Testing for Hep C?

[virgogrl]

My boyfriend went to the dr for orange urine, upset stomach, yellowish skin/eyes, and fatigue.  The dr's took blood and came back and said it's probably liver related but they need to run more tests and ordered a cat scan because they don't know what is wrong. We unfortunately had a pretty vicious breakup and are now not speaking.  I hope everything is fine with him but am now kind of selfishly concerned about myself.  Should I get tested for Hep C?  We have had unprotected sex a few times and he has not had sex with anyone else in a year (he has said and I do believe him), I have only had oral sex with one other person, neither of use have ever used drugs.  I'm just wondering if Hep C is something I need to be concerned about, I don't know much about it and everything I read is conflicting.  Thanks.

[jmjm530]

Definitely go to your doctor and ask to be tested making sure to discuss your ex-boyfriend's symptons.  I imagine they'll do a general liver panel and possibly follow-up with tests for hepatitis A, B, C and other stuff. If your doctor doesn't seem knowledgable in this area, see a Gastroenterologist or  a Hepatologist (liver specialist). None of us in this forum are doctors.

-- Jim

[cougareyes]

Those do sound like liver related, but it could be a number of things. If you are still talking with him and you feel he will be honest, you can wait until he tells you what it is.
You can also get a hep panel and liver function test run, if you don't have a doctor or insurance; I know where I live you can have Quest Labs run them for you as an individual patient.  Peace

[virgogrl]

Thanks for your reply.  The problem is that I don't have health insurance and can't afford to go the dr., especially a specialist.  I noticed that home access has a hep c test and thought maybe I would do that if necessary.

[NYgirl]

Getting tested is a simple blood test.  I'd have it to rule it out for myself and have peace of mind.  It sounds like your boyfriend needs to be tested because regardless of what it is - it sounds liver related and could be any version of Hep I suppose.

Quick and easy for you - and you definitely need to find out what is up with him (also for YOUR peace of mind too!)

It makes it easier when you view it in "peace of mind" terms sometimes and don't assume the worst!  :)

[Fisheress]

Another source if you have no Insu. is go give blood.....they will tell you if you have the virus due to the fact all donated blood is screened. That is how one of my best friends found out. Just a thought.

Good Luck

[mikesimon]

Some things have changed in the last 37 years. Mike

[vegas777]

yeah I know, I was just doing a little bit of belly ach'n I guess, sorry

[B_Johnson]

Hep C is not sexually transmitted.  Only by blood.  If you use intravenous drugs or had a blood transfusion before 1984.

[virgogrl]

Thanks everyone, we have not been sexually intimate in a few months so it's too late to get vaccinated if I already have something but I don't have any symptoms but you are all correct, I should get tested anyway.  

Good luck with everything Vegas.

[vegas777]

thank you for your kind wishes virgo, best of luck to you too!

regarding the "mis quote"  all i did was cute and paste from a post on this thread, now I look up and that portion of the thread is gone, it was all about advising to go try to give blood and that wasy yuou will find out if you have hep, that a freind had done that and that's how you can get around not having to pay for the test, I cut and pasted from this post and the post is now gone, not the whole post, just a portion of it, like it was edited...

I will NEVER cut and paste from here again, pretty cheesy if you ask me...

[mikesimon]

You cut from the Fisheress post not Kalio's. That's all. I hope I didn't sound harsh because I didn't meant to. Mike

[jmjm530]

Just getting a hepatitis c test will not necessarily help. Your boyfriend may have hepatitis A or B, or something else. If you can't afford to see a doctor, at least go to a clinic. I wouldn't put things off as it could be serious.

-- Jim

[vegas777]

kalio said "they will tell you if you have the virus due to the fact all donated blood is screened."  Ohhhhhhh -  if that were the case 37 years ago I wouldn't be in a hep support room today -

[vegas777]

no of course you were not harsh, you're one of the most soft spoken people here, I took absolutley no offense, in fact I think I should of kept my whining to myself hehehe...what fisheress post?  I see no fisheress post in this thread?

[jmjm530]

See post C7. I'm having a bit of trouble focusing these days as well. But at least my excuse is I'm on treatment. LOL.

Be well.

-- Jim

[vegas777]

oh my god!!!  what is wrong with me!!!  sheesh!!!

kalio I am sooooooooooo sorry, I have no excuse other than I am just not paying attention to what I am doing today...Please accept my apologies....

thanks Jim and Mike - guess the "dip" in my name applies today!  lol

[Mister beagle bailey]

Thank God for Jim, what would we do without him.  I know I would be lost.  

I believe they only started testing for hep C in blood in the early 90's,before that they only knew of Hep A and B. They didn't know Hep C existed before then, something like that.

Peace---The Beagle

[mikesimon]

Thank God for you too Mister beagle bailey. You have the cutest name on the board - at least that is my opinion. It sort of broke my heart to read your stats. I always thought of you as a cute little beagle and now I fine out you're older than me. Oh well, the name is still way cute. Mike

[jmjm530]

Thanks for the nice words BB.

Mike,

Speaking of "old" -- maybe my doc was right when I asked him regarding the age/svr thing -- I said: "but you treat a lot of older people, right?". He answered "Yes, but not as old as you."

So far, at 59, by our little stat survey,I'm the oldest one treating here. So maybe he has a point. I would just think there would be a lot more my age here or even older. Where are they?

-- Jim

[who_is_this]

It is irresponsible to donate blood simply to try to find out if you have hepatitis.  ESPECIALLY if you have a possible exposure.  Why do you think they are so careful to exclude people from risk groups, or people who think they've had an exposure?  If tests caught everything, then there would be no guidelines as to who could donate.  

Medical tests are not perfect, and sometimes tainted blood gets through.  That is why receiving blood STILL carries a risk of hepatitis transmission.  So if someone has had a suspected exposure, they should NOT donate blood to try to find out.

Better to go to your local health dept.  Testing is either free or low cost, based on income.  They can test you for all 3 types.

[vegas777]

you're not the oldest in here - Go Girl is older than you, I am worried about her, she hasen't been back here since she started tx - I have emailed here a few times and got no response

Go Girl Where Are You????????????

[jmjm530]

Oldest so far in the stats. WAKE UP Veg. LOL. (Just kidding). Did forget about Go-Girl -- hope she's doing OK. But oldest here or not, I'm getting the uncomfortable feeling that I may be in the oldest 2-3%. So again, maybe my doc had a point regarding tx when he said "not as old as you".

-- Jim

[Mister beagle bailey]

Thanks --I couldn't get on the board with all the name I tried.  So I took my beagle's name hehe....

I had mentioned earlier that I was going to print everyones stats so I remember who is who........and who's on tx, who's not etc.

Bob

[Mister beagle bailey]

Jim---I'm not far behind you, will be 59 in May.

I remember someone being older I think a woman around 70, am I right?  But we have not heard from her in awhile.

  The Beagle