Aa
for steven
found out 2 yrs ago that Im chronic Hep B positive. Most likely got it at birth...E antigen negative with a low viral load around 1250. Always have had good numbers with liver. Antigen has been negative for the 2 yrs Ive known ive had this and viral load not fluctuating. Staying about the same give or take a hundred or two. I read Hep B is very contagious. What I dont understand is when the wife was tested she wasnt even found positive for even being infected or ever in contact with it..All negative for her and my children..20 yrs with her with intercourse 2-3 times a week...Shouldnt she have gotten it??
Yes, you would still have a viral load. Even a measurable one.The viral load tests have gotten really sensitive. When I was first diganosed 9 years ago I had an undetectable viral load. Undetectable was anything under 145,000 copies/ml. I've see the new UND as low as <50 copies/ml.
Liver cancer is a risk although there appears to be a strong correlation between high viral load and cancer risk. There also appears to be a correlation between e-antigen positivity and cancer risk. The risk is not high. It is high compared to someone without Hep B but the risk of HCC in the general population is really, really low. Our risk goes from really, really low to low. Most won't get liver cancer.
I try to think of it this way. Lots of people w/o Hep B get cancer. I spent a lot of time looking for that guarantee that I wasn't going to get liver cancer. Pouring over studies and trying to make the numbers come out to zero. I just finally realized that no one gets a 100% guarantee. I personally know of about 15 in my age group (30s - 50s) with cancer. I don't think any of them have Hep B.
My old doctor was not a good Hep B doctor but he was good at reassuring me. One time he said, "zellyf, you need to stop doing this to yourself. Yes, you might get cancer. I might get cancer. I don't walk around worrying about all the different cancers I could get. You don't worry about ALL the different cancers you could get. Be healthy and monitor and live your life." I really try to keep that in mind when worry starts to get the best of me.
Liver cancer is a risk although there appears to be a strong correlation between high viral load and cancer risk. There also appears to be a correlation between e-antigen positivity and cancer risk. The risk is not high. It is high compared to someone without Hep B but the risk of HCC in the general population is really, really low. Our risk goes from really, really low to low. Most won't get liver cancer.
I try to think of it this way. Lots of people w/o Hep B get cancer. I spent a lot of time looking for that guarantee that I wasn't going to get liver cancer. Pouring over studies and trying to make the numbers come out to zero. I just finally realized that no one gets a 100% guarantee. I personally know of about 15 in my age group (30s - 50s) with cancer. I don't think any of them have Hep B.
My old doctor was not a good Hep B doctor but he was good at reassuring me. One time he said, "zellyf, you need to stop doing this to yourself. Yes, you might get cancer. I might get cancer. I don't walk around worrying about all the different cancers I could get. You don't worry about ALL the different cancers you could get. Be healthy and monitor and live your life." I really try to keep that in mind when worry starts to get the best of me.
Im 44. When you talk of seroconversion at an earlier age, would I still have a viral load if I seroconverted years ago?? Another question for you guys..The liver cancer issue. If these numbers stay low and never go back to antigen positive and never skyrocket (viral load) should liver cancer always be in the back of my mind like it is all the time??
is the e antigen test always given in the hep b panel ....???? cause I got the 3 panel test and which turned out negative and indicates I got vaccinated but why isnt the e antigen test given>???
I would take that as good news and possible evidence that your viral load has been persistently low all of these years. How old are you? It could also be possible evidence of an early seroconversion which would be good too.
stevenNYer...
I was thinking the same thing but I wasn't going to say anything.
I really hope my husband doesn't see hammer's post...can we delete that?
I was thinking the same thing but I wasn't going to say anything.
I really hope my husband doesn't see hammer's post...can we delete that?
Hold on...wait...wait....
you have "children" and 2-3 times a week? That's amazing :) I need a slower pace in life.
I second zelly and cally's feedback. Also maybe your wife was vaccinated before (like we all remember what we were vaccinated for years ago) and over time, her antibody level dropped to undetected levels but even with that, there is still good protection.
you have "children" and 2-3 times a week? That's amazing :) I need a slower pace in life.
I second zelly and cally's feedback. Also maybe your wife was vaccinated before (like we all remember what we were vaccinated for years ago) and over time, her antibody level dropped to undetected levels but even with that, there is still good protection.
Also if you are e antigen negative it makes one less infectious, didn't say Not...just less and given your very low viral load that could have been the reason why she didn't contract it from you. Like Zelly said, make sure everyone living with you is vaccinated.
Not Steven, but then, who is?
HepB can very infectious but with your low viral load YOU aren't very infectious. Which doesn't mean you aren't infectious, you are, just not VERY. That's lucky for all of you. At this time has everyone living with you been vaccinated? Its highly recommended.
HepB can very infectious but with your low viral load YOU aren't very infectious. Which doesn't mean you aren't infectious, you are, just not VERY. That's lucky for all of you. At this time has everyone living with you been vaccinated? Its highly recommended.
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