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Hep C Discussion Forum -> General Discussion -> How many decades can this dragon survive undetected in the body??
Post Info TOPIC: How many decades can this dragon survive undetected in the body??
mallani


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RE: How many decades can this dragon survive undetected in the body??
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Hi VetwithC,

I almost certainly contracted HCV while working as a Medical Officer with the Australian Army in Vietnam in 1969. I treated many war wounds (both civilian, VC and Australian and US servicemen) often without gloves.

I applied for compensation from our DVA (your VA) in 2001, showing copies of my abnormal blood tests from 1970 onwards. The claim was rejected (not proven!). I applied twice more with letters from my Hepatologist. Still rejected.

Then, on my 70th birthday, in 2013, I received a letter stating my claim was accepted and was given a Gold Card for free medical treatment for HCV.

They are just waiting, hoping most of us will die off, and save them money.

In the US the situation is much worse. Surveys show up to 15% of Vietnam Vets have chronic HCV. Airguns are a big factor (we didn't use them). The incidence of HCV in Vietnam is difficult to find, but the most reliable source says ~5%, mostly Genotype 1. Also, from my experience with the US troops I looked after (from 101st Airborne Division), drug use was extremely common.

Your VA will never admit it. The cost would be prohibitive.

Just keep on trying. Cheers.



__________________

Geno 1b, IL28B CT,  x3 prior relapser,  ex-cirrhotic, 75 yo, did 48 weeks with Victrelis/Peg./Riba.  VL 1.28m at start, UNDET. at 8 ,12 ,16 ,24 ,30  and 48 weeks.  EOT 15 Feb 2013 , UNDET. at EOT + 28 weeks. SVR!  Still Undet. at EOT +5 years

Malcolm
VetwithC


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You're most probably correct Tig, as I've often thought the same thing. If ever any admission of guilt comes in the future, it will be after our generation is long gone and they will have a more manageable amount of victims to compensate.  Our generation [Viet Nam era] statistically has the highest rates of infection @ 63% when compared with all the other war eras and we are a dying breed. [go to http://www.hcvets.com/] and they are finding more of us every day.  That % is probably not taking into account the ones that don't get Dxed.

So instead of admitting guilt, they give us free TX [and I am thankful of that], thinking that will silence us.  There is starting to be some awareness of this terrible situation and maybe if we all stand up as a group, they will listen?

I can't and won't give up my battle for compensation, as I have a family that I can't care for properly and would at least like to know that they will be cared for.

 



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DXed in year 1999 with geno 1a, went with a wait and see approach while my viral load increased from 240,000 to 3 mil and contacted VA when Harvoni came out and now have harvoni and starting TX on Monday.
Tig


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I got all of my inoculations in Boot Camp with those air guns. I remember seeing blood on the contact surfaces of those guns. Until someone can deliver absolute, irrefutable proof, they will never admit to that. It would be an economic disaster for the VA, possibly the US Government. A precedent setting event like that would affect millions of military members. The liability would be monumental. They are already trying to limit or deny HCV treatment because of costs involved. Can you imagine the storm involved if they were culpable? The VA can't take care of the responsibilities it has now, that would obscenely bad on both sides of that coin!

 



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Tig

68yo GT1A - 5 Mil - A2/F3 - (1996) Intron A - Non Responder, (2013) Peg/Riba/Vic SOT:05/23/13 EOT:12/04/13 SVR 9+ years!

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VetwithC


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Thanks for the replies so far. I should explain why I was asking about 'how long' because I was denied a [service connected] claim that I made with the VA for compensation [at the least] and one of the reasons in their argument was that I could have 'other risk factors'.  Their main stance for denying is that we were all IV drug users in the 60's..........BS.  if there was an IV drug user in the line of 200 recruits and blood flying all over then that's where I got my dragon.

I did a little experimenting [like we all did in the 60's and 70's] but NEVER played with needles, but the burden of proof lays on us and they won't cop to the known risk of the jet air gun use, so I'm trying to pinpoint the approximate time that I got infected.  I've googled all over and have only found that HVC CAN lay asymptomatic for decades as it did with me.  I wonder if they will ever find a test that can determine how long we have been infected.

What the VA wants to hear from a reliable source is 'that it was more likely than not' contracted [by the jet air gun use].

They have paid out on a couple of documented cases, but still deny, deny, deny.

Any links or info to help me get some justice for robbing me of a couple of decades of quality of life, due to their negligence would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any help in my case.



__________________
DXed in year 1999 with geno 1a, went with a wait and see approach while my viral load increased from 240,000 to 3 mil and contacted VA when Harvoni came out and now have harvoni and starting TX on Monday.
mallani


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I was almost certainly infected in 1969 in Vietnam.

Blood tests in 1970 and 1975 showed elevated enzymes, attributed to too much booze. In 1982, I had a liver biopsy which showed mild inflammation, and was called non-A, non-B hepatitis. This was changed to HepC in 1990. Each subsequent biopsy showed slow progression until I had cirrhosis in 2008.

Most patients with chronic HepC will progress to cirrhosis, depending on many factors. This can take 10-50 years.

Post-mortem studies in patients with SVR have shown tiny amounts of virus in many body tissues. These are not important and are well controlled by our immune system.

Some patients with HepC do not have acute or chronic infection. The virus simply hangs around, never causing any problems. These patients test positive to HCV antibodies, but do not have a detectable viral load.

It's an amazing virus. Cheers.



__________________

Geno 1b, IL28B CT,  x3 prior relapser,  ex-cirrhotic, 75 yo, did 48 weeks with Victrelis/Peg./Riba.  VL 1.28m at start, UNDET. at 8 ,12 ,16 ,24 ,30  and 48 weeks.  EOT 15 Feb 2013 , UNDET. at EOT + 28 weeks. SVR!  Still Undet. at EOT +5 years

Malcolm
Groupergetter


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Hi VetwithC, hope things are going ok for you.  Read your other post in the "returned to normal" thread.  Appears we both have the brain fog.  Hoping it improves with time.  I was experiencing this prior to treatment. Not sure if the meds made it worse?   Suppose the aging process may also contribute to the problem.  I set something down and in just a few minutes forget where I put it?  :)  Reminded of the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz. :)   I just try to make the best of each day.  I reached SVR in early August. Still have the neuropathy, and joint pain, but seeing some improvement with the chronic fatigue. 

Many on the forum have had the dragon for decades (myself included). I guess the answer your question would be that it can survive undetected until we are diagnosed, it is successfully treated, or until we succumb to it, or other health problems.  Many of us had this dragon for years without knowing it.  Fortunately the new meds have high success rates and are relatively easy to tolerate.  Good luck with building your new house and getting family situated.  Be well.



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1b  Int/Riba relapse @ 48 weeks.  Stop tx Peg Int/Riba 12 weeks ill. Relapse S/O 6/23/14 :(   Started Harvoni 11/12/14  EOT 4/28/15.  EOT+4 UND :)  SVR! 8/4/15  :)     Thankful for every morning.
Cinnamon Girl


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HI there, VwC,

The Hep C virus can actually survive undetected in our bodies indefinitely, and I`m quite certain that there are huge numbers of people who will live their lives being infected and never get a diagnosis.  It`s not something which is routinely tested for and not everyone experiences symptoms.  It`s also a very slow moving disease in the majority of cases, and some people are able to live with it for decades without any major liver damage.

It`s perfectly possible that you became infected 30 years ago, and in fact many people have no idea when, where or how they caught the virus. 

Hope that helps.  smile

 

 

 

 



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Jill 

(71 yo, lives in UK)

Was Gen 3a, 

24wks Peg Ifn/Riba, Sep 2010 - Mch 2011

UND @ Wk.4, UND @ EOT, 

SVR Nov 2011 --> Still UND @ EOT + 4 yrs.

 

 
VetwithC


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Just wondering how many decades can this dragon survive undetected in the body??  I figure that in my case I got exposed in the US Navy basic training in 1964 as I have never done IV drugs in my life or got a transfusion. My Hep C was Dxed in the year 2000, and started to feel fatigue earlier than that.  So far, I've only been able to access some medical records from my family Dr. dating 1992 that showed elevated liver enzymes.  

If my 1992 med records show an elevated liver enzymes, then I had the dragon in me undetected for almost 30 years and it progressed slowly until DX in 2000. 

Does anyone know how long this monster can hide in our body undetected??



__________________
DXed in year 1999 with geno 1a, went with a wait and see approach while my viral load increased from 240,000 to 3 mil and contacted VA when Harvoni came out and now have harvoni and starting TX on Monday.
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