Aa
looking for opinions
The nurse told me today cause I wasnt listening much to the dorctor after he told me that I was positive for Hep-C. All I heard was I might not need treatment cause it may be inactive cause my bloodwork looked good. And then the are referring me to a hemotologist. Ok today she said that my liver enzymes are elevated to 40. Im getting on cholesterol meds next wk due to my cholesterol being sky high. That alone is enough to raise your liver enzymes up. So being that they are just 40, she said that was great and that slight elevation was probably due to the high cholesterol. Ok, also she said that my platelets where 182, and that was in the normal range and that was good too. So when she said that I told her what the doctor said just to hear her opinion and she said that there are different strains of that virus and sometimes people are carriers and they harbor the virus but it does nothing to them but they can still pass it and that it could activate at anytime but most of the time it doesnt. Now she said that she is not a doctor and I still needed to go to the hematologists but things like that give me hope and I was just wondering what people thought of them two things about my blood and liver. Just wondering and I know that ive been told already that the virus is alwasy active and that the bloodwork can be normal and that doesnt mean nothing and im taking all that into consideration. Also to add to that, a year ago, my liver enzymes where elevated to 90, but again my cholesterol was even worse than sky high, which could lead to fatty liver disease if not treated. So im taking that into account and it doesnt seem like the Hep is doing alot at the time. I think I know when I got it, which was sometime around 09. But who knows, I had a HUGE transfusion back in 03 and had to receive alot of blood so anyone ever heard of viruses still slipping through the blood screens and getting into someone that had a transfusion? You know, any mistakes still happening every once in awhile? Thanks for everyones time, sincerly
No your making perfect sense to me and im the kind of girl that person that prepares for the worst and hopes for the best. Im a 33yr old healthy girl, I thought, but ive always been fairly active and eaten well all my life. High cholesterol doesnt make any sense to me or the doctor. She said it was sky high and that I had to get on meds asap and was mad at me for missing my appt its so high. So, maybe this genotype 3 is the explaination huh? And I wish I could get to the doctor soon but there is a wait that maybe a couple months but im trying some other things but money is the biggest factor at the time. So, I bet thats the reason for the high cholesterol. I do go to my primary this wk and I will bring that issue up, so thanks alot for that. NASH probably progresses fairly fast or faster than the hep alone so thats a double wammy huh? See, thats my luck! I know you all cant wait, but I could wait forever to find out all this junk but I really want to get to the doctor soon as possible. Im kinda mad too at my family. I know money is fairly tight, especially for my mom, but ive never needed her help until the last little bit. My stepfather of 20 some yrs has all kinds of toys and they have a beach house and they act like all that is more important than getting me some health insurance that would costy only 220.00 a month. Thats what I qualify for through the federal goverment. It really bothers me. When I had a spot in my lung too a couple of years ago, no one ever bought me any insurance then either. Luckily it went away and nothing come of it. But just thank if it would have and they would have let me die I guess. I dont know how to feel about all of this. Like I said, until the last little bit I never costed my parents a dime and I do all the work around this big house that would cost them atleast 400.00 a month to get someone else to do, plus I give them 200.00 a month, now they act like they love me, but im having trouble believing it! Thanks for letting me vent! Im very sad bout this, I havnt told them I just keep finding away somehow. And I pay for my methadone, not them, just thought I would throw that in! LOL! :( Right now, I dont cost them nothing and they havnt even offered to help with getting me some insurance, so im waiting for this clinic to maybe help me! But if I have this genotype 3 thast could be causing fatty liver disease I probably should be in a bit more of a hurry huh? Hypothedically speaking, just if I do?
Merry,
Thanks for posting that "blip." Pretty heady stuff. In fact, the only bits I got were the reference to "cleavage" about halfway through, then "secretion" down at the bottom. That's not a lot to go on, but still I think I got a pretty good picture. Thanks. for that.
Thanks for posting that "blip." Pretty heady stuff. In fact, the only bits I got were the reference to "cleavage" about halfway through, then "secretion" down at the bottom. That's not a lot to go on, but still I think I got a pretty good picture. Thanks. for that.
sorry for the miscommunication, that last post wasn't meant for you, it was for other members reading this who might wonder why I mentioned genotype 3.
Look, 1. You may not have hcv. 2. if you get a PCR test and you do have it, then you are not going to die tomorrow, in fact you could live another 40 years, or you could treat the cure and live another 60 years. No one can really say at this point because no one knows your state of disease if any, or how long you've had it.
I mentioned the need for you to find your genotype out and if you have the disease because not only does it effect whether you would treat for the HCV, but it effects how you view your high cholesterol. High choleserol can lead to fatty liver disease (NASH) on its own, but in the presence of genotype 3 hcv it can advance more rapidly, and that would mean you would want to pay special attention to getting the choleserol down in order to spare you from the effects of NASH. Think of it like this, NASH could very well be the greatest side effect of genotype 3, and, if you have genotype 3 it would explain your high cholesterol in part.
In any case, when you find out we would all like to know. If you did have genotype 2 or 3, then your chances of a cure would be 80-90% with current treatments. If you have genotype 1 or 4, then you would be wise to wait for the new PI drugs (protease inhibitors) to come out in the summer, and then treat. The success rate is similar for Geno 1 & 4, assuming the PI is added.
Sorry if you don't understand something I said, fell free to Private message me if you need more clarification.
mb
Look, 1. You may not have hcv. 2. if you get a PCR test and you do have it, then you are not going to die tomorrow, in fact you could live another 40 years, or you could treat the cure and live another 60 years. No one can really say at this point because no one knows your state of disease if any, or how long you've had it.
I mentioned the need for you to find your genotype out and if you have the disease because not only does it effect whether you would treat for the HCV, but it effects how you view your high cholesterol. High choleserol can lead to fatty liver disease (NASH) on its own, but in the presence of genotype 3 hcv it can advance more rapidly, and that would mean you would want to pay special attention to getting the choleserol down in order to spare you from the effects of NASH. Think of it like this, NASH could very well be the greatest side effect of genotype 3, and, if you have genotype 3 it would explain your high cholesterol in part.
In any case, when you find out we would all like to know. If you did have genotype 2 or 3, then your chances of a cure would be 80-90% with current treatments. If you have genotype 1 or 4, then you would be wise to wait for the new PI drugs (protease inhibitors) to come out in the summer, and then treat. The success rate is similar for Geno 1 & 4, assuming the PI is added.
Sorry if you don't understand something I said, fell free to Private message me if you need more clarification.
mb
You know what else is ironic to me. Ive always been the most careful person, especially when it came to sex. I wouldnt sleep with just anybody, it absolutely had to be with someone I cared for and always with protection. So therefore I just didnt sleep with many people at all cause im so picky about men. I have a big list at all the qaulities they must have before I will even go out withthem, lol, so therefore I didnt date alot either. Im single and now ill probably never find no one cause im sure with this disease im not on nobodies list! How will I ever find the man of my dreams now, I wont im sure, if I find anyone at all! How sad that is to me!
Whoever just wrote that last post must be a doctor cause I didnt follow a thing. Ok, I didnt say I had fatty liver disease, I may have been confusing. Im 33 and my cholesterol is very high, getting put on meds this wednesday. I eat very good, very good, ice cream is my only vice, but thats it and I know thats enough but ive always ate fairly healthy but its genetic evidently so meds this wk and ill be good on that! Ok, I go to a metadone clinic and they did a hep-c test on me and it was positive. What kind of test it was, I dont know. Just both the doctor and the nurse said it could be inactive, doctors words, or I could be harboring the virus but it wont do no damage to me, the nurses words. Maybe thats what they mean, I tested positive for antibodies but they dont know, I dont know, but ive been referred to a hepatologist. And believe it or not, another nurse I was talking to at a whole other dr. said I was saying it wrong , that it was a hematologist cause I was calling it a hepatologist. WTF??? LMAO!! These people keep ******* with my head dont they? LMAO!! Anyways, I wish I knew what kind of test that was so I could atleast hope that im testing positive for antibodies and dont really have it cause by the looks of it, the wait is fairly long and not knowing will drive me crazy. But if my luck has anything to do with it, I will have full blown Hep-C with two days left to live! But thanks to all, even the doctor that did the Einstein posting!!
just so somebody doesn't try to take me to the woodshed, here's that blip on genotype 3 causing more stetosis...can't believe I remembered where that was...
Induction of steatosis was more evident by accumulation of large lipid droplets upon expression of HCV genotype 3 core protein, which differs from the core protein of other genotypes by having a phenylalanine at position 164 instead of a tyrosine [74, 75]. This phenylalanine residue lies in the α-helix that sits between the ER phospholipid monolayers where lipid droplet biogenesis is presumed to occur. Since phenylalanine is more hydrophobic than tyrosine, perhaps it can enhance the affinity of core protein to lipids resulting in increased generation of lipid droplets [70]. The core protein enhances lipogenesis by triggering activation of transcription factor RxRα (retinoid X receptor agr;)and fatty acid synthase (FAS), both crucial for the de novo synthesis of fatty acids. Indeed, expression of the highly steatogenic HCV genotype 3a core protein maximally triggered FAS promoter activity compared to other genotypes [76]. HCV core protein from several genotypes induced proteolytic cleavage of SREBPs [35]. Core protein also activated SREBP1c via LXR agr;/RXR agr; pathway, with assistance from the nuclear proteasome activator PA28-γ. In PA28-γ(−/−) mice, core expression did not lead to hepatic steatosis, even though it did localize to the hepatocyte nucleus. Core expression in PA28-γ(+/+) mice, however, led to hepatic steatosis [77]. HCV core expressing HepG2 cells or transgenic mice displayed reduced levels of PPAR agr; mRNA [45, 78], suggesting that HCV core also alters lipid metabolism by down-regulating PPARagr;, essential for genes involved in β-oxidation and secretion of fatty acids [47]. HCV core expressing transgenic mice displayed reduced MTP activity, resulting in reduced assembly and secretion of VLDL particles [73], and this inhibition was reversed by hepatic overexpression of ApoAII [73]. In contrast, high levels of ApoAII in chronic HCV patients were not protective but promoted the development of liver steatosis [79].
Induction of steatosis was more evident by accumulation of large lipid droplets upon expression of HCV genotype 3 core protein, which differs from the core protein of other genotypes by having a phenylalanine at position 164 instead of a tyrosine [74, 75]. This phenylalanine residue lies in the α-helix that sits between the ER phospholipid monolayers where lipid droplet biogenesis is presumed to occur. Since phenylalanine is more hydrophobic than tyrosine, perhaps it can enhance the affinity of core protein to lipids resulting in increased generation of lipid droplets [70]. The core protein enhances lipogenesis by triggering activation of transcription factor RxRα (retinoid X receptor agr;)and fatty acid synthase (FAS), both crucial for the de novo synthesis of fatty acids. Indeed, expression of the highly steatogenic HCV genotype 3a core protein maximally triggered FAS promoter activity compared to other genotypes [76]. HCV core protein from several genotypes induced proteolytic cleavage of SREBPs [35]. Core protein also activated SREBP1c via LXR agr;/RXR agr; pathway, with assistance from the nuclear proteasome activator PA28-γ. In PA28-γ(−/−) mice, core expression did not lead to hepatic steatosis, even though it did localize to the hepatocyte nucleus. Core expression in PA28-γ(+/+) mice, however, led to hepatic steatosis [77]. HCV core expressing HepG2 cells or transgenic mice displayed reduced levels of PPAR agr; mRNA [45, 78], suggesting that HCV core also alters lipid metabolism by down-regulating PPARagr;, essential for genes involved in β-oxidation and secretion of fatty acids [47]. HCV core expressing transgenic mice displayed reduced MTP activity, resulting in reduced assembly and secretion of VLDL particles [73], and this inhibition was reversed by hepatic overexpression of ApoAII [73]. In contrast, high levels of ApoAII in chronic HCV patients were not protective but promoted the development of liver steatosis [79].
Sorry you had to get such news, and sorrier that the people informing you were so poorly informed. That nurse is an &*#@!.
you should take a fatty liver very seriously, and know that this virus marches on and damages in every decade but does so more after one has been carrying it for a while, the third and fourth decade are where serious health issues emerge, but not always.
Genotype 3 in particular has the ability to cause fatty liver disease (NASH) and much sooner than the other genotype due to having a gentic difference it reacts differently with your body's lipids (fats).
In America most folks have genotype 1, but there are folks with 2.3. and 4, also living here.
You could have gotten it from a transfusion. They do screen, and they say the odds are only 1 in 600,000 now. So the blood supply is pretty safe. You can get them from tatooing, or from medical or dental procedures as well, any time your blood, through an open sore, cracked lip, or whatever comes in contact with infected blood you are exposed. Other peoples toothbrushes or razors even.
In any case you'll need to ask the doctor for a PCR test to determine what genotype you have and how much of a viral load (VL) you have. Only then will you know how to proceed.
Sometimes a person can have a HCV antibody test read positive when they don't have the virus.
This happens when the lab makes an error, or when the person was once exposed but clears the virus on their own. 15 to 20% of folks will clear the virus on their own, but they will always test positive for antibody's to the virus thereafter.
Ergo you won't know for certain if you have the disease unless you get a PCR test, the test you have only proved you have antibodies to the virus, not whether you have it.
That's the good news, the bad news is that the nurse is dead wrong, if you do have the disease it is never really "dormant". Sometimes people talk about hepatitis B in those terms, as it is less deleterious, but never hep C.
If it turns out you have hepC you'll need to be very proactive about keeping your liver from having too many fat deposits and really work at getting your cholesterol down.
you should take a fatty liver very seriously, and know that this virus marches on and damages in every decade but does so more after one has been carrying it for a while, the third and fourth decade are where serious health issues emerge, but not always.
Genotype 3 in particular has the ability to cause fatty liver disease (NASH) and much sooner than the other genotype due to having a gentic difference it reacts differently with your body's lipids (fats).
In America most folks have genotype 1, but there are folks with 2.3. and 4, also living here.
You could have gotten it from a transfusion. They do screen, and they say the odds are only 1 in 600,000 now. So the blood supply is pretty safe. You can get them from tatooing, or from medical or dental procedures as well, any time your blood, through an open sore, cracked lip, or whatever comes in contact with infected blood you are exposed. Other peoples toothbrushes or razors even.
In any case you'll need to ask the doctor for a PCR test to determine what genotype you have and how much of a viral load (VL) you have. Only then will you know how to proceed.
Sometimes a person can have a HCV antibody test read positive when they don't have the virus.
This happens when the lab makes an error, or when the person was once exposed but clears the virus on their own. 15 to 20% of folks will clear the virus on their own, but they will always test positive for antibody's to the virus thereafter.
Ergo you won't know for certain if you have the disease unless you get a PCR test, the test you have only proved you have antibodies to the virus, not whether you have it.
That's the good news, the bad news is that the nurse is dead wrong, if you do have the disease it is never really "dormant". Sometimes people talk about hepatitis B in those terms, as it is less deleterious, but never hep C.
If it turns out you have hepC you'll need to be very proactive about keeping your liver from having too many fat deposits and really work at getting your cholesterol down.
I assume they are referring you to a "hepatologist" not a hemotologist. Definitely go see the hepatolologist and go from there. What you have been told so far is not accurate.
Also...you might want to contact a member here who does a lot of research into the errors made with our blood supply for transfusions. The member is: sbd5251
Good luck to you and please follow up with the Hepatologist.
Also...you might want to contact a member here who does a lot of research into the errors made with our blood supply for transfusions. The member is: sbd5251
Good luck to you and please follow up with the Hepatologist.
Trinity is right.
The only way to know if your liver is being damaged by the virus it to get a biopsy. I have been infected over 25 years but my liver enzymes were never elevated until this past January... but when they did the biopsy it showed that my liver was being damaged anyhow.
I'm wondering why they are sending you to a hematologist. That is a blood specialist. Did you mean a hepatologist? That is a liver specialist.
As far as accidentally getting infected by blood transfusions... I have read reports of more than one medical facility being caught using contaminated needles and infecting their patients in the year that I have known about my HCV.
Diane
The only way to know if your liver is being damaged by the virus it to get a biopsy. I have been infected over 25 years but my liver enzymes were never elevated until this past January... but when they did the biopsy it showed that my liver was being damaged anyhow.
I'm wondering why they are sending you to a hematologist. That is a blood specialist. Did you mean a hepatologist? That is a liver specialist.
As far as accidentally getting infected by blood transfusions... I have read reports of more than one medical facility being caught using contaminated needles and infecting their patients in the year that I have known about my HCV.
Diane
"So when she said that I told her what the doctor said just to hear her opinion and she said that there are different strains of that virus and sometimes people are carriers and they harbor the virus but it does nothing to them but they can still pass it and that it could activate at anytime but most of the time it doesnt."
That nurse does not know what she is talking about, her words are pure bull-s-hit. Either you have active hepc or you don't. If your were exposed to hepc but your immune system fought it off you will always test positive for antibodies. Antibodies are harmless, but active hepc is not and it does not activate and deactivate (although your account on MH might at times. :) As long as you have the virus, damage to the liver can occur and most often does.
Have they done a PCR on you? If they have and it was positive you definitely have hepc. PCR is the only way to tell whether you have the virus or not. It's your health, don't you think you should be listening to the doctor? If you find you can't relate to him find another doctor you can relate to.
Learn about the disease, side effects and available treatments. The more you know the better off you are when deciding how to move forward.
Trinity
That nurse does not know what she is talking about, her words are pure bull-s-hit. Either you have active hepc or you don't. If your were exposed to hepc but your immune system fought it off you will always test positive for antibodies. Antibodies are harmless, but active hepc is not and it does not activate and deactivate (although your account on MH might at times. :) As long as you have the virus, damage to the liver can occur and most often does.
Have they done a PCR on you? If they have and it was positive you definitely have hepc. PCR is the only way to tell whether you have the virus or not. It's your health, don't you think you should be listening to the doctor? If you find you can't relate to him find another doctor you can relate to.
Learn about the disease, side effects and available treatments. The more you know the better off you are when deciding how to move forward.
Trinity
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