HI Karina,
Welcome to a great forum. It's good that you were diagnosed early. You will have plenty of time to learn about, and prepare for tx. You'll be fine and the odds of family members having the virus is low. Lots of great info here. Use the search function to find answers to your questions. Good luck and best wishes.
basser said
Aug 29, 2015
hi karina. one of my main worrys when i found out that i had hepc was that my girls would be infected.memorys of me moaning at my wife bcause she had blunted my shaving razors on her legs come rushing back.but all was well thank the lord.as you have no liver damage and seems you have a healthly life style time is on your side.best of health to you william
wmlj1960 said
Aug 28, 2015
Hi Karina.
It's good you got diagnosed early with minimal liver damage. As already mentioned, that gives you time to get treatment arraignments worked out without such a feeling of urgency. This is a very helpful forum with knowledgeable members who are glad to help. You will likely see some abbreviations in the text and signatures that you are not familiar with so click HERE to view a thread posted by malani with definitions. Also, once you get more familiar with the forum you may wish to create your own signature, which helps other members quickly view your specific case which is shown at the bottom of each of your post. For more info on that click HERE. So make yourself at home and welcome to the forum.
Tig said
Aug 28, 2015
Hi Karina,
I want to welcome you to the forum too. I'm glad you have introduced yourself and let us know a little about your situation. Like the others, I want to tell you that your doctor is right. With that low of a Fibroscan score, there is almost no fibrosis (damage), it is a very good indicator. This is a slow moving disease and while I know you want to be treated as soon as possible, I hope I can reassure you that you do have ample wiggle room to get this taken care of.
The medical and insurance communities are coming around quickly and are starting to understand and agree that it's better to treat upon diagnosis, instead of waiting years for problems to develop (if they do). I think you will be treated before there is any risk involved. Many of us didn't know or had to wait decades before treatment came available. You're fortunate to find out so early in the process, many weren't so lucky. Your doctors will monitor things and when you do treat, SVR is almost guaranteed.
If you have any of your blood tests available, feel free to share them. Tests like the ALT, AST, the genotype and viral load will help us understand things better and allows us to provide better informed opinions. If you have any questions at all, let us know. We also have a very informative search function (above). A couple of keywords will provide you with discussions we've had here on the forum. Things are going to be okay and we'll be here to help you get through this! I'm glad you're here...
fourlocos said
Aug 28, 2015
Hi Karina
I know how scary it is to find out your positive for Hep C. I had it for 40 years and didn't know. If it puts you at ease any let me tell you that during the years I didn't know I had it I had two boys. Both born C section and both are clear. My husband of 34 years is negative as well. It is much harder to pass it on than most people believe. I wouldn't let it stop me from having another child and you have time to treat. I am sure you have more questions and this is the best place to ask for help and guidance.
Cinnamon Girl said
Aug 28, 2015
Hello Karina, welcome!
I can understand how anxious you must be to start treatment but at this point with virtually no liver damage it could take a little while to get it approved. Having said that, of course you want to be rid of the virus as soon as possible, but really it`s very good news that your liver is in such good shape. Do you know which genotype you have?
The chances of passing the infection on to your family is extremely low, as Hep C can only be transmitted by direct `blood to blood` contact. Make sure not to share your own personal hygiene items, for example nail scissors or clippers, toothbrush, razors etc, which could have traces of dried blood on them. Normal household daily living is very safe, it isn`t that easy to infect anyone else.
Not everyone is able to track down when or where they contracted the disease and really that doesn`t matter.
Try not to be scared, time is on your side and I`m sure you will get your treatment at some point, you might need to be patient for a while though.
I`m sure other people will be along to greet you, best of luck!
SpecialK said
Aug 28, 2015
Hi everyone,
My name is Karina, I'm from Toronto(Canada). In Nov.2014 I was tested positive for HCV. It took me so long to see liver specialist, finally in June i saw him, and he told me that OHIP will not cover me, cause I'm only stage 0. What does it mean i had no idea. I did fibroscan on July and got 4.4mark, doctor saying its very good, and i should not worry and relax. But all i want is to get treatment, and just be clear from virus.... How i can do this i don't know????
Little bit about myself: Im a mother of 5yrs old boy, have been working for 15yrs as CSR. Never did drugs, tattoos, smoking. I was always very cautions about everything. How i got this virus have no idea. Thank God non of my family have virus, but I am worry everyday that they can get infected. How I can protect them? I also want to have more kids, and now i scared that they might get infected also.
I found this forum and I hope I'll find some answers to my questions. Im really lost, and I don't know what to do and where to go and get help...
hi karina. one of my main worrys when i found out that i had hepc was that my girls would be infected.memorys of me moaning at my wife bcause she had blunted my shaving razors on her legs come rushing back.but all was well thank the lord.as you have no liver damage and seems you have a healthly life style time is on your side.best of health to you william
Hi Karina.
It's good you got diagnosed early with minimal liver damage. As already mentioned, that gives you time to get treatment arraignments worked out without such a feeling of urgency. This is a very helpful forum with knowledgeable members who are glad to help. You will likely see some abbreviations in the text and signatures that you are not familiar with so click HERE to view a thread posted by malani with definitions. Also, once you get more familiar with the forum you may wish to create your own signature, which helps other members quickly view your specific case which is shown at the bottom of each of your post. For more info on that click HERE. So make yourself at home and welcome to the forum.
Hi Karina,
I want to welcome you to the forum too. I'm glad you have introduced yourself and let us know a little about your situation. Like the others, I want to tell you that your doctor is right. With that low of a Fibroscan score, there is almost no fibrosis (damage), it is a very good indicator. This is a slow moving disease and while I know you want to be treated as soon as possible, I hope I can reassure you that you do have ample wiggle room to get this taken care of.
The medical and insurance communities are coming around quickly and are starting to understand and agree that it's better to treat upon diagnosis, instead of waiting years for problems to develop (if they do). I think you will be treated before there is any risk involved. Many of us didn't know or had to wait decades before treatment came available. You're fortunate to find out so early in the process, many weren't so lucky. Your doctors will monitor things and when you do treat, SVR is almost guaranteed.
If you have any of your blood tests available, feel free to share them. Tests like the ALT, AST, the genotype and viral load will help us understand things better and allows us to provide better informed opinions. If you have any questions at all, let us know. We also have a very informative search function (above). A couple of keywords will provide you with discussions we've had here on the forum. Things are going to be okay and we'll be here to help you get through this! I'm glad you're here...
Hi Karina
I know how scary it is to find out your positive for Hep C. I had it for 40 years and didn't know. If it puts you at ease any let me tell you that during the years I didn't know I had it I had two boys. Both born C section and both are clear. My husband of 34 years is negative as well. It is much harder to pass it on than most people believe. I wouldn't let it stop me from having another child and you have time to treat. I am sure you have more questions and this is the best place to ask for help and guidance.
Hello Karina, welcome!
I can understand how anxious you must be to start treatment but at this point with virtually no liver damage it could take a little while to get it approved. Having said that, of course you want to be rid of the virus as soon as possible, but really it`s very good news that your liver is in such good shape. Do you know which genotype you have?
The chances of passing the infection on to your family is extremely low, as Hep C can only be transmitted by direct `blood to blood` contact. Make sure not to share your own personal hygiene items, for example nail scissors or clippers, toothbrush, razors etc, which could have traces of dried blood on them. Normal household daily living is very safe, it isn`t that easy to infect anyone else.
Not everyone is able to track down when or where they contracted the disease and really that doesn`t matter.
Try not to be scared, time is on your side and I`m sure you will get your treatment at some point, you might need to be patient for a while though.
I`m sure other people will be along to greet you, best of luck!
Hi everyone,
My name is Karina, I'm from Toronto(Canada). In Nov.2014 I was tested positive for HCV. It took me so long to see liver specialist, finally in June i saw him, and he told me that OHIP will not cover me, cause I'm only stage 0. What does it mean i had no idea. I did fibroscan on July and got 4.4mark, doctor saying its very good, and i should not worry and relax. But all i want is to get treatment, and just be clear from virus.... How i can do this i don't know????
Little bit about myself: Im a mother of 5yrs old boy, have been working for 15yrs as CSR. Never did drugs, tattoos, smoking. I was always very cautions about everything. How i got this virus have no idea. Thank God non of my family have virus, but I am worry everyday that they can get infected. How I can protect them? I also want to have more kids, and now i scared that they might get infected also.
I found this forum and I hope I'll find some answers to my questions. Im really lost, and I don't know what to do and where to go and get help...
Thank you all,
SpecialK