I found out that I am infected with Hep C. This was detected during a routine exam; Never showed symptoms. My ALT is 84; AST 47. This sounds kind of strange, but I don't know how I got infected: no drug use, tatoos, or infidellity. I've had several physical exams over a span of 10 years and it never showed up. I am very sad because I probably infected my wife. Today, my wife had blood test and I had a second. I am praying that this is just a bad nightmare. What should I expect now? I have an appointment with a Gastro doctor next month. Will a biopsy be needed?

Thanks...

My situation is similar to yours. I found out in routine physical just over 3 months ago. Have you seen a specialist yet? They will do alot of bloodwork to determine what type of hep c you have(type 1,,2,3) Type 1 is the most difficult to treat. That is the type I have. I did not have to have a biopsy as they had a new blood test that was not quite as accurate, but almost. As for your wife, it is not very likely that that she would contract hep c from you. I've been married 25 years and my wife was negative for hep c. My dr. said the chances were about 1 in 20 for a 20 yr. relationship; this can't spread without direct blood to blood contact.

Thanks for the reply. I feel a little better. I am very protective of my family and it hurts...I know my wife (100%) has been faithful. I feel like I let her down. She is so loving and supportive she held me as I was crying. I can't believe this is happening... I keep playing over and over in mind every step I've made to contract this. I have my blood test results in hand; How can your tell if it is type 1, 2, or 3? Also, I have an appointment w/my Gastro doctor next month. BTW, what are you treatments? Details? Did you have any symptoms? I am thinking maybe it was dormant for years because I have always be health conscious: diet, exercise, no smoking or drinking.

Thanks...

Thanks for the reply. I feel a little better. I am very protective of my family and it hurts...I know my wife (100%) has been faithful. I feel like I let her down. She is so loving and supportive she held me as I was crying. I can't believe this is happening... I keep playing over and over in mind every step I've made to contract this. I have my blood test results in hand; How can your tell if it is type 1, 2, or 3? Also, I have an appointment w/my Gastro doctor next month. BTW, what are you treatments? Details? Did you have any symptoms? I am thinking maybe it was dormant for years because I have always be health conscious: diet, exercise, no smoking or drinking.

Thanks...

Those healthy ways are wonderful. You are lucky you have been living that way. I am on treatments and for me....everyone is different.....it has been body aches, fatigue, a little nausea and depression. All of these things have been bearable and treatet with minor pain meds and anti depressants. Both of these things have made a huge difference and most days I feel really good. I do get tired more than normal. I have had this for five years. I did not show symtoms of it untill the end of last summer. I just got tired. I was not living a healthy life style. I drink and I smoke. You will be told what your geneotype is. I am not sure how to tell on your blood work papers.

Thanks for the reply. I feel a little better. I am very protective of my family and it hurts...I know my wife (100%) has been faithful. I feel like I let her down. She is so loving and supportive she held me as I was crying. I can't believe this is happening... I keep playing over and over in mind every step I've made to contract this. I have my blood test results in hand; How can your tell if it is type 1, 2, or 3? Also, I have an appointment w/my Gastro doctor next month. BTW, what are you treatments? Details? Did you have any symptoms? I am thinking maybe it was dormant for years because I have always be health conscious: diet, exercise, no smoking or drinking.

Thanks...

I had no symptoms, am in pretty good shape, and only drank moderately, but apparently my liver had sustained damage. I have F3 fibrosis; F4 is cirrosis. If I had been told I had little or no frbrosis, I probably would not opted for treatment. As I said, I have type 1 hep c, and treatment for that is almost always for 1 year. Treatment is 1 shot a week and pills twice a day. I've only had two shots so far(only 1/4 dose each). So far its not too bad. Your Gastro will determine type and discuss options.

I had no symptoms, am in pretty good shape, and only drank moderately, but apparently my liver had sustained damage. I have F3 fibrosis; F4 is cirrosis. If I had been told I had little or no frbrosis, I probably would not opted for treatment. As I said, I have type 1 hep c, and treatment for that is almost always for 1 year. Treatment is 1 shot a week and pills twice a day. I've only had two shots so far(only 1/4 dose each). So far its not too bad. Your Gastro will determine type and discuss options.



I'm like Owen P, I have Geno 1A and F3 fibrosis and will be 67 yrs old in August. How my treatments will go I can only hope as well as the rest of you. Considering I have the hardest to treat, I'll pray a lot and wait for my first 4 week test results. I am waiting on my meds now. I thought hard about even doing the tx but I have to at least try them. I will have to take one shot a day, 2 pills in the morning and 3 at night. Sounds like a lot to me but this is what my doc prescribed. Ugh, I hate taking pills. I just hope they are big pills. lol. You'll be ok Rev57, we're all here to listen. Once I start tx after three days of it, I'll post and let you know how I'm feeling. Joyce

Thanks for all of the responses. After reading the posts on this board and perusing the HCOP website, I decided to defer treatment. I have requested a second bloodtest w/PCR and RNA analysis. I have also decided to change PCP because of the lack of knowledge and rudeness, lack of kindness, and support from the office assistant staff. I was told by my PA that they have never treated a patient w/Hep C before and did not have a process in-place for dealing w/this kind of issue. My goal is to continue to live a healthy life style (i.e., no drinking, smoking, no red-meat or fast foods) and eliminate sugar from my diet. I will probably - haven't really decided - cancel my Gastro appointment. I need input from the community on this decision? Also, I will schedule another blood test in six months to re-check my liver enzymes. As a note: I believe the reason for my high liver enzymes was due to being on anti-biotics for several weeks b/c of an abscess. My goal is to wait for future treatments. I can't afford to gamble on tx that can cause complications b/c I am the main provider for my family. I will probably (most likely) get the Hep A, B vaccine. I will update this post when my (and my wife's initial test) second bloodtest and PCR/RNA results comeback. BTW, I did receive good news from my Cardiologist. My PCP diagnosed me w/a Incomplete Right Branch Block (IRBB) and enlarged Aorta. My Cardiologist said that their EKG showed no IRBB and the reason for my enlarged Aorta was due to mary years of weightlifing. Thanks...

Your Gastro is where you will get the answers you need to make an informed decision. Your family needs you now, but they also need you in the future. I've not missed any work yet and my job is very physical; though I'm only a few weeks into treatment. Defering treatment may well be your best course, but knowing the extent of liver damage will help in that decision.

I went to a gastro. He was okay but my hepatologist is really getting to the bottom of things.

Mine is a gastro also. He is very informed, kind and really helpful.

Mine is a gastro hepatologist.

Update: My wife's test came back negative. I am still waiting for my PCR/RNA results.

Good news about your wife. I think it is hard too to make that decision with out knowing the status of your liver. It is your decision. I am at wk 11 and have not missed work either. I also have a very physical job. The other day I worked very hard in 85 degree weather with long black pants on and a long oxford shirt for 14 hours straight. I was ok. I was tired and a bit out of it the last few hours but who would not be? I am young though....I have heard that sometimes age makes the difference.

After the advice from the board, I decided to schedule a Gastro appointment after I get my PCR/RNA results. I am so thankful my wife is negative. This is truly a blessing. Having HCV has changed me: I no longer listen to the news or talk radio; I stopped looking at television. I have been focusing on positive thoughts and spending time in prayer. I use to get upset at the small things but they don't matter anymore. I need to find a way to connect w/my wife b/c I feel sorry for myself and sometimes I am very depressed. I guess this is a normal stage when you find out you contracted something like this. I have to hold off on the sex thing for awhile b/c my mind is not there. I keep thinking how I could have destroyed my family. It hurts... I've been tracing my steps on how I contracted this and the only thing I can think of is major dental work done in 2003. 5 - 6 months after the dental work the dentist sold his practice and dropped off the face of planet. He no longer practices - anywhere. Very strange.... He was very young and energetic!

After the advice from the board, I decided to schedule a Gastro appointment after I get my PCR/RNA results. I am so thankful my wife is negative. This is truly a blessing. Having HCV has changed me: I no longer listen to the news or talk radio; I stopped looking at television. I have been focusing on positive thoughts and spending time in prayer. I use to get upset at the small things but they don't matter anymore. I need to find a way to connect w/my wife b/c I feel sorry for myself and sometimes I am very depressed. I guess this is a normal stage when you find out you contracted something like this. I have to hold off on the sex thing for awhile b/c my mind is not there. I keep thinking how I could have destroyed my family. It hurts... I've been tracing my steps on how I contracted this and the only thing I can think of is major dental work done in 2003. 5 - 6 months after the dental work the dentist sold his practice and dropped off the face of planet. He no longer practices - anywhere. Very strange.... He was very young and energetic!

The dentist thing is weird. If you might have only contracted hep c a few years ago and live a healthy life style most likely you probably have no damage to your liver. Have you had any operations ever? As far as your wife...and connecting...you just need to have a heart to heart. It is much easier said than done. I am married too and I might start out with that intention and some how it turns into a different kind of conversation. And usually one that gets us no where. Eventually you will need to have that conversation. This is not your fault. And yes at first it is hard to have sex because you think about the what if factor. Do some research of your own. Sometimes it can make you feel better. Sometimes it will just scare you more. The good news is that if you live a healthy life style most likely you will die with hep c and not of hep c. Good luck and god bless. There are new treatments on the horizon as this is a newly treated virus in the medical world.

my gastro is also great-I defered treatment for a year and wish I had not-altho did not suffer further damage-I just want it over-side effects stink but not as bad as I had envisioned-mostly just tired and achy

Thanks for the comforting words and the info. I have not had any major surgery in the last 45 years. I have been pretty much healthy: no smoking/drinking/drugs; try to eat healthy - but falter sometimes. I have had blood tests in the pasts: life insurance policy, military, and physical exams. That why this is such a puzzle to me. The only event I was able to put my finger on was the dental work. It just seemed supicious that a young and energetic doctor would all of a sudden stop practicing. I am not accusing him. However, it does make one think...BTW, I still haven't recv'd my PCR/RNA results. As I mentioned previously, I still need to make the connection w/my wife. Sometimes I just want her to listen and not lecture. When you are going through something like this you tend to shut yourself off from others. I still want my wife and I to have a good channel of communication. Lately, I have been noticing some things about my health: pale stool, flatulence (sic), having several bowel movements a day (not to be graphic). I am afraid to share this w/her b/c she go into her pedantic mode. I just don't need to hear that now. I just want a friend to listen. I have never felt so lonely in my life. :(

I found out that I am infected with Hep C. This was detected during a routine exam; Never showed symptoms. My ALT is 84; AST 47. This sounds kind of strange, but I don't know how I got infected: no drug use, tatoos, or infidellity. I've had several physical exams over a span of 10 years and it never showed up. I am very sad because I probably infected my wife. Today, my wife had blood test and I had a second. I am praying that this is just a bad nightmare. What should I expect now? I have an appointment with a Gastro doctor next month. Will a biopsy be needed?

Thanks...

Rey,

Hey there.

I know exactly how you feel, nervous and scared are just a couple of the ways to describe it.

I went into to detox and rehab last Feb. and as an orderly procedure, they were required to draw blood and run multiple tests, HIV, Hep A, B, C, etc. and I know that if they draw one sample, they can use just that one to look for A, B, and C. Well all my tests (When I left detox) showed pending and they gave me a pamphlet on Hep C (Not very encouraging, but hey) in case the panels came back positive, and the fact that they found my AST and ALT levels very high didn't help the matter either. (Have you been tested for all three and HIV? Also if you tested negative for the others, and haven't had a vaccine for them/doctors didn't find any antibodies for the particular virus in your blood, I would recommend doing so to protect your liver from any more potential damage).

So fast forward to November of last year, I figured I never heard from them cuz all the tests came back negative.

But I wanted to go to my PCP and get tested again just to be sure.

Low and behold I was Hep C positive :-\

The messed up part? I have never used a needle in my life (As far as drug use is concerned). Never had anal sex (I am straight thank you) or any high risk sexual behavior/intercourse or exchange of bodily fluids with anyone that has Hep C (That I am aware of anyway). Although, I have had my fair share of tattoos and piercings, in a professional environment of course.

Though someone said it could be passed from sharing straws/dollar bills that were used to "snort" drugs back in my bad days. So it could have been a million things. I guess I'll never really know.

The good news is it is Geno type III which is one of the easier types to treat and does not require treatment for longer than 6 months (Same with Geno type II, I believe). So the next month was full of tests and ultrasounds, but luckily, no need for a biopsy yet.

I actually just saw my Virologist this week and the good news is, that in November, my ALT's were up near 300! And now, they are down to 70! WHich is still pretty high, but nowhere near 300 (A normal, non-infected body will have an ALT level of 40 or below). So that is definitely a good sign!

Green magma (Wheat and barley grass) are KEY to recovery (In my opinion), As well as a change in diet (Minimizing dairy products such as milk and cheese, not drinking any alcohol, minimizing acetaminophen intake and constantly educating yourself on the virus/keeping up to date). And sometimes if you are lucky and catch it soon enough, your body will be able to heal itself without treatment, since the liver has the natural function of being able to regenerate.

They are in no hurry to get me in to treatment for my Hep C, but when I go again in 6 months, if my ALT's have gone up at all, I will definitely consider beginning treatment; on the other hand, if they keep going down, we'll see what happens!

Something else you should definitely look in to (If you haven't already), is to also get an HIV test, just to make sure. Because unfortunately, Hep and HIV go hand in hand :(

On another note, there have been many couples with Hep C, even where one or both of the people in the couples have had Hep C and conceived children successfully without them contracting the disease, perfectly healthy children, and even women have a low risk of contracting it from a male during unprotected intercourse, although it is always recommended that you do use protection!

Anyway, enough preaching to the choir here...

Your ALT's seem very low, like you have a very good chance to recover from this it seems. Make sure you keep on your doctor's butt about him being and keeping thorough and get as many blood tests as you can.

You definitely do not need a biopsy at this point since your enzymes seem so low, there is barely any inflammation/damage at all. Although I would go for an ultrasound to at least get some pictures of what's going on.

So good luck with everything and please report back on how everything goes!

I will be here if you need me!

Mike.

Rey,

Hey there.

I know exactly how you feel, nervous and scared are just a couple of the ways to describe it.

I went into to detox and rehab last Feb. and as an orderly procedure, they were required to draw blood and run multiple tests, HIV, Hep A, B, C, etc. and I know that if they draw one sample, they can use just that one to look for A, B, and C. Well all my tests (When I left detox) showed pending and they gave me a pamphlet on Hep C (Not very encouraging, but hey) in case the panels came back positive, and the fact that they found my AST and ALT levels very high didn't help the matter either. (Have you been tested for all three and HIV? Also if you tested negative for the others, and haven't had a vaccine for them/doctors didn't find any antibodies for the particular virus in your blood, I would recommend doing so to protect your liver from any more potential damage).

So fast forward to November of last year, I figured I never heard from them cuz all the tests came back negative.

But I wanted to go to my PCP and get tested again just to be sure.

Low and behold I was Hep C positive :-\

The messed up part? I have never used a needle in my life (As far as drug use is concerned). Never had anal sex (I am straight thank you) or any high risk sexual behavior/intercourse or exchange of bodily fluids with anyone that has Hep C (That I am aware of anyway). Although, I have had my fair share of tattoos and piercings, in a professional environment of course.

Though someone said it could be passed from sharing straws/dollar bills that were used to "snort" drugs back in my bad days. So it could have been a million things. I guess I'll never really know.

The good news is it is Geno type III which is one of the easier types to treat and does not require treatment for longer than 6 months (Same with Geno type II, I believe). So the next month was full of tests and ultrasounds, but luckily, no need for a biopsy yet.

I actually just saw my Virologist this week and the good news is, that in November, my ALT's were up near 300! And now, they are down to 70! WHich is still pretty high, but nowhere near 300 (A normal, non-infected body will have an ALT level of 40 or below). So that is definitely a good sign!

Green magma (Wheat and barley grass) are KEY to recovery (In my opinion), As well as a change in diet (Minimizing dairy products such as milk and cheese, not drinking any alcohol, minimizing acetaminophen intake and constantly educating yourself on the virus/keeping up to date). And sometimes if you are lucky and catch it soon enough, your body will be able to heal itself without treatment, since the liver has the natural function of being able to regenerate.

They are in no hurry to get me in to treatment for my Hep C, but when I go again in 6 months, if my ALT's have gone up at all, I will definitely consider beginning treatment; on the other hand, if they keep going down, we'll see what happens!

Something else you should definitely look in to (If you haven't already), is to also get an HIV test, just to make sure. Because unfortunately, Hep and HIV go hand in hand :(

On another note, there have been many couples with Hep C, even where one or both of the people in the couples have had Hep C and conceived children successfully without them contracting the disease, perfectly healthy children, and even women have a low risk of contracting it from a male during unprotected intercourse, although it is always recommended that you do use protection!

Anyway, enough preaching to the choir here...

Your ALT's seem very low, like you have a very good chance to recover from this it seems. Make sure you keep on your doctor's butt about him being and keeping thorough and get as many blood tests as you can.

You definitely do not need a biopsy at this point since your enzymes seem so low, there is barely any inflammation/damage at all. Although I would go for an ultrasound to at least get some pictures of what's going on.

So good luck with everything and please report back on how everything goes!

I will be here if you need me!

Mike.

I just found out I am HCV +. ALT = 272 ASt = 222. I am scheduled to see a heptatologist in mid May. What shoudl I expect. I am overweight, and have begun aggressively dieting and exercising ( was 278 pounds...now 265). To be honest, I am scared shitless.

Dr. Dan

I got partial results from my PCR/RNA test. The nurse stated it was "No Rlex". It did not reflex to any of the six genotypes. Can anyone elaborate? The lab is sending my blood to another lab for further testing. If my tests come back negative, there is a possibility I contracted the virus as a child during an operation that required a blood transfusion.

I had a baby while hep c positive and my child did not get it. There was less than a five percent chance that he could get it. She said it seemed the higher the viral load the percent of transmission went up a very little bit. I don't see how hep c and hiv go hand in hand....but it is a good idea to get tested for both. A lot of people have both mostly from being i v drug users and contracting them both. I think that once you test positive for hep c they almost automatically test you for hiv. Mine and my husband's doctor did anyway. We had two different doctors.

I got partial results from my PCR/RNA test. The nurse stated it was "No Rlex". It did not reflex to any of the six genotypes. Can anyone elaborate? The lab is sending my blood to another lab for further testing. If my tests come back negative, there is a possibility I contracted the virus as a child during an operation that required a blood transfusion.
\
Wow I never heard of that. I wonder what that means.

I just found out I am HCV +. ALT = 272 ASt = 222. I am scheduled to see a heptatologist in mid May. What shoudl I expect. I am overweight, and have begun aggressively dieting and exercising ( was 278 pounds...now 265). To be honest, I am scared shitless.

Dr. Dan

They will probably mention treatments to you. Exersize is good. It is pretty normal to be scared. There are a lot of us on these boards that have been taking different approaches to our hep. I am on treatments....wk 13 just done on saturday. It has not been that bad for me. It has not been fun but not that bad either. Everyone is different. They will determine what geneotype you are. That and they might want to do a liver biopsy to see what condition it is in. For me that was not bad at all. For others they say it sucked. They drugged me for it and I barely remembered it actually. I was sore that day but no big deal. Just crampy. your gentype and the condition of your liver determines the amount of treatment recommended and the gives you an idea of the percentage of sucess rates of clearing the virus. Good luck...just be informed...the computer is great for that. you can learn a lot through the computer. Do some searches and see what people are saying and what the research says. Ask questions and get answers from your doctor. Good luck.

Hi Dan,

It is worth noting that the research is now pretty clear that being overwieght with hep c is about as serious a risk factor for accelerating fibrosis as would be drinking with hep. and, if you decide to treat, bmi, or measures of visceral fat especially, correlate negatively with success in interferon treatment.
SO. exercise and weight loss are especially important for us all, whether we are choosing to try to live with the virus, as so many do and do well, or treat it, which of course many do, too.

good for you to be on this course. weight loss and avoidance of alcohol and tobacco are all now pretty well studied and the quality of life and avoidance of morbidity advantages are clear.

of course, our hearts, brains, insulin senstivity and so on also benefit from exactly these same practices.

so, keep going!

sean

I haven't checked in for a long time, but I wanted to update my status. I had a biopsy last week and my results were mild portal fibrosis and an ishak score of 1/4. I decided after consultating w/my GI/Hep Specialist to delay treatment for a couple of years. He said there are new treatments coming out in a couple of years. He will still continue to monitor me every six months. Currently, my ALT, AST, and viral counts have remained very low. I am pretty sure I have had HCV for 30+ years. Other than that, I feel very good!!! Pray for me :)

Rey
A curiosity--were you in the service during the Vietnam Era? My hubby was, has HCV, has had it for over 30 years also. We have wondered often if the admisnistering of the vaccines with the airguns could have been a source of the amazingly high number of HCV+ men in that age group. My hubby had a liver transplant and is now starting Interferon. He is GEnotype 1a. I don't have it--31 years married. Yes, you do feel awful when you find out that you've given it to your spouse but it must be incredibly hard to get.
God bless you. Pray for us I'll pray for you.
Liz