Trying to understand why symptoms after so long undetectable
Scruffy said
Dec 14, 2013
Maybe a blood test and a ultrasound Dave. Great that you stopped drinking. I used to bar hop on my bike and maybe drink a qt. by the end of the night. I started to feel like crap for the next two days way more than a hangover like I was poisoned. I quit right then. That was before I knew I had hepc. I haven't had a drink for over 15yrs.
-- Edited by Scruffy on Saturday 14th of December 2013 11:04:32 PM
Cinnamon Girl said
Dec 14, 2013
Hi Dave, welcome to the forum.
Sorry to hear about the pain you`re getting, but I`m afraid it`s not easy for us to say exactly what`s going on. From what you`ve told us it sounds like your immune system cleared the virus spontaneously in the early stages, which does happen in some cases. It seems unlikely that it`s come back after all this time but the only way you can find out for sure is to go back to your doctor and ask to have a viral load blood test done. You`ll always have Hep C anti-bodies but a viral load test (HCV-RNA test) will show whether or not you currently have an active infection. If the test result comes back still clear then you could take it from there and have some further medical investigations done to find out what`s causing the pain.
Let us know how it goes in January, and in the meantime look after yourself, try to eat a healthy diet, and leave off the alcohol if possible. Best of luck.
Dave said
Dec 14, 2013
Hi all, this is my first post.
I was diagnosed in early 1993. I was young and resigned myself to the fate of an early death. I lived recklessly with drinking and drugs but after about 5 years passed, I realized I was healthy and had no symptoms.
I got proactive and saw a doctor, the doc said I was undetectable. I was tested again a couple years later and still undetectable. My blood was tested about every two years and always undetectable and no symptoms.
About 2 years ago a doctor told me the test he ran is the same test run for blood donors and that I was negative. Maybe it was a miscommunication, I don't know, but I took it to mean that the virus was cleared from my system and therefore, the virus was gone and its anti-bodies.
Since speaking with the doctor, I began drinking without fear of liver damage. Here in the last 6 months or so, I noticed pain in my upper right abdomen region. I cut down drinking to once a week and haven't had a drink now for 2 weeks and I plan to remain sober.
There is a pain, nearly everyday, in my liver. My appendix and gall bladder are both gone so it can't be that. I did notice the pain was much more pronounced after a night of drinking but it's still there at this point, although not always and some days, not at all. There are no other symptoms besides the achy pain in my upper right side.
Is it possible the virus can come back? I truly have done nothing in many years that would expose me to the virus.
I am waiting until Jan 1, when insurance kicks in, to see a doctor, but am seeking experience and information. I have searched on the web and have found little information re: this circumstance.
Maybe a blood test and a ultrasound Dave. Great that you stopped drinking. I used to bar hop on my bike and maybe drink a qt. by the end of the night. I started to feel like crap for the next two days way more than a hangover like I was poisoned. I quit right then. That was before I knew I had hepc. I haven't had a drink for over 15yrs.
-- Edited by Scruffy on Saturday 14th of December 2013 11:04:32 PM
Hi Dave, welcome to the forum.
Sorry to hear about the pain you`re getting, but I`m afraid it`s not easy for us to say exactly what`s going on. From what you`ve told us it sounds like your immune system cleared the virus spontaneously in the early stages, which does happen in some cases. It seems unlikely that it`s come back after all this time but the only way you can find out for sure is to go back to your doctor and ask to have a viral load blood test done. You`ll always have Hep C anti-bodies but a viral load test (HCV-RNA test) will show whether or not you currently have an active infection. If the test result comes back still clear then you could take it from there and have some further medical investigations done to find out what`s causing the pain.
Let us know how it goes in January, and in the meantime look after yourself, try to eat a healthy diet, and leave off the alcohol if possible. Best of luck.
Hi all, this is my first post.
I was diagnosed in early 1993. I was young and resigned myself to the fate of an early death. I lived recklessly with drinking and drugs but after about 5 years passed, I realized I was healthy and had no symptoms.
I got proactive and saw a doctor, the doc said I was undetectable. I was tested again a couple years later and still undetectable. My blood was tested about every two years and always undetectable and no symptoms.
About 2 years ago a doctor told me the test he ran is the same test run for blood donors and that I was negative. Maybe it was a miscommunication, I don't know, but I took it to mean that the virus was cleared from my system and therefore, the virus was gone and its anti-bodies.
Since speaking with the doctor, I began drinking without fear of liver damage. Here in the last 6 months or so, I noticed pain in my upper right abdomen region. I cut down drinking to once a week and haven't had a drink now for 2 weeks and I plan to remain sober.
There is a pain, nearly everyday, in my liver. My appendix and gall bladder are both gone so it can't be that. I did notice the pain was much more pronounced after a night of drinking but it's still there at this point, although not always and some days, not at all. There are no other symptoms besides the achy pain in my upper right side.
Is it possible the virus can come back? I truly have done nothing in many years that would expose me to the virus.
I am waiting until Jan 1, when insurance kicks in, to see a doctor, but am seeking experience and information. I have searched on the web and have found little information re: this circumstance.
I appreciate any comments or thoughts.