR your symptoms persist, you should see a  hepatologist or gastroenterologist for long term follow up. (e.g. see him now, and then every 4 months for follow up, for one year).

in other words, make sure you are in good, competent hands. Don't let doctors talk you into something you do not have, but on the other hand, don't let them discount your worries.

if you do this, you have nothing to worry about: because if something is found, it will be found very early and can be treated very effectively, and if nothing is found under tight supervision of a competentn physician, then the danger of being in "false security" are nearly zero.

[[ Why do i write this so extensively? Because i wish somebody would have told me that. (but that's a story for a totally different thread) ]]

[FlGuy]

I think you are confusing ghost stools with occult stools

[scaredgrl85]

ok, so the itching didn't go away. Went back to the dermo, she said that it could be my liver enzymes :(

She suspects Hep C but I don't understand why. I told her I had a negative antibody test at 2 months. Really scared now...
She said that you can easily get Hep C from sex, that it's in blood and body fluids.

[scaredgrl85]

Grandma A- What scares me the most is that he told me his father died from dialysis which makes me think maybe his father had Hepatitis. It was one time and I didn't see any blood during or after and it lasted no longer than 10mins without any ejaculation.

Meki- I'm going to try the rubbing alcohol method..really hope it works =/

I'm going to stop freaking out. I really need to. I think my stress is a big factor in my itching as well. That's what everyone is telling me. I got tested for hepatitis 2yrs ago and was in the clear for everything. This has been my first exposure since, so I know I can't have chronic Hepatitis. My 2 month antibody test are what's keeping me sane right now.

[GrandmaA]

A couple who has unprotected sex together for 20 years has only a 5% chance of  getting spreading hepatitis C if the man is infected. It is not spread from females at all, only by males. Good luck to you.

[meki]

Nah --- just take the stats like they are.

Chances are if a person is multi partnered frequently - the chances are greater of sexually transmitted diseases.

No - and yes --- chances are greater that he could have HCV... However not really. HCV is not really transmitted sexually - unless both partners are bleeding.

And yeah - if someone has multi partners - unprotected - yeah --- it could happen.. the roulette wheel might fall --- and yeah - you could be bleeding...

But you're talking less than 2% chance or something like that.

They're talking stats and PP usually deals with massively infected folks.

Remember a lot of people being diagnosed can't figure out where they got it... (I have YET to meet someone who ONLY had sex ---- and no other risk factors: Any surgery, any dental work - any innoculations) so don't be too freaked out - OK?

[scaredgrl85]

I just read this off the planned parenthood website:

HCV is more likely to be spread during sex if either of the sex partners also has another sexually transmitted infection.

Does that mean that since he had chlamydia, I had more of a chance of it getting transmitted t me? Or does it refer to the STD's that form open sores and cuts?

[scaredgrl85]

Thanks, I'm certainly going to try that. :)

Jakied- My gut is telling me that I don't have HCV, I've never had anal sex or any sex that would cause any bleeding. I've been reading around also and have seen that if a person does have itching from Hepatitis, its usually ALL OVER and not just in one area like mine (palm).

Thank You everyone, you're all so sweet :)

[Jakied]

A two month neg for hep b and c puts you in safe territory, ecpecially for hep b.  The cdc says the window period for B is 1 to nine weeks with 4 weeks the average.  Hep C has a window period of 2 weeks to 26 weeks with a 50 day average so you have rounded second and are coming into third base.  If I were you, I would get one more test at 6 months, and then stop testing and worrying.  I have a feeling you will be neg.

Fyi, Hep B is much more likely to be transmitted through sexual activity than hep c.

[meki]

A blocked sweat gland?

Hmmm--- Try warm "baths" for your hand then...  And rubbing alcohol on just that spot... And repeat... rinse repeat and then --- about an hour later -some lotion...

If that doesn't work after 2 days --- then it's not a blocked sweat gland.

[scaredgrl85]

Thank you again everyone :)

I don't remember there being any blood present and I guess since it was a one time exposure my chances are a lot lower. Who else on this forum claims that they contracted the virus sexually?

This palm is just driving me crazy, I'm trying all the creams and it's been a month. I even went to a dermo and she said that it looked like a blocked sweat gland but it shouldn't be lasting this long :(

[alagirl]

Itchy palms can be a sign of anything from using the wrong laundry detergent, to probs with your gall bladder (rarely) to poison ivy.  In other words, itchy skin in general is a catch all symptom that can denote tons of things, most of them very benign.  In general, it's said that hepC doesn't spread very easily sexually, however, as with almost any disease that is able to be transmitted sexually, male to female transmission occurs more easily than female to male (because women have a large amount of mucous membrane inside that is more easily abraded during sex, allowing for blood contact).  I'm going to respectfully disagree that only 1% of people do get it sexually since there is a notable percentage of people who do not have other risk factors who seem to get it somehow and the etiology is unknown.  

Anyway, two months out is a pretty good indication you are clear of hepatitis so I would not keep worrying about hepatitis.  And I could be wrong but I thought the hep vaccine, even in 93, covered A and B?  Does anyone else know?  Maybe you could check your earlier vaccinations before re-doing them, if you have access to your old files.  It wouldn't hurt you to run another hep panel in two or three months but you can be 99.9% sure it is going to come out fine.  A hep panel tests for A, B and C.  Actually, to be more precise, it tests for 'Hep A Ab, IgM' and 'HBsAg Screen' and 'Hep B Core Ab, IgM' and 'Hep C Virus Ab.'  That's why they call it a Hep (4) panel.  And all of that?  Is about exactly as much as I know about anything, so I'm going to shut up now :)

[Bill1954]

You Betcha, Scared! Just remember that there's no doctors here-- just a bunch of patients. Verify everything with your doc.

Meki- Anusol? Sounds like some kind of strange sunblock- does it have a good SPF factor? Certainly hope so.