How did I find out

[Puppyluvurr]

May I ask some of you what symptoms brought you to find out you had hep c? I have RA and I just thought that my prob until I became so tired and drained( which is totally not me) that I literally had to force my self up and out, even to work. That's when I knew something was wrong and went to my p c dr. And when test results came back, well here I am.

[moahunter]

I found out a few months after I was exposed that I had acute hep c. I remember just being in the office of a work mate, and falling asleep while he was talking. As I was being tracked by doctors, I got a call telling me my liver enzymes were elevated. I think tiredness is the real price of the disease for many people, I suspect the acute stage for those who recognize it, is a bit like what it must be like for those unlucky enough to be near the end.

[curiouslady1]

I guess I am immersed in HepC thoughts right now after many years of being in total denial.  I found out in 1992 when many were calling it Non A Non B hepatitis.  Well of course, if it isn't A and it isn't B then it must be C!!!  Well, not necessarily.  I guess it could be R or T or even H (for hell) or D (for DAMN!!).  The PCP passed me to a gastroenterologist I think to confirm the dx and I got my biopsy (first and last I hope) which bothered me for months afterwards (that sac hurts when it gets poked!~) I promised him I would treat with ifn if he found anything real bad ( I was lying) but he said I was ok I guess and diagnosed me with chronic persistent hepatitis.  I don't really know what he thought and then I wasn't interested as I had too much on my mind (like getting a job? finishing school?).  I occasionally checked the status of my labs etc. through the years and got the genotype test when it came out, cried a bit at finding I was hard to treat 1a and moved on.  Then I heard on the news about the triple and decided I would amble into the University hep clinic to see what was up.  What was up was a research study with all oral experimental drugs from Pharmasset and Bristol Myers Squibb which just perfectly fit me.  I signed up and, after 40 years and living side by side with 11 to 13 mill viron UL, it took me 2 weeks to become UND with next to no side effects.  And here I am~happy as a clam.

[rnangel]

I too had no symptoms. I donated blood and recieved the news in an envelope stamped confidential. That was 12 years ago. My LFT's have always been within normal limits, though fatigue gets me down some days. My doctor has always said to have treatment only when my labs show signs of liver compromise. It would be good to hear if anyone has ever recieved treatment before the virus damages the liver. I know that normal labs do not reflect cirrhosis. Only a biopsy can detect that. It makes sense to try to rid my body of a damaging virus. I'm thinking preventive medicine is the best kind. I also have Genotype 1 which is least responsive to treatment. Some days I think why would I even bother with treatment. I hear the side effects are brutal and not sure if its symptoms would outweigh the unlikely benefits of treatment. Any thoughts?

[frijole]

I had no symptoms.  I also had normal liver enzymes (in the 20s) so no doctor would have thought to test for it.  I found out in 1993 giving blood that I had nonA/nonB Hepatitis but did nothing for 12 years.  Then I asked my doctor to test for it because I was ready to do something about it.
frijole

[screaming48]

I found out when I went in for my well woman yearly exam and bloodwork, Last year my ast and alt were slightly elevated and doc told me to lay off the aleve in case that was the reason. In March of this year went in for yearly exam and ast a alt were even higher. Doctor wanted me to test for hep c and I looked at her like she was nuts. Didn't really have any prior symptoms, tiredness which I attributed to working on the farm and menopause coming on, night sweats, depression, and working outside the farm as well. So she pushed me into the bloodwork and thats how I found out! Totally freaked out and cried for weeks, going through my mind is I'm gonna die..lol. found so many answers here on the forum and joined the hep c group, all wonderful people who calmed me down and gave me some facts, now just waiting to treat. Scared still but there you go...

[Mary4now]

No real symptoms, I got a needle stick and had to get blood tests, and there it was.  I had hep in 1971 ( not sure what kind, I was young and stupid ) never thought anything more when I got better from being really sick with hep, projectile vomiting, total fatigue, yellow as a banana for a few weeks.but that could have been it.

[Puppyluvurr]

Yep fatigue, I'm so fatigued now that I mostly just lay around which is mentally a pain in the but because I've always been super active. Does the fatigue get any better during tx or just gotta rode it out until after tx? Sandi

[Aaron57]

Found out from routine physical exam when I was 49 ... guessing i got hcv apx. 1978 - 80 ...  No pre Tx symptoms.

Currently Tx with P/R Sx @ Wk 38 .. not terrible but no ride in the park either ..

[curehepc]

Yeah, I believe Will is rite! When tx talk begins at the time I found out, I cried-rewind 2005. In General blood work. Fatigue kicked my butt- over the years to where 4/5 hrs, I needed a nap- everyday between 2 part time jobs, and single motherhood. I put it to bed, for years. Finallly, after 5 yrs, my viral load went kept going up and up and the extreme fatigue was catching up. The VL went from 116,000 to over 2 million in just 5 years. I needed to plan to b off work for a year, get a good man to help and lots of other things-bills, money, food, medicine, chores, store runs, etc, before I cud agree to do tx. My man, overseas had to come home early as I was  one-laying in bed for 6 mnths. U really must b prepared in every aspect-then dive in! 3 mnths left for me and having support at home does help alot!

[Puppyluvurr]

Wow Cindy, sounds like my route. I was so freaked put I made 3 diff docs rerun the tests.when it was definite and I was finally convinced.; I had my son and my husband tested
Thank goodness they r negative and had both of them get hep A vas and my hubby hepB vac. My son had already had his b vas as a baby. I've only been on this forum about 5-6 days but the pple have been so comforting and I'm not freaking out as bad now. Thank All, Sandi

[EyesofBlue55]

It was the same for me,even though I had been telling my pc dr that I had extreme fatigue and was just not feeling at all like myself,he though it was depression and gave me ad's.It was my obgyn dr that was right on it and tested me.Thats who gave me my bad news.I was a basket case.I went directly to my gastro dr and she ran the pcr test.When I got the call from them confirming that I indeed have the virus is the very same day I found this forum!!!!And been here  ever since!!!!!  cindy

[Puppyluvurr]

Thanks Will, u r so helpful and encouraging. Just let know if I'm becoming a pain.Sandi

[willbb]

most hepatologists will say the most complained about symptom (if any at all) is unexplained fatigue...sometimes debilitatingly so....it was the only symptom I have( and really not too bad) ..and I have been infected for 36 years...

Also I saw your thread on the other side ...yes we are all nervous when starting treatment...however for many it seems the anxiety leading up to it is the worst part..and once you jump in ..often find it is not all that bad...hopfully this will be the case for you..:)

Will

[can-do-man]

For me i never had any even though i am cirrhotic, so when i found out it was quite a shock. Hang in there.

cando