Could this be Hep c?

[Rich73]

Three years ago I started getting pains around my liver. The Dr felt it and said it was inflamed and sent me for an ultrasound which showed fatty liver. Bloodtests were normal. However, I began to get a very white tongue, it was white all over, not in patches. The top of my tongue was red and sore, and I had a burning sensation which went on for months. I had stools which were soft and wither yellow or pale, sometimes quite mucosy. Since this , I have also got really sweaty, quickly, whenever go out for a walk. Never had that before. Urine has been a dark Amber, too. Before my last hep c test, stp 2011, the urine was this colour and the Dr said it was dehydration

The pain is in the liver/ribs area, but passes to the other side and then in to the miiddle. Sometimes I feel like the liver is twisting inside me as I sleep. The pain is a sharp, stabbing pain that can last for several hours. One doctor said if it's in the ribs it could be costochondritis, inflammation of the cartilage in the ribs, but I'm sure its the actual liver  as most of the pain is in that specific area.

fast forward to November last year, I again went back to the dr who took blood and said the alt/ast were high. Repeated in January, high again,  in February they'd dropped quite a bit but still a bit high. Billrubin levels are normal.

CBC is normal.

I have not had sex with anyone, only kissed two guys several months before the White tongue etc, I've shared no razors, toothbrushes, no tattoos, never done any drugs, ever.

Does it sound like I could have hep c? Would the alt and ast and billrubin all be high if it was hep c? The doctors aid hepatitis would make the figures in their thousands.....

[Mike]

Since  this has been going on for a couple years, I would assume your doctor screened you for Hep-C.

ALT and AST levels can wax and wane with Hep-C. In fact, I was infected for over 30 years and my levels were always in the upper limits of normal or slightly above on occasion.

I would probably have your doctor order another HCV screen just to be sure.

These tests should be conclusive (either way) at this juncture.

Best wishes, Mike

[Rich73]

hi Mike,

No, they haven't screened me for it.

They say it's just fatty liver (the ultrasound did show this).

My most recent liver function test had gone down in numbers, and we're only mildly raised, and the doctor said he was at sifted with those.

That's why I'm woried, but also because i can see no obvious transmission route.

last hepatitis tests were done in September 2011, all negative. The symptoms started in march the following year.

[atomic dog]

There should be no problem diagnosing Hep C. It's possible you could have another variety of Hep, but even then a blood test should give a definitive diagnosis. It could very well be fatty liver--have you modified your diet as a result? I would suggest going to a second doctor or switching doctors if this one is not able to help you. One thing you learn from having a disease like this is that you need to advocate for yourself. Don't be shy about it. Doctors don't know everything and will never tell you that they don't know. Be tough.