Aa
Can someone please shed some light. My husband has Hep c currently-
I am about to have hip surgery and the surgeon ran a series of tests including HCV antibody Hep C viral AB. It came out very positive stating it was high. So I went to my primary care who had tested me a year and a half ago because my husband has active Hep C and I tested negative for anti body's and quantitative in 2012. Now April 2014 I test positive for the antibody so he runs another test antibody and quantitatively and they are all negative. How can that be that I have the antibodies and 2 weeks later I don't? I am at high risk living with my husband who has Hep C so a false positive usually happens to people at low risk? The only discrepancy I see in the 2 labs is the positive one was collected and reported the next day and the subsequent negative ones were collected and reported 5 days later. Any pearls of wisdom? I don't feel confident at all with such varying results in the span of 2 weeks and being at high risk.
I am about to have hip surgery and the surgeon ran a series of tests including HCV antibody Hep C viral AB. It came out very positive stating it was high. So I went to my primary care who had tested me a year and a half ago because my husband has active Hep C and I tested negative for anti body's and quantitative in 2012. Now April 2014 I test positive for the antibody so he runs another test antibody and quantitatively and they are all negative. How can that be that I have the antibodies and 2 weeks later I don't? I am at high risk living with my husband who has Hep C so a false positive usually happens to people at low risk? The only discrepancy I see in the 2 labs is the positive one was collected and reported the next day and the subsequent negative ones were collected and reported 5 days later. Any pearls of wisdom? I don't feel confident at all with such varying results in the span of 2 weeks and being at high risk.
A gastro does not have the experience and training of a hepatologist ( a liver specialist). You definitely need a hepatologist to see you.
Hep C destroyed my liver. I had a transplant and did hep C treatment. Now I'm healthy and happy. Don't give up hope !!
Once you have advanced cirrhosis, it's hard to do interferon treatment successfully but there are new meds available and I can't speak of their effectiveness with a person in your condition. This is one reason why you need a very good hepatologist.
If you need help finding a doctor in your area you could check out the following link :
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Who-is-your-good-doctor-/show/1715783
You are not alone! Far from it. Sadly many people are in, or have been in, the same situation as you. This forum is here to help as are several others on the net. Inform yourself ! Do searches but first, get a new doctor !!!
Hep C destroyed my liver. I had a transplant and did hep C treatment. Now I'm healthy and happy. Don't give up hope !!
Once you have advanced cirrhosis, it's hard to do interferon treatment successfully but there are new meds available and I can't speak of their effectiveness with a person in your condition. This is one reason why you need a very good hepatologist.
If you need help finding a doctor in your area you could check out the following link :
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Who-is-your-good-doctor-/show/1715783
You are not alone! Far from it. Sadly many people are in, or have been in, the same situation as you. This forum is here to help as are several others on the net. Inform yourself ! Do searches but first, get a new doctor !!!
thank you so so much. I'm kinda alone in this, so you have really helped. I feel a little hopeful for the first time in a while. I'd put a smiley face but, don't know how. thanks donna
Hi love
Hang in there! Your MELD score is a composite of lab tests bilirubin creatinine and INR here is a calculator you will have to copy and paste the link
http://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/model-end-stage-liver-disease/meld-model-unos-modification
What meld score means
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_for_End-Stage_Liver_Disease
Yes treating the virus can stop progression of liver damage but you already have cirrhosis so that is your greatest health problem now. You can get a transplant with hep c it is helpful to clear the virus prior to transplant if you can but not required.
Yes the wait time can be long depending on the severity of you liver disease which is how the MELD score is used to grade patients for most ill are higher on the list also your blood type will also have an effect on your wait time.
You really need to get to the UW liver transplant department to see a hepatologist and not a gastroenterologist if at all possible. You may qualify for Social Security Disability which will help. Also they have drug trials at UW that could get you the new meds at no cost as well as the testing they would do to determine your eligibility for treatment and to monitor on treatment.
Good luck keep reading on the site you will learn a lot here don't give up many here have been very very sick and were able to get a transplant and a second life.
Lynn
Hang in there! Your MELD score is a composite of lab tests bilirubin creatinine and INR here is a calculator you will have to copy and paste the link
http://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/model-end-stage-liver-disease/meld-model-unos-modification
What meld score means
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_for_End-Stage_Liver_Disease
Yes treating the virus can stop progression of liver damage but you already have cirrhosis so that is your greatest health problem now. You can get a transplant with hep c it is helpful to clear the virus prior to transplant if you can but not required.
Yes the wait time can be long depending on the severity of you liver disease which is how the MELD score is used to grade patients for most ill are higher on the list also your blood type will also have an effect on your wait time.
You really need to get to the UW liver transplant department to see a hepatologist and not a gastroenterologist if at all possible. You may qualify for Social Security Disability which will help. Also they have drug trials at UW that could get you the new meds at no cost as well as the testing they would do to determine your eligibility for treatment and to monitor on treatment.
Good luck keep reading on the site you will learn a lot here don't give up many here have been very very sick and were able to get a transplant and a second life.
Lynn
thank you for your help. i'll do all those things tests I mean and try the others. I'm very new to computers,so please excuse mistakes. I'm on state med so I'm fighting an uphill battle.with medical things. no one around me knows anything about these things and I'm trying to learn. thank you very mugh again.
I'm getting a new gastroenterologist. the last one refused treatment. because she didn't think I needed it. not using drugs now but have in the past. the only thing I know is, type 1a , bilirubin 2.2 just jumped in 3 weeks from 1.2, and stage 2 biopsy 3 years ago. I had a car accident 3.5 years a go and smashed my pancrese and liver.. I got diabeties 2 wks after accident. and the other stuff I said. however I feel rather good. . I guess if I have to die I'd rather feel good until that day. however I don't want that. don't transplants take forever to get? how does all that work? I thought treatment would help stop progression and get transplant? I'm crying now I'm screwed huh?
take a long time? I th
take a long time? I th
Are you being seen by a hepatologist at a liver transplant center. Please get a referral to the UW liver transplant department ASAP if you are not seeing them. I go to Swedish hospital liver transplant department. It sounds like the hepatitis c is not as important right now as your cirrhosis. If you have ESLD the only thing you can do is get on the liver transplant list.
Not sure why they have you in hospice. Are you otherwise healthy? I hope you are not a using illegal drugs or drinking. If you are that would make you ineligible to receive a liver transplant. Do you know your meld score? Are you being screened for liver cancer?
Please let us know more so we can try to provide more information
Good luck
Lynn
Not sure why they have you in hospice. Are you otherwise healthy? I hope you are not a using illegal drugs or drinking. If you are that would make you ineligible to receive a liver transplant. Do you know your meld score? Are you being screened for liver cancer?
Please let us know more so we can try to provide more information
Good luck
Lynn
I had a well 3 gastric bleeds and the third was a failure of tips procedure. I have been refered to a different doc for treatment of the hep. but they say I have cirrhosis and now on hospice. but I feel great. I'm scared. my daughter just had my frist grandchild. a girl and I'm not ready to give up.
Hi Love
Welcome to the forum.
I read your profile you said "I have hep c 1a.they say I'm gonna die soon."
Who said this and why?
Many of us here on th eforum have had hep C for many years and there are new treatments recently available that have been having great success treating Hepatitis C.
Please let us know more about your situation so we can hopefully answer your questions.
Hi from Auburn WA
Lynn
Welcome to the forum.
I read your profile you said "I have hep c 1a.they say I'm gonna die soon."
Who said this and why?
Many of us here on th eforum have had hep C for many years and there are new treatments recently available that have been having great success treating Hepatitis C.
Please let us know more about your situation so we can hopefully answer your questions.
Hi from Auburn WA
Lynn
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