Just tested positive for hep c

[RoxyBlonde]

I met this rather good looking guy. All common sense left my head. Ended up living with him for months , and doing things I wouldn't normally done. He said he loved me , then even said he wanted to marry me, two days later he ended up running off with old lady that had money. Anyway he was a junkie with hep c. Used a dirty needle on me. I was so so dumb.  After my girlfriend forced me to the sexual health clinic ... I received a positive test back. Been referred on to specialist hep clinic. Still waiting on genome/strain , and viral loads to come back.
But got liver function test back today which says my liver is normal ...  obviously good news but I am now a bit confused

[Lynn K]

I am assuming you had a test for antibodies to Hepatitis C. Antibodies are not the virus they are made by your body when it tries to fight the virus. Having hep c antibodies means you were exposed to the virus. However, about 25% of people are able to beat the virus on their own without treatment so it is possible you are not infected.

Those who have been exposed to hep c and have a positive test for antibodies will always test positive for hep c antibodies. People like me who were infected with hep c but who are now cured will test positive for antibodies but negative for the hep c virus.

You have just been tested for the Hepatitis c virus and it is possible you may be not detected for the virus. You will know when you have this test result if you are currently infected with hep c and need to be treated to cure your infection.

As far as liver enzymes hep c may or may not cause a rise in liver enzymes. My liver enzymes were tested about 10 years after I believe I was infected and they were in normal range. Later on my liver enzymes did rise above normal but only just slightly elevated.

Having elevated liver enzymes means something is irritating your liver. Having normal enzymes does not mean you do not have hep c. Having elevated liver enzymes does not mean you have signifigant liver damage it only means something is irritating the liver but has no relationship to how much damage might have occurred.

If you have hep c you have only had it a short time so you won’t have any liver damage. So the only thing is to get tested to see if you are currently infected then get treated and cured. In the past the only treatment was weekly shots of interferon along with other drugs for 6 months. It was a difficult treatment and for some only about 30% effective. The recently approved medicines are generally well tolerated and about 98% effective. Treatment could be as simple a one pill a day for 8 or 12 weeks and you will be cured.

Best of luck hoping you are in the lucky 25% who beat the virus on their own. But if not you will soon be treated and cured.

[RoxyBlonde]

Thank you so much for your reply.
After I stopped freaking out I been reading lots trying to learn.
Still waiting on genome test and viral load tests to come back.
I did get liver function  test back today which was normal , which clinic said was very good. With my dodgey ex for 6 months , we been split for 1 month. Guess if I do have it infection was during that 6 months .
Apparently they are expensive tests and they do them infrequently when they have enough to do at once.
I am told I can begin treatment as soon as test results are in. Seems they also assuming it's not just antibodies.
I am told treatment likely to be VIEKIRA PAK , 6 pills per day for 3 months

will I get any nasty side effects from this treatment ? Will my hair fall out ? ( i have great hair , I don't want to lose it   ..)

I understand cure rates are very high.  And in worst case that I am infected , I should be fine after 3 months treatment ? No longer infectious to others ?
Have some surgery coming up later in year , so scared being hep c it might prevent that ?

Again thank you for your time to answer my questions of a freaked out newbie

[Lynn K]

I had heard nothing on hair loss it certainally is not a common side effect.

Here is a link to the prescribing information sheet which comes with every prescription:

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/206619lbl.pdf

The prescribing information sheet describes common side effects, how to properly take the medicine, and any known drug interactions.

It is more likely that you are infected which is probably why they’re going that way but there is still a chance that you are not infected.

For the viral load test I just heard they only run on certain days of the week my results usually took a week to 10 days to come back.

Having hep c or being treated should not affect your upcoming surgery. But best to ask your doctor. I had an upper endoscopy whilebeibg treated and dental work done. If I recall correctly one person here had major dental work done while on treatment.

Once you are cured of hepatitis C you are no longer infectious to others because you do not have any virus in your bloodstream. You will continue to test positive for anti-bodies to Hepatitis C but you will no longer carry the Hepatitis C virus

[RoxyBlonde]

Thank you for taking the time to reply.
And thank you for your forum and putting information out there.
Still kicking myself for getting suck in by smooth talking guy and doing dumb things and putting myself at risk.
Thought he had given me a dead sentence at first .... and thought at best I would be a social outcast , never able to date or be in a relationship , with guys pointing - that's hep c girl
So grateful there is treatment out there  ... I will definitely avoid smooth talking dodgey guys and doing dumb things that put myself at risk in the future.
It's heartbreaking to think there must have been some very tragic stories in the past.
So so grateful even in worst case I should come out of this nightmare ok.

Best wishes to everyone .... keep safe , don't do dumb things like me

[Mugwump]

Roxy, the question that should be asked to ascertain if the test was more than a preliminary antibody test is if the test was a pcr rna test. If they have not done a pcr rna test then there is still a good chance that you are not infected.

The pcr rna test is not the same as genotype testing and for them to go on to genotype testing based solely upon a positive antibody test before confirming a viral load does not make any sense whatsoever.

I just wish that the clinicians would do a better job and clarify the processes necessary. It is a process of diagnosis that if not followed in the right order causes a great deal of anxiety to say the least and many are left wondering WTF is going on for no good reason.

Also until the specific genotype is ascertained the drug duration and type necessary for treatment is speculation.

So the best question to ask the clinician is if a chronic infection has been determined by pcr rna test and what the viral load finding was. If this test has not been done first then one cannot be certain that there is an active infection there to treat.

All the best clearing the situation up asap. We have seen this same confusion happen over and over again on this thread and the unnecessary fear and confusion caused should not be happening. It does seem that many doctors and clinics do not spend the time necessary to explain things adequately and are the cause of a great deal of this unnecessary confusion.

Cheers
Eric   

[Lynn K]

Hi Eric happy new year!

In her first post she said she is waiting for a viral load and genotype test result so I did assume she has only so far had the hep c antibody test.

I agree we have had several folks here who were told they have hep c because if a positive antibody test only to later learn they were not detected on the HCV RNA by PCR. Yes definitely some doctors need to be better educated on diagnosis current hep c infection and how to counsel patients with positive antibody test results.

Also I agree it is premature to discuss treatment meds before she even has been tested for her genotype.

Really with the newer meds and if she is genotype 1a Viekira Pak would not be my first choice because of the need for ribavirin.

Roxy

Don’t beat yourself up over this. Life is life and we all make less than smart choices from time to time especially when we are young. As long as we learn and always keep moving forwards.

Best of luck and hoping you are in the lucky 25% who don’t have hep c.

[RoxyBlonde]

Yes thank you again for your replys.

My girlfriend forced me to go to the sexual health clinic after i had split from my dodgey boyfriend. 
There I tested positive for hep c anti bodies ....  everything else was good thank god.
I did said it's only the antibodies , so in my understanding I might not have the virus at all. But I was told you definitely have hep c. Which I did think was bit weird.
They listed me as high risk because my ex has hep c , and we were using. ( i was so stupid. Never did such things like that before him).
Oddly they also got me down as a prostitute ... Although I repeatly denied it. In fact when I left , instead of just few free packages of condoms , the gave me a large brown paper bag with a year supply of condoms and lube.  Quite embarrassing. 
One of my friends joked I dress like 80 year old lady , so no idea why they think I am a hooker. Quite embarrassing.

Viekira Pak is not best ? .... I was told 6 pills a day over 3 months and I will be clear. It's limited in my country what is subsidized .... Normally only for those with serious liver issues .... but it's slowing expanding .... I was really worried I wouldn't be able to access Lastest meds but hep c clinic told me they would start treatment as soon as my genome and viral load tests are in , assuming I have it

[Lynn K]

You were definitely exposed to hep c. It remains to be seen if you are currently infected with the hep c virus.

Viekira Pak is not for all genotypes. There are 6 major genotypes 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 with what are called quasi species I believe 16 of them. Names are 1a,1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b etc...

Viekira Pak only is appproved to treat genotype 1a and 1b which are the most common in the US. If you have 1a you will have to take another med along with Viekira Pak. This medicine is called ribavirin. I have taken ribavirin several times. Many people become anemic from ribavirin they can also develop a bad rash. If you have genotype 1a and are required to go this route just want you to be aware of this. The rash is less common but anemia is common.

This is about ribavirin:

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=9ed7adc9-bd0c-41af-b34c-43d15a7799d1

Some info about Viekira Pak:

https://www.hepmag.com/blog/abbvies-viekira-pak

I don’t want to discourage you or make you concerned about treating if you have hep c it is important to be cured. Many here have successfully treated with Viekira with ribavirin.

Is Epclusa an option with your insurance? Or maybe Mavyret or Harvoni? I took Harvoni. I know for you Harvoni could be as simple as 1 pill a day for either 8 or 12 weeks. But a lot of insurance balk at the price for Harvoni at $1125 a pill it gets expensive fast. What country are you in?

Here is a link to the AASLD treatment recommendations for all the various genotypes.
https://www.hcvguidelines.org/treatment-naive

The sub links will take you to specific recommendations for the various genotypes.

They list the drug names and not the trade names like Sovaldi ledipasvir for the trade name Harvoni

Let us know if you have any questions about the trade names.

Hope you hear soon about if you are infected and what genotype.

Is your doctor experienced in treating hep c and up to speed on the latest meds?

[RoxyBlonde]

Thank you for your reply
I am in New Zealand.
The Government has been slow to subsidize the Lastest meds.
I was referred to a specialized hep c clinic.
Still waiting for genome and viral load tests to come back.
Supposedly the tests are expensive , and they wait until there are a few to do. Results can take one to two weeks I am told.

I had heard interferon had very nasty side effects.  So not too worry about minor side effects for 3 months if end result is I am free of hep c.
I was at first serious concerned my dodgey ex boyfriend had given me a death sentence , or reduced my life span , and/or made me a social outcast never to be able to date or have intimate relations ever again. I did rather freak out at the start.
I am so so relieved a cure is possible over a few months. I am so grateful to my friend kirsten for making go get tested. Although still rather disturbed with her calling me hep c girl ... prior to me even being tested. 
The experience has definitely effected me , and will likely be forcing ( rather than politely suggesting as i did in the past ) all future first dates directly to the sexual health clinic for testing lol

[RoxyBlonde]

I forget to mention I have no insurance.
New Zealand has a free public health system ... of debatable quality.  Waiting lists for certain things can be years long. If the hospital is under pressure to clear there long waiting list , they simply kick everyone off and start again. That way the stats look good.
There is health insurance available , and private hospitals of much high quality.  Of course the people that have health insurance are normally rich or well to do, and not have broke ass loser boyfriends like myself.
And of course insurance won't cover existing conditions.
So I am relying on access to meds though specialist hep c clinic ... and clinical trials in worst case

[Mugwump]

Roxy you do have time to consider the best route possible to treat and cure yourself of HCV if you are indeed infected. If the situation in New Zealand is as bad as you have indicated and the clinic is jumping the gun by assuming that you are infected or will re-infect then finding another option might be your best course of action.

So my advice is to take your time, learn the ins and outs about HCV treatment and make your choices regarding treatment as carefully as possible if you are dealing with a clinic who is rushing you through the process and missing critical steps in the process!

Here in British Columbia the situation is almost the same as what you are describing and I was indeed very fortunate to have good insurance coverage and one of the best infectious disease specialists and related clinic to walk me through the treatment process. I was lucky enough to be one of the first to be successfully treated with Harvoni on Vancouver Island and started treatment less than one week after it was approved by Health Canada.

Firstly find out if there is a sweetheart deal going on between the government sponsored clinics and the drug company that provides Viekira Pak. Something sounds very fishy here IMO!

Right next door in Australia there is a group that can help you to obtain generics if necessary. The costs of obtaining generics is not horrible and if you can save up you can easily do it if you cannot obtain the correct treatment in New Zealand.

Certainly wait until you have a confirmed chronic infection and know the genotype of the infection before deciding upon how to proceed. You can and should insist upon being given your test results and do not allow the clinic to treat you without the respect you certainly deserve.

You are on the right track and are asking the right questions, if the clinic keeps treating you as if you are stupid then use them only as a stepping stone because that is what they deserve!

[Gaj]

Hi Roxyblonde,

For information on the current HCV treatments in NZ may I suggest Facebooking or googling Hazel Heal HCV.

She will have the latest information and supportive specialists for your area plus other options such as Eric (mugwump) mentioned.

[Lynn K]

There are references to interferon in the ribavirin prescribing information because that was how it was first used. I did interferon with ribavirin treatment twice. Once was with a trial drug. My last treatment was 24 weeks of Harvoni and 15 weeksof ribavirin because on my multiple unsuccessful treatments and having liver cirrhosis after being infected for 37 years.

Interferon give people a general malaise feeling run down they refer to flu like symptoms. Ribavirin has its own side effects the must common being anemia the rash is common enough it has a nickname of Riba rash. Also some people have a tendency to get angry while treating aka riba rage.

But like I said many have taken ribavirin and are fine just wanting you to be informed.

[Philadelphia]

Hi Roxy, you are correct I believe in saying that they often wait for a large batch to run viral load tests - im in Australia and that’s what a few pathology people have said to me. So it can take a week depending on when the run date is.

I did Viekira Pak and while it’s not the drug most people talk about it WILL work. Stats are pretty much as good as harvoni and if you are 1b they are excellent. The ribavirin is the challenge in the drug cocktail as it can have an effect on your haemoglobin count.

I did 6 months of it, worked as a school principal through treatment and came out with a cure at the other end.

One option might be to research whether the DAA landscape is changing inNZ at all - if the govt is going to bring in the new therapies you certainly have time up your sleeve and with no liver damage can wait a little while. Depends on whether you want to get the beast gone ASAP.

all the best from across the ditch. Keep us in the loop.

[Philadelphia]

Also, if NZ health care is like Aust, private health care will not cover pharmaceuticals. So it has to happen through the public system.

[Scoutdoy]

Roxy we on this forum have all experienced what you are going through...Relax. Hep C is a slow moving disease. I would like to make a suggestion though. Get a notebook and get copies of all your test results and write down anything your doctor says to you.  The reason is ...you have to be in control of your own health and body. People are human and can make mistakes or you could be in a Clinic that does or does not do what’s best for your personal case. With your notebook you can do research or flip back into your notes and pull out your test results and say whoa wait a minute ...my test results are these and the protocol for my blood numbers and liver numbers is usually this”  and don’t freak out immediately when you get your numbers yes, they can be scary, but high or low numbers aren’t always what they seem. Look down my name and look at the High viral count I had...over 13 million...I completely freaked on that but when I did research I found out...it’s just a number that is just one part of the equation for what should be the best treatment for you. My number was high but I was an F-0 at the same time ...which was awesome...no liver damage...I did the treatment, no side effects....and have been cured for years....you will be ok and get the treatment if you need it and then it will be over. This forum will be helpful for you for real support, because we have been there too and you can get a lot of good info here. Good luck


Scout

[andrew j]

Hi Roxy,

I have been following this thread.
I live in New Zealand, too!
I treated ... blimey - it's coming up on two years ago now!

As the others have said - everything depends on your test results.
They will determine your best plan of attack in respect of your particular genotype.

Acknowledging shortcomings in the health-care system, and in the coverage of Hep C treatments, I have nevertheless found that the doctors here genuinely want to help their patients in whatever ways they can to get rid of this problem.

If I can be of any assistance - you know? ...

Best wishes,
A.

[RoxyBlonde]

Viral load results ...

HCV specimen type:             Plasma

HCV RNA:                       8511380 IU/mL

HCV RNA:                       6.93 log IU/mL

Hepatitis C virus DNA:         This result was determined using the Abbott RealTime HCV assay. The lower limit for accurate quantitation is 12 IU/mL. The upper limit for quantitation is 100 million IU/mL.

Can someone please explain this ? Is it bad ?

[Lynn K]

This is your viral load expressed in two different number systems. Regular counting numbers we are all familiar with and the logarithmic scale numbering system scientists use to study viruses and many other natural phenomenon. It is the same number expressed in two different ways.

In regular numbers your viral load is 8,511,380 IU/mL (international units per milliliter)

Having any viral load means you are infected with hep C. However, the number itself is not really important it does not relate to severity of illness or how difficult to successfully treat.

You viral load is higher than some but not the highest I have ever seen. Also viral load can vary significantly over short periods of time.

So really the only thing this means is yes you are infected and will need to be treated.

[Mugwump]

Sorry to see that you are one of the unlucky who did not clear the virus naturally Roxy. As Lynn has said your current viral load means very little. What is most important now is having regular liver function tests to determine the level of damage being done. Your viral load can be quite low and still you can have dangerous liver damage going on.

HCV is  a sleeper disease and does damage slowly over time.

The insurance companies and health care systems not treating those with little liver damage in the early stages of infection is something which seriously needs to be exposed as short term thinking and socially economic stupidity!

You are not the only person who has a recent infection or a low level infection with little liver damage who is in need of treatment.

Therefore you need to become your own advocate and get in touch with those who locally are actively involved in treatment advocacy. As Gaj has suggested.

Please do not become despondent about your infection! On a personal level the depression brought on by the news about being infected, when I was informed of my infection in 1993 was a huge problem.

Most of all be kind to yourself in this regard, it is the only way to help you deal with this disease. In being kind to yourself you will find it easier to be kind to others and deal the ups and downs of HCV.

If you must vent then that is fine, because the internal anger must be dealt with before you can move forward.

Yes there are still stigma attached to having HCV and you will certainly find a lingering ignorance about the disease in some people. For this reason it can be very hard to tell the people that you are close to that you are infected. So it is crucial that you yourself become well informed about the fact that transmission by means other than direct blood to blood exchange is not considered to be a issue with HCV.

Accidentally sharing a towel or clothing that you have used with someone else is not going to infect others unless you have bled all over something and the individual has cuts and lacerations.

Somehow I do not think that you are going to take up boxing or cage fighting or any of the other pugilistic arts, but if you did then perhaps you might infect someone.

Sensible sexual activity that does not harm the skin or internal membranes is not recognized as a common means of transmission. So if a new partner balks at being with you because you are infected, then just perhaps this new partner or old partner for that matter was not worth being in a relationship with IMO.

Be aware of the fact that having HCV means that there is liver damage going on so excessive consumption of alcohol is not a good idea. Abstinence is certainly the best option but small amounts of alcohol now and then most likely won't be a serious problem. When I found out that I was infected I had to change my social habits or I am certain I would not have made it to 65 with my liver still somewhat intact...

Again my best advice is to not dwell upon the fact that you are infected and start to worry about every little bit of blood spots that we as humans create. Be cautious and careful, certainly but do not let HCV rule your life!!!!

Stay healthy and active and slowly work with others towards getting treated. All my best wishes in obtaining the best treatment available before the disease progresses.

Eric

[RoxyBlonde]

Thank you for your reply and insight Eric.
I freaked out at first thinking my dodgey ex boyfriend had ended my dating life , any future inimate contact. I understand it's blood to blood contact that's the problem. The hep c clinic even said that I got it from my ex using a dirty ( one of his ) needles on me. Still so angry he did that to me. Not something I would of ever agreed too. I knew he was hep c positive but thought the risks were very low and he would take care to keep me safe.  Obviously pretty stupid of me looking back.

I don't drink often , and normally very little. I have a low alcohol tolerance,  and it's makes me rather flirty which gets me in alsorts of trouble. Normally how I end up with a loser boyfriend.

I am a bit disturbed , I now get repeatly asked if I am a prostitute.  Even the sexual health clinic didn't believe me when I said no. And instead of giving a fee complimentary condoms , they gave me a large paper bag full of condoms and lube. So embarrassing.

I got turned down for rehab , with them saying 6 months use with my dodgey ex wasn't considered serious. Although they treating my dodgey ex , which pissed me off no end.  And of course they asked if I was a prostitute.  So someone written that on my records it would seem. It's was so embarrassing to disclose the stupid things I let the ex do to me , and ask for help and be refused. There seems no end to headaches my ex lead me into. Kicking myself so much. Wished I never set eyes on him , or at least had the brains to keep away. I seem to be a total sucker for good looking guys that sweet talk me. All my common sense seems to leave my head

so I am aware of the stigma.  I am bit scare to disclose to everyone apart from my closest friends. Already had one close family member say they don't want to risk any contact with me as I might have an unknown cut. I still have active dating life , so I feel bad not disclosing it. But feel guys would run a mile if they knew. The hep c clinic told me dating and sex was fine. But no rough sex and use protection.

I understand there are vitamins , supplements that help reduce viral load .... can you or anyone explain this.

I was told I could start treatment as soon as genome test is in. Oddly the specialize hep c clinic told me the viral test results weren't in yet and to get back in touch between the 18th and 25th. So I tracked down the results myself and forwarded them to the clinic. I am not a patience person lol Especially with thus type of thing. I like to get it sorted as fast as possible.  I see no reason to wait and risk damage to my liver when good treatment options exist.  So definitely wanting to start treatment as soon as possible.

[Lynn K]

There are a lot of things people take but there is little to no evidence they are effective. Just take care of yourself and eat healthy foods. Viral loads change from day to day. Save your money on supplements is my advice. Healthy diet, exercise and drink enough fluids to be properly hydrated.

Great being proactive with your health. With hep C we have all learned to be that way. It does take decades for hep c to cause liver damage in most cases. I was the same way just wanted the invader gone.

Good luck

[Mugwump]

There are a lot of things people take but there is little to no evidence they are effective. Just take care of yourself and eat healthy foods. Viral loads change from day to day. Save your money on supplements is my advice. Healthy diet, exercise and drink enough fluids to be properly hydrated.

Great being proactive with your health. With hep C we have all learned to be that way. It does take decades for hep c to cause liver damage in most cases. I was the same way just wanted the invader gone.

Good luck

Ditto on that Lynn!

However there is strong well documented evidence that turmeric component in curry powder does have  beneficial effects on bovine livers. Ergo, curry should in theory help human livers.

Rather ironic in my case though, because I do so love a good curried Chinese style beef and veg or curried burger on the barbi or a great butter chicken! Here I go again, the inner chef in me is on point..Perhaps it is because I am posting this while considering what to cook for supper tonight....LOL

Whether or not my penchant for curry in my food and other spices, teas, and fruit peel that have known antioxidant components  has helped me survive longer with HCV over the years is a moot point but it is indeed possible.

But as far as taking food seasoning as supplements goes:
the problem with the snake oil supplements of today lies in the fact that most components that do effect the liver if taken in too heavy a concentration might actually do liver damage!

This is exactly why the snake oil corporations that prey upon those who have diseases like HCV need to be rained in and brought to task about their nebulous "health benefit" claims. Especially the ones that use phrases like "liver cleanse"  or "blood purifier" in their advertising.

Yes eat garlic, curry, and fresh berries and the like. Drink green tea, apple peel tea, rose hip tea and other know antioxidants. If you do then I suspect that you will feel better about your diet and indeed the change in eating habits might help your liver to fight HCV and keep your immune system healthy.

Keeping active both mentally and physically in a positive way is the best thing you can possibly do for yourself. Consider this as the first step in being kind to yourself.

Cheers
Eric

[Lynn K]

Yeah I have read there may be some foods to help with liver damage but nothing to change viral load.

Fortunately the OP was recently infected there should be no liver damage.

[RoxyBlonde]

The clinic has already done liver function test.  They said my liver results were excellent and my liver working perfect.  Which is bit of suprise as I hadn't been very well behaved with my dodgey ex , hence hoe I ended up with this problem.
They expecting genome test results back next week , and they want to to come in next week to discuss starting treatment.  I asked again if I am able to start treatment as soon as tests results are in .... apparently so.
hopefully in 12 or so weeks this nightmare with be over

[Lynn K]

Liver function test is really not an accurate term better called a liver enzyme test which is what is being tested levels of various liver enzymes.

Liver enzymes don’t tell you how much liver damage has occurred having elevated liver enzymes simply means something is injuring your liver. People can have high liver enzymes but no liver damage or people can have normal liver enzymes but serious liver damage. Myself for example I have normal liver enzymes because hep c is no longer injuring my liver but I have had liver cirrhosis for 10 years.

While I was infected with hep can for 37 years my liver enzymes were only just slightly above normal range by just a few points and sometimes even normal.

But with each repeat liver biopsy every 5 years I went from fibrosis 1 (minimal scaring) to F2, F3, and finally F4 which is cirrhosis. The ways to know how much liver damage are either a liver biopsy or we now have less invasive testing. One is a blood test called fibrosure where they can estimate your fibrosis score and the other is called a Fibroscan which is similar to an ultrasound that produces a thump which can gage liver stiffness and thus provide a fibrosis score as well. These tests allow you to avoid the invasive needle biopsy.

That being said hep c takes many years or decades to cause liver damage if it ever does. One estimate is that after 20 years of infection only about 20% of hep c patients will develop liver cirrhosis. It took me 30 years of infection to reach that point.

That is why I said because you were only recently infected you should not have any liver damage. Liver enzyme testing does not tell the complete story.

[RoxyBlonde]

Interesting ...
They have a scan machine at the clinic ... I think it's the fibroscan.
Hoping they do a scan next week.
Just want genome test back and to start treatment.

They offered me a hep a & b vaccination shot ... I am bit skeptical about some vaccinations as they can contain heavy metals eg mercury.  I was reading it's common practice and can sent viral load sky high ....

[Mugwump]

Interesting ...
They have a scan machine at the clinic ... I think it's the fibroscan.
Hoping they do a scan next week.
Just want genome test back and to start treatment.

They offered me a hep a & b vaccination shot ... I am bit skeptical about some vaccinations as they can contain heavy metals eg mercury.  I was reading it's common practice and can sent viral load sky high ....

If they do a fibroscan it can be effected if you eat too much prior to the scan. So for the scan to be accurate you need to fast. I highly doubt that your scan will be in the cirrhosis range. The scan is not accurate at detecting small amounts of liver scar tissue, (which is what cirrhosis is) but it is accurate, (if not effected by a non compliant patient eating too much before the scan), of determining the fibrosity of the deep tissue structures of the liver which is a primary sign of seriously advanced liver damage. Therefore it is only accurate at confirming a cirrhosis diagnosis. For instance my scan was way up at 26 kilo pascals and I did fast before having the scan. But if your scan is down around or even below 7kp with a deep scan density consistently in that range then you have no signs of cirrhosis.

A liver biopsy is much more accurate and with advanced microscopy a skilled and trained rad doctor who specializes in the field can determine the numbers of dead liver cells per area of the liver and thus diagnose the early stages of liver damage leading to cirrhosis.

In 2003 my liver biopsy was determined to be moderate stage 2-3 liver damage or what is termed to be in pre-cirrhosis condition. Or a  fairly advanced state of liver damage. It took another 11 years to progress to confirmed full blow cirrhosis. So this gives a good indication of how quickly the disease progressed in my case. I suspect that I was infected no later than 1970.

As Lynn has already stated the disease progresses differently in everyone so taking care of your state of mind, your diet is the only way to treat HCV other than the cures that have just recently been discovered.

Keep yourself occupied with whatever you love to do, staying informed and active, eating healthy and exercising is the best treatment for life with a chronic HCV infection at least IMO.

Off to study classical gas again and prep it for studio recording....cheers And I truly hope you are cured soon and never have to live for years with the disease hanging over your head the way we did!
Eric
 

[Lynn K]

My biopsy in 2003 was F3 bridging portal fibrosis and my next in 2008 was F4 cirrhosis. My one year post treatment fibroscan was 33 very much in the cirrhosis range. But again I was infected for probably 30 years. Hep c is a very slowly acting virus which for me and others is very fortunate if it was faster affecting the liver I am sure I would not be here.

After I was diagnosed with cirrhosis one of the first things my doctor had me do was get immunized agains hep A and hep B as I could ill afford a second liver specific virus.

The mercury controversy is not scientifically accurate. Reputable scientists the preservative thiomersal used in vaccines is safe to use. The study you may have seen about mercury in vaccines and birth defects was disproven multiple times and eventually the author admitted the study was flawed with falsified results.

But because of the controversies about thiomersal, in an abundance of caution, “Following a mandated review of mercury-containing food and drugs in 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) asked vaccine makers to remove thiomersal from vaccines as quickly as possible as a precautionary measure, and it was rapidly phased out of most U.S. and European vaccines”

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiomersal_controversy

Your vaccine likely does not have thiomersal which even if it does is a safe chemical compound. I have heard nothing about vaccination having an effect on viral load. I tried to look for this and saw nothing about Thimerosal and hep c viral load so not sure where you are seeing this.

Viral load does not relate to severity of illness or difficulty to treat. Viral load can change daily and there is nothing know to effect viral load except these new meds which prevent the virus from reproducing thus curing the viral infection.

Please stay away from this bad science and get vaccinated against Hep A and hep B. Don’t let this false information jeopardize your health.

[Lynn K]

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/thimerosal/index.html

Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative that has been used for decades in the United States in multi-dose vials (vials containing more than one dose) of medicines and vaccines. There is no evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site. However, in July 1999, the Public Health Service agencies, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and vaccine manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated in vaccines as a precautionary measure.

 

Thimerosal contains ethylmercury.
Mercury is a naturally occurring element found in the earth’s crust, air, soil, and water.  Two types of mercury to which people may be exposed — methylmercury and ethylmercury — are very different.

Methylmercury is the type of mercury found in certain kinds of fish. At high exposure levels methylmercury can be toxic to people. In the United States, federal guidelines keep as much methylmercury as possible out of the environment and food, but over a lifetime, everyone is exposed to some methylmercury.

Thimerosal contains ethylmercury, which is cleared from the human body more quickly than methylmercury, and is therefore less likely to cause any harm.

 

Thimerosal prevents the growth of bacteria in vaccines.
Thimerosal is added to vials of vaccine that contain more than one dose (multi-dose vials) to prevent growth of germs, like bacteria and fungi. Introduction of bacteria and fungi has the potential to occur when a syringe needle enters a vial as a vaccine is being prepared for administration. Contamination by germs in a vaccine could cause severe local reactions, serious illness or death. In some vaccines, preservatives, including thimerosal, are added during the manufacturing process to prevent germ growth.

 

The human body eliminates thimerosal easily.
Thimerosal does not stay in the body a long time so it does not build up and reach harmful levels. When thimerosal enters the body, it breaks down to ethylmercury and thiosalicylate, which are readily eliminated.

 

Thimerosal has been shown to be safe when used in vaccines.
Thimerosal use in medical products has a record of being very safe. Data from many studies show no evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines.

 

There are some side effects of thimerosal in vaccines.
The most common side-effects are minor reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site. Although rare, some people may be allergic to thimerosal.

 

Scientific research does not show a connection between thimerosal and autism.
Research does not show any link between thimerosal in vaccines and autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder. Many well conducted studies have concluded that thimerosal in vaccines does not contribute to the development of autism.  Even after thimerosal was removed from almost all childhood vaccines, autism rates continued to increase, which is the opposite of what would be expected if thimerosal caused autism.

 

Thimerosal was taken out of childhood vaccines in the United States in 2001.
Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines do not and never did contain thimerosal. Varicella (chickenpox), inactivated polio (IPV), and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have also never contained thimerosal.
Influenza (flu) vaccines are currently available in both thimerosal-containing (for multi-dose vaccine vials) and thimerosal-free versions.

For a complete list of vaccines and their thimerosal content level, see the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Thimerosal in Vaccines page. This chart[PDF – 182 KB] shows vaccine ingredients sorted by vaccine.

[RoxyBlonde]

Update ....

Met this gorgeous girl ( totally off guys after my last boyfriend ) ,
We hit it off straight away , she ended up moving in 4 days later.
I had fibroscan booked for Monday ... However i was still freaking out about telling my new girlfriend.  I totally freaked out and missed the appointment.
Next I found out I have genome 3 .... meds are not currently subsized for genome 3 ..... arrrgghhh
I took my girlfriend for an outing .... we ended up outside the clinic .... I finally told her , thinking it would be end of our relationship.  She did freak out. I finally got her to calm down and we went into the clinic together. I explained I was sorry about missing my appointment and explained I had freak out due to having new girlfriend and wondering how to disclose .... The staff were lovely .... However my girlfriend was still upset and angry... staff explained to her it was only blood to blood contact that was an issue , sex was fine.  And they would test her to put her mind at ease, and explained in worst case the new treatments can cure hep c in 3 months  .... staff went to rebook my appointment ... my girlfriend still upset and angry .... told staff what time i would be there .... Once outside it was clear she was angry. I explained that my ex boyfriend had used a dirty needle on me without my knowledge.  And that while trying to tell her I had been very careful. I explained I hadn't expected to meet anyone until after treatment and this nightmare was over. I didn't expect to met someone , fall in love and move in .... especially so crazy quickly ....
Although still upset , she said she would still stay with me regardless. 
On the way home the bus driver mistakenly assumed I was her mother .... This was so embarrassing .... However my girlfriend thought this was totally funny, and laughed all the way home .... As I just wanted to sink into the seat in complete embarrassment ....

[Lynn K]

I looked up the currently recommended treatments for GT 3

MAVYRET is a fixed-dose combination product containing glecaprevir 100 mg and pibrentasvir 40 mg which would be taken for 8 weeks at much less cost than Harvoni about a third of what Harvoni costs. It was only approved in the summer of 2017 which may be why it isn’t approved for funding just yet.

Epclusa is sofosbuvir (400 mg)/velpatasvir (100 mg) which would be taken for 12 weeks. It is about the same cost as Harvoni just a little less. It was approved in June 2016.

Hep c is not easily transmitted sexually. The US CDC does not consider it a risk for long term monogamous couples and does not recommend a need for the use of barrier protection for such couples. For people who are have multiple partners or use IV drugs the CDC does recommend the use of protection. There is not much information about transmission between lesbians but for HIV as an example the risk of sexual transmission between WSW (women who have sex with women) is very low. You should use the general household recommendations from the CDC and not share personal items like toothbrushes, fingernail clippers or razors. But risk of household transmission is basically non existent.

Many here are married and their spouse does not have hep c. I have never transmitted hep c to a partner with being infected for 37 years.

Best of luck with getting treatment approval and with your new g/f best of luck to you both.

[RIVERSONG]

Will post as a new topic