Hep C symptoms

[Ecofreak2016]

Can anyone tell me what the symptoms are and when so they start. I had a possible exposure 11 weeks ago and tested negative at 2 weeks. Being feeling tired and little itching all over that comes and goes. Not sure if it's related to hep C. Sometimes also get mild fever that lasts for maybe an hour or so.

[Ecofreak2016]

No blood to blood

[flyinlynn]

actually the antibody test is definitive at 6 months. if you want to know sooner you would need the test for the virus but that costs a lot more.

However if you did not have a blood to blood contact you are likely not infected hep c is not that easy to catch

[Ecofreak2016]

Hi Lynn. I tested negative with the antibody test after 2 weeks possible exposure, I don't know if that is too short a time to get tested. My doctor advised that I wouldn't need further testing but there is so much information on the Internet with some saying that 12 weeks is the best time to get tested and others 2 weeks. I live in South Africa so we use the same tests as used in the UK.

[flyinlynn]

If you test positive for antibodies to hep c and that test is positive you then will be tested for the hep c virus itself with the HCV RNA by PCR test or similar.

If you test positive for the virus you will then know your viral load and will need to be tested for your genotype of hep c examples are genotype 1a, 1b,2a. 2b etc there are I believe 16 genotypes which have different treatments.

If you have the correct genotype to use Harvoni a one pill a day medicine that is taken for either 8, 12 or 24 weeks and cures hep c about 98% of the time.

If Harvoni is not recommended for your genotype there are other medicines that also have great cure rates.

However first things first which is to determine if you have hep c. Hep c is not very easily transmitted it requires the blood of an infected person to enter your blood stream or blood to blood contact.

I was infected for 37 years and had no symptoms until I developed liver cirrhosis after 30 years of being infected. Had I not donated blood I would have never known I had hep c.

Good luck
Lynn

[Ecofreak2016]

Is there a cure?

[Dee1956]

I had for close to 30 years before I had symptoms.  Some people don't get sick right away. I had a friend who contracted back in 70's before they knew there was a Hep c. He got sick, turned yellow eyes yellow, urine like tea, feces white.docs think because of his strong reaction hisbody fought it off. He tests positive for exposure but no viral load or Geno type everyone is different
Good luck, Dee

[Ecofreak2016]

Even at 2 weeks post exposure?

[darbara]

I have had Hepc for 10-15 years and just recently have had some symptoms, Read up on Hep c

[darbara]

If u tested negative then these are not Hep c related as yet.