Acute HepC symptoms

[PBotha]

Hi.

I've had a potential exposure to HepC 20 weeks ago. So far, I've tested negative to antibodies (at 18 weeks), but am still inside the window period I believe.

I've since had some symptoms that I believe could suggest HepC.

I was wondering if anyone was diagnosed with HepC during the acute stage, and if so, what symptoms did you have?

Cheers,

Pete.

[creation22]

What symptoms did you have and when did you have them?

[alagirl]

You have to understand that when someone like you comes along, who has had no real exposure to HCV, and then wants to be neurotic, almost as though he is WISHING he had this disease which through both its disease course and its treatment, has devestated many of us on this board, and has taken the lives of loved ones on this board, It is annoying.  In fact, it is beyond annoying and could almost be called an affront to the people actually suffering here.

Particularly when you've already posted on the topic and keep posting on it despite our repeated information to you.  Therefore, people will prob respond to your inane posts (which granted, you did not know were inane until we gently gave you the information at first, but which by now you should, having read this board and / or done any research on the web, know for CERTAIN are moronic), then people are going to respond to you in the fashion that they would to anyone who is such a giant tool that he wants to take attention and energy away from people who truly are ill.

Here's what you've said:

"My story is this. I had a potential exposure 18 weeks ago. Everyone I've asked on helplines, etc, has told me that what actually happened didn't represent any real risk. From there, I started to look online about what could go wrong. I had a full STD screen at a GUM clinic at 6 weeks, which was negative for everything, but not HepC (as it's not tested as standard). From there, I was told that the test window for HepB and HIV was 12 weeks, so re-tested privately at around 9 weeks, and through a GUM clinic at 12 weeks and they came back negative.

From there, I was told that HepB can sometimes take 6 months, so I began to panic. I've looked online, and opinion seems to be that HBsAg is detectable at 12 weeks, although some disagree (which you get on the Internet with all the fear, etc floating around). What followed then was a series of further tests for HepB at private clinics and GUMs, trying to put my mind at ease. Until then, I'd discounted HepC, as I'd seen  how it is and isn't transmitted. However, something inside me changed, and now that I've realised that my HepB test is probably reliable, I'm now becoming worried about HepC. I've since tested negative for HepC and HepB at 15 and 18 weeks."

My best advice to you would be to see a shrink.  You had protected vaginal sex and unprotected oral.  Oh, and fingering.  (rolling eyes).  You were never at risk.  And we have all told you this in every way possible.  So this leads me to believe that either you are someone who gets his kicks trying to glom onto the serious health issues of others, or you actually have a mental health issue that needs to be addressed.  Either way, you do have a chronic illness, but its in your head.

All of that notwithstanding, I am a huge advocate of freedom of speech.  So if you feel the need to contribute further about your phantom illness, that's great, just don't be surprised when those of us who are so ill we can't even get out of bed or keep our medications down point out that your problem appears to be either predatory or psychological, but it really doesn't seem to be very physical.

[frog206]

The best thing to do while you wait is boost immune system flush with 16 ounces of water every 15 minutes I believe this dilutes virus ??? I tested postive on May 31 aftering being exposed in April my viral load was 64,800. The stools at first were fine but my skin became dry, liver pain swelling in right rib area. I was already hypothyroid so thought pain and skin was from that. Anyway, everyone acted like I was being to cautious but I had mouth blisters now lip blisters and just felt tired oh yes I am also with bipolar so no one ever believes me anyway. Hope this helps oh yes the doctor did not do hcv rna which is the only true test the antibody only picks up if body is fighting mine was not due to thyroid.

[R Glass]

There is no information to give you that hasn’t already been given. You said you are going to get retested and that is what you need to do. It has been told to you by several people, you have almost no chance of having Hep.C. It is like you want to have it and will not rest until someone says, you probably have it. Thus the term HEPC Groupie

[PBotha]

Hi R Glass,

I'm actually just a normal guy who's very worried, with what I perceive to be good reason. I can't see how you can be any more sure of my hepC status than I am. I'm just trying to find out information.

Thanks for being so understanding.

BThompson4, cheers for that link. You've kinda made a good point, of you know what I mean.

Pete.

[R Glass]

You are a hep c groupie.
I like that and it pretty much sums it up

[BThompson4]

Here is a Joachim2007 post.  Highly intelligent guy but his interpretations of test results include a lot of reaches.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/321830

[BThompson4]

PBotha, if you get together with Joachim, you will have to meet in a place that does not require an airplane flight for him.  He is afraid the varices he doesn't have will burst if the cabin pressure changes during flight.  He also has alt and ast in the teens; but the ratio between alt and ast, according to Joachim, could be indicative of liver disease.  Having liver enzymes in the teens and interpreting that as something bad is just plain perverse.

Spider nevi is a very late manifestation of liver disease, but not uncommon in pregnant women and in children without liver disease.  Something to do with pressure in the veins and poor clotting in end stage liver disease causing leaks of blood that can be seen under the skin.  I got them 25 years after getting hep c and they went away after transplant.

[mremeet]

Post a message for him and he'll probably respond. He's usually here, but sometimes comes and goes.

[PBotha]

Hi Mremeet,

I've searched for him in the search box above, but can't find him. Do you know where he's at?

Pete.

[mremeet]

He's a very knowledgeable person who's spanned the globe (or at least continental europe) seeing some of the very best liver specialists and clinics in existence. He's smart, educated and *very* well acquainted with your situation. He's also a very nice person too. You should look him up, I definitely think he might be able to help you.

[PBotha]

Who's Joachim?

Pete.

[mremeet]

Have you met joachim? I think he might be able to help you.

[PBotha]

Hi desrt,

I think that my problem with this is that I'm not sure if it's possible to go through acute HCV with only very mild symptoms.

Looking online, I can see there are many symptoms that can be associated with chronic HepC. But I'm not sure if all these symptoms, such as spider nevi, are also associated with acute HepC, or if they are as a result of longer term liver damage.

Cheers,

Pete.

[desrt]

Acute hepatitis C symptoms:

1) A feeling like you've been kicked in the stomach - literally.Nausea.
2) Yellow eyes.
3) White bowel movements.
4) Dark brown urine.

If you don't have those specific symptoms, you probably don't have acute hepatitis C.
If you go through an acute phase you'll know it.

[PBotha]

Hi BThompson,

I hope you are right, to be honest. Unfortunately, I've experienced a range of symptoms that I can't explain otherwise, and I'm really worried.

Pete.

[BThompson4]

You are a hep c groupie.  Your odds of having this disease are practically nill.

[debnevada]

it was when i did nothing. it was the actual right side, not the front. it was a dull ache. my hep said it was liver pain from the acute inflammation.  Nothing seemed to cause it but i did notice it at night when i laid down more than anything else.

you are pretty far out if you were going to develop antibodies....

test another time in a couple of weeks.

[PBotha]

Hi deb,

Cheers for your reply. When you say right side pain, where was it and what type of pain? Was it sharp or dull, and in a specific area? Was it the right side of your body, or on the front of your body? And when did it hurt? Was it when you stretched yourself, or did it hurt on and off without anything seemingly causing it?

Sorry if these questions are weird.

Pete.

[debnevada]

i was diagnosed acute.
it was seven weeks post exposure
i had extreme fatigue, nausea, right sided pain and very elevated AST and ALT

my antibodies were positive at 8 weeks and my viral load was 42,000
it went down to 192 and then up to 4200 or thereabouts the day before tx started.

i almost cleared but not quite.