Could it be hepatitis?

[worried1988]

Hello everyone. On June 18 of this year I met a girl online and went to her house for a hook up..... like an idiot I know. We did not have sex but just french kissed and I fingered her and she gave me unprotected oral until completion. After about a week or so I felt kinda fatigued but didn't really think anything of it but then started getting headaches and so on and so fourth. After a month I went and got tested at my local Clinton for HIV, Syphilis, gonnorhea, and chlamydia. All negative. After that I began to have daily diarrhea and stomach upsets. Lost a lot of weight. Muscle soreness. Joint pain. Itchiness. Fatigue and just a slew of symptoms that at the time I thought was HIV so I was freaking out. Got tested again for HIV and syphilis at 12 weeks and all was negative so I know it wasn't any of those. My doctor did a full blood test and said everything looked good. I still had diarrhea and upset stomach as well as joint pain and muscle aches that had lasted about 2 months so I was worried. At almost 15 weeks after the incedint I went and got tested at labcorp for a full hepatitis panel everything was negative and my hep c was <0.1 which as far as I understood was negative. I also had another cbc done and everything was good regarding my AST, ALT etc. I guess my question is what do you guys think about my risk and symptoms and also how much faith should I put into my hepatitis test at almost 15 weeks post exposure. The window period for hepatitis b and c seems to be widely debated. I thought the HIV window period was debated...... hepatitis is much worse. Thank you in advance for any and all help.

[Lynn K]

Your hep c antibody blood test conclusively shows you do not have hep c.

Just to add the majority of people who contract hep c have no symptoms and the symptoms you describe are not what the very few people who do have symptoms after contracting hep c may rarely experience.

If you continue having issues return to your doctor for assistance.

As you have been already advised you do not have hep c so this is not what is causing your problems.

"my question is what do you guys think about my risk and symptoms and also how much faith should I put into my hepatitis test at almost 15 weeks post exposure."

Your risk is near zero hep c requires blood to blood contact. Hep c blood must enter your blood stream through broken skin through i.e. an open wet weeping wound.

Your symptoms are not related.

You should believe your blood test results for hep c

[worried1988]

thank you Lynn, everything I have researched has shown me that my chances were extremely low of contracting HCV in the first place based on my exposure, also that I should have faith in my results. the issue I had was that I felt like my doc just neverminded the whole thing as if it wasn't even possible. im curious as to why there are still people saying that the test is not conclusive until 6 months post exposure? and why isn't hep A,B, and C part of routine STD testing. seems like hepatitis doesn't get the funding or attention needed.

[Lynn K]

Well as far as the 6 months. It can take up to 6 months in those with compromised immune systems like say someone already infected with HIV for example, to develop sufficient antibodies to be detectable on the hep c antibody test. For those with normal immune systems results are conclusive at 12 weeks for the antibody hep c test.

Hep c is not considered to be an STD in general. If you have multiple sex partners, in the presence of hiv or if you engage in rough sexual practices than could involve the risk of blood being exchanged like BDSM or blood sports then the risk is increased. For those who have a monogamous relationship and typical sexual behaviors the CDC does not even suggest the use of barrier protection.

We have many here where one spouse or partner has Hep C and the other does not it is rare in those circumstances to have a risk of transmission.

I believe your doctor behaved as you described because in fact your "risk" is essentially zero which is why he was dismissive of your question.

To the best of my knowledge hep A is basically food or waterborne like drinking from a contaminated source that the risk is from ingesting fecal material it is an oral route of transmission. Or when a food handler neglects to wash their hands before returning to work.

As far a hep B it can be sexually transmitted as can many other illnesses like  syphilis, gonorrhea and HIV. This is why if one is wise they should always use barrier protection to including when practicing oral sex. Remember when you have relations with someone you are effectively having sex with everyone they have ever had sex with.

Congrats on not having hep c and be careful out there