Hepatitis C with Thyroid & or Epstein Barr co-infection

[Pepperann]

Well dang,
I successfully completed a 12 week treatment of Epclusa for genotype 3c february 2017. I have been dealing with up and down fatigue for the last 10 years. I have a lot of energy naturally so it was hard to differentiate the hep c, menopause, (58 yr old female)etc., and I decided after having issues with the thyroid to try and get to the bottom of why after having perfect numbers with the liver why I was feeling like shxx.
After reading that Epstein Barr can be the root problem for thyroid issues I decided to get tested for Lyme's disease and Epstein Barr. Well not only were my numbers off the chart for epstein barr but I tested high for the hepatitis c antibody. I am taking valacyclovir 3x a day for 60 days. I am writing because I think anyone that is going into treatment for hepatitis C should also be screened for Epstein Barr & Lymes disease. 90-95% people carry the virus due to mononucleosis the kissing virus you got back in school. I never had mono but did have strep throat. (same thing).
Does anyone else have experience with this? My Naturopathic Dr which works East & Western Med. will test me for hep c in 30 days due to the reactivated Epstein Barr can cause false readings for Hep C & or H.I.V.

[Lynn K]

Sorry about your health issues that sounds rough

Just wanted to add that anyone who has had hep c in the past even if cured will always test positive for hepatitis C antibodies. They are not the virus antibodies are your bodies defense mechanism they are made by your own body when trying to fight an invading virus.

We will always and forever test positive for hepatitis c antibodies as long as we don’t test positive for the virus on the HCV RNA by PCR test we are still free of the virus. There is no reason to have hep c antibody testing done the result is known.

The only thing that would cause a detected result on the HCV RNA test to have a viral load would be a post treatment relapse, which is very rare, or a whole new infection.

[Pepperann]

Hi Lynn,
My HCV Antibody Hep C Virus Ab came out >11.0 High s/co ratio 0.0-0.9
Negative is <0.8 Do you know what that might mean?
Thank you

[Lynn K]

That means that you either now have or previously had hepatitis c in the past. Everyone who was ever infected with hepatitis c will test positive for hepatitis c antibodies for the rest of their life. We will always test positive for hep c antibodies forever there is no reason for you to have a hep c antibody test the result will always be positive.

Since you have treated and been cured that would mean you were infected with hepatitis c in the past.

I assume you had a HCV RNA by PCR (viral load) test at least 12 weeks after finishing treatment to confirm the virus was successfully eridicated to know you are cured.

[Pepperann]

Hi Lynn,
Yes I was negative 1 year later, but tested 11.0 positive high for antibodies this last week with the epstein barr raging. Could the antibodies test high for hep C but I   would still be negative for viral load and infection? it would not be from reinfection from blood transfusion etc. No risky behavior.

[Lynn K]

All of us who were ever infected with hepatitis c will test positive for hepatitis c antibodies because we were once infected in the past. Antibodies are made by our own bodies in response to infection. Antibodies are a part of our own immune systems. They are not the virus and cannot prove you are currently infected with hep c the only way to know if you have an infection with the hepatitis c virus is to have the HCV RNA test.

Just like if you were immunized against the measles or ever were infected with the measles virus you will have measles antibodies this is how vaccines work and how our immune system protects us from future infection.

Unfortunately hepatitis c antibodies are not able to successfully beat the hep c virus otherwise we would have a vaccine for hep c but we are not there yet.

Yes we all unless reinfected will test positive for hep c antibodies forever but will test negative for the virus on the HCV RNA by PCR the viral load test. So if you had a reason to be worried you could have a risk for reinfectuon the only way to know is a HCV RNA test because we will always test positive for hepatitis C antibodies there is no way to change this.