Hep C Discussion Forum

Excellent news!

I feel like I've come a long way, just in this thread.....Not cured of course, but informed and ready to take on the details of getting healthy again. Big thanks to all who chimed in. I do appreciate it. It's 8:11 am here and I am making sure I get my coffee...... And the sun peeked out again, so it's a good day for a ride on Chunky, the KLR.

Canuck wrote:

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Good news (according to me)!!

Yay, it is no longer, 2b or not 2 b, you have settled the question.

A good GT to have (IMHO). But you won't have it long.

Wonderful you are getting prompt attention and getting the best of the best, sofa/vel!!

Yay on the fibroscan too. Bonus!

Have a nice brunch, pet that kitty for me.

You'll soon be on your way to getting rid of this virus and seeing if it will improve other things for you as well.

Nice your ALT/AST are good and low.  C.

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 I suppose it's a good thing  2b with my current healthcare provider. They are focused, know the drill and affordable. Since I am the member who skews all the Actuarials, but they just smile, and cover it.

So far the only negative is that I cant's have any coffee before the fibroscan....but after....there will be coffee.

 

Good news (according to me)!!

Yay, it is no longer, 2b or not 2 b, you have settled the question.

A good GT to have (IMHO). But you won't have it long.

Wonderful you are getting prompt attention and getting the best of the best, sofa/vel!!

Yay on the fibroscan too. Bonus!

Have a nice brunch, pet that kitty for me.

You'll soon be on your way to getting rid of this virus and seeing if it will improve other things for you as well.

Nice your ALT/AST are good and low.  C.

Oh Lamont,

Hee hee, silly me!! - I did not have a clue what you meant when you wrote "exGF" for the first time earileir today, no idea what it stood for, thought maybe you had just made a "typo" at first, that maybe you were actually referring to your GP (as we had previously been hashing over so many "G" terms earlier that I AM familiar with, like GP, GE, GI, GT)!

But I had no idea what "GF" stood for, nor who "exGF" was !! I was trying to guess! ... reading between the "short lines" ... I figured you found out from your "GP" today (who you possibly fired today! - OMG! - thus why you were referring to your GP as your "ex"!!!)  - and that it was YOUR OWN PCR results that was relayed to you today with a "showing to the good"! And, that with finding this out, after all the worry your had been put through, you fired your GP today!!!

Quite the imagination I have eh?, trying to fill in the blanks this way! I guess GF is slang I don't know. 

Stupid me, not knowing what "GF" stands for, or that i could not figure it out (makes perfect sense, NOW)!! Tig one day also "got me" on some similar terminology, he was speaking of his "buddy" (his "BFF"), again I didn't have a clue and had to ask him to decipher the full-out explanation to learn that BFF was "best friends forever"!!!

I suppose everyone in the world knows these things, 'cept me.

Man, I must have led a very sheltered life! (I only learned OMG, BTW, IMHO, LOL a couple years ago!)

But I'm very glad I've got GF figured out now. Whew!. Nice your old GF is OK, (or maybe it would be nicer to refer to her as your "FGF" (former girl friend)!   C.

 

 

She had the HCV antibody screen. If it's negative there has never been exposure to the virus. Once exposed, even if cured, you will forever be positive for the antibody.

Yes, we were a thing over 20 years ago, but it's a good thing, just to know she's OK.

Hi Lamont,

Huh??

Sorry, ya lost me there ... "ex-GF" and "good news today - no trace".

Do you mean you have no viral load?? (I hope, I hope!) C. 

Today...i took the barcalounger, aka yamaha FJR1300. Very cold , breezy today,so a biggish brute was in order. Its garagemates are a modern classic Bonneville, a Ducati916 and KLR650.

Canuck wrote:

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Hi Lamont,

So let me get the timeline right ...

- '91 bad case of hep A for 3 months +.  Yes. it was a Bummer!

- '99 MS diagnosed - so, injectable copaxone use not started until after then, and injectable copaxone has been in use pretty well ever since then?? Also, fairly continuous use of oral methadone since '99?  yes, dx'd in '99, Copax started, methadone for pain

- About 1 1/2 years ago you had an upsurge in various abdominal symptoms/torso discomforts and feeling unwell (generally throughout torso/urinary/bowel/back) - with these various abdominal discomforts, unwellness and symptoms over 3+months, followed by another 3 months of symptoms and investigations, and overall in this 6 month period you had lost 40 lbs?  Yes, I went from a somewhat porky (for my 5' 8'frame) 195lbs  to almost 140

- Are you underweight? Not Now, I have gained most of the weight lost last year back, I am at about 180 now.

 

- So during this 6 month period (and within this last 1 1/2 years), you had investigations including labs, antibiotics, imaging showing renal blips, but with renal function deemed OK, you had your umb. hernia repaired, imaging showing your L1L2, and were deemed gluten intolerant?

Yes, to all those, but no Gluten Issues, and no tests to determine that either.

With MS, sometimes bowel and UTI type things do surface and rear their heads from time to time as troublesome, not so much in your case i would guess, as you say the involvment is more noted in the upper body/cervical area as opposed to lower body. But still, with longstanding MS, you have to always consider that condition an influencing culprit. All of what you and your docs explored could also have been "likely" contributing factors to explain your symptoms, or some of them, such as standard UTI/renal problems, gluten intolerance, your hx of MS is an ongoing burden on the body and systems, as may be the  the long term use of MS drug treatment, your previous hx of a bad bout of hepA cannot be ignored either, the hernia and repair was a good ruling out, as is L1L2 as an influencing factor. Have you had any colonoscopies? These are a multitude of factors that may never be "teased" apart to glean what caused what. Regardless of all, with HCV, you HAVE to get rid of it, and hope this will help overall!

True, I have had UTI previously, but was not the case when I had the recent difficulty peeing. My dipstick tests were negative for UTI and other tests for prostate infection negative as well. The "nodes" are fairly common, and over the course of a year, showed no change in a followup CatScan review. I have learned though that letting my doctor(s) assume that everything is MS related is not acceptable. Sort of the old adage, "When your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail." Not to say that MS doesn't cause a lot of stuff, including some/all the things I have been experiencing. The CNS and brain are capable of just about anything, that I can verify.

I did have an Endoscopy and Colonoscopy in May '16. 2 polyps removed, 1 hemmie ignored, but noted in doctor's consult post scoping. Stomach etc all looked good. Cat scans have also noted clear small intestine, pancreas, other stuff. Let me say, I don't look forward to the next one's prep, even if the pre-procedure  anesthesia was delightful, Propofol/Demoral IV.

When first dx'd with MS, I was the "attack of the week" guy. It felt like I was disintegrating one nerve branch at a time. The permanent damage so far has only affected my left foot, 2 fingers on left hand, right-eye lost about 30% light sensitivity, and of course a lot of migraine type headaches, and chronic spinal headaches. Not too bad, really. I am used to all that, so I don't notice it. Just the first few steps when I get out of bed, my left foot is 100% numb.

 You have been through a lot! Must be so frustrating for you, not to be able to get to the bottom of anything, and not for lack of trying either, and feeling so unwell along the way. You're some tough cookie I must say, thta is good and a pre-requiste I am afraid.

I have had a few grueling medical tests,  one called a diskogram (back in '99), a test ordered to see if I was a candidate for a cervical fusion. My as yet UnDx'd MS was causing some seriously freaky reflex responses so they thought it was a recently damaged disk (surfing accident) causing the nerve parathesia, drop foot and pain. Turns out a Diskogram is one you DON'T want, ever. If you can do a diskogram, you can do anything.

I hope the appointment Friday goes well. Ask about getting a fibroscan, and despite the prior Cats you've had whether you need a current abd. ultrasound, also, inquire about the immunizations/testings of, i mentioned prior. 

Will add those to my list of questions and concerns. Hoping there is no mention of a Liver Biopsy. Those sound a lot like a Diskogram, only through the ribs. No thanks. 

You sound like you've seen your share of Stainless Steel. I hope you never see have to see another medical instrument again.  

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-- Edited by LamontCranston on Wednesday 22nd of March 2017 06:45:32 PM

Hi Lamont,

So let me get the timeline right ...

- '91 bad case of hep A for 3 months +.

- '99 MS diagnosed - so, injectable copaxone use not started until after then, and injectable copaxone has been in use pretty well ever since then?? Also, fairly continuous use of oral methadone since '99?

- About 1 1/2 years ago you had an upsurge in various abdominal symptoms/torso discomforts and feeling unwell (generally throughout torso/urinary/bowel/back) - with these various abdominal discomforts, unwellness and symptoms over 3+months, followed by another 3 months of symptoms and investigations, and overall in this 6 month period you had lost 40 lbs?

- Are you underweight?

 

- So during this 6 month period (and within this last 1 1/2 years), you had investigations including labs, antibiotics, imaging showing renal blips, but with renal function deemed OK, you had your umb. hernia repaired, imaging showing your L1L2, and were deemed gluten intolerant?

With MS, sometimes bowel and UTI type things do surface and rear their heads from time to time as troublesome, not so much in your case i would guess, as you say the involvment is more noted in the upper body/cervical area as opposed to lower body. But still, with longstanding MS, you have to always consider that condition an influencing culprit. All of what you and your docs explored could also have been "likely" contributing factors to explain your symptoms, or some of them, such as standard UTI/renal problems, gluten intolerance, your hx of MS is an ongoing burden on the body and systems, as may be the  the long term use of MS drug treatment, your previous hx of a bad bout of hepA cannot be ignored either, the hernia and repair was a good ruling out, as is L1L2 as an influencing factor. Have you had any colonoscopies? These are a multitude of factors that may never be "teased" apart to glean what caused what. Regardless of all, with HCV, you HAVE to get rid of it, and hope this will help overall!

 You have been through a lot! Must be so frustrating for you, not to be able to get to the bottom of anything, and not for lack of trying either, and feeling so unwell along the way. You're some tough cookie I must say, thta is good and a pre-requiste I am afraid.

I hope the appointment Friday goes well. Ask about getting a fibroscan, and despite the prior Cats you've had whether you need a current abd. ultrasound, also, inquire about the immunizations/testings of, i mentioned prior. 

 

Sorry I should have explained.

The initial Anti-Body test has confirmed you have been in contact with Hep C. The HCV RNA will establish if you actually have Hep C. If so you will have a detectable level of the Virus at a factor of greater than 12.

20% to 25% of folks that test positive for the Anti Body do not have Hep C. That number by the way is growing because those of us cured will always be positive and the number of cured is growing. 

Your Enzymes are quite good so inflammation is not a problem. That leads me to hope that maybe you are one of the 20%ers. If not then a treatment plan based on your Geno-Type is in the cards.

JimmyK

Greetings Lamont, welcome to the forum.

Have you considered the what if's should the VL count come back <12?

25/75 are not the greatest odds but what if?

Again Welcome

JimmyK

Welcome Lamont,

Glad you found out and that your appt is so soon and that way you can be on the road to this recovery seeing as you have many others already behind you/in progress. As we know nothing happens by coincidence I will tell you one of my fave saying from in the rooms is "is it odd or is it God?"

You will get much support, ideas, laughs and knowledge here. It was a blessing for me pre TX, during and after. 

Today's treatments are so much better than the old ones and whichever genotyope you have, this should be a walk in the park compared to what you have already been through over the years. 

One day at a time,

wendy

Hi Lamont,

Glad to meet you here, wish it was under other circumstances, but welcome anyway.

I found this a VERY good place to land when I was first diagnosed. (Back then, truly, the thought of joining "some kind of support group", really did not appeal to me at all)!, even though I kept hearing that doing so was highly recommended (by others, who know how stressful these journeys can be). I was extremely stressed, and yet scoffed at the idea. I came here strictly seeking info and got so much more than I expected.

It took me a wee while to get here, to this site, I lurked around in the background (on many dif sites) - just searching up "info", whilst in midst of a panicked learning mode, but it did not take me long tho, before I was soon coming back, again and again to this site - by far the best site, and one of the best things i could have possibly done to help myself through the fears, and through all the many other parts of my journey, I'm still reaping the benefits of this site today (even tho I have been long cured of HCV now)!

I received a LOT of very good help/info/support and friendship here. I hope you will find it so too.

Unlike the weird feardom I entered when diagnosed, you do not sound too shaken? I hope this is true. Fear is the largest enemy, nowadays the virus is so easily killed off.

With your brave attitude, and perseverence under trialing circumstance, you will do well.

Like Tig recounted, one has to make a concerted effort to give the virus to another - do NOT be fearing/ blaming yourself for anyone in your circle who tests postive for the antibody, nor for anyone you discover who also has HCV. There are many ways ANY person could have been exposed to hepc or contracted HCV, and many will NEVER be able to truly know (exactly, "for sure"), how, when, where or why they did.

Thanks for sharing your history, it evokes a few questions for me tho, if you don't mind me asking ... re: your MS, since '99 - how have your remissions/exacerbations and copaxone use gone? I assume the methadone use was to combat MS related issues and not so much the L1/L2 nerve root (or, was it for both)?  Any current or recent copaxone or methadone use? 

Yes, one can well question many symptoms we have been experiencing (when one did not know they had HCV or for how long). It will be interesting to see (with your imminent upcoming cure) what things improve for you, gastrically or otherwise! 

So, was it your family doc (we call them General Practitioners or GP's up here) that tested you for HCV and did your liver function panel blood tests, and was it he who confirmed HCV but did not tell you the genotype (GT), nor the GT "sub-type", nor the viral load (VL) count?? - but he did tell you your ALT/AST was about 17? So, those appear to be within normal limits, as does the "earlier in the year" one of 27, those sound not too bad at all.

I guess with your soon-appointment with the gastroenterologist, your GE doc will have received all the test results drawn thus far from your GP, along with the GP's referral. You will know soon enough from your GE then, what your GT is, what your VL is (PCR test), and other tests like bilirubin, AFP and many more. I would start requesting copies of all your labs (by one way or another) so you can keep track of them yourself at home.

Once you know your GT and sub-type, you and your GE can start talking potential treatment drugs of choice, and if you have not yet had an abdominal ultrasound and a fibroscan, inquire about those. That sounded dreadful, your hepA, but you should still have your hepA/B antibody titres tested, to assure your immunity titres are currently high enough, if not, a series of immunization or re-immunizations may be required prior to HCV treatment. Same for influenza immunization or pneumococcal immunizations - inquire about them with your GE.

Please do keep us posted, and fear not, this is NOT going to be one of those "set of concrete stair" rides!   C. 

 

Hi Lamont,

Nice to make your acquaintance! Sorry you got this news, but if there has ever been a better time to find out, it's now. These new drugs are the bomb and this virus doesn't like them, at all. It hasn't reached 100% yet, but it's mighty close and being here since the new DAA's came around, I can tell you it gets closer all the time!

Thanks for your bio, that's really helpful. If you don't mind, put that into your signature line. Most of us do that and it helps when replying. We can avoid having to look back to find it in your original posts and you can avoid having to repeat it when the inevitable member comes along and wants to talk to you about things! It happens everyday 

You haven't caught a break have you? I've suffered with back and neck injuries my whole life, multiple surgeries along with them. I understand nerve pain and I'm sorry you have to deal with it. The MS is another issue all together. You sound like a Warrior though and that's what it takes to survive sometimes. We have a lot of Warriors here, good people and friends to all. I think you'll enjoy our group and they'll be along shortly to welcome you.

The risk of exposure to another individual through casual sex is remote, almost unheard of and I've heard a lot. Infection requires blood to blood contact. That's why IV drug use, tattoos, needle sticks, etc remain the primary source of exposure. Rough sex is another story. Anywhooo, the first test can be bought in a pharmacy now. It's an antibody screen and takes about 15-20 minutes, a finger stick blood test. If it's negative, no further testing is required. Most GP's will do the test upon demand, it's a very common request along with HIV and HBV. Cheaper than going to a lab on your own. Good luck Brother, I respect a person that isn't afraid to do what's right.

If you have any questions, please ask...