Aa
Great news at the Dr. today!!!!!!!
I just got back from the Dr. and as of right now I no longer have any vl. I spontaneously cleared. Needless to say I am beyond happy right now. I go back in two months for one last vl test. I need at least 2 showing no vl to be for sure that I did spontaneously cleared but they way it stands right now I have no longer have a vl. I did not post much here since I was acute hcv but did a lot of reading and want to thank you all so much for the information I have received here. Not to be rude but I hope this is the last you see of me. I wish nothing but the best for all of you
Sorry for all the typos I was so excited and in a big hurry when I posted the first post. I just could not believe that I cleared on my own I really did not expect that. I am still just trying to believe it. Now to answer a few questions for those who posted them.
Yes we are going to continue to check me. I go back again in two months for another VL. If I come back again with a 0 VL the Dr. told me we would then check me once a year for VL and Liver functions. And I did ask the Dr. to verify which test he used and he did use the PCR. I also know during the acute phase the VL levels can fluctuate and I still need to get past this second VL check to be absolutely certain but they way it stands now I have no VL. To me that is enough to be happy. I will deal with the second VL test when it gets here.
As for the one that ask how I knew I was acute we knew for many different reasons. The first was the Dr. knowing that in no way could I be chronic with my ALT so high. See I became jaundice and took myself to the ER. When we got my labs back my ALT was 2895 and my AST was also though the roof. Once I was told I had HCV I called my OB who had just check me for everything just two years ago and at that point I was Neg. for HCV. I then sat down and really started thinking about any blood I had come into contact with and remember that I helped somebody here at work who was injured pretty badly. And I always have little cuts on my hands. I am a very ruff person and tend to cute myself all the time. I then confronted this person and they got test and yes they are Chronic HCV. So with me we knew I was acute and when I had gotten infected which was in late Jan. of 2008. I started to show symptoms the second to last week of Feb. 2008. And took myself to the ER on March 3rd.
By March 20th I knew that I was GT 1a and had a VL of 265. At that point my Dr. was going to go straight to TX but I suggested to him to check me one more time before we do that. He then wanted to wait 3 months which I was not comfortable with. So I meet him half way and 1-1/2 months after my first VL test we tested me again and this time I came back with a 0 VL. My Dr. is just amazed I am his first Acute case and he just can’t believe it. And needless to say so am I.
And again thank you all so much for posting to this board with all your knowledge. And I have my fingers crossed that from her on out I always come back with a 0 VL. And Mermeet I will talk to my Dr. about what you brought up and hope that does not happen to me. But right now I just want to be happy and in the moment. But thank you so much for your concern.
Yes we are going to continue to check me. I go back again in two months for another VL. If I come back again with a 0 VL the Dr. told me we would then check me once a year for VL and Liver functions. And I did ask the Dr. to verify which test he used and he did use the PCR. I also know during the acute phase the VL levels can fluctuate and I still need to get past this second VL check to be absolutely certain but they way it stands now I have no VL. To me that is enough to be happy. I will deal with the second VL test when it gets here.
As for the one that ask how I knew I was acute we knew for many different reasons. The first was the Dr. knowing that in no way could I be chronic with my ALT so high. See I became jaundice and took myself to the ER. When we got my labs back my ALT was 2895 and my AST was also though the roof. Once I was told I had HCV I called my OB who had just check me for everything just two years ago and at that point I was Neg. for HCV. I then sat down and really started thinking about any blood I had come into contact with and remember that I helped somebody here at work who was injured pretty badly. And I always have little cuts on my hands. I am a very ruff person and tend to cute myself all the time. I then confronted this person and they got test and yes they are Chronic HCV. So with me we knew I was acute and when I had gotten infected which was in late Jan. of 2008. I started to show symptoms the second to last week of Feb. 2008. And took myself to the ER on March 3rd.
By March 20th I knew that I was GT 1a and had a VL of 265. At that point my Dr. was going to go straight to TX but I suggested to him to check me one more time before we do that. He then wanted to wait 3 months which I was not comfortable with. So I meet him half way and 1-1/2 months after my first VL test we tested me again and this time I came back with a 0 VL. My Dr. is just amazed I am his first Acute case and he just can’t believe it. And needless to say so am I.
And again thank you all so much for posting to this board with all your knowledge. And I have my fingers crossed that from her on out I always come back with a 0 VL. And Mermeet I will talk to my Dr. about what you brought up and hope that does not happen to me. But right now I just want to be happy and in the moment. But thank you so much for your concern.
Way to go, congratulations! That's one bullet you definitely want to dodge. As a word of caution to you though, please be aware of a few things before you cut your ties altogether to the HCV internet world:
1. Make absolutely certain you do get follow up PCR tests, and make sure they are sensitive tests. I would use a PCR test with a sensitivity of at least 10 IU/ml, and preferably use the most sensitive test available today (commercially) which has a sensitivity of 2 IU/ml. And make sure you get another followup test maybe a year later, and perhaps even a year after that just to be ultra sure.
2. Also, and I don't want to scare you or take the wind out of your sail, but you should at least know about this possibility. There is a rare situation that can occur after a cleared acute infection called "occult" HCV infection. Occult HCV infection is where the host tests negative for the virus using sensitive PCR blood testing, and yet in actuality they are still actively infected at a very low level (below the level normally detectable with PCR blood tests). They may or may not test negative for HCV antibodies, and they may or may not also have elevated liver enzymes. People who have an occult HCV infection test negative on the PCR and so are often mistakenly considered "cured", when in fact they retain a very low level active infection that their immune systems appear to manage much more effectively than a "normal" chronically infected person (who does test PCR positive, and usually has a viral load in the thousands or millions per milliliter of blood). This gives the illusion using normal testing methods that the virus is gone, when in fact the patient still retains an active infection, it just stays at a very low level (and there tends to be less liver damage too).
But again, to my knowledge this is rare, so don't be afraid it'll happen to you. But have yourself checked periodically for the next few years (maybe once every 9 months or so) by a skilled hepatologist to make sure you don't have any of the hallmarks of it. Have your liver enzymes repeatedly checked for one thing and have the rest of your blood chemistry checked, especially that pertaining to the liver, from time to time. As far as I know, occult HCV infections often (but not always) will provoke elevated liver enzymes (even if just slightly) and can keep antibody levels from dropping over long periods of time. You can also track your HCV antibody level over time. Normally HCV antibody levels will slowly decline over the years after the infection is cleared naturally or via drug treatment (and there is no occult infection). Your doctor will know what to look for, but in general just keep an eye on yourself and do followup with your doctor and testing over the next few years. In the meantime enjoy your hep C free life, a close call like that can give life new meaning - take advantage of it.
1. Make absolutely certain you do get follow up PCR tests, and make sure they are sensitive tests. I would use a PCR test with a sensitivity of at least 10 IU/ml, and preferably use the most sensitive test available today (commercially) which has a sensitivity of 2 IU/ml. And make sure you get another followup test maybe a year later, and perhaps even a year after that just to be ultra sure.
2. Also, and I don't want to scare you or take the wind out of your sail, but you should at least know about this possibility. There is a rare situation that can occur after a cleared acute infection called "occult" HCV infection. Occult HCV infection is where the host tests negative for the virus using sensitive PCR blood testing, and yet in actuality they are still actively infected at a very low level (below the level normally detectable with PCR blood tests). They may or may not test negative for HCV antibodies, and they may or may not also have elevated liver enzymes. People who have an occult HCV infection test negative on the PCR and so are often mistakenly considered "cured", when in fact they retain a very low level active infection that their immune systems appear to manage much more effectively than a "normal" chronically infected person (who does test PCR positive, and usually has a viral load in the thousands or millions per milliliter of blood). This gives the illusion using normal testing methods that the virus is gone, when in fact the patient still retains an active infection, it just stays at a very low level (and there tends to be less liver damage too).
But again, to my knowledge this is rare, so don't be afraid it'll happen to you. But have yourself checked periodically for the next few years (maybe once every 9 months or so) by a skilled hepatologist to make sure you don't have any of the hallmarks of it. Have your liver enzymes repeatedly checked for one thing and have the rest of your blood chemistry checked, especially that pertaining to the liver, from time to time. As far as I know, occult HCV infections often (but not always) will provoke elevated liver enzymes (even if just slightly) and can keep antibody levels from dropping over long periods of time. You can also track your HCV antibody level over time. Normally HCV antibody levels will slowly decline over the years after the infection is cleared naturally or via drug treatment (and there is no occult infection). Your doctor will know what to look for, but in general just keep an eye on yourself and do followup with your doctor and testing over the next few years. In the meantime enjoy your hep C free life, a close call like that can give life new meaning - take advantage of it.
Congratulations and hope you remain clear. But I have to ask you how can you stay away from a motley crew like us? You'll miss us!!!!
Trinity
Trinity
Great News Congrates!!! I am new to all this... Geno type 2b so my chances are pretty good so they tell me. I wondered how did you know you were acute? Did you know exactly when you got it? Or Just by your lab test results ect.? I heard you had to catch and find it with in weeks for it to be acute. We are talking Hep C right?
Did you do any treatment at all? Or it just cleared?
How ever... what a blessings! Hope all stays well!
D.T
Did you do any treatment at all? Or it just cleared?
How ever... what a blessings! Hope all stays well!
D.T
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