Hello. I just got the phone call about an hour ago that Im hep c pos. They said theyd send my paperwork and for me to follow up with a doc. She said that ( blood bank for job) they did 2 tests to make sure and that I had some antibodies ( or something like that) and that my alt was ok/ normal. Since its after 5 and I couldnt call any doc ( and I have no insurance) I found this board. I have no idea what to ask , what to think... By choice I quit drinking ( and I was a DAILY beer fish) for years. I quit smoking cigs 7 yrs ago. I hadnt done any needle drugs in 7 years. Have 2 tatoos from early 90s. Have had kids and a blood trans in 03. ...The lady who called me told me no tylenol or acholhol. I do take methadone for pain and hydrcodone 5/325. I get them both monthly from pain doc.
WOW...I just dont know what to say. Im 42 and youngest is going to be in first grade. I really dont know what to do about having no insurance and Im not on welfare nor would I qualify. WOW..................................... ......................

There are different test for HCV.
ALT level is not very important, some people have HCV and normal ALT level.
Antibody test say: you were in contact with the virus. But it does not say, if your body has resolved this problem or not (about 20% of infected people cure spontaneously).
You need so called PCR test, which can say, if the virus is found in your body, or not.
If some HCV virus is found, then you should find a good doc (gastroenterologist), who can tell you more.
HCV is a serious illness, and should not be underestimated.

Good luck
Petr

its not as bad as you think now. eat well, sleep well and look at alternatives before you go down the treatment path or the biopsy path. iv had this disease for 30 odd years, im 48 yo and iv known for about 10. i freaked out when i found out but now dont worry too much cos im well most of the time.
dont drink to excess or take other substances ie prescription meds, even panadol can increase your alt readings.
i have never had a liver biopsy and dont intent to unless something dire happens to make me.
the genotype is important, im type 2b which i believe is the best to have.
anyway, research all options and dont rush into a treatment that doesnt have a great success but can in fact cause more health problems. i know this has happened to others. also, i have 2 friends my age who are hep c pos the same as me and they are still in good health, tiredness is the biggest problem.
take care and good luck

Hi and thanks for replying 1...I take methadone and hydrocodone for my neck whick I have a fusion and titanium in. So if Im tired from the hep Id never know because the methadone makes me SO sleepy. But Ive only been on it since FEB. And I wasnt unusually tired before I started on them. Ive taken the hydro since 01. I just got my paper from the blood bank and it said my ALT was 31. Ive been reading online and i got 3 books from library and cant really tell if its hi or not. ..Im reading right now The First Year by Cara Bruce and Lisa Montanilli. Its ok I guess. Just looks like Im not supposed to eat anything but home grown non processed , very bland "foods"......I dont think that if I ever need to that Ill go the medicine route. From what Ive read in my short time, it doesnt look pleasent and looks like it actually makes people feel worse than before.
Back to meds, I cant function without pain meds. Im only on meth because I have no insurance and the morphine I was on with insurance is over 200$ a month ! This meth is SO cheap !...But I cant take the sleepies !!! Im not gonna mention my hep to my pain doc til I get insurance so he wont document it and I become a pre exisiting !

Its really nice to have people to talk to here. Im not dwelling on this like I thought I would. Actually the only reason I think about it is to make sure I watch not to bleed anywhere .I by choice , quit drinking in JAN. I 'only' drank beer but BUTT loads of it daily ! And I do mean DAILY. I just woke up one day and said, man, this sux...I think I want a chocolate chip shake instead of a beer at 1030AM. ANd I havent looked back.

What is your take on ALT of 31 ? Im not by any means over weight, dont smoke anything, and dont eat bad but dont eat that great , I guess. Im not a couch potato but I dont jog or roller blade anymore since surgery a couple of years ago............

Take care !