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All the symptoms of hepatitis but negative hep results

I am a white male aged 34, Not overweight and gym 4 times a week and very healthy.  I went to my local doctor after experiencing Heartburn, headache, nausea, discolored urine and yellow coloration of the Eyes.  A simple urine test detected High Levels of bilirubin was detected in my urine.

Blood samples were taken and virtually all my liver enzymes were found to be very high particularly my ALT and AST levels were 905 and 1105 (I believe the normal range is between  20 and 40.) I was immediately hospitalized for further testing.

I was tested form Hepatitis A,B and C – all were negative (tests were redone and confirmed).  I was tested for Bilharzia , malaria and Auto Immune Hepatitis , all came back negative. When testing my Iron levels, Ferritin test reported a level of over 6000 and a saturation of 85% - extremely high and more blood was taken to test for genetic haemochromatosis ( I am still waiting for the test results).

I am a social drinker and smoke about 15 cigarettes a day.  I have never used recreational drugs (coke, Acid, E, heroin etc) I eat relatively well, mixed diet including vegetables and fruit.  

A liver Biopsy was done and reported that the damage was being caused by chronic severe hepatitis. There was not huge damage caused by either the Iron levels or Alcohol. In hospital my ASL and ALT levels fluctuated slightly and remained high.  I was discharged 3 days ago after spending 6 days in hospital. On discharge my Liver enzymes were still just as high but I was no longer jaundiced (I assume from not drinking any alcohol or smoking during my stay)

All the doctors I have seen do not know where to turn; They have put me on Lipitol and a strict low fat no alcohol diet and are hoping for the best.  I have discontinued the use of my multivitamin, Gym supplements (creatine, fat burners etc) What are we missing what else can I do?
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Avatar universal
With alt/ast at the 1,000 level, there is definitely something wrong with your liver.  Could you make an appt with a hepatologist (liver specialist)?  Don't delay on this.  

I wish you well, Jordan.  
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Avatar universal
Before 15 monts, and i did tests for hep. B and C but all of them where negativ, and i also feal pain in the liver, and somethimes  i feal like iching in that place of stomach
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Avatar universal
hello Dilly,

i have very similar case but numbers are not as high as yours. My numbers have been mildly high for 16 years (ALT, Serum Ferritin, ALP, and sometimes AST) Ultrasound showed at the very least Hepatic Steatosis. biopsy will show if it is the more serious Steatohepatitis. In my case I lift weights, dont drink ever, and dont smoke, athletic build (not overweight). doctors now checking for autoimmune disorder by testing anti-nuclear antibodies. Will find results tomorrow. Did they not perform a liver ultrasound on you? will show if their is any fatty infiltration and lesions implying fibrosis, but only biopsy can prove hepatitis of this nature. Also Hep A, B, C results would be negative. This is basically the non-alcholic version of Alcoholic liver disease.
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Avatar universal
A tattoo with UNsterilized equipment is a risk factor for hepatitis.  How long ago?
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Avatar universal
I have been doing a bit of research into this subject myself as I also have inexplicable hepatitis symptoms (though not as acute as yours) and it sounds to me in your case that haemochromatosis is the most likely diagnosis.  If it is, most of the symptoms can be rectified and the prognosis is good.  

I do hope you get a result soon - please post here and let us know.
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Avatar universal
For risk factor i presume the tatoing with unsterilized equipment
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Avatar universal
For sure, you have all the classic symptoms of hepatitis.  And there is definitely something wrong with your liver.  Ast and alt at your level is a red flag.

Do you have a risk factor for hepatitis?  Hep B is a classic Std (just like Hiv).  Hep C is not considered a Std.  Hep c is a blood borne virus, transmitted mainly by blood transfusion and drug use.

Do you have any of these risk factors?  high risk sex/transfusion/Idu?  Be honest with yourself and let us know.  No one will judge you for this.  We all just try to help each other.
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Avatar universal
Do you have a risk factor for hepatitis?  Specifically, blood transfusion before 1992 or so, or intravenous drug use.  These are the two 'easiest' ways to transmit hepatitis c.  sexual transmission is possible but not likely.

Hepatitis b, on the other hand is a classic Std, along with Hiv.  Be honest about yoour risk factors.

you may want to have a Pcr, qualitative, test for Hcv.  Normally, pcr will detect the virus before the screening test picks up the antibody.

Ask your doctor about the pcr test.  Good luck.
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Avatar universal
Hi guys i have 26 years, and before 15 months i hade a tatoo, and since then i have a symptoms of hepatitis. I have pain in right part of the stomach, pale faeces, weight loss, darker yellow urine, but all of the blood tests i hade done are negative(anti HCV,HBsAGA and Urine tests).
So can you tell me after this test are negative can i still have hepatitis? or what can i do next ?
sory but my english is not wery good.
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Avatar universal
I don't know what tests they gave you for Hepatitis C, but in the very acute stage you can have intermittent viremia. That means your viral count can be positive one day and negative the next day. I'm not saying you have acute Hepatitis C, but the symptons seem to fit.

Given what's going on, I'd definitely keep looking for a cause. Have you seen a liver specialist yet (hepatologist) or just a gastro. Maybe see a liver specialist next.

Don't know what tests they gave you for Hepatitis C., but at this point you might want to take (or re-take) both a more sensitive RIBA Antibody test as well as an RNA Viral load test. As mentioned, these tests can be inconclusive in the very acute stage, so  taking them a few times is reasonable when everything else comes up blank.

-- Jim
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