Hep C Discussion Forum

Hey, very good you booked an appointment with the doc! Now that should help! This is not the kind of stuff you should be trying for figure out on your own or from the internet. You need the benefit of medical advice to reassure yourself, you should have used your doc sooner and saved yourself this worrying. Let us know what your doc says. Being that you have concerns about contracting any kind of hepatitis in general, you could ask your doc if you need to be immunized for A and B. (3 items on B testing below).  C.

 

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg): A protein on the surface of hepatitis B virus; it can be detected in high levels in serum during acute or chronic hepatitis B virus infection. The presence of HBsAg indicates that the person is infectious. The body normally produces antibodies to HBsAg as part of the normal immune response to infection. HBsAg is the antigen used to make hepatitis B vaccine.

Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs): The presence of anti-HBs is generally interpreted as indicating recovery and immunity from hepatitis B virus infection. Anti-HBs also develops in a person who has been successfully vaccinated against hepatitis B.

How long does it take for blood to test HBsAg-positive after exposure to HBV?

HBsAg will be detected in an infected person's blood an average of 4 weeks (range: 1- 9 weeks) 

Sure, guys. By the way, i can't describe how lucky i am, for finding this forum. Everyone here is so polite, kind and friendly! Actually, all i was neede - it's an opinion of other people, especially of those people, who know about what i am talking about. I already made an appointment to see my doctor. Guys, i dont want to look stupid (if i didnt already), but what about my Hbs-ag test ? I've made it at the same as anti-Hcv test. I know, this forum is only on hep c, but is here anyone, who can answer on my question on hep b? is 3 months good for legit assay on hep b ?

Hi shurakrupin,

No worries, I am understanding you quite well.

I'm sorry I can't seem to give you the reassurance you need.

DO go to the doc. Phone tomorrow, make an appointment to discuss these things through with him.

The sooner you see him, perhaps the sooner you will start to feel more reassured.

The elephant in the room is that your test was NEG. You do not need multiple testings for hep c.

BUT, it was only your unshaken fear of having hep c that I suggested you might have another HCV test at 6 months (May). This would only be to prove, to yourself, that the first test was indeed correct.

You should be able to, with your doc, get reassurance that you do not have hepc, and get to the bottom of the reasons for the symptoms you are having.

This (below) probably won't help to reassure you either, but here are graphs (click on the "figures") of the timelines when your tests would have/should have shown something, such as increased ALT, antibodies, replication. Your tests do NOT support contracting hep c. I do NOT think you were exposed.

I think, with your doc, you will be able to figure out you did not contract hepc, and maybe find some answers to your symptoms, instead of wrestling with this all by yourself. I hope you do go bump heads with your doc. Please let us know.  C. 

Laboratory Studies for Evaluation of Initial Infection

The key laboratory studies utilized in the evaluation of possible acute hepatitis C are HCV RNA, anti-HCV, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Patients who become infected with hepatitis C virus typically develop abnormal laboratory findings in the following order: detectable HCV RNA, elevation in ALT, and anti-HCV (Figure 3).  Patients who develop a clinical illness with acute HCV infection usually have onset of symptoms well after the onset of viremia, but soon after or concomitant with increases in ALT levels.

HCV RNA

In most patients, HCV RNA can be detected in blood within 1 to 2 weeks after infection.  This period from infection until HCV RNA is detectable in plasma by a commercially available assay is referred to as the "eclipse phase" (Figure 4), or "previremic phase".  During the eclipse phase, HCV has likely established infection in susceptible hepatocytes, and, in some patients, use of qualitative HCV RNA assays with very high sensitivity will reveal blips of HCV RNA (at levels less than 10 copies/mL) in blood. The eclipse phase is followed by an 8 to 10 day "ramp-up" phase in which HCV replication increases exponentially and readily becomes detectable in plasma; the HCV RNA levels typically peak 6 to 10 weeks after infection ("plateau phase") and remain near these peak levels for about 40 to 60 days (Figure 5).  Detection of HCV RNA during acute infection is not entirely reliable as HCV RNA levels may fluctuate significantly during this period - in some instances HCV RNA levels fall below detectable levels. At the onset of symptoms, however, detectable HCV RNA levels are uniformly present.

Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)

Within 4 to 12 weeks after HCV infection, most patients will have liver cell injury, as manifested by an elevation in serum ALT levels. Typically the increases in ALT follow the presence of detectable HCV RNA levels by about 1 to 2 weeks, but generally precede the development of anti-HCV.  The mean ALT after acute infection reaches 800 IU/L range. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention uses an increase in ALT to a level greater than 400 IU/L as part of the diagnostic criteria. 

Antibodies to HCV

 

Anti-HCV usually become detectable between 8 and 12 weeks after infection and thus significantly lags behind detectable HCV RNA levels. After 12 weeks, more than 90% of patients will have positive anti-HCV. The time period from initial infection until seroconversion is often referred to as the "serologic window period" (Figure 6). 

Well for sure, i will be visiting my doctor. By the way, i really can't believe, that how friendly people are in this forum! Guys, i know i have said this more then one time already, but thank you so much for your kindness towards me, and my freaky situations. Sir, with all due respect, didnt you think, that my test results were not 100 % correct? Is there any reason for you to think that way? Because, i may made those symptoms up by my one, but what if not. This joint pain is going on for couple of days, i even quit trainings to see if thats the reasong for joint pain. This Lichen Planus on my ankle is bordering me to, as it is also considered as one hepatitis c symptoms. Also, i got this wierd sensations under my right rib. Sir, its just all in the same time, and most of it has begone week ago. 3 months latter after that hiv blood test, that i am suspicious off. I know, this is sounds really bazaar, but my friend, please can i ask you once, and for all - in my case, 89 days is enought for Anti-Hcv total and Hbs-ag test to be legite and correct ? If i would knew, that i dont have any for of hepatitis, those symptoms would never cause me problems. I quess, soon i will test a couple of more times, just so my mind can finally get its rest. Once again, thank you for your time!

and Canuck, yes, i managed to go for all those test and assays by my one. just thought reading internet. i just never have done this before (got tested for all those viral disease). so yea, i might need to speak with my doctor about this :)

!

Hi shurakrupin,

I do not know how health care works in your country, but, it seems you ARE trying to be very proactive with your health - as evidenced by, of your own volition, presenting yourself for a screening for HIV, etc., and you mention being active at the gym/wrestling. So, good for you in striving to be healthy and remain healthy. Another part of being proactive is not to ignore bodily changes you note, such as changes in stool or urine.

I am not quite understanding how you managed to get so many tests done thus far, without the help/advice/benefit of bumping heads with a doctor, did you arrange all this testing on your own? Pretty impressive if so, from abd. ultrasound to all the lab work you have had done! But I can see where you may need some medical guidance to find answers to your suspicions and worries regarding your symptoms.

You have already completed many "ruling out" tests thus far, and are still not any closer to settling on a more likely reason (perhaps far more ordinary than HCV) for your stool and urine color changes that you have noted.

Your need the advice of a "impartial", experienced, objective doctor who can review your symptoms. 

It is good, that nowadays, more and more people are becoming aware of the "possibility" of being HIV or HCV positive (and are just not aware they have an existing infection), thus I am glad to see being people being screened for these things, even if their risk factors are low. Better to know than not know. So cudo's to you for getting tested. With increased awareness of HCV many people are afraid of this disease, and of getting it. But, if one's risk factors are low, it will prove unlikely you will ever test postive for HCV or HIV. All your testing thus and all the info you have shared with us is showing this to be so in your case. 

I strongly suggest you bump heads with a doc to discuss the stool and urine changes. If you remain not to be able to shake your fear of being positive for HCV, ask to be re-tested in 3 months time. I think you will come up with some other very plausaible (more ordinary) reasons for these symptoms you have noted. It is a hard thing to be diagnosing yourself, although we all can fall victim to doing this, jumping to some more dire suspicion or conclusion, when there may be more likely, less dire, run-of-the-mill reasons for a health change.

Your labs seem within normal limits (if I am reading the bili correctly), good the ultrasound did not show anything like gall bladder trouble. Jimmy is right, many other things can affect your stool and urine color, from drugs/alcohol to diet/dehydration. Have you been ingesting anything different, diet or supplemental-wise, do you get overly-dehydrated, are you having any trouble with your digestive system in processing fats? Have you changed anything radically in your diet (or intake of anything) of late? Your lichen skin thing, joint discomfort may just simply be happening to cooincide at this time when you note stool and urine color changes and has unfortunately made you tie it all up in one worrying bundle, a good doc should be able to help you tease these things apart into (often separate) explainable slots.

You are trying to reassure yourself with an answer for the stool and urine color changes, seek a good doc to bump heads with, I too do not believe you have HCV.   C.

shurakrupin wrote:

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exactly. my exposure was nov. 10 of 2016, i got tested for anti-hcv total feb. 8 of 2017.

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 Thanks, that tells me you were not exposed to HCV as of Nov 10, 2016.

exactly. my exposure was nov. 10 of 2016, i got tested for anti-hcv total feb. 8 of 2017.

Tig56, thank you for your answer. actually i got tested 12 weeks after the exposure(anti-hcv total), and result were negative, my problem is that some people on the internet saying that body needs up until 24 weeks for developing antibodies. but some people say, that 12 weeks is enought. so i dont know what to think...

well its for sure. i have never been more stressed in my life. will all due respect, can i ask a couple of more questions ? like, 3 months (its was 89 days, which is almost 3 months) i took a anti hcv total blood test (architect anti hcv system). you think its enought time for a result to be right ?

You are more than welcome.

If your stool were black or deep red I would be much more concerned. As it is, that which you describe is probably and excess of fat in the stool. Gluten can cause it.

Now of particular interest is the fact that you mention the potential contact was three months ago.

I do not believe you can be symptomatic in three months where Hep C is concerned.

Something else that you should consider is Stress and Anxiety can cause a yellow stool and from the looks of it you have both. Again, try and relax.

 

Regards

 

JimmyK

Welcome to The Forum.

First things first.

Relax, you are getting yourself all worked up for what is likely nothing.

We are not Doctors and cannot advise as to your symptoms other than to say see a Doctor and they can run the appropriate tests.

As to; "...(i am also scared, that my have caught virus trought fresh needle wound inside my jym).

It simply does not happen that way. You must have direct Blood to Blood contact with an infected person.

Secondly: "....i dont know why, but after that blood test i was scared that nerse might have used not sterile needle and i might have got hepatitis now (because she didnt even whiped my elbow with alchohol pad for sterilizing, and because i turned my head away, cuz i didnt wanna to see process)."

Start with the comment, "...I don't know why..." Keep in mind YOU are aware of Hep C, don't you think the clinic also is? Those of us who were infected through Medical Practice, in most cases where the result of tainted blood during a transfusion.

Personally I don't think your mind will be placed at ease until you have an HCV RNA run and even then it appears you may still doubt the results.

Your ALT and AST tells me you are worrying for the wrong reason. The color of your piss tells me you could probably stand to hydrate better and if your poop is yellow it could also be diet.

You won't know for sure until you see a Doctor.

 

All our best.

 

JimmyK