Aa
Should I get tested?
I just wanted to get an opinion on this subject.
I had sexual exposure, with a person of unknown Hep c status.
About two weeks post the exposure I began having unusual symptoms.
They included abdominal bloating and constipation, and a lack of appetite, during this time I had no fever or any other symptoms that I knew of.
I was unaware of Hep C being a sti so when i had sti check it was not tested for. All other sti checks were negative.
About 6 weeks after exposure I was still concerned about having no reason for these symptoms so had full blood work done which included ALT which was 21 and all other liver tests which were all normal.
So Still no answer as all bloods were normal. Then about 14 weeks after exposure I had the same done again, and again all normal, alt of 19 and so fourth.
Then I read about hep c and thought that this could be what was causing those symptoms??
I rang my doctor and Hep c council here in new zealand, and they both said the following....
Hep c not transmited through sex very easily.
.....................and if these symptoms were acute hep c symptoms they would have been caused by issues with the liver dealing with the virus which would have caused elevated alt.
Is it safe to say that giving it was a sexual exposure (anal), it would be unlikley that I contracted hep from that.
Also if my symptoms were acute hep c symptoms my liver tests would have shown elevated levels.
Putting these two things together and the lack of other symptoms like my doctor said on the phone there is no need to test for hep c?
Would you people believe these are correct assumptions???
Thank you all for your advice.
I had sexual exposure, with a person of unknown Hep c status.
About two weeks post the exposure I began having unusual symptoms.
They included abdominal bloating and constipation, and a lack of appetite, during this time I had no fever or any other symptoms that I knew of.
I was unaware of Hep C being a sti so when i had sti check it was not tested for. All other sti checks were negative.
About 6 weeks after exposure I was still concerned about having no reason for these symptoms so had full blood work done which included ALT which was 21 and all other liver tests which were all normal.
So Still no answer as all bloods were normal. Then about 14 weeks after exposure I had the same done again, and again all normal, alt of 19 and so fourth.
Then I read about hep c and thought that this could be what was causing those symptoms??
I rang my doctor and Hep c council here in new zealand, and they both said the following....
Hep c not transmited through sex very easily.
.....................and if these symptoms were acute hep c symptoms they would have been caused by issues with the liver dealing with the virus which would have caused elevated alt.
Is it safe to say that giving it was a sexual exposure (anal), it would be unlikley that I contracted hep from that.
Also if my symptoms were acute hep c symptoms my liver tests would have shown elevated levels.
Putting these two things together and the lack of other symptoms like my doctor said on the phone there is no need to test for hep c?
Would you people believe these are correct assumptions???
Thank you all for your advice.
I understand that its just to make me feel okay about testing I think as i was worrried I put my self at risk.
The hep foundation in new zealand said that there was no need to test.
The hep foundation in new zealand said that there was no need to test.
Get tested that way you know. Asking people their opinion pales in comparison to test results
MedHelp has a Sexual Health forum which might be a better place for you to discuss the details of your encounter. I think you have your answer as regards hepatitis c.
So the above does answer both my questions....
That if i was acute then ALT and AST would be high.
and sexual exposure is no risk.
So saying that my exposure was receiving anal sex but without penetration, just pushing on the back door. Saying that i am sure there was no blood from me, as it was not rough or penetrative. Even if there was blood only from the person I was with penetrating me can his blood still penetrate through my mucus membrane in my anus if its not bleeding??
That if i was acute then ALT and AST would be high.
and sexual exposure is no risk.
So saying that my exposure was receiving anal sex but without penetration, just pushing on the back door. Saying that i am sure there was no blood from me, as it was not rough or penetrative. Even if there was blood only from the person I was with penetrating me can his blood still penetrate through my mucus membrane in my anus if its not bleeding??
I agree with Susie - Everyone should be tested since there are so many variables. I have no risk factors yet I received a letter from the Red Cross last June saying I was positive and acute. So, you just don't know. Having said that, your exposure is negligible at best and I wouldn't worry but I would get tested just for ha ha's - to put my mind at ease about any past exposures. BTW - as an acute, my ALT and AST were high - 10 times the norm. My symptoms were only extreme fatigue and brown urine which I though was due to dehydration.
Bets, Anne
Bets, Anne
I am sorry it looks like my first post to you didn't show up.When we found out my husband of 20 years had hcv I was very uneducated and when his nurses first words to me were GET TESTED IMMEDIATELY.I phoned my Dr whom would not perform the test as she said I had no risk factors.I found a online company that I paid a $102.00 to ,they sent me to a local lab and by the next morning I got my negative result back.Being extremely ignorant or rather uneducated about the disease I immediately tried to consume as much information as possible and today I think the testing should be mandatory as so many people have it and don't know.Its my understanding that the only way its sexually transmitted is through rough sex as I was told.Blood has got to be involved.If you would like the info on the company that helped me get tested I will send that to you.Think about this for about $100 you can at least know and feel better.
Like you were told, it is unlikely that you were exposed. Hep C is not considered an STI. (btw, medical professionals have been using the term STI now for a few years). However, it can be passed sexually if blood is exchanged. The chances of that happening is rare in long term monogamous couples. Anal sex makes the risk a bit more likely but still not much. Personally I believe everyone should be tested as there are many people who have the disease and are unaware and have no known risk factors at all. Why not have the test and then you can relax and not worry about it again?
Where I am from its called an STI not disease.
But yes I understand that its not.
So no need to test?
But yes I understand that its not.
So no need to test?
STI? What's that? Do you mean STD, which it is not.
HCV is a blood born disease. Get your facts straight, please.
HCV is a blood born disease. Get your facts straight, please.
looking at graphs relating to acute symptoms and acute hep c they all seem to indicate that alt levels would elevate during acute infection.
Like said below... web site
http://knol.google.com/k/norah-terrault/hepatitis-c/1w026jckgcwg2/4#
Like said below... web site
http://knol.google.com/k/norah-terrault/hepatitis-c/1w026jckgcwg2/4#
By the way I do think your alt levels could be kinda hit and miss.I think that regardless of if you were experiencing acute hcv or not you could have a liver function test done everyday for a week and it could be low one day ,high the next ect...I am not positive but thats what I think I remember the DR saying.
Further to this I do know that I could have low levels of ALT and the others and still be hep c positive but the question is that if I was experiencing acute hep c, they would have been elevated.
I was not worried about the exposure, but more worried about the symptoms.
I am sure that if these were symptoms my alt would have been elevated.
I was not worried about the exposure, but more worried about the symptoms.
I am sure that if these were symptoms my alt would have been elevated.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
