30 years, no symptoms? Or other route of infection?

[EagleHepType2]

Hi there,

I was recently diagnosed with Hep C, genotype 2. The only reason I was tested was because during a routine post-breakup STD check I specifically asked after living with a Hep C positive roommate some years ago and reading online that his cured itself on its own.

I don't know how I got this. Via my roommate? Not too likely, right?
Here's the thing, I was born in 1983 in D.C. and had a total blood transfusion within 24 hours of being born.

I've never been tested for Hep C before, at least that I or my parents are aware of, and I've never given blood before. I don't use drugs or engage in any risky sex. I did do oral sex on a girl during her period several years ago. But always used condoms during sex except for the most recent girlfriend (we used an IUD).

All blood tests and liver tests and scans show perfectly normal health. No symptoms. Even after typical college and grad school drinking.

Is it normal to go 32 years without any kind of liver damage from Hep C? Or is it more likely that I got this somehow from my old roommate?

I ask not because of blame, but because I'd like to know if I'm a ticking time bomb or not. It appears that the only treatment for type 2 right now still uses ribavirin and I'd rather not take that since I live in a rather isolated place and don't have the kind of support network that I did previously at home, just in case the side effects are severe. So waiting for a non-ribavirin treatment would be best, but not if that means that I'd have to wait for my liver to start deteriorating.

[Scoutdoy]

Hey Eagle, what your experiencing is very typical. I was infected approx 1985 and showed no symptoms, had perfect health numbers and NEVER would have thought this would be something I would have. It was a routine exam for life insurance that came back positive in 2007.  I never did drugs and didn't live high risk lifestyle but I was in military and got a tattoo while serving. It's really irrelevant though. Now 8 years later I still have good liver numbers and liver biopsy was an f-0. My point is....one can have this disease for 30+ years like myself and have no damage, but others do. Each person is different, but  typically it's a slow progressing disease. There are cures now available, and my personal thought is if you can get treatment,,,,do it. Yes it can be difficult, and you may or may not suffer side effects. But getting rid of this beast before it causes permanent damage is the key I believe. Get a good hep doctor and see what your options are. Luckily 2015 is not like 1995 when so many people went through dreadful treatments, and many didn't work. Technology is kicking ass for hepatitis patients and just because you have hepatitis doesn't mean it's a death sentence. Good luck to you,,,,and it will be ok. You'll make it through this

Scout

[Onefluover]

Welcome to the forum, Eagle. Sorry you had to have a transfusion at birth. Prior to 1992 the blood supply was rife with Hep C as there was no economically viable way to test for it. In my opinion the chances are high that this is when you aquired it. Most people go 20, 30, even 40 years without much or any noticeable symptoms, though damage is certainly being done beneath the surface so to speak.

The oral sex thing may also have been the point of entry. Less likely than the transfusion but certainly the risk is there. Our gums and insides of our mouths are always open to viral infection. Brushing our teeth, eating a potato chip easily cause micro scratches and that may be all it needs to enter.

Studies have shown that male to female receptive sex with the male being HCV positive, over many years resulted in only 3 to 5% infection rate for the female and it is not known whether she got infected from some other route.

You have the second rarest genotype in the US. I am currently trying to research any potential patterns on genotype. It is my belief that genotype may hold some clues as to how that infection occurred in those of us who cannot point to an obvious source. For instance, I have GT3. Only one in ten Americans with Hep C have GT3. Whereas in Europe about 50% have GT3.

I suspect that I was infected by my Hep B vaccine. The manufacturer of my vaccine, Nabi Biologicals, (now defunct), was a European company. Did the plasma that my vaccine was manufactured from come from a European doner blood suply? I have not been able to confirm this as yet. I already know that some of the Hep B vaccines were in fact tainted with HCV. If there were zero risk of a Hep C positive persons plasma sneaking into the Hep B vaccine they were making out of that persons blood then that person should have no reason to be banned for life from donating.

But you have come to the best place to learn about what you have. There are many true experts here who know far more than I do about this subject and I'm sure will soon chime in. I wish you well in your quest for knowledge.

Oneflu

[KimInTheForest]

Hi Eagle, and welcome to the forums!

Regarding treatment options available for Genotype 2, there are now 2 options available:

1. Solvaldi+ribavirin for 12 weeks

OR…

2. Sovaldi+Daklinza for 12 weeks

Here is a good chart showing all of the approved treatments for all the genotypes:
http://www.hepmag.com/articles/2512_18756.shtml

Depending on who your insurer is, you may have to make a case for why you need to avoid ribavirin and have the Daklinza instead - e.g., a prior history of depression, bipolar, anxiety, PTSD, anemia (any of which could potentially be re-initiated or worsened by ribavirin).

At least the cure is here now for us.

best,
kim