hep c symptoms

[wealth0health14]

hello everyone!!I just want to ask you all about hep c. I am worried that me and the rest of my family( husband and 2 young kids) have it. i work in nursing home and there was a case of hep c.I have been there now for 16 months.. and after five months of working there I noticed that my pee has changed into dark yellow, sometimes fellow greenish,  and I went to GP and get blood test for about 3 time and the result was negative. Last test was just last december. I had kidney and liver function test all normal. my since then my pee and rest of my family never change ... always dark yellow and greenish. we all itch especially me in my chest area. So, my question is, IS IT POSSIBLE WE HAVE HEP C AND NOT DETECTED? HOW LONG DOES IT SHOW UP IN THE TEST? PLEASE HELP THANK YOU

[wealth0health14]

I was on NEXIUM HP7  or H7 .. its a combo pack..but that was five months ago already. With eating the same colourful food I think that make sense to me as we eat carrots, pumpkin everyday. Thank you all.

[AWorriedMom]

I totally agree with Flyinglynn. What antibiotic are you on? You can google it plus color of urine and see what you find.

[flyinlynn]

Medications can affect urine color also eating a lot of the same colorful food can as well. My friend got on a carrot juice kick for a while drank enough that her skin color changes a bit but it went away after she stopped drinking carrot juice.

[wealth0health14]

thank you for your comments everyone. We are a family that try to eat healthy diet. We don't drink any soda at all,no iced tea drinks,.. We only have water some freshly squezzed orange juice or any fruit juice that i make. This is why i couldnt work out as I get tested for Urine, full blood count, hep c antibody as we are all vaccinated for hep a and hep b. Its been a year that  we have this urine colour  and doesn't change into clear even we consume more than 2 litres a day.  I was diagnosed with helicobacter Pylori, as well as my 5 year old daughter and we assume that my husband and son have as well. I took the medication but our doctor won't treat my children as the side effects are too strong. COULD THIS AFFECT OUR URINE COLOUR?

[AWorriedMom]

Yu got great advice here. Dark yellow urine means it is very concentrated and that comes from not stayng well-hydrated. Also, the dark urine from liver disease is NOT dark yellow. It looks like coca-cola or very dark tea.

Working in a nursing home does NOT make you at risk for hepatitis C unless you were stuck with a needle that was used on a hep C positive person. And even then, you would have only a 2% chance of getting the virus.  It is a blood to blood transmission.

If I were you I would take a urine specimen to be checked for an infection. As for the itching, have you changed laundry detergent or have you changed any product that you are  using? Itching from liver disease usually comes late in the disease when bilirubin levels are elevated.

[patra_]

Hi, Just wanted to say I agree with Dee -- especially in this day and age of fast foods, too much to do, etc., many people just grab fast food and a soda.m There are people who never drink water (my Husband used to be like that).  My point is, sodas, coffee, ied tea, kool-aid, etc is/are (?) NOT water and too many people drink those but no water.

Please see to it that you all drink more water -- or start drinking water if you're not.  That will make a difference.

If you are drinking enough water, then I recommend you ask your Dr to order a urine specimen be tested.

Good luck.  Pat

[Livelife777]

A high Bilirubin count would cause you to itch and have dark yellow urine, although you said that your liver function tests were all normal.  Your entire family is experiencing this dilemma as well.  You have also been tested for UTIs and that comes back normal as well.  Hmmm
It is so unlikely that your entire family would be infected by Hep C only because a patient at work has the virus.  This is a very difficult virus to transmit as its blood to blood contact.
Have you recently moved to a new environment?  Have you changed what water your drinking in the home?  Could you have introduced a foreign food or liquid that your family is allergic to?
I'm not an MD, but with the Hep C virus, it typically takes years after exposure to experience the symptoms you have described.  I'm sure your baffled as well, and personally I wish I could give you some answers.  I do know that certain food allergies do cause these symptoms.
Would suggest to continue to follow up with your Dr.  Doubt its Hep C.  Hope that you get to the bottom of this mystery.  If it were only you we could find some answers, but an entire family?????  
Let us know what you find out.
Thanks and Good Luck
.......Kim

[Dee1956]

Hi Lynn gave you a great answer.  I just wanted to add that you may want to drink more water.
Take Care

[flyinlynn]

A six month hepatitis c antibody test is definitive.

Hep C is not easy to catch it is not spread by casual contact. It is spread by blood to blood contact only.

From the CDC

What are ways Hepatitis C is not spread?
Hepatitis C virus is not spread by sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing. It is also not spread through food or water.

Here is the link

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/c/cfaq.htm