Hepatitis Forums
Hepatitis C Prevention, Transmission and Testing => Am I Infected? => Topic started by: KGP on August 30, 2016, 09:21:20 pm
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My boyfriend, 35 years old, recently has been complaining about right sided pain, long story short, he did an ultra sound, there was scarring, liver smaller than normal (jaundice baby too) enzyme levels are normal, weekend drinker (not anymore) ...if he does have it, he thinks it's from a tattoo, maybe 15-18 years ago...how far along would the disease be advanced? That's what I'm scared about...need answers, his appt for results is on Sept 12. Need answers, opinions..etc Thank you!
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Really impossible to guess. Some people can have hep c for many years with little to no liver damage while others like myself I had hep c for 37 years and after being infected for 30 years I was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.
But even with liver cirrhosis people can live long lives with care. So if he does have significant liver damage he should not drink and follow his doctors advice about testing and monitoring. Of course the most important thing with or without liver damage is to be cured of hep c.
Also hep c is not generally considered to be sexually transmitted but just for peace of mind if he has tested positive for the virus with the HCV RNA test and not just the hep c antibody test you may also want to be tested just to be on the safe side.
Really though no way to guess about the health of his liver he will need testing to know where he stands.
Good luck to you both
Lynn
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Thank you Lynn! Yes I just got a hep panel done, just waiting for results.