Mute point now, it may have been possible you were born with it.
James10500 said
Jul 2, 2011
Glad you don't share our HCV, and hope you don't have autoimmune !
James
Shocked said
Jul 2, 2011
Results are back. Hep A, B and C are negative. Liver enzymes are up again a bit more. Doctor thinks I may have autoimmune hepatitis and has scheduled a liver biopsy for July 18.
Shocked said
Jun 23, 2011
James - The ultrasound was given because of the swollen liver and high liver enzymes. I'm seeing a specialist at a digestive diseases center.
Shocked said
Jun 23, 2011
First, thanks for the welcomes.
James - Yes, I have had alcohol. I should have been clearer. I have never injected drugs. As for the person I referred to in college, I don't know for sure that IV drugs were used just know he was using a few things. So no, I did not come in contact with blood that I am aware of.
I have a few other health issues (stomach and maybe thyroid), so that is why they took as many tubes of blood as they did.
Brendan - I don't drink frequently. Maybe once a month at the most, sometimes too much in one night though. More frequently in college but not nearly what most college partiers do. I have an alcoholic parent and swore off alcohol until mid-college and started off "slower" than my peers. Now it's a social thing, but I would have to have a weakened liver for alcohol to be an issue, I would think.
BJ said
Jun 23, 2011
Gidday,
The symptoms you have indicate that your liver has been damaged - that's effectively what the presence of those liver enzymes in your blood represent. The fact that you are positive for hepC antibodies say you have been in contact with the virus at some stage in the past, and you have either beaten it naturally - and that can happen - or you have HepC.
Having said that, the "enlarged" liver is not necessarily indicative of HepC one way or the other, and while the antibodies are yet to be resolved, the presence of higher than normal liver enzymes and a tender and enlarged liver could be the result of someone who drinks alcohol heavily. Do you or did you drink alcohol a lot ?
I hope you get something resolved in your favour from those blood tests they are doing, and just as a side-note - a "normal" ultrasound isn't really helpful when trying to determine HepC - when I was trying to determine my illness I also had a normal ultrasound and it turned out I had HepC quite badly. That doesn't of course automatically mean you have, but you are on the line and I'm afraid only the outcome of those considerable blood tests will determine what is causing those symptoms. Good luck.
Cheers,
Brendan.
James10500 said
Jun 23, 2011
Wow, let's hope your PCR comes back negative. Crazy you're in your late thirties and never had a drink (alcohol is a drug). So this person you had sex with in college used neddles to inject drugs ? Unless you their blood got in your bloodstream somehow they are not the sourse. You know the anti bodies will show even if you don't have HCV, it means you were exposed in the past and may have cleared it. Pretty strange they'd send you for an ultrasound when they have not even confirmed you have HCV. Sounds like a PCP, go to a real doc, a GI or a hepatolagist.
Good luck,
James
-- Edited by James10500 on Thursday 23rd of June 2011 01:56:04 PM
Greg said
Jun 23, 2011
Hi Shocked,
Firstly a warm welcome to the forum and I feel for you with what must be going through your mind at the moment. You have found a great site with very friendly and supportive people, I wish you all the very best for your test and I hope they come back clear of the virus, if not we are here to support you and will do our best to answer any questions you may have. It sounds like they have taken a lot of blood (13 tubes) to do a battery of tests and I'm sure you'll get some answers as to what is going on in your body.
Take care and good luck, Greg
wnose said
Jun 22, 2011
Hep C progresses slowly and a lot of people don't experience symptoms for a long time. Some people live normal lives for many years - as in 40 years or more.
That being said, the earlier you start the higher your chances of success. But first confirm you're infected.
Ron Gilbert said
Jun 22, 2011
Docters are stupid. There was a person here a couple of weeks ago that tested positive for "antibodies" I dont remember what the outcome was but the posts are here somewhere.
They could have told you on the first test with one tube of blood. What idiots! Likely they wanted to make some extra money this week at your expense. Sorry for your troubles.
Ron
JollyRoger said
Jun 22, 2011
i think it's like a 1.5-3% chance of getting it through intercourse. i've known a few couples who've spent their entire lives together without contracting it. alot of times people who share razors can carry it as well. other than that, i can't think of many ways to get this besides tattoos, drugs, or working in the medical field.
i really hope all goes well for you!
x:jollyRoger:x
anatolya said
Jun 22, 2011
Hi,
Hepatitis c is blood to blood type of virus group that means it is very low chance you can have the virus by intercourse but if you had something with blood contact ( both you must have some blood related scar or cut, or menturation) during the intercourse you might have it. Also as far as I know many type of liver diaseas can able to turn to a hepatic liver.
wish to you my best.
Ana
Shocked said
Jun 22, 2011
I went in to my doctor's office a couple weeks ago with a sinus infection and while talking to her, my doctor noticed that I have a lot of bruises. I told her I bruise easily, so she ordered blood tests. My liver enzymes came back elevated. 70 and 112. A new set of tests was ordered a few days later and the enzymes were 80 and 144. She sent me to a specialist on Monday and he said, "so your here for high liver enzymes and a positive Hep C?" I nearly fell off my chair. Nope, my doctor never mentioned the Hep C. He then said it is positive for antibodies and may be a false positive so he had more blood taken from me. 13 tubes to be exact. He felt around on my liver and said it is swollen and when he poked at it, it did hurt. (never realized where my liver even is) He had me get an ultrasound yesterday which came out normal.
I've never used any drugs, haven't had a blood transfusion or come in contact with blood or used needles, no tatoos/piercings other than ears as a kid. WTH. I am in my late 30's. Had "relations" with someone that used drugs back while I was in college, but that is my only guess. I know that positive for antibodies does not mean I necessarily have the virus now, but with the other syptoms does it sound like I can possibly NOT have it?
Going crazy waiting for results that won't be in until Monday....
Mute point now, it may have been possible you were born with it.
James
Results are back. Hep A, B and C are negative. Liver enzymes are up again a bit more. Doctor thinks I may have autoimmune hepatitis and has scheduled a liver biopsy for July 18.
James - The ultrasound was given because of the swollen liver and high liver enzymes. I'm seeing a specialist at a digestive diseases center.
First, thanks for the welcomes.
James - Yes, I have had alcohol. I should have been clearer. I have never injected drugs. As for the person I referred to in college, I don't know for sure that IV drugs were used just know he was using a few things. So no, I did not come in contact with blood that I am aware of.
I have a few other health issues (stomach and maybe thyroid), so that is why they took as many tubes of blood as they did.
Brendan - I don't drink frequently. Maybe once a month at the most, sometimes too much in one night though. More frequently in college but not nearly what most college partiers do. I have an alcoholic parent and swore off alcohol until mid-college and started off "slower" than my peers. Now it's a social thing, but I would have to have a weakened liver for alcohol to be an issue, I would think.
Gidday,
The symptoms you have indicate that your liver has been damaged - that's effectively what the presence of those liver enzymes in your blood represent. The fact that you are positive for hepC antibodies say you have been in contact with the virus at some stage in the past, and you have either beaten it naturally - and that can happen - or you have HepC.
Having said that, the "enlarged" liver is not necessarily indicative of HepC one way or the other, and while the antibodies are yet to be resolved, the presence of higher than normal liver enzymes and a tender and enlarged liver could be the result of someone who drinks alcohol heavily. Do you or did you drink alcohol a lot ?
I hope you get something resolved in your favour from those blood tests they are doing, and just as a side-note - a "normal" ultrasound isn't really helpful when trying to determine HepC - when I was trying to determine my illness I also had a normal ultrasound and it turned out I had HepC quite badly. That doesn't of course automatically mean you have, but you are on the line and I'm afraid only the outcome of those considerable blood tests will determine what is causing those symptoms. Good luck.
Cheers,
Brendan.
Wow, let's hope your PCR comes back negative. Crazy you're in your late thirties and never had a drink (alcohol is a drug). So this person you had sex with in college used neddles to inject drugs ? Unless you their blood got in your bloodstream somehow they are not the sourse. You know the anti bodies will show even if you don't have HCV, it means you were exposed in the past and may have cleared it. Pretty strange they'd send you for an ultrasound when they have not even confirmed you have HCV. Sounds like a PCP, go to a real doc, a GI or a hepatolagist.
Good luck,
James
-- Edited by James10500 on Thursday 23rd of June 2011 01:56:04 PM
Hi Shocked,
Firstly a warm welcome to the forum and I feel for you with what must be going through your mind at the moment. You have found a great site with very friendly and supportive people, I wish you all the very best for your test and I hope they come back clear of the virus, if not we are here to support you and will do our best to answer any questions you may have.
It sounds like they have taken a lot of blood (13 tubes) to do a battery of tests and I'm sure you'll get some answers as to what is going on in your body.
Take care and good luck,
Greg
Hep C progresses slowly and a lot of people don't experience symptoms for a long time. Some people live normal lives for many years - as in 40 years or more.
That being said, the earlier you start the higher your chances of success. But first confirm you're infected.
Docters are stupid. There was a person here a couple of weeks ago that tested positive for "antibodies" I dont remember what the outcome was but the posts are here somewhere.
They could have told you on the first test with one tube of blood. What idiots! Likely they wanted to make some extra money this week at your expense. Sorry for your troubles.
Ron
i think it's like a 1.5-3% chance of getting it through intercourse. i've known a few couples who've spent their entire lives together without contracting it. alot of times people who share razors can carry it as well. other than that, i can't think of many ways to get this besides tattoos, drugs, or working in the medical field.
i really hope all goes well for you!
x:jollyRoger:x
Hi,
Hepatitis c is blood to blood type of virus group that means it is very low chance you can have the virus by intercourse but if you had something with blood contact ( both you must have some blood related scar or cut, or menturation) during the intercourse you might have it. Also as far as I know many type of liver diaseas can able to turn to a hepatic liver.
wish to you my best.
Ana
I went in to my doctor's office a couple weeks ago with a sinus infection and while talking to her, my doctor noticed that I have a lot of bruises. I told her I bruise easily, so she ordered blood tests. My liver enzymes came back elevated. 70 and 112. A new set of tests was ordered a few days later and the enzymes were 80 and 144. She sent me to a specialist on Monday and he said, "so your here for high liver enzymes and a positive Hep C?" I nearly fell off my chair. Nope, my doctor never mentioned the Hep C. He then said it is positive for antibodies and may be a false positive so he had more blood taken from me. 13 tubes to be exact. He felt around on my liver and said it is swollen and when he poked at it, it did hurt. (never realized where my liver even is) He had me get an ultrasound yesterday which came out normal.
I've never used any drugs, haven't had a blood transfusion or come in contact with blood or used needles, no tatoos/piercings other than ears as a kid. WTH. I am in my late 30's. Had "relations" with someone that used drugs back while I was in college, but that is my only guess. I know that positive for antibodies does not mean I necessarily have the virus now, but with the other syptoms does it sound like I can possibly NOT have it?
Going crazy waiting for results that won't be in until Monday....