Seeking Advices. 23 years old (New in your boat.)

[webprince]

Hi to all. I just came to know in a blood test that i have HCV antibodies in my blood. I have no symptoms accept loss of appetite but i have loss of appetite since i was a child. I discussed a doctor and he wrote two tests, SGPT And Elisa.
Results were
SGPT = 277
Elisa = Patient Value = 1.659
        Cut off value = 0.425
        Result        = Reactive
My Question is 1).do i need more tests to confirm?
please note that i never had sex with any one in my life yet. i am 23 and never touched alchohol. never smoke.
2). Doctor told me to start the treatment but i told him that currently i cannot affort treatment so is there any other temporary solution. he suggested me capsules containing sylmarine, selenium and zinc and some tablets (chinies befendent pills) Does any one know about these tablets? .I am feeling good with these But should i start treatment immediatly?
I have seen you people here and am very happy to see such good friends. I am also expecting all the necessary informations from all of you. since i am your new companion:-). I am sure all of you will welcome me.
Thanks,
Naeem

[lionesss]

welcome naem.
Who knows, you may just have the antibodies. you may be the lucky few! so go get that pcr test.

I have taken silymarin (milk thistle) on and off for years, and it kept my ALTs down.

Good luck with it all!

[amirtracy]

Oh and by the way, this disease usually progresses very slowly. So try and get the rest of your tests done and try not to worry too much. Chances are you are fine. :)

[Drarig]

Hi, Naeem, I am also fairly new to this forum and this group of people have made me feel so welcome.  I found out about my hepc 3 years ago, and this is the first time since then that I can openly discuss and share my fears, tears and thoughts. I felt a great weight lifted off my shoulders since I met everyone and they are all extremely knowledgeable and take time to help.  They know what you are feeling, mentally and physically, and they are a tremendous support system.    I wish you the best of luck.

Dra

[amberank]

Hey. I am glad you have found this site. It has been some informative and supportive for me and I know it will continue to be as I begin tx.  I just wanted to say not to ever worry about getting too personal here. HCV affects every part and moment of our lives at times. Some of us don't have much support elsewhere, and all kinds is here. Feel free to get as personal and open and honest as you want. Even if you just need to vent sometimes we will be glad to listen. :)

[amirtracy]

Here's a list of some dr's in pakistan that treat lots of hep c patients. Some clinical trials are available world-wide.
The good news is in your country 95% of people are infected w/ geno 3 which requires a much shorter duration on treatment w/ a much higher success rate. Best of luck to you.  tracy

http://hepatitis-central.com/hcv/drs/pk/punjab.html

[webprince]

Many Many Many Many Thanks to all of you... I was not expecting so much response from
The people here. Now i believe that there are some people in the world which care about
others as well as themselves. I must say that the one who is in a trouble can better
assess the others with the same trouble. Please dont mind about my english:).
i am not very good at it but i am glad i can communicate with it. I am feeling like i am
in a family. Cuteus,kalio1,amirtracy,dog_lover,2hep2it,navychick,friole,
amberank and doglove28 i am very thankful to all of you for being so much co-operative.
     Yup i will get my PCR and Riba done. But i am currently in Pakistan and here
There is nothing like free treatment or supportive treatment. I am glad that You guys are
lucky for being in a developed country. Currently i am taking Civil Superior Services (CSS)
Exams. it will end on 10th Jun. then i am willing to do some job and will collect money to
do my PCR and RIBA and any further treatment:). Please pray for me. I am not afraid of
death but i have responsibilites of my family and without me, i dont know what will happend
to my parents and family.
Hey guys, am i getting too personal or is it ok???
Well i found this link while searching,
http://www.alinia.com/index.php/media_center/press_releases/35.html
Have any body have tried it yet??
Also i have sgpt=277. so is it still possible that i only have anti bodies and not the virus.
I know i know... it is the hope till the last report.. but just curious.
All of you loving people,
Take Care,
Bye Bye

[amirtracy]

Hi. I'm tracy. Sorry about the news but there are options if you're uninsured. Please read as much as you can.. Commitment to Care can provide meds at no cost w/minimal headaches. Rescue drugs are available as well. (procrit, neupogen etc) The lab work can be reduced up to 100% @ Quest Diagnostics. The main expenses are for the biopsy and the dr.'s appts. Where do you live? In Florida, hospitals will offer reduced prices to uninsured people.
Here are a few links:

www.schering-plough.com/schering_plough/corp/commitment_care.jsp
http://questdiagnostics.com/patient/indigent_program.html
http://www.procritline.com/patientassist/intro.jsp
http://www.atdn.org/access/pa/filg.html
http://www.janis7hepc.com/

Best of luck to you and come here for help!  tracy

[cuteus]

Hi naeem, weekends are slow on the forum and it is also a holiday weekend so folks might be out there stuffing themselves with BBQ ribs and steaks, or Boca burgers for the vegetarians!
You do need to have more tests done. the Elisa is one of the first and it could give false readings. I had the RIBA assay after the  Elisa and after it was repeatedly reactive, they did a PCR(polymerase chain reaction) test to confirm if I had a viral load. Next was a biopsy to see what damage was done by the virus. You will need at least a follow up RIBA and a PCR test to see if you even need to be thinking about treatment(TX).

You  might want to scroll down to other questions that deal with newcomers concerns and search the archives for titles like "new here" , newly diagnosed, etc.
Sexual transmission of this virus is practically nonexistent, so that should not be a concern of yours at this time.
\do a reading at janis7hepc.com and hepcadvocate.org, so that you can have some of the basic questions answered before your next doctor's appointment.
take care

[doglover28]

Hi Naeem,
I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but welcome to the forum. The people in here are wonderful.  I was diagnosed last month and have learned a lot here...not only about the disease, but tools to cope with it.
Pam

[amberank]

Hi! Welcome to the forum! I have only been on this forum a few weeks, but I have learned more here than anywhere else. Sorry to hear you have the virus. I haven't had many tests done myself yet. But I am in the process and am trying to start tx asap. I am ready to beat this.
Learn as much as you can about the virus and your test results. Stay informed. A good doctor can make a big differnce, but they are hard to come by. Take as good care of yourself as you can-and your liver! Eat right, excercise, no alcohol, no medications if you can avoid them-they're all broke down by your liver.
I do not have prescription insurance but many pppl hav etole me about Commitment to Care so I'm going to check it out. Check into your local county Health Department Department, some have free programs for ppl w/out insuramce. Several ppl have told me that young ppl tolarate the sx from tx well so I hope thats true. Im only 26. Try to get a support system up- mine consists of my husband, mom and dad, and all the wonderful ppl here. I am also trying to realign my life a little. I am very busy and I am trying to cut my stress down. i work full time and can't really cut that out. I am taking fewer classes in school, and arranging part time child care for my 3 y/o-and making my husband clean the house!
Just hang in there and take care of yourself! I don't have any symptoms either, but I have to remember the virus is still there and I wanna beat it b4 it can do me any more harm! Good luck!

[friole]

webprince - welcome to the forum.  Seems that you need that PCR test to make sure you have an active virus, and not just the antibodies.  Some folks do clear after infection by themselves and end up with only the antibodies.  Please do this first before you treat.

navy chick -- five times?  Yikes.  I hope this one is the charm.  I hope my first one does it.  Don't want to do it again LOL
frijole

[NavyChick]

Welcome to the board WebPrince and I agree this is a good group of people..I just found this site in the past week..This makes my 5th time treating HEPC..but I am gonna beat it.....Hang in there and have a great weekend....
GodSpeed
NavyChick

[2hep2it]

Welcome to the forum, this is a great place to get answers. The guys are right in what they told you. Please get a PCR test. Also make sure your doctor tests you for Viral load and genotype, very important since diferent genotypes of the virus -of which there are 6 main type, respond differently to treatment. Silymarin (also known as Milk Thistle) is a herbal remedy that most people swear by. For many taking Vitamin E is also a great help. As with anything, speak to your doctor before taking anything. Anything that you have questions on, I'm sure the forum will try as much as possible to help you with. Take care, Naeem.


2hep2it

[dog_lover]

I wouldn't spent too much time pondering the way you caught the nasty little virus (NLV) suffice it to say that you now do.  I have been using this site for around two weeks and let me tell  you something about these special people; they are strong wonderful people who will go out of their way to share their experiences, pain, losses and triumphs willingly and honestly.  I haven't started treatment yet and I'm  panicked.  I'm just relieved that I have these people to take this little trip with me.  Welcome.
Dog_Lover