Had a bit of a scare today

[flcyclist]

Today, I had a scheduled appointment with my primary doc to remove a small growth on my cheek and send it off for biopsy.  At the last appointment he agreed to write the script for the one year eot PCR.  Since I was seeing him for a follow up on the TSH and CBC's, I didn't want to go back to my GI doc just to follow up on the PCR.   I didn't notice until later they printed a script calling for a qualitative Hep A, B and C test.  So, a few weeks later I went to Quest, had the test run and figured I'd get the results at the appointment.  

When the doc came into the office today he seemed a bit concerned and started talking about the positive results for hepatitis, but wasn't specific as to what.  He suggested I needed to go to another GI that he recommended to follow up for further treatment.   What now?  Hep A, B??  My heart sunk and I thought, no friggin way and started asking questions.  Once I got out of him that I was reactive to Hep C antibody I felt a sigh of relief.  I explained to the doc that since I've had previous exposure to HCV, it was normal for me to show a reactive to Hep C antibody, so this should be expected.  He apologized for getting me upset and still seemed a bit perplexed, but I understood since this isn't his field of expertise.  

He showed me the results which stated the qualitative test was performed using the Versant HCV RNA Qualitative Assay (TMA)  which has a low level of sensitivity with the lower limit of detection of 5.3 IU/ml.  After reading the result of the TMA was "not detected", another big sigh of relief.  Must admit, my heart skipped several beats and I was in disbelief for a few minutes.  Hopefully my blood pressure is down low enough so I can have a calm evening and a good night's sleep.  Glad that's over.   Hope everyone else is hanging on and doing well.   :-)

[FaithforHealing]

Glad you dodged that bullet....we don't like bad news on this site!! Thanks for complying. :)  

[mzkity]

That's wonderful!!!!

[flcyclist]

To follow up, just got the call from the PCP that the skin biopsy was normal :-)

[Advocate1955]

Whew! Glad all turned out well FlCyclist!
Advocate1955

[flcyclist]

I had a small patch of skin removed and the PCP wanted to send it off for biopsy to just be sure.  It takes two weeks from sending the sample to get the results.

[crossroadsec]

I too was holding my breath til I got thru reading your post. Whew! So glad you understood about the antibodies. I did NOT know that.
So how is the cheek? I just know everything is gonna be fine fine fine.
xo Karen:)

[FaithforHealing]

I hear ya on the blood pressure issue!  I just posted that my EOT test came back as <25 and I had to wait for the retest results which were UND. Although they were "rather certain" the first test was a false positive, one does not find too much comfort in "rather certain".  So happy you got good news, too. And yes, thank God we have this forum to help us endure the roller coaster that is HCV and tx!

What about the cheek biopsy?

[Dee1956]

OMG I was so scared when I read your story, glad it had a happy ending.  Yes it is frustrating that other doctors are not aware and can scare you
Glad to hear all is well :)

[1swimmer]

Hey kid,
Glad all was good. Something about lab tests, doctors expressions, medical offices; it's enough to raise my blood pressure.
My doc recently wrote orders for a genotype test. He or the front desk got the test # wrong and I'm a-wondering huh??? Should have been a pcr. Take my 6 month post in 2 weeks.
Cheers,c

[BoceprevirGal]

  Originally, I was astonished that my PCPs seemd to know little to nothing about Hep C.  Even after I happily and triumphantly told them that I was cured, they looked at me a bit skeptically, and a little patronizingly.(They had never once mentioned to me that I should seek Treatment, even when my liver enzymes shot through the roof) I could just imagine the silent script they had going in their heads, which I imagined ran like this: "there rly isn't a cure for Hep C...or: it goes away but comes back".
   It is very frustrating, and you were amazingly calm, in that Docs' office, Flcyclist, good for you.  

[belle19]

wow!  i'm so glad everything turned out fine.  you've been thru enough already.  good luck to you and your hep c free future.  now get going on your bike and enjoy life.  belle

[rivll]

Sheeesh! I am still trying to recover from reading that! Also what happened to can-do-man is as shocking. Lucky you guys know your stuff...I would have become catatonic...
Yes what Idyllic said,"In a way how your doctor handled this kind of makes a little sense why people come on here certain they have the actual virus."
So very true.

[flcyclist]

Jules, yes, a bike ride would have been ideal today, but didn't happen.  Tomorrow's another day.

Idyllic, pooh, can-do; I can see how easy a patient would believe their doctor's advice to see a GI or Hepatologist for further consultation after that report.  With the help and guidance of many on the forum, we have to educate ourselves and learn as much as possible to make sure the advice given is correct.  If I didn't know better, I'd now be going through a roller coaster of emotions, thinking that I've relapsed and wondering what the next step is until I got an appointment to discuss with the Hep doc.  Thank God for this forum :)

[can-do-man]

Yep that will get you a rush, about a year or so my PCP retired so after getting a new one and all my records transfered to her. I had seen her a few times when she asked me When I was going to do something about my Hep C. With my usual dumb look I asked her what she meant as I was cured... Well she informed me she got a letter from my Hepa that I had relapsed, well knowing I hadn't even had a PCR done I asked to see the letter, well she was reading one from my first treatment when I had relapsed, I nicely told her maybe she needed to read all the documents he had sent....... Well she was a little red faced and said she was sorry, glad it wasn't something that was serious and she was treating me as such. But just hearing the word relapse makes your heart sink.......

[pooh55811]

Glad everything worked out for you. And happy you are still Hep C free.  : )

I agree with Idyllic that how your doctor handled this makes a little sense why people come on here certain they have the actual virus (when, in fact, they have only tested positive to the antibodies). You knew to ask questions and look for the correct answers; but most newbies do not.

[Idyllic]

O M G. I would have freaked. After all this.

You did that guy a favor by explaining how HCV works. In a way how your doctor handled this kind of makes a little sense why people come on here certain they have the actual virus.

Glad you are still UND :)

[jules2551]

Geez, you scared me there for a minute!  I am glad everything worked out.  Go take a long bike ride and enjoy :)