Length of Time Without a Diagnosis

[Tom_B]

Is it possible that I contracted Hepatitis C in 1976, and was never diagnosed until 2005 ?

[pjhep80]

yes im pretty sure it can be detected about 4-6 months after infection

the reason so many of us did not get detected for so long is because most of us had no idea we even had it, there are relativly no symptoms until you becom cirrotic...

,

[PennieLane]

All of these stories worry me, have the tests improved since then?  Would an infection from an exposure one year ago show up on the tests that are ran today in doctors offices??

[pjhep80]

im 99% sure i got it between 1980-1984 iv drug use, i was diagnosed in 2003 (i think? i dont remember have to pull out the records)... routine physical exam and blood work showed eleveated enzymes so i told my doctor ohhhh yea well i bet i have hep c and yes i did... no side effects at all but i knew i had it, right around that time i had alot of friends finding out they had it also...

[kittyface]

Hi Trinity, here's a little prayer for you.  Hang in there.  Some moments are tough but they pass.  Keep your eye on the prize.

Best regards,

Kittyface

[Trinity4]

I had a blood transfusion in 1972 after an accident.  Married and 2 children. (Neither have tested positive)  Had several operations as well as routine check ups and I was never diagnosed.  I developed PCT last fall and my dermo suggested I have a test for HCV because porphyria is associated with HCV.  Never had any symptoms or discomfort or so much as a twinge.   35 years later and I got the dreaded dx.  If I had known years ago I feel sure my liver disease wouldn't be stage 3 now.  I start tx tomorrow.   Say a little prayer for me.
Good Luck
Trinity

[toughluck]

Believe I contracted in 1979 from a tattoo, reason being is the other 2 people I was with also have HCV.

[nygirl7]

Yup agree with the guys above it's very very plausible to believe you just didn't know you had it - most of us didn't and only found out much, much later and found out by mistake.

[Severance]

Testing didn't start in N.Z till late 1989 /90.
I tested positive mid 1991. Pretty sure I got it in 85.
They say 75% of folk infected don't know they have it.
With those kind of numbers, as copyman says. It's unfortunate that it's not part of routine blood workups.

[burned74]

I think I got it in 1974.

I had blood tests in 1989, 1990 and 1991. All were negative for HCV but high liver enzymes in every one.

Funny thing is that an accurate blood test for HCV was not developed until late 1992.

I tested again in 2004 and found out I was HCV positive.

This sort of thing is not uncommon at all

[copyman]

yes very possible. most people do not find out until 20 or 30 years later. HCV was not even discovered until the late 80's early 90's if i'm not mistaken.  if you do not donate blood and just have regular visits to doctor then you may never know until you start to show symptoms. unfortunately hepatitis testing is not done as part of a routine blood workup.