Today, I found out I have Hep C. My doctor whom I've been seeing for 15 years told me this. He have set up several different appointments for me to get a ultra sound, more blood work. I was told that pre op test they don't test for Hep. I have been very ill for several years and have taken test for lupus, MS and a several others. I had a bacterial infection in which I went to the doctor and this is how I came across to find out what type of diseases I may have encounter. I don't have aids, but I have hep c and herpes, seizers, one bad foot. All of my appointments are set up for the month of March. I am still reading on the internet and listen and reading what ever anyone can tell me. I want to learn more. I almost died from stress, and I am not ready to give in yet. I am a fighter . I want to thank each one of you that answer my prayer for question I knew nothing about. I am a shame, because being almost 50, and not knowing anything about what I have. Listening to each of you have given me a lot more courage and strengh to see this thru. I will keep you informed of what is going on.
MME
I feel your pain and was right where you are 2 months ago.
It can be frightning to get the news - my doctor called me on the phone when my labs came in. I was driving and she had me pull over to tell me. I lived on the internet for a month after...learning...learning...learning. As a matter of fact I am still there for hours everyday. There is so much to learn. This site is great for support!!!
Sounds like you may need to start with a good Doc (try to find a Hepatologist)
Here is a good information site that also has live nurses you can talk to. Sign up and they send you a great information pack with books, CD's and all for free. Wish I would of had this in the beginning. It is funded by the folks who make the treatment(tx)
http://www.beincharge.com
Just learn all you can, you'll be OK
mikki
Wow, your doc is covering all the bases there....you got it from having sex with someone who does drugs. I know it's not funny ... I'm being sarcastic. That is a preposterous thing to say. I'm surprised he didn't add that you must have been doing drugs WHILE having sex. There are numerous ways to get Hepatitis and while alot of us think we know where we got it...we can't be sure.
There are three kinds of Hepatitis. Find out which one you have.
As for why it didn't show up in the bloodwork, from what I understand, in the case of Hepatitis C anyway, unless they are specifically testing for that, it won't show up. I've had blood tests over the years also and my HCV only came to light a year and a half ago when the doctor specifically tested for that.
Go through your tests and see how things shake out. Hang in there and good luck.
Trish
meme58,
I found out I had Hep C just last year. I have apparently had it for 30 plus years. In that time I have had surgery , been to the hospital for a kidney infection, and been in a major car accident that put me in the hospital, and have had yearly physicals. Through all of that there were no tests that showed my Hep C. It was not until I asked the doctor at my last yearly physical to add the blood test for Hep C that I found out I had it.
,
ok. just a few questions to clarify if you don't mind.
1) Did the doctor tell you what TYPE of heptatis? I'm assuming you mean that you have hepatitis C according to the doctor?
2) You said that you had bloodwork done prior to a surgery you had performed in November? I'm not sure that they test for hepatitis prior to surgery, to make certain, you need to ask them for a copy of your pre-surgery bloodwork.
3) You said you and had an implant removed. Was the November surgery the surgery done to INSTALL the implant?
4) What type of doctor was it who told you that you tested positive for hepatits c?
And you're right, a doctor cannot tell you precisely how you got hepatitis c. They can only look at your lifestyle and make an educated guess if you have any risk factors, but some people have no risk factors and don't know how they contracted it.