hep b dormant

[awaw]

I just found out through a giving blood, as I always have that I have hep b.  I just gave blood a year ago and all was fine. That makes all of us women in the family, back to gma.  We all found out 30-55 years of age.  Is this a conincidence or did we all get it from gma and it layed dormant for years?  Is there a cure for hep b?  What about my husband, kids?  Have not seen a doctor yet.  Very confused and scared.  I have always been so healthy.

[keepintouch62]

Hi, I was just diagnosed today, by a liver specialist. there is most certainly dormant  hepatitis B.

[stevenNYer]

That's very sound advice by Zelly.

[zellyf]

There  is no such thing as dormant hepatitis B.  If there are three generations of women in your family who are infected then I have to suspect that it is a vertical (mother to newborn) transmission.  Typically, when someone is infected as an adult they become very sick and then clear the virus.  When someone is infected in infancy they do not have symptoms and typically never clear the virus...they become chronically infected.

If you indeed have a chronic infection then I don't know why you didn't trip the test when you gave blood.

Of course you are scared, we all were when we first found out.  Then we learn more and we take steps to slow the progression of our disease and we hear stories of people with Hep B dying in their 80s of things like old age and we realize that there is a lot of hope.  You are actually VERY lucky to learn that you have it.  Knowledge is power.

First: Your husband and children need to be tested at once.  If they are negative they need to begin the vaccination series.  Take precautions in the meantime.  No sharing toothbrushes or razors.  Protected intercourse.  Kisses and hugs should be given liberally and with abandon. You will not infect anyone in your family that way.

Second:  Find out where you are in the disease.  Have your liver enzymes and viral load checked.  Check your e-antigen status.  Consider a complete blood count and an AFP.  

Third: Educate yourself.  Read the archives here.  Go to www.hepb.org for more info.

Four:  DO NOT PANIC. There is lots of life with Hep B if you monitor your disease regularly and religiously.  There are treatments, even though there is no cure at this time and sometimes you can go your whole life w/o needing any treatment.

Five:  Do not panic but do not take this lightly.  By that I mean, don't skip any of these steps thinking that because you feel good you are okay.  With chronic Hep B, by the time you feel bad you are in bad shape.  A lot of damage can be happening to the liver without you feeling anything.  

I hope you post again to update us.