new and old hep c...

[maxiepiano]

I gave up intravenious drug use years ago and thought I might have hep c when refused blood donation and told to see a doctor.  I never followed up and thought it was only transvered by needles.  I did not tell my fiance and she was tested a year after we had been together with no sign of hep c.  We then found out she had cancer and one year to live after a failed pregnancy.  After the cancer was removed, she contacted hep c we asume from a weakened immune system.  I was tested 6 months ago by a dr after she found out my personal history.  It came back possitive hep c and I told my fiance who then was tested and showed positive.  I and  my fiance are healthy and now are doing everything we can to remain that way...life style, no booze, drugs etc.  

Any and all advice from medical and individuals with similer situation, medicines, herbs etc advice would be greatly appreciated...

[DoubleDose]

Did your fiance find out she had HCV after the Cancer treatments or after you tested positive for HCV?  You seem to say she found out she had HCV after the Cancer issues, but then also learned she had HCV after you came up positive and she got tested.  What is the timeline on her HCV tests, when did she initially test negative for HCV, and do you know which HCV tests were used?

Who indicated to you or to her that the HCV positive she received on testing could have come from the Cancer treatments, and a weakened immune system?  Did doctors describe this scenario to either of you?  Did they imply that your fiance only became HCV+ after her Cancer therapy?

We need more detail to the story before making any statements about what has happened, and what the best steps might be.

DoubleDose

[maxiepiano]

during testing and chemo in preperation for the ovarian cancer removal she tested negitive.  I found out I had hep c after her operation (I had been tested a few months earlier and receaved the results in the mail).  I told her weeks ago my positive and then she emmediatly was tested and given a positive hep c conclusion after 3 weeks.  We are doing all the research we can to learn how to live with this.  Tomorrow she and I (family and friends are getting hep c prevention shots as we let them know) return to the clinic where we will receave hep a and b shots along witrh them taking my bloodwork to get my percentage/status.

Your insights and knowledge/guidance greatly appriciated. Thank you

[DoubleDose]

Your fiance needs to follow up with a viral load test for HCV, called a PCR test.  This will determine if she actually has the virus actively replicating in her body.  Also, it needs to be determined if this is really a NEW infection for her.  If it is new, it would be considered the Acute version of HCV, early on, and is easier to cure, and will provide greater benefits in curing now, before it becomes chronic.

You both need PCR tests, for that matter, to see what your viral loads are (if any), and whether you both need to consider therapy for HCV.  A biopsy for you would also be called for, to assess liver damage, and thus the urgency level for treatment.  Your fiance is a different case.  If she is newly infected, then regardless of liver damage, she should treat.  Of course this is all predicated on her having an actual viral load, and thus infection with HCV, and also, in determining that her infection is recent...and in the 'acute' phase.

By the way there are no shots or vaccines to prevent or deter HCV at all.  The only way to deal with preventing HCV is to limit risky behaviors...contact with blood, blood products, IVDU's, transfusions, tattoos, and other contact with other people's blood.  This is an odd situation, because sexual, and casual transmission of HCV is very rare according to published studies.  If your fiance was negative, and now positive, it is not explained easily by your having the virus.  

If she became positive for the virus as a result of her Cancer treatment, it would be something the doctors would need to document.  It is not currently believed that HCV can exist undetected and then emerge because of immuno-suppressive therapy.  There are some reports of this possibly happening, but most seem unclear.  If this really appears to have happened, then it needs to be analyzed and reviewed closely by knowledgable Hepatologists.

Please present this information, and background history to a very experienced Hepatologist, with HCV treatment background.  You want to find out what the real history is, for you and your fiance.  
Also, HCV genotype testing might tell whether you and your fiance have different infections (different genotypes of HCV), or if you both have the same genotype, you could have POSSIBLY infected her.  Were there any blood to blood exchanges, accidents, sexual incidents, etc?

Bottom line, you need to BOTH lay out the cases with a good Hepatologist, have the necessary tests done, and then proceed accordingly.

Keep us informed of what you find out.

DoubleDose

[Jakied]

Definitely, NO MORE alcohol.  Hcv loves alcohol like a fire loves gasoline.  Bad combination.

There is no vaccine for hcv.  you should be vaccinated for hbv and hav.

Is your fiance's risk for hcv only sexual ?  If so, that is unusual, because hcv is rarely transmitted by sex.  usually Idu or blood transfusion.

There are some questions about your case which are interesting.  Tell your story to a good hepatologist and decide on a course of action.