Aa
Crazy Question!!!
Is it possible to do the initial test for Hep C antibodies and come back reactive and then go do the viral load and genotype and find out that you don't have Hep C? That it maybe cleared itself. I go in for my results on Friday. I may be doing the pre denial thing, I am not sure, but I have this hope that that is what could happen.
Sorry Paulalynn...some practices have a rule that they have to tell you the positive result in person. My stupid PCP told me that if it was positive she would schedule me to come in to give me the results but that if it was negative they would call. Well duh....after they called to schedule the appointment I didn't really NEED to go in for her to tell me!
We all go straight into the denial portion....it's very common and who wouldn't? Who wouldn't want to have cleared on their own?
This disease isn't any fun - but it is NOT the worst one to have. In fact, if you have to have one it's a pretty good one to get! I mean it is VERY slow progressing in most cases and there IS a "cure" for it! That's good news that you should try and focus on.
Charm is 100% correct. As you have known you have this for at least ten years the biopsy is CRUCIAL. It won't hurt - I know that sounds nuts but your liver has no nerves to feel anything. It is the only way you will know how much liver damage you have already progressed to.
I had NO symptoms or signs ever yet when I got my results from my biopsy I was already stage 3. I was lucky. I found out I had it and could treat it. They call it the Silent Killer for a reason.
Make sure you hve a good GI or heptologist that is up to date on hepc and has a busy patient load so you know they are really knowledgeable on all the issues.
Good luck. Remember - in a way you are lucky. You found out you had it in time to kill it.
We all go straight into the denial portion....it's very common and who wouldn't? Who wouldn't want to have cleared on their own?
This disease isn't any fun - but it is NOT the worst one to have. In fact, if you have to have one it's a pretty good one to get! I mean it is VERY slow progressing in most cases and there IS a "cure" for it! That's good news that you should try and focus on.
Charm is 100% correct. As you have known you have this for at least ten years the biopsy is CRUCIAL. It won't hurt - I know that sounds nuts but your liver has no nerves to feel anything. It is the only way you will know how much liver damage you have already progressed to.
I had NO symptoms or signs ever yet when I got my results from my biopsy I was already stage 3. I was lucky. I found out I had it and could treat it. They call it the Silent Killer for a reason.
Make sure you hve a good GI or heptologist that is up to date on hepc and has a busy patient load so you know they are really knowledgeable on all the issues.
Good luck. Remember - in a way you are lucky. You found out you had it in time to kill it.
Dang them, I picked up my results to look them over and prepare myself as much as I could w/ questions etc. before my appt. I see no reason why you cant pick up your results before your appt. Of course I'm not your doctor, but your might be able to push it. M4now
Well I just got a call from the GI Office. They said the results came in. I asked if she would tell me the results and she said "All I can tell you is the doctor wants you to keep your appt." And it is Thursday. I thought it was friday.
Absolutely, yes it is possible to test positive for antibodies and then negative for the virus itself. This is what happens when you clear the virus naturally or through drug treatment (as I did). Statistics vary on just how likely any one person is to naturally clear hepatitis C on their own (i.e. without treatment). The common statistic that used to be used is about 1 in 5 manage to clear HCV on their own during the acute (early) phase of infection without the assistance of drugs. But in recent years I've seen that statistic change from many sources in a manner that suggests that more than 1 in 5 clear naturally. Like maybe 1 in 4 or even 1 in 3, depending on the circumstances. It seems current thinking is that natural clearance of HCV is more common than once thought, especially amongst certain groups of people.
For instance when I was infected with HCVback in the 80's, I was in a really bad accident that caused mass trauma. My body was severely injured and weakened, and just at that moment of severe injury/vulnerability I was given a whole pint of infected blood, thereby transfusing me with a *massive* instant infection of HCV which consisted of billions of HCV virons suddenly entering my body. And just at that precise point in time when the blood was transfused, my body was struggling to survive and recuperate from the immediate life threatening trauma sustained during the accident and surgery. So I'm quite certain my immune system functions were less than optimal at that time, plus I didn't eat a thing for nearly 2 weeks afterwards. So under circumstances like this, the stage was set for an almost certain chronic infection of HCV. The virus entered the body in a huge quantity just a time when its defenses were down, thereby almost ensuring a permanent foothold within the body.
On the other hand, other exposures are much less likely for the virus to establish a successful chronic infection. For instance, someone who is in good to excellent health with a normally functioning immune system and somehow is exposed to only a tiny amount of HCV infected blood almost certainly has much better odds of clearing the virus naturally when compared to the scenario described above. A tiny exposure to the virus means it takes the virus time to replicate and build up to levels where it is more likely to have a chance of becoming established within the body. And that time lag is what your body needs in order to help identify the virus and mount a strong defense against it before it gets a good foothold within the liver and elsewhere in the body. I also think that those with allergies or otherwise somewhat overly sensitive/hyperactive immune systems are probably more likely to clear the virus naturally. I don't have proof of that, it's only an opinion, but I do think that those with allergies have immune systems that are more "on guard" than those without allergies, and this may serve to protect them from foreign invaders in certain circumstances (perhaps like those associated with a HCV exposure).
So as you can see not all exposures and not all people who are exposed are the same. The statistics that have been used over the years to describe the likelihood of becoming chronically infected are pretty fluid from what I have seen. The reality of the situation is that the real likelihood of chronic infection is individualized based on the person, the exposure modality and probably to some extent the virus itself. But in my opinion, I think if you are a healthy person with a healthy immune system and your exposure was a very small one (in volume), then I believe your odds of clearing the virus naturally are better than 1 in 5. How much better is not possible to say, but anecdotally I've seen people clear naturally during the acute phase several times on various internet forums in the past and with someone in person as well. It definitely isn't some kind of extremely rare or highly unlikely occurrence. Just take a look at ajw543’s current post here on the forum as just one example:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/510751
For instance when I was infected with HCVback in the 80's, I was in a really bad accident that caused mass trauma. My body was severely injured and weakened, and just at that moment of severe injury/vulnerability I was given a whole pint of infected blood, thereby transfusing me with a *massive* instant infection of HCV which consisted of billions of HCV virons suddenly entering my body. And just at that precise point in time when the blood was transfused, my body was struggling to survive and recuperate from the immediate life threatening trauma sustained during the accident and surgery. So I'm quite certain my immune system functions were less than optimal at that time, plus I didn't eat a thing for nearly 2 weeks afterwards. So under circumstances like this, the stage was set for an almost certain chronic infection of HCV. The virus entered the body in a huge quantity just a time when its defenses were down, thereby almost ensuring a permanent foothold within the body.
On the other hand, other exposures are much less likely for the virus to establish a successful chronic infection. For instance, someone who is in good to excellent health with a normally functioning immune system and somehow is exposed to only a tiny amount of HCV infected blood almost certainly has much better odds of clearing the virus naturally when compared to the scenario described above. A tiny exposure to the virus means it takes the virus time to replicate and build up to levels where it is more likely to have a chance of becoming established within the body. And that time lag is what your body needs in order to help identify the virus and mount a strong defense against it before it gets a good foothold within the liver and elsewhere in the body. I also think that those with allergies or otherwise somewhat overly sensitive/hyperactive immune systems are probably more likely to clear the virus naturally. I don't have proof of that, it's only an opinion, but I do think that those with allergies have immune systems that are more "on guard" than those without allergies, and this may serve to protect them from foreign invaders in certain circumstances (perhaps like those associated with a HCV exposure).
So as you can see not all exposures and not all people who are exposed are the same. The statistics that have been used over the years to describe the likelihood of becoming chronically infected are pretty fluid from what I have seen. The reality of the situation is that the real likelihood of chronic infection is individualized based on the person, the exposure modality and probably to some extent the virus itself. But in my opinion, I think if you are a healthy person with a healthy immune system and your exposure was a very small one (in volume), then I believe your odds of clearing the virus naturally are better than 1 in 5. How much better is not possible to say, but anecdotally I've seen people clear naturally during the acute phase several times on various internet forums in the past and with someone in person as well. It definitely isn't some kind of extremely rare or highly unlikely occurrence. Just take a look at ajw543’s current post here on the forum as just one example:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/510751
I left a message at the GI doc. I have an appt friday. I see no reason to keep the appt if the results are not in. And maybe like was said above, they want to talk to me in person. If it has cleared, I need to find out what is causing these symptoms and if it has not cleared, let's get this outta here. I am so tired of it being at the fore front of my mind. I didn't even know there was a chance it could have cleared and the antibodies are always there. Now I am hopeful that it did clear. In all reality, all I am doing is making myself crazy today.
Curious as to why it is taking so long to get your results...there is no reason for that. I found out 3 weeks ago that I had this because I had a routine blood test (which I have done many times in the past...back in 2005 my liver numbers were very low) and I know that I am geneotype 2B with 2/3 damage and I have no symptoms. I will start tx in July....I have had a liver biospy and ultra-sound and all the blood work...this is all within 3 weeks.
I would call your doctor and find out the results... Sometimes no news is good news but I would not take a chance.
I would call your doctor and find out the results... Sometimes no news is good news but I would not take a chance.
If you have symptoms I would say you didn't clear on you own. Your doc probably wants to talk to you about it face to face to go over the results. If you have had it this long, you should get a biopsy. Ultrasounds and CATs are not good for checking what the virus has done to your liver. How are you AST/ALTs? That may indicate if you are having problems. Best of luck to ya!
I had the first diagnosis 10 years ago. I had a second test about a year ago. I went in for the viral load and the genotyping a month ago. Haven't heard back the results. So I got to reading that just because you have the anti body doesn't mean you have the virus. Would I still have the anti bodies and no virus 10 years later. I have alot of symptoms of the virus. I think I am just getting nervous and maybe in denial all of the sudden. Why has it taken so long to get my results back.
your profile says you have had t 10 years...In that case no.
what did your biopsy reveal? Very important to have one done.
take care
what did your biopsy reveal? Very important to have one done.
take care
hello,
you could have cleared on your own. That would be a wonderful thing. What symptoms have you had? How long ago do you think you were exposed?
you could have cleared on your own. That would be a wonderful thing. What symptoms have you had? How long ago do you think you were exposed?
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