Testing questions

[Amber98]

Hi there, I'm just looking for advice and information so please don't be upset that I'm asking these questions before a diagnosis.

I had a Hep C scare about 3 years ago. I got my nails done at an unsanitary nail salon and they got infected.

Days after I had an unrelated ultra sound that showed some issue with my liver, I think it was fatty liver.
My doctor suggested I get a liver panel and a Hep test due to the nail salon. It was probably a month after the nail incident that I got a full Hep test and everything was fine.

I left things alone from then on but I have a strange symptom. Every time I take medication, like I took one regular strength Advil about 10 minutes ago for stomach pain, I become extremely itchy. Especially under my chest on the right side.

I don't know whether I should be worried about Hep C again or some other liver issue. Was my test one month after the incident sufficient? I am a healthy and active 21 year old female. Does anyone suggest I have testing done, and if so, what kind of testing?

Also, I don't have a family doctor. I can go to a walk-in-clinic, but I don't know exactly what to say to the doctor.

Thank you in advance!

[Amber98]

Thank you everybody for the quick advice! I will certainly request for the hep c antibody test. Will post when I have the results,


Thanks so much!

[SusieS2010]

I doubt very much that you got hep C from the nail exposure and had it show up with a problem identified on an ultrasound so quickly. A test at one month post exposure is not sufficient. Most people will test antibody positive by 3 months unless they have HIV or some other disease that suppresses their immune systems. Then it could take 6 months to come back positive. At this point you should have a hepatitis C antibody test. If that is positive you should ask for a viral load test (HCV/RNA by PCR).

A fatty liver can certainly cause an elevation in liver enzymes. Losing weight and keeping cholesterol at a good level can help a lot with control of the fat in the liver. Good luck and get tested again.

[willbb]

   If you are worried about having contracted HCV, Anne is correct that you need to be tested for it by a specific test. Your liver enzymes being elevated can be caused by many things ,fatty liver(NAFLD ) being one condition that could be the cause.

  Taking medication and then becoming itchy soon afterward is not a symptom of HCV,however many medications can sometimes have that effect.

The risk of contracting HCV from the event 3 years ago in the salon is low,being that the blood from an infected person would have had to enter your blood stream,however a test is the only way to know for certain.

f you don"t have a doctor ,go to the clinic,as you mentioned and tell them you would like a  specific test for HCV ,as you feel you may have at one time been exposed.

Good Luck ...

WILL

[Anne1717]

Hi Amber
The Liver Function Tests will not tell you if you have Hepatitis.  You need another test called an HCV RNA PCR  to detect for the virus.  Just tell the doctor what you wrote to us about the salon and any symptoms you might have, although people with chronic hepatitis don't really exhibit symptoms until much later on in the disease.

Good luck to you and don't worry !!!

[Amber98]

Thanks,

Actually I remember doing a blood test when my ultra sound showed the fatty liver.

It was found that I had elevated Liver enzymes. The doctor said to just cut down on fatty foods..this was 3 years ago so I guess I can re-test but what does one do after the liver function test?

[Fnzol]

Tell him/her about the itchy issue.

And ask for a liver function test.