Aa
general
Just diagnosed with hep c MD say to do another test to see if active alt at 66 worried like im going to run away amd never comes back im a nursing student just waiting for state board exam. What should I do? Is there anyway to.cure it?
Can you work while you are on the meds like ribavirin and interferon? Or you are totally tired and weak like stay in the house kind of thing?
I totally agree with what Pooh said.
Disregard what I said in my earlier post. Your PCP actually ran a viral load which confirms HCV.
Now you have some information you can work with.
The next step (to me) is to find out what your genotype is since the meds you take (or your treatment options) depend on that. Plus, as the others suggest HCV is becoming increasingly easier to treat and cure but it also matters what your Genotype is.
I would also get vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B if you have not done so already. You will see lots of us on here were advised to do that when we were diagnosed.
The thing about comparing treatment to any type of drug withdrawal is the way I see it there are things you can do to ease the gnawing physical aspects of your body craving a drug. The mental aspect of kicking is tough if you are not ready but if you are and you aren't white knuckling it then to me quitting using was just something I had to do.
I just can't see comparing it to 48 weeks of treatment for Hepatitis C (with Interferon, Riba & a PI). I especially can't see comparing it to treating for a shorter duration with an all oral HCV medication. There are posts on here about people who have taken Methadone and or Suboxone while treating. I do not want to say too much since I made some faulty assumptions in my other post. I will say this is all totally doable if you are ready.
I probably had Hepatitis C the whole time I was drinking and drugging but did not know it. In a way I am glad I found out I had Hepatitis C after I quit using since I was not confronted with having to stop when I was not ready. If you are seeing someone about your addiction I would continue along that path since it sounds like either way you are getting your life together.
The other thing that if it were me I would want to know is how advanced my fibrosis is. So when you find out what your Genotype is maybe you can ask about the different ways to assess your fibrosis. I had a biopsy (a somewhat invasive procedure) as well as a Fibrosure test (a noninvasive procedure).
____________
There is lots of support and insight on here and you do not have to go through this alone.
Disregard what I said in my earlier post. Your PCP actually ran a viral load which confirms HCV.
Now you have some information you can work with.
The next step (to me) is to find out what your genotype is since the meds you take (or your treatment options) depend on that. Plus, as the others suggest HCV is becoming increasingly easier to treat and cure but it also matters what your Genotype is.
I would also get vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B if you have not done so already. You will see lots of us on here were advised to do that when we were diagnosed.
The thing about comparing treatment to any type of drug withdrawal is the way I see it there are things you can do to ease the gnawing physical aspects of your body craving a drug. The mental aspect of kicking is tough if you are not ready but if you are and you aren't white knuckling it then to me quitting using was just something I had to do.
I just can't see comparing it to 48 weeks of treatment for Hepatitis C (with Interferon, Riba & a PI). I especially can't see comparing it to treating for a shorter duration with an all oral HCV medication. There are posts on here about people who have taken Methadone and or Suboxone while treating. I do not want to say too much since I made some faulty assumptions in my other post. I will say this is all totally doable if you are ready.
I probably had Hepatitis C the whole time I was drinking and drugging but did not know it. In a way I am glad I found out I had Hepatitis C after I quit using since I was not confronted with having to stop when I was not ready. If you are seeing someone about your addiction I would continue along that path since it sounds like either way you are getting your life together.
The other thing that if it were me I would want to know is how advanced my fibrosis is. So when you find out what your Genotype is maybe you can ask about the different ways to assess your fibrosis. I had a biopsy (a somewhat invasive procedure) as well as a Fibrosure test (a noninvasive procedure).
____________
There is lots of support and insight on here and you do not have to go through this alone.
"on the pcr test with the addiction MD it says quantitation 5,461,100 iu/ml "
"what does that number means"
-----------------------------------------------
It looks like you already had a PCR test (viral load test) done. The fact that you have a quantifiable viral count means you have Chronic Hepatitis C. That number means that your viral load (count) is 5,461,100 per ml of blood. The other number means the same thing but is expressed in log form.
If I were you, I would get a referral to a Hepatologist or you can just look one up in the phone book and make your own appt. (That is what I did, look one up and made an appt.) Once you have a Hepatologist, he/she will do further testing and probably a liver biopsy. You will need to find out which Genotype you are because the treatment is determined by the Genotype. Your Hepatologist will order those tests and any others that you need.
I know this is a big shock to you as it was to most of us. The more you learn about Hepatitis C the less frightened you will be. Knowledge helps. This forum is a good place to ask questions. Most of us have Hepatitis C or we had it and are now cured so we know all about Hepatitis C, the various stages of liver fibrosis, the shock of diagnosis, the fear, the treatment, the side effects of treatment, etc. Please ask any and all questions and we will respond.
Many of us (me included) have already treated and are now cured. So you also can be cured. You just need to get a good doctor, a Hepatologist, to treat you.
I treated with Interferon, Ribavirin, and Incivek. My treatment was 48 weeks. Not all treatments are that long. Many are 24 weeks. Treatment is no picnic, but it is doable, and it is well worth it despite the side effects one may get. The side effects are nothing compared to End Stage Liver Disease. You are young. You will do fine on treatment. (I was 65 when I treated. I made it through treatment.)
Keep us posted and best of luck.
"what does that number means"
-----------------------------------------------
It looks like you already had a PCR test (viral load test) done. The fact that you have a quantifiable viral count means you have Chronic Hepatitis C. That number means that your viral load (count) is 5,461,100 per ml of blood. The other number means the same thing but is expressed in log form.
If I were you, I would get a referral to a Hepatologist or you can just look one up in the phone book and make your own appt. (That is what I did, look one up and made an appt.) Once you have a Hepatologist, he/she will do further testing and probably a liver biopsy. You will need to find out which Genotype you are because the treatment is determined by the Genotype. Your Hepatologist will order those tests and any others that you need.
I know this is a big shock to you as it was to most of us. The more you learn about Hepatitis C the less frightened you will be. Knowledge helps. This forum is a good place to ask questions. Most of us have Hepatitis C or we had it and are now cured so we know all about Hepatitis C, the various stages of liver fibrosis, the shock of diagnosis, the fear, the treatment, the side effects of treatment, etc. Please ask any and all questions and we will respond.
Many of us (me included) have already treated and are now cured. So you also can be cured. You just need to get a good doctor, a Hepatologist, to treat you.
I treated with Interferon, Ribavirin, and Incivek. My treatment was 48 weeks. Not all treatments are that long. Many are 24 weeks. Treatment is no picnic, but it is doable, and it is well worth it despite the side effects one may get. The side effects are nothing compared to End Stage Liver Disease. You are young. You will do fine on treatment. (I was 65 when I treated. I made it through treatment.)
Keep us posted and best of luck.
The doc I saw was actually am addiction doc coz before treating me with suboxone he did liver panel then found alt high he did hepc antibody, now he revers me to my pcp . It was then my pcp wanna do the blood test all over again. However on the pcr test with the addiction MD it says quantitation 5,461,100 iu/ml then hcv log 10 = 6.737 log10 iu/ml taken when my alt at 66. Now I havent got my result from my primary doc, u guys are the experts what does that number means
At this point there is still a possibility you might be one of the people who clear the virus on their own. It sounds like you only tested for the antibody (which means you have been exposed to Hepatitis C) the next blood test is called a PCR and that is one that determines whether their is presence of the virus in your blood.
After that you need to find out your Genotype. Knowing your Genotype will enable you to assess the likelihood that you will even treat with Interferon. Knowing your Genotype will indicate the type of meds (and options) you have to treat with.
I find it worrisome that the doctor you are seeing now does not seem very well informed. I mean you have expended a lot of grief over some of the things he has said and you do not really have many facts as of yet.
I hope you continue to post in this thread and let us know the results of your next lab.
After that you need to find out your Genotype. Knowing your Genotype will enable you to assess the likelihood that you will even treat with Interferon. Knowing your Genotype will indicate the type of meds (and options) you have to treat with.
I find it worrisome that the doctor you are seeing now does not seem very well informed. I mean you have expended a lot of grief over some of the things he has said and you do not really have many facts as of yet.
I hope you continue to post in this thread and let us know the results of your next lab.
So I did another blood test 2 days ago started milk thistle and curcumin ( its a herb that most of hep c people from where I was born took ) blood test for the liver enzyme alt went down from 66 to 43 what does that means? I also wish I will be that 20% of people who wont need the interferon therapy thing, well even before taking it I already felt the side effect. Idk why but I felt discomfort on my knees like mild pain after you go to gym feel like
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
