Aa
new diagnosis- Shocked and scard
just found out I had a possitive test for hepatitis C yesterday. I have been sick for 2 years now with stomach pain and digestive problems and have been passed from one dr. to another trying to figure out what is wrong. I have celiac disease diagnosed 2 years ago, and had another recent endoscopy which found candiada so I was sent to an infectious disease dr. She did blood work and that hep C came back as pos. reactive. I am in shock I have never used drugs, only 2 sexual partners in my life I did not think i was at all at risk and can not imagion how I got this. I am scard and dont know what to do. I had more labs yeaterday at my doctors office- but it was not explained to me what the blood work was for, I was just told it would be back in 3 weeks. Can anyone tell me what the labs are for? and is it possable that they may show that I do not have have it at all? I have been so upset and crying, I also found out I have rheumatoid arthritis yesterday (a bit much for one day) and just need some advice to help me calm down.
I'm so sorry I know you are scard. I know how you feel this is all very overwhelming and a big shock. This form has been a huge help to me and I'm so glad you also just joined. I am just learning about all of this - I wish I had some great advice to give you, I do know that there is hope and a lot of new treatments are on the way. Please know that you are not alone, I am thinking of you and wish you all the best. Try to hang in there and have faith (I know that sounds impossable). Please let me know how you are doing, I am thinking of you.
I have been taking everyones advice and readingall about Hep C and I am so surprised about how little I knew about it. I am realizing that not many people know much about it at all. I was so sad to read that even most doctors don't even think of it often and because of that so many people are walking around not knowing they have it until they are in very bad shape. No one ever talks about it -I know all through my schooling I never learned about it. It is such a simple inexpensive blood test that could be given to everyone, and could save so many lives. I would think it would be a test you would be given when you have a child or are admitted to the hospital for any reason. A year ago I was in the hospital for 8 days and looking through all of my records I was given every test under the sun but not Hep C. It is sad because it feels like such a lonely disease. I know that I worry about telling people I have it that they would not understand because they have never been informed. Until today I did not plan on ever telling anyone but I think that would be a bad mistake. Anyone can get it and never know how, or to know that they can just ask their doctor to be tested.
I am still waiting for my blood work to come back and it seems like it is taking FOREVER. I dont think there is any way to tell when you were infected- Does the labs give any indication of how long you may have had it? I am really nervous that I had it when I was pregnant with my son. If I did will he have it as well?
I hope everyone has a fun weekend feeling well, not worry for a bit, and relax, enjoy, and laugh for a while. Best wishes to everyone. I am thinking about all of you, and everyone going through this, all of the time.
I am still waiting for my blood work to come back and it seems like it is taking FOREVER. I dont think there is any way to tell when you were infected- Does the labs give any indication of how long you may have had it? I am really nervous that I had it when I was pregnant with my son. If I did will he have it as well?
I hope everyone has a fun weekend feeling well, not worry for a bit, and relax, enjoy, and laugh for a while. Best wishes to everyone. I am thinking about all of you, and everyone going through this, all of the time.
Welcome to the forum, if you go to the top of this page and use the orange post a question button, it will start a new thread where you can introduce yourself and get feedback on any questions you may have.
Have a great day
Have a great day
Hey, I am so glad I found this forum. I am scared to death and all I can think about is me dying! My liver biospy came back as 3 with 4 being the worst-case. I jus found out I have had hep c for a long time. I also have auto immune hepatitis. Also Rheumatoid arthritis. I am very depressed and the doctor wants me to wait until October to get the new treatment for hep c. I feel so lost and alone.
I am so happy you are well and feeling better that is very good news. It sounds like you have been throught a lot and i am so sorry about that. I agree that many doctors do not take the time or have the time to give the information we need, it is not a good feeling to leave feeling the office feeling lost and alone. A year ago a gastro doctor did an endoscopy and right after i woke up told me I have celiac disease and I should Google it! I could not believe that was all he had to offer me about it. Thankfully I knew what it was already and worked as a behavior therapist with children with autism who were on gluten free diets. I never went back to Dr. Google. But I have thought many time of the people he must have said the same thing to that may have never heard of celiac disease and how aweful that must have been for them. A good doctor, I am realizing is very valuable. You seem to be a very strong person who had to fight for quite some time and I can not tell you how happy I am that you are getting well. I wish you all the best and I am hoping you are doing all thing you enjoy in life. Thank you for your comments your story is inspiring, and also thank you for the birthday wishes that was so nice of you. I will continue updating on what I find out. This form had been such a big help to to me, other than my husban (who has been great) I really don't have an other support system in my life right now so I am so very thankful to everyone more than I could ever express.
I hope you have a wonderful day an much happiness always. Good luck to you
I hope you have a wonderful day an much happiness always. Good luck to you
Getting a diagnosis of Hepatitis C (especially if a thorough explanation of the tests and diagnosis or possible diagnosis was not given) can be very traumatic. Many of us on the forum went through the same type of experience. I don't think doctors realize how traumatic it is to tell someone they have a very serious disease, especially if they fail to have a discussion about it. Many doctors also don't realize there is a difference between having a positive antibody test and having Chronic Hepatitis C. In addition, many know very little about Hep C so it is probably difficult for them to explain a disease they don't know much about. (That is still no excuse for not doing some research and having a discussion about a serious disease of they are going to drop it on our heads.)
This forum is a good source of information and support. There are some good articles on the internet, but there are also some old and outdated articles that can scare people. That is because, until recently, the treatment was not very effective. The new current treatments are very effective and most people can be cured with them.
I treated for 48 weeks (Sept. 2011-Aug. 2012) with Interferon, Ribavirin, and Incivek (Incivek for 12 weeks). My treatment was successful and I am now considered cured. The new Hepatitis C treatments are much shorter in duration (between 12 and 24 weeks depending on the Genotype) and they are much more effective with much higher cure rates. So, if you do have Hep C, the treatment now is very effective.
Unfortunately, I had had Hepatitis C for decades (since the mid 1970s) even though I was not diagnosed until July 2011. During that time Hep C triggered an Autoimmune Disease in me, Sjogren's Syndrome/Disease. I have had Sjogren's for decades also, but I was not diagnosed until August 2013.
I am now under the care of a very competent and knowledgeable Rheumatologist and am receiving excellent care and treatment. I am feeling very good. The fatigue disappeared after I got rid of Hep C (although many Autoimmune Diseases can cause fatigue). I am now on DMARDS (Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs) for the Sjogren's and I feel considerably better than I did last summer. In fact, I feel really good, better than I have felt in years.
There are a lot of newer and very effective treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis now so, once you get established with a good Rheumatologist, I am sure you will feel much more comfortable and less frightened by your diagnosis of RA. And, if it turns out that you do have Hep C, a good Hepatologist can work with your Rheumatologist about the best treatments for both the Hep C (if you have it) and the RA. Be sure they collaborate on your treatment (if you do have Hepatitis C). Having an Autoimmune Disease can potentially complicate Hep C treatment which is why you want a Hepatologist and not a plain Gastroenterologist to manage your Hep C treatment (if you do, indeed, have Hep C).
Best wishes for the future. Keep us informed.
Also, Happy Birthday. Hope you have a very good year.
This forum is a good source of information and support. There are some good articles on the internet, but there are also some old and outdated articles that can scare people. That is because, until recently, the treatment was not very effective. The new current treatments are very effective and most people can be cured with them.
I treated for 48 weeks (Sept. 2011-Aug. 2012) with Interferon, Ribavirin, and Incivek (Incivek for 12 weeks). My treatment was successful and I am now considered cured. The new Hepatitis C treatments are much shorter in duration (between 12 and 24 weeks depending on the Genotype) and they are much more effective with much higher cure rates. So, if you do have Hep C, the treatment now is very effective.
Unfortunately, I had had Hepatitis C for decades (since the mid 1970s) even though I was not diagnosed until July 2011. During that time Hep C triggered an Autoimmune Disease in me, Sjogren's Syndrome/Disease. I have had Sjogren's for decades also, but I was not diagnosed until August 2013.
I am now under the care of a very competent and knowledgeable Rheumatologist and am receiving excellent care and treatment. I am feeling very good. The fatigue disappeared after I got rid of Hep C (although many Autoimmune Diseases can cause fatigue). I am now on DMARDS (Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs) for the Sjogren's and I feel considerably better than I did last summer. In fact, I feel really good, better than I have felt in years.
There are a lot of newer and very effective treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis now so, once you get established with a good Rheumatologist, I am sure you will feel much more comfortable and less frightened by your diagnosis of RA. And, if it turns out that you do have Hep C, a good Hepatologist can work with your Rheumatologist about the best treatments for both the Hep C (if you have it) and the RA. Be sure they collaborate on your treatment (if you do have Hepatitis C). Having an Autoimmune Disease can potentially complicate Hep C treatment which is why you want a Hepatologist and not a plain Gastroenterologist to manage your Hep C treatment (if you do, indeed, have Hep C).
Best wishes for the future. Keep us informed.
Also, Happy Birthday. Hope you have a very good year.
Thank you your information was very helpful. It was a lot to handle in a day and bad timing - today is my birthday- so not as happy as I would have liked it to be. You are right about the my symptoms may be related to my Autoimmune Diseases I think maybe I was not looking at the whole picture. I do have a genetic predisposition to both - my uncle has celiac and my mom has Rheumatoid Arthritis. I have an appointment with a Rheumatologist, and an infectious disease specialist is the dr. who tested me for hep c and did the follow up blood work. I guess I will wait to get the results and than find a new doctor. I will keep careful records of all my labs - very good advive. All of your advive and information is wonderful and I can not thank you enough. I have been reading a lot the last 2 days some of the info has been kind of scary, so it is very refreshing to be able to connect with someone who has been there. I want you to know that sharing your knowelage is a true gift and I appreciate you. Wishing you health, and happiness.
Thank you. I'm so glad I decided to join this you all have been so helpful, I am starting to feel like I can breath again. I have been using milk thisle in my tea as well as dandilion greens, I have been vegetarian for about 20 years and followed a raw diet and lots of juicing since last nov.to help with digestion but have read a lot about natural healing. Beets, and their greens, apples, ginger, and carrots are also very good for your liver. Thank you again.
Welcome to the forum. I will try to respond to some of your concerns.
"just found out I had a possitive test for hepatitis C yesterday..... that hep C came back as pos. reactive.....is it possable that they may show that I do not have have it at all?"
---------------------------------------
The initial test that would have been run would have been the Hepatitis Antibody Panel. This test tells whether you have even been exposed to the Hepatitis virus. About 20% of people who are exposed to the virus are able to fight it off themselves. (However, they will always test positive for the Hep C antibody). The other 80% of those exposed will go on to develop Chronic Hepatitis C. So, it is possible you were in the 20% that were able to fight it off themselves.
"I had more labs yesterday at my doctors office- but it was not explained to me what the blood work was for, .... Can anyone tell me what the labs are for? "
__________________________________
Most likely some of the labs yesterday were to find out if you have a Hepatitis C viral load. In other words, to find out if you have Chronic Hepatitis C or if you just have the antibodies. The tests may also determine which Genotype you are (if you have Chronic Hep C). Since you were also diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis yesterday, some of the labs may pertain to that diagnosis.
There are a multitude of ways one can get Hep C: Blood Transfusions, Blood Products, Tattoos, Dental Work, Medical Procedures, Transmission from Mother to Baby, Acupuncture, sharing toothbrushes or nail clippers or razors, etc. If the equipment was not cleaned properly between procedures, one can get Hepatitis C.
"I have been sick for 2 years now with stomach pain and digestive problems and have been passed from one dr. to another trying to figure out what is wrong. I have celiac disease ..... and had another recent endoscopy which found candiada ..... I also found out I have rheumatoid arthritis yesterday..... I have had other symptoms .... like easly brusing, swollen legs, flu like symptoms, no appitite, weight loss, and back pain. ..... I have been so so so tired."
----------------------------------------
Some of these symptoms may be connected to Hep C (if you have it), especially the fatigue. However, you have two confirmed Autoimmune Diseases (Celiac and Rheumatoid Arthritis). Autoimmune Diseases can and do cause a multitude of odd ball and seemingly unconnected/unrelated symptoms. All of the symptoms you mentioned are common symptoms among people with Autoimmune Diseases. In addition, many Autoimmune Diseases are overlapping. Unraveling Autoimmune Diseases can be challenging. While OI don't know for sure, it would not surprise me if most of your symptoms are Autoimmune related.
Another thing is that Hepatitis C can trigger the onset of Autoimmune Diseases. A person often has a genetic predisposition to an Autoimmune Diseases but often the trigger is something like a virus (as well as other factors).
I would suggest seeing a Hepatologist about you Hepatitis C (if you actually have Chronic Hepatitis C which is confirmed by a HCV RNA test or viral load test). A Hepatologist is the best person to manage your Hepatitis C (if you have it), especially since you have 2 Autoimmune Diseases which can complicated treatment for Hep C.
Since you have two Autoimmune Diseases, I would suggest seeing a Rheumatologist for further testing, evaluation, and management of your Autoimmune Diseases. A Rheumatologist will evaluate you and test you to be sure there are no other Autoimmune Diseases and will manage your treatment and care while periodically checking more blood work to monitor your situation. There are many good drugs available to treat and manage Autoimmune Diseases. But one needs a very knowledgeable and competent Rheumatologist to do so.
It is difficult when one gets blind sided by an unexpected diagnosis. The best thing to do is try to read as much about it as possible and learn as much as possible. In addition, getting top notch doctors can make all the difference in the world in terms of getting appropriate treatment.
Also, get hard copies of all of your lab work and keep a file. You will want to refer to the results and you will also need them when you see new doctors.
If you do have Hep C, the current treatments are very effective and have a high rate of cure.
Best of luck.
"just found out I had a possitive test for hepatitis C yesterday..... that hep C came back as pos. reactive.....is it possable that they may show that I do not have have it at all?"
---------------------------------------
The initial test that would have been run would have been the Hepatitis Antibody Panel. This test tells whether you have even been exposed to the Hepatitis virus. About 20% of people who are exposed to the virus are able to fight it off themselves. (However, they will always test positive for the Hep C antibody). The other 80% of those exposed will go on to develop Chronic Hepatitis C. So, it is possible you were in the 20% that were able to fight it off themselves.
"I had more labs yesterday at my doctors office- but it was not explained to me what the blood work was for, .... Can anyone tell me what the labs are for? "
__________________________________
Most likely some of the labs yesterday were to find out if you have a Hepatitis C viral load. In other words, to find out if you have Chronic Hepatitis C or if you just have the antibodies. The tests may also determine which Genotype you are (if you have Chronic Hep C). Since you were also diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis yesterday, some of the labs may pertain to that diagnosis.
There are a multitude of ways one can get Hep C: Blood Transfusions, Blood Products, Tattoos, Dental Work, Medical Procedures, Transmission from Mother to Baby, Acupuncture, sharing toothbrushes or nail clippers or razors, etc. If the equipment was not cleaned properly between procedures, one can get Hepatitis C.
"I have been sick for 2 years now with stomach pain and digestive problems and have been passed from one dr. to another trying to figure out what is wrong. I have celiac disease ..... and had another recent endoscopy which found candiada ..... I also found out I have rheumatoid arthritis yesterday..... I have had other symptoms .... like easly brusing, swollen legs, flu like symptoms, no appitite, weight loss, and back pain. ..... I have been so so so tired."
----------------------------------------
Some of these symptoms may be connected to Hep C (if you have it), especially the fatigue. However, you have two confirmed Autoimmune Diseases (Celiac and Rheumatoid Arthritis). Autoimmune Diseases can and do cause a multitude of odd ball and seemingly unconnected/unrelated symptoms. All of the symptoms you mentioned are common symptoms among people with Autoimmune Diseases. In addition, many Autoimmune Diseases are overlapping. Unraveling Autoimmune Diseases can be challenging. While OI don't know for sure, it would not surprise me if most of your symptoms are Autoimmune related.
Another thing is that Hepatitis C can trigger the onset of Autoimmune Diseases. A person often has a genetic predisposition to an Autoimmune Diseases but often the trigger is something like a virus (as well as other factors).
I would suggest seeing a Hepatologist about you Hepatitis C (if you actually have Chronic Hepatitis C which is confirmed by a HCV RNA test or viral load test). A Hepatologist is the best person to manage your Hepatitis C (if you have it), especially since you have 2 Autoimmune Diseases which can complicated treatment for Hep C.
Since you have two Autoimmune Diseases, I would suggest seeing a Rheumatologist for further testing, evaluation, and management of your Autoimmune Diseases. A Rheumatologist will evaluate you and test you to be sure there are no other Autoimmune Diseases and will manage your treatment and care while periodically checking more blood work to monitor your situation. There are many good drugs available to treat and manage Autoimmune Diseases. But one needs a very knowledgeable and competent Rheumatologist to do so.
It is difficult when one gets blind sided by an unexpected diagnosis. The best thing to do is try to read as much about it as possible and learn as much as possible. In addition, getting top notch doctors can make all the difference in the world in terms of getting appropriate treatment.
Also, get hard copies of all of your lab work and keep a file. You will want to refer to the results and you will also need them when you see new doctors.
If you do have Hep C, the current treatments are very effective and have a high rate of cure.
Best of luck.
Hi,
I have had hep C for over 30 years, and no symptoms that really changed my life. It is a very slow moving illness. I think it might make a person more susceptible to other things. I had a very bad reaction to mold in my home (I moved) and also to a prescription med. There are some supplements you can take (mllk Thistle) that are protective for the liver. I agree with others and think your stomach issues are probably unrelated to Hep C. You have plenty of time, so don't rush into a treatment. There are better treatments coming out all the time with few side effects. I actually have heard more horror stories about the treatments than I have the HCV. I also don't know how I ever got it.
So, take your time in figuring things out.
I have had hep C for over 30 years, and no symptoms that really changed my life. It is a very slow moving illness. I think it might make a person more susceptible to other things. I had a very bad reaction to mold in my home (I moved) and also to a prescription med. There are some supplements you can take (mllk Thistle) that are protective for the liver. I agree with others and think your stomach issues are probably unrelated to Hep C. You have plenty of time, so don't rush into a treatment. There are better treatments coming out all the time with few side effects. I actually have heard more horror stories about the treatments than I have the HCV. I also don't know how I ever got it.
So, take your time in figuring things out.
Haha it is pertty funny how gluten free is the answer to a better world lately! Personally I dont know why anyone would choose to take that on, unless they have celiac disease- it is really quite boring- and I have day I would kill for a bagel
I have been gluteen free for over a year. I dont know if stomach pain has anything to do with HepC but doing testes and labs to find the cause of the pain is how I found out I had it. I have had other symptoms that were never connected like easly brusing, swollen legs, flu like symptoms, no appitite, weight loss, and back pain. I am happy to hear that working out had helped you. I have been a competive runner since I was 14 yrs old and a I run marathons but have not done much running at all this past year because I have been so so so tired. But I am going to push myself to get back out there. I was just telling my husban that i was afraid to do do much because I don't want to feel worse, so I am happy that excersize has made you feel better. Best of luck
of course, no gluten, right?
their saying that for everyone nowadays.
I never saw any stomach problems from hep c.
from overeating, drinking, bad food, worried, yes.
But not HepC in any way.
In fact, all my symptoms when I found out I had HepC
went away when I started going to the gym. . .
their saying that for everyone nowadays.
I never saw any stomach problems from hep c.
from overeating, drinking, bad food, worried, yes.
But not HepC in any way.
In fact, all my symptoms when I found out I had HepC
went away when I started going to the gym. . .
Thank you so much for your response, it feel go to know that there are kind people like you who give your time. I will certainally take your advive. I am doing my best to calm down and just wait to see what my labs say. Wishing you good health and much happiness.
You want advice to calm down.
Take a deep long slow breath in. Now let it out. Do it again.
Now that you've calmed down, I'll tell you that you have a lot on your plate, health wise.
All that matters with hep C is how healthy your liver is. Some people have the virus for years and their livers never have any problem. For others, it can be much worse.
Hep C often has no symptoms until there is advanced liver disease. I doubt your stomach problems are because of the virus.
The best person to help you with hep C is a hepatologist, a liver specialist
Many people have no idea how they got hep C. It could have been from many different ways. How you got it isn't important. What is important, to repeat, is how healthy is your liver ? This is part of what the blood tests will tell you.
One thing everyone who is diagnosed with the virus should do is quit drinking alcohol. It's like pouring gasoline on a fire.
Since you mentioned candida, I can advise you to take probiotics, which hopefully, your doctor already has mentioned to you. Stay away from sugar.
For more information on hep C try looking at hepcadvocate.org
or one of the many other sites online. Do some searches and educate yourself.
Take a deep long slow breath in. Now let it out. Do it again.
Now that you've calmed down, I'll tell you that you have a lot on your plate, health wise.
All that matters with hep C is how healthy your liver is. Some people have the virus for years and their livers never have any problem. For others, it can be much worse.
Hep C often has no symptoms until there is advanced liver disease. I doubt your stomach problems are because of the virus.
The best person to help you with hep C is a hepatologist, a liver specialist
Many people have no idea how they got hep C. It could have been from many different ways. How you got it isn't important. What is important, to repeat, is how healthy is your liver ? This is part of what the blood tests will tell you.
One thing everyone who is diagnosed with the virus should do is quit drinking alcohol. It's like pouring gasoline on a fire.
Since you mentioned candida, I can advise you to take probiotics, which hopefully, your doctor already has mentioned to you. Stay away from sugar.
For more information on hep C try looking at hepcadvocate.org
or one of the many other sites online. Do some searches and educate yourself.
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