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Recently found out I have Hep C * Just a few questions*
First off, I'm new here, Hello!
I went to the Dr's about a month ago for a check up and he sent me in for a blood test. They called me back a week later because they questioned my blood work, which he found out my ALT level was a bit high (72) but all my other levels were fine. He sent me in for a hep blood check just to see what was going on, that's when he told me I tested positive for Hepatitis C, it pretty much ruined my day and my weekend after hearing that.
The following weekend he called me back to talk about it and to set up an appt. with the heptoloigist (*sp) which I don't go into until November 14th. Me and my Dr talked about it and he laid down the Do's and Don'ts with Hep C and wanted me to go in for 1 more blood test. A week later I went back to talk about the blood work once again. He noticed my ALT level dropped from 72 down to 65 and all other blood work was still normal, he said it seems like a good sign but I would still have to wait to see what the Heptologist says.
I've been reading up on all this and reading peoples stories and some seem to make me feel pretty good about it. Considering all my other levels were fine and my ALT dropped I was thinking maybe I'm fighting it off?
My last blood test was as follows:
HEP C Viral Antibodies REACTIVE * (* meaning Abnormal Alpha)
(Reference Units)
Protein - 7.6 (6.4-8.2)
Albumin - 4.2 (3.4-5.0)
Total Bili - 0.8 (0.0-0.4)
Bil D - 0.2 (0.0-0.4)
SGOT (AST) - 26 (15-37)
ALK PHOS - 77 (50-136)
SGPT (ALT) - 65 (30-65)
I went to the Dr's about a month ago for a check up and he sent me in for a blood test. They called me back a week later because they questioned my blood work, which he found out my ALT level was a bit high (72) but all my other levels were fine. He sent me in for a hep blood check just to see what was going on, that's when he told me I tested positive for Hepatitis C, it pretty much ruined my day and my weekend after hearing that.
The following weekend he called me back to talk about it and to set up an appt. with the heptoloigist (*sp) which I don't go into until November 14th. Me and my Dr talked about it and he laid down the Do's and Don'ts with Hep C and wanted me to go in for 1 more blood test. A week later I went back to talk about the blood work once again. He noticed my ALT level dropped from 72 down to 65 and all other blood work was still normal, he said it seems like a good sign but I would still have to wait to see what the Heptologist says.
I've been reading up on all this and reading peoples stories and some seem to make me feel pretty good about it. Considering all my other levels were fine and my ALT dropped I was thinking maybe I'm fighting it off?
My last blood test was as follows:
HEP C Viral Antibodies REACTIVE * (* meaning Abnormal Alpha)
(Reference Units)
Protein - 7.6 (6.4-8.2)
Albumin - 4.2 (3.4-5.0)
Total Bili - 0.8 (0.0-0.4)
Bil D - 0.2 (0.0-0.4)
SGOT (AST) - 26 (15-37)
ALK PHOS - 77 (50-136)
SGPT (ALT) - 65 (30-65)
Welcome R3179. I, too recently have been diagnosed (September 14). I'm sure we can all understand how it feels to be so shocked and surprised once you hear those words from your doctor for the first time. At least you have some kind of guess (tattoo) as to a possible way of contracting it. In my case, I have never been involved with any of the high-risk factors (needles (drugs or tattoos), blood transfusions, multiple sex partners, etc) so it tears me apart as to how I contracted it. But I saw my specialist in September and a follow up actually coming next week. I have not yet started treatment, and I may have to hold off on it (as long as doctors say it's fine) because I'm also dealing with having to look for a new job (my current employer informed me I only have til end of this year), so I'm scrambling job hunting before I decide to start tx. as far as your alt/ast levels, you'll most likely find that those can fluctuate. I just started posting on here, and although I'm hesitant to visit it each day (still trying to deal with accepting having hep c), I still think being able to be on here does provide a lot of support. Just reading the posts alone can provide comfort. Welcome to the forum.
Gaia , i am new to this site , i posted my story but are you from egypt ??? if you are then i am glade to be your frind . i am from egypt too. and sorry for your case i hope that you recover soon.
Hello, everyone. A long time friend recommended this site.
I was diagnosed 5 years ago. but it wasn't active. The viral
load was less than 5. So I just lived my life. A couple of
weeks ago, I went to my PP, and after f/u bloodwork for my
Hep C, told me my viral load was 75,000. I was devastated,
scared, and depressed. I'm a nurse and should know more about
this but I didn't even know what the average viral load was
with active Hep C. [ Denial is NOT a river in Egypt ]...
Well, I did f/u with the gastroenterologist, and he wants me
to start treatment of Interferon and Ribovirin after more
bloodwork discerning the genotype, and also an ultrasound.
From the little I've read , it seems that more people die from
other causes, than with Hep C.
My dilemna is this: If I start treatment, and I have the
dreaded side effects, then I will have to stop. I am the sole
bread winner. I can't afford to miss work. Do most people
have the tiredness, nausea, and hair loss?
I was diagnosed 5 years ago. but it wasn't active. The viral
load was less than 5. So I just lived my life. A couple of
weeks ago, I went to my PP, and after f/u bloodwork for my
Hep C, told me my viral load was 75,000. I was devastated,
scared, and depressed. I'm a nurse and should know more about
this but I didn't even know what the average viral load was
with active Hep C. [ Denial is NOT a river in Egypt ]...
Well, I did f/u with the gastroenterologist, and he wants me
to start treatment of Interferon and Ribovirin after more
bloodwork discerning the genotype, and also an ultrasound.
From the little I've read , it seems that more people die from
other causes, than with Hep C.
My dilemna is this: If I start treatment, and I have the
dreaded side effects, then I will have to stop. I am the sole
bread winner. I can't afford to miss work. Do most people
have the tiredness, nausea, and hair loss?
I was diagnosed 5-1/2 years ago and now deciding to do treatment. Go to the doc for bloodwork next week and most likely biopsy in Dec. I was married for 11 years and have an 11 year old. Neither one has it.
This is a great site, SO MUCH SUPPORT AND LOVE. If you are ever in doubt, just ask someone, your questions will be answered!
Take Care and believe!
This is a great site, SO MUCH SUPPORT AND LOVE. If you are ever in doubt, just ask someone, your questions will be answered!
Take Care and believe!
Many of us here felt afraid and even devastated when diagnosed with hep c. Many of us were suprised and may not have ever found out if not for visit to the doc for something else. There's many people who may have hep c and have shown no symptoms, and some that may never have the situation come up in which they find out. I can't say I'm glad I have hep c, even though it's been a journey of growth. But I am glad that one dr at a detox over 4 years ago decided he should check me for it. I didn't feel that way in the beginning because I didn't know how to deal with it. I'm learning still but finding a support group in my area, and then finding this site have helped me put things in perspective immensely.
I wish back in the beginning I knew not to project or worry too much, but I have gotten a lot better at it. Keep reading on it, ask questions of the people here. Write things down to check on, ask your dr for copies of your labs. In a nutshell, what helped me is to look at it as a project to be handled. Took me a while to get the hang of that but I learned to allot time to learning about the disease, learning better ways to react to life in general, with or without hep c, and not let the disease take on the mystical scary persona it had in the beginning. I probably had this disease close to 30 years before I found out. I did eventually take a proactive aim at it, but knowledge and others helped me realize this may best be handled with patience and the help of those with experience. Stay Well and keep in touch here.
Don
I wish back in the beginning I knew not to project or worry too much, but I have gotten a lot better at it. Keep reading on it, ask questions of the people here. Write things down to check on, ask your dr for copies of your labs. In a nutshell, what helped me is to look at it as a project to be handled. Took me a while to get the hang of that but I learned to allot time to learning about the disease, learning better ways to react to life in general, with or without hep c, and not let the disease take on the mystical scary persona it had in the beginning. I probably had this disease close to 30 years before I found out. I did eventually take a proactive aim at it, but knowledge and others helped me realize this may best be handled with patience and the help of those with experience. Stay Well and keep in touch here.
Don
It's a real day wrecker being told you have HCV. Sorry about the diagnosis, we all know what that feels like here and it doesn't make for a fun day.
It is hard to take, especially when you feel perfectly healthy. That is the sneaky way the virus flies under the radar. That is why it is known as a "silent killer" due to the fact that many have no symptoms at all and find out by accident. You can see how important it is that public awareness and testing be increased. You are lucky to find out before it has caused you symptoms. Early diagnosis is a great weapon against this disease. The Heptologist will run tests to find out which genotype of virus you have and your viral load, you are smart to be seeing one.
It's a blood borne virus, so no blood sharing activities. Avoid sharing razors, toothbrushes, etc. Lots of people have it and are unsure how they acquired it, many people have it who do not have a drug use history, although IV drug use is the number one mode of transmission. There is a slight risk of passing it sexually but in a 10 year study done of monogamous couples, no one caught it from their partner, so try not to worry unnecessarily. Once you have more info from the specialist about your liver and virus you can go from there. Your best bet is to learn all you can about this disease so you can make informed decisions as to how you will manage your disease once you find out the details.
Glad you found us, welcome to the forum.
It is hard to take, especially when you feel perfectly healthy. That is the sneaky way the virus flies under the radar. That is why it is known as a "silent killer" due to the fact that many have no symptoms at all and find out by accident. You can see how important it is that public awareness and testing be increased. You are lucky to find out before it has caused you symptoms. Early diagnosis is a great weapon against this disease. The Heptologist will run tests to find out which genotype of virus you have and your viral load, you are smart to be seeing one.
It's a blood borne virus, so no blood sharing activities. Avoid sharing razors, toothbrushes, etc. Lots of people have it and are unsure how they acquired it, many people have it who do not have a drug use history, although IV drug use is the number one mode of transmission. There is a slight risk of passing it sexually but in a 10 year study done of monogamous couples, no one caught it from their partner, so try not to worry unnecessarily. Once you have more info from the specialist about your liver and virus you can go from there. Your best bet is to learn all you can about this disease so you can make informed decisions as to how you will manage your disease once you find out the details.
Glad you found us, welcome to the forum.
Welcome to the board but so sorry you have to worry about going thru this.
As far as contagion for family members just becareful of open wounds on yourself and others. Don't share razors with your wife or toothbrushes (gums can bleed). Other than that there are many married couples that have been together for 35 years and one spouse never caught it from the other.
Your Alts/Asts can fluctuate for lots of reasons just like viral loads can (amount of virus in your blood stream). Your doctor is right about waiting till you see the hepatologist.
Just remember this isn't a death sentence. Most people die with Hep C than from it.
Good luck and keep us posted. You'll be fine. Valorie
As far as contagion for family members just becareful of open wounds on yourself and others. Don't share razors with your wife or toothbrushes (gums can bleed). Other than that there are many married couples that have been together for 35 years and one spouse never caught it from the other.
Your Alts/Asts can fluctuate for lots of reasons just like viral loads can (amount of virus in your blood stream). Your doctor is right about waiting till you see the hepatologist.
Just remember this isn't a death sentence. Most people die with Hep C than from it.
Good luck and keep us posted. You'll be fine. Valorie
Continued*
I'm almost sure I caught this from a Tattoo that may have not done proffesional enough. It scares me to know that I'm living with this and scared for everyone around me to catch this, including my 3 year old son, is he at any risk? Would my G/F be at risk? I'm not sure how long I've had it, but my tattoos were done over 2 years ago.
All in all I'm very healthy, I exercise alot and eat healthy. I have no known symptoms of having HCV, so it blew my mind having my Dr tell me that. How could I have ever known if I never went for my check-up?
I'm almost sure I caught this from a Tattoo that may have not done proffesional enough. It scares me to know that I'm living with this and scared for everyone around me to catch this, including my 3 year old son, is he at any risk? Would my G/F be at risk? I'm not sure how long I've had it, but my tattoos were done over 2 years ago.
All in all I'm very healthy, I exercise alot and eat healthy. I have no known symptoms of having HCV, so it blew my mind having my Dr tell me that. How could I have ever known if I never went for my check-up?
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