Will I be able to have a family?

[Fahim1982]

Hi everyone. I would be very happy if some could help me with answers to few questions which are distressing me for the couple of months.

I am 27 years old and male. I was diagnosed with Hepatitis B infection last January of 2009, and my lab reports showed the following:

HBsAg +, HBV-DNA detected with 20.6 picogram/ml.

I went to one lever specialist and one gastroenterologist here in my city. Both of them advised me to start medication right away. So I started taking Pegiinterferon (Pegasys) under supervision of the gastroenterologist. After six months, in June 2009, my lab reports then showed the following:

ALT/SGPT 43, HBsAg +, Anti-HCV--, HBeAg (in May,2009:+) --, HBV-DNA not dectected with <0.5 picogram/ml.

Then I went to see my doctor again to discuss about the reports. He said we have been successful with the treatment procedure because  your HBeAg is neagative and HBV-DNA has not been detected after taking the injections. But when I asked him about that can I now take vaccine for Hepatits B, he replied that the vaccine doesn't have any role in your situation. The answer was a bit puzzling for me but I didn't extend the argument with him.

Then two or three months passed away and I started to feeling some strange sensation in my body. One was of 'some  occassional sparking feeling' around my body; for example in head, legs, hand, belly, etc places. I sense this feeling still now and it feels like happening in various veins of my body.

The other was some tingling sensation around my abdomen, with very acutebut not any severe pain. This feeling is also contunuing as I write is quite similar to something moving in abdominal veins. This sensation  lasts long than the previous one, usually upto several minutes, and happens occasionally.

Then one day I met my doctor coincedentally (not pre-planned) while he was taking his evening walk in the park. So I went towards him and told him that I was planning to see him in his chamber for the above mentioned 'strange sensation'. He said you don't have to come to my chamber for these simple pains and feelings and that these are nothing to worry about.

In addition to the above condions I have several other physical issues which began in December 2008. I was having pain in my groin which acually prompted me to take the ALT/SGPT test and I was later diagnosed with Hepatitis B. My gastroenterologist found out I had urine infection and I took medications along with the Pegiinterferon for Hep B. Later in November 2009 I went to see a urologist who, after several test, diagnosed me chronic epididymitis and given me antibiotic (Ciprocin). I have completed the course for Cipro three times already and again taking it for one week 2/a day. The last week before starting to take Cipro I was feeling like 'some warm or something is moving is right testicle with a dull occassional pain'. But this sensation is less now after taking Cipro.

I don't drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes. For that matter, I don't have any kind specific addiction except that I am kind of an workoholic. I do a lot of physical activities like walking, household work of mine like washing clothes by hand or doing dishes, etc. And the rest of the time I enjoy reading books or passing time with my family.


Now could someone please tell me with regard to the situation above that:

1. What is exactly happening with me following my test results? Am I an acutely/chronically infected person with Hepatitis B?
2. Will I be able to have a family? Or are there any restristictions to having a family?
3.  Will there be any problem having children?
4. Are there any special rules for my diet?

Thanks a lot for your precious time. I pray for all of you for your well being.

[Fahim1982]

Hi Stefano. Thanks again for the added info.

Let me introduce myself a bit. I'm Fahim from Dhaka, Bangladesh. I'm 28 years old.
I first found out that I'm positive for Hepatitis B in December, 2008. I took some urological test for groin pain, and the doctor also suggested that I take the ALT/SGPT test with HBsAg. You know, Stefano, the one thing which bothers me most what caused me to have this virus.

I live in a large family with uncles, aunts, grndma, cousins, as it is a tradition in our Bengali culture. None of my family members were known to be positive before I was. But we found out my aunt and his husband, who stays in the same household, are positive when I was in my midstage (2/3 of 6 month) of Pegiinterferon course. One thing to note here is that the aunt is in charge of the kitchen and usually prepares the food. She also went to take some test for urine problem and, ultimately, found out about Hepatits B.We don't know when exacly she and her husband got contracted. Also unknown is their  status, especially, HBV-DNA count as they're applying tradiotional and homeopathic remedy for treatment.

I don't wan't to blame anyone for my situation, because it is probably the Almighty's will that I have this disease. And from wherever or whoever I got this virus, I suppose, it came unwillingly or unknowingly of the person or thing. However, I would reveal some scenario to you to be more cautious or ,if I may, let people be aware of this ailment.

I have no history of drug use or alcohol consumption as I have quite strict-minded about these kind of addiction. I also don't smoke but did occasionally for few months in my early teens.


I am not sexually active now except some masturbation. I have had sexual encounter with girls, in total, seven or eight times in my life, and all of those were without protection. The last time was five or six years ago. I didn't know whether those girls were Hep B positive or not but had no sign of it. I truly regret it if it has came through this source, beacuse it was my ignorance that is responsible.

[stef2011]

forgot to say washing hands is usless, the virus is very resistent even to boiling water

[stef2011]

i wouldn't worry about these little signs.the feeling under the liver might be just the liver being a little bigger (because of pregressed hepatitis) which presses against other organs.
i have the same feeling because i had a alt flare at 600 (or even higher who knows) in november and it takes 6-12months of low/normal ast for the liver to get back to normal size

hbv is very infectious so your family member must take a vaccine shot, in my country there is a special health office where you go to have vaccines i am afraid i don't know in your country, maybe you can buy it at the doctor's or pharmacy.
i read a study when i was young about searching the virus in inactive carriers's house (hbvdna und) and they found the virus in many parts of the house, so i would just vaccinate.
in general you can spread virus by blood, sex and even saliva when hbvdna is high.

[Fahim1982]

Thanks a lot stefano. It means a huge thing to me get response from someone like you who is trying to help others about Hepatitis B. God bless those people who started this phenomenal site.

If you could add something about:

why I'm having the occassional 'tingling/moving sensation in my abdomen' or 'sparking sharp pain like feeling inside different parts of my body;

what are the ways people who live with me can get contraction of the virus as, especially, in our culture we take food with our bare hands after washing it;

two weeks ago I got severe injury to my right leg with no fracture, which then healed by itself within three days. So is it a good sign or anything that the body is responsing as expected

, I would relly appreciate it. Thanks again for your time.

[stef2011]

forgot to mention interferon is the best first line choice because it has no virus mutations/resistance and although it has many sides it has the highest rate of virus eradication at the moment and best of all you don't need to take it for life

[stef2011]

1. What is exactly happening with me following my test results? Am I an acutely/chronically infected person with Hepatitis B?
yes you are cronically infected with hbv as long as you have hbsag positive (that's why the vaccine is useless, you need vaccine before you meet the virus)
but being cronic carrier of the virus doesn't mean you have hepatitis, there are different states of hbv (active virus with liver damage, inactive virus)

interferon boost your immune system to clear hbvdna hbeag and lower hbsag, it also helps to develop antibodies like hbe ab and finally after many years in about 30% of patients hbsab.When you develop hbs ab you become hbsag negative and you have cleared the virus

3.  Will there be any problem having children? no problems at all but you must vaccinate your wife and all family members you live with

4. Are there any special rules for my diet? healthy diet, no fats, no fry food, no alcool, vitamine D can help boost immune system and is usually low on hepatitis B patients, check your blood to see if you have deficency