so many questions so much to learn

[laitsgo]

just diagnosed a few weeks ago, have yet to have a liver biopsy or find genotype but i know ive had this less than a year.. i have read conflicting information and want to know any hope.. is there a cure for this? is svr really a cure?
any hopeful or helpful info would be greatly appreciated.. thanks so glad i found this forum. i just want to know that i will be okay...

[laitsgo]

i have another question for you guys, i have been dating a girl for a few months, we both seem very in love and everything is great. she is away on exchange for the past few weeks and will be for two more. During that unfortunately, i have found out about the hep c when i tried to give blood... How can I discuss this with her? We have only practiced safe sex so I am not worried that she has it, but how can this be approached?
Any advice please?  Any chance she will stay with me and love me regardless?

[grizwald]

Don't forget to ask the hospital or wherever you have a scan done to please burn you a dvd copy. they will do this.  This has notes on it telling what was found as well as interesting pictures of your liver.  You can print them and hang them up or trade them with other forum members:)

Good luck, and don't worry you'll be OK.

Grizz

[frijole]

Whatever you decide to do, it would be a good idea to start a file.  Request copies of all of your labs, like Dave said.  Even if you can't interpret the data now, you will be an expert in no time.  

Welcome to the forum.  This is a good place to learn.

frijole

[spectda]

First you need to know if you even have HCV by finding out if you have had a HCV PCR or just an antibody test. You have the legal right to have a copy of your labs, call your docs office and say you want copies.

I know you are scared. We all were when we first found out. It get easier and less scary, and if you really do have HCV my guess is that you will be cured of it before you ever feel sick and you will lead a normal life. New meds have been approved this year for genotype 1 and they are working on similar meds for the other genotypes.

HCV is a very slowing moving disease. It takes many years, usually 20-40 years before many of us even have the beginning of liver damage or any symptoms from it. Many of us didn't even know we had it until 20-40 years after being infected. We had families, children, lived our lives normally and more often then not did not pass it on to our family or partners. I Still don't feel sick from HCV after 30 years and some liver damage. I am hopefully SVR at this point.

HIV spreads much more easily then HCV. Untreated HIV becomes serious much more quickly then HCV. HIV is not curable, but manageable through taking antiviral medication for life.  HCV is not considered an STD and does not spread easily through sex. You should still use condoms though even if the chance of spreading HCV is slim through sex.

Lets find out if you definitely have the disease, if you do we will be here and you will get through this.
-Dave

[hrsepwrguy]

I would have to say the lesser of two evils. No need to be scared but definitly some thing that should be dealt with.

[laitsgo]

okay thanks.. i am really scared right now.. is this worse than hiv? or the lesser of two evils?

[hrsepwrguy]

To tell or not to tell is a personal choice, I really don't see you putting them at any risk if you don't share any personal items (razors,tooth brush,nail clipers) I probally wouldn't tell if it was me.

[laitsgo]

i have a question for anyone.. i am fairly young and have two male roommates we do not share any personal things, i keep them in my room, do i need to tell them or can i keep this to myself? I don't want to , or plan on putting them at risk so is there a real need?

[laitsgo]

thanks for the answers guys, i've been quite upset for the past few days. So I will check with the follow up test by my doctor and see if its actually confirmed. Does anyone know how much more effective tx is early within a year or so of acquiring this? How do you feel alagirl if you don't mind me asking? Like physically now that you are SVR and everything. Congrats by the way!  So is it fair to assume that with current txs and advances in the next few years, those of us not too far along have an excellent chance of beating this and reaching a cure??

[spectda]

When you give blood they test only for antibodies. People whose immune systems have either fought HCV off on their own when first exposed or who treat and SVR will always have antibodies. The red cross is not going to spend money and time doing PCRs for people which is the only way to know if you have HCV.

"Some" GPs don't understand the disease and don't understand that an antibody test does not mean that you have HCV. You should get a copy of your result and tell us what test it is.

If a person is SVR they can't transmit the disease and HCV will no longer contribute to their liver damage.  Of course if they already have advanced liver damage or other liver damaging issues they may still incur more damage from that source.  

[alagirl]

How do you know you've had it less than a year and if that's really true and you can document it, how much less than a year have you had it?  I ask, because there is a certain window of time within which, if you begin treatment, your chances are better and you can treat for a shorter period of time.

If you have some way of knowing for certain that you've had it less than a year you also are unlikely to need a liver biopsy.  

You will need to have an HCV Viral Load (HCV RNA test, Quantitative) and Viral Genotyping done and you will need to get in to see a liver specialist.  Since you indicate that you may still be in an earlier phase of infection, I would do all of this as quickly as possible.

SVR is considered to be a cure although many, even in the medical community, are slow to come around to this knowledge, point of view, however you would like to say it.  Many people on this forum have made it through treatment for hcv and are now SVR.  Some of us have been SVR for years.  I am personally over three years SVR now.

[nygirl7]

Welcome I think Dave said it all!

[laitsgo]

the doctor took several samples of blood, and they said it was retested and confirmed.. so im assuming that is the case.  Why do some argue that svr is not a cure? you'd think if it was really a cure we'd be able to give blood, etc.  How are you dave along the journey? How did you find out you have it if you don't mind me asking, have you tried treatment? thanks
- Alex

[spectda]

Hi and welcome. SVR is the cure, and the cure rate is generally about 50-80%depending on what genotype you have. After one year of having the disease it would be extremely unlikely that you would have liver damage. It almost seems that a biopsy would not be called for after such a short time, if you are sure about how long it's been.

If you have had it less then 6 months it would be called acute HCV and the cure rate is very high if treated during that time. Have you had a PCR to determine that you really have the disease and not just an antibody test?
-Dave

[laitsgo]

any advice to a newbie would be greatly appreciated,, can i make it out of this okay?