Hep C Discussion Forum

https://www.vidble.com/tQnaMzsFOi.jpg

Hi GG,

So, how did you get this AST test result and when? Did they give you a paper copy, or do you get these results sent to you "on-line". Will all your lab results arrive to you on-line? Is this AST test result from one of the recent 5 viles of blood, you spoke of, that they drew from you most recently? What ever happened to the "kidney" funtion test you mentioned once - no results?

AST is part of, and only one of, several blood tests that are often done together, a group of tests called (a liver "panel") or often called "liver function tests" (LFT's). So your AST is just part of your liver function panel. Which tests get included in a LFT can vary somewhat, from doc to doc, from facility to faciilty, but usually they will include ALT/AST/bilirubin.

Have you not received any other tests back (other than this AST) from your most recent 5 vile draw?

Often, we see elevated ALTs and ASTs, when you have HCV, most often, but not necessarily always. Some people can have HCV and show normal LFT's, or near normal levels. Also, LFT's can fluctuate.

Looking at your AST result (as posted) I would guess it means your level of AST, in your blood, has been measured at 51 U/L and the following figure after that shows the "normal reference range" of 0 to 37 U/L, ( meaning) to have your AST considered to be within "normal range" the result cannot be over 37. So, your AST at 51 is elevated.

Also dif countries and dif labs can have dif reference ranges - what is considered normal can vary a bit - so always go by what your doc and your lab considers the normal range to be.

It is not unusal at all to have elevated ALTs/ASTs when you have HCV. You may also see other blood test oddities that can be part and parcel of, or just associated with carying a chronic condition such as HCV.

You are getting ahead of yourself again re your concern about the normocytic anemia, this could be a very mild/transient type thing which may not be at all dire and may require no treatment - if warranted they will explore your normocytic anemia further.

Many HCV people have other abnomalities that show up, and, when cured of the HCV these things can dissipate, decrease, improve and disappear and are never seen again. Let the docs handle and consider any "degree" of normocytic anemia you may have, you should be concentrating on continuing your efforts in figuring out HOW you are best going to get yourself to HCV treatment. 

i.e. - The social worker appointment may help shed some light on your problems re: finances/coverages and getting treatment, so, I would go if i were you - I just hope you do not have to pay out of pocket for the social worker appointment, that's all.

Don't forget to ask for copies of all your blood tests, if you do not get a copy sent to you, automatically, on-line. You should keep a "paper" record file of them at home as well, a record of everything, including dates on calendar for all appointments you attended. C.

i have no idea who my doc on this attempt to get on medication or if i have any hope retaining it.. for all i know this social worker could tell me they   only have care for patients with insurance or sliding fee scale  i have no idea,.. i have a bad feeling about all this.. i m taking a deep breath.. ,...

Hi again GG,

I see over in "too much info" your frustrations, so we are well past this post I made below. 

Good Tig and Wendy looked for some resources for you, as I did (I PM'd you with a link and info about 11 days ago, I don't know whether you ever saw it, I know we pm'd each other since then) -- we don't know if any of these contacts can help you better, given the situ you describe, the place I found was in Augusta?, don't know how far that is from you - but IT IS a case of leaving no stone unturned and keep trying, whether it is here, or in Calif.

For me, I saw the "system" I had to work with, as (sort of) a game, a cruel one, which felt deadly serious, I was forced to think of everything I could, to try everything I could, to get what I wanted and needed. It felt like it was a lot of work, including getting past obstacles and being forced to jump through the hoops they put before me.

I am still not understanding your situ entirely. I know you have a cash flow problem, and I will now assume you have NO medical insurance coverage whatsoever - but I cannot understand then how you got all these recent (further) blood tests done with out insurance? - does this mean (that hospital you mentioned a while back) took you on as a patient (to be "worked up", in preparation for treatment) - but that the only reason that happened was because you paid for all that testing yourself??

You mentioned a while agao about "applying" to the hospital and waiting to see what happens, but then, soon after that, you had blood tests drawn, so did the hospital cover those for you, or did you have to pay out of pocket for the tests?? You said (over in the other thread), about being turned down twice for medical insurance coverage?

So, the only reason you had any further lab work-up done, is because you paid for it?

Is it the "no cash and no medical insurance" problem that is your largest and only hurdles that will keep you from treatment? (Is there absolutely no facility in your state where you can receive "free" treatment), if so, and you think a move to Calif. will indeed solve these 2 obstacles, then that is what I would do.

As slow, backward or as frustratingly stupid you found some of the staff you were working with to be, it did seem to me they were "prepping" you, in some sort of methodical step by step fashion. I was subjected to hard to fathom, seemingly usless delays - others on this site have had to put up with councelling/classes/drug testing/queries into their mental status ... hard to take when one is in a hurry and knows the correct direction they wish to go.

If you do end up going to Calif. to solve things, just be aware, some hoops and hurdles may also be found there, maybe in dif. forms, but hopefully less so, I do hope you will MAKE IT work out for yourself. No stone unturned.

Tig is quite right - GATHER ALL of your lab work, keep a record of everything!

I am sorry this is not easier. C.

Sorry GG,

It appears this PCR confirms it, despite the hope that the prior qualitative s/co ratio might not have indicated you would necessarily be followed by this measurable viral load.

Not the news any of us want, but i think you were prepared for it, and I think you have caught on that it CAN be quite easily dealt with via the super drugs now available to us these days.

I am so glad you have pursued the additonal testing, and seem to have some help now (from that hospital/or that doc you mention) to lay out your next steps. We will be here to help in whatever ways we are able too. Try not to fret (as you were your first days here) - you will see - this will turn out OK!!

Viral loads can be expressed in either or IU/ml, or in "logs". You may run into labs or docs using either of these measurements. Your viral load being 411,000 IU/ml is the (aprox.) equivalent of a little over 5.6 log. Yours is what can be considered a "low" viral load. 

Tig mentioned prior that your other labs (first posted) - I didn't see them - appeared within normal limits, as well you mentioned you also had some kidney function blood tests drawn now, so, from now on as you go forward with the further assessments that they will be doing for you - I would suggest you keep copies of all your results for your own reference. We can also try to help you in the interpretation of them if need be.

That's great (and fast!), that you already get to see the doc as soon as tomorrow!! You are right to ask him right away if he can now tell you what the GT and "sub-type" is (as Tig mentioned), the GT and sometimes the sub-type is basic info on which to know what particular drug treatment regime choices may best suit you. As well, there WILL be other tests, determinations/assessments required before you are ready for treatment.  Your doc will guide you. You will probably have some time completing all of these things prior to treatment.

They "might" have already done some kinds of blood tests on you, which gives them an aprox. "Fscore" for you - a measurement sometimes derived from different blood parameters and other factors, that helps to further deduce nuances of your liver function and possible levels of fibrosis.

Aside from asking for copies of all your tests, and finding out what your GT (and sub-type) is, ask if they have done any "Fscore" blood tests, if they have, it will be expressed as a result in the range of F0 to F1, or F2, F3, F4. You can also ask if you could, additionally, have a "Fibroscan test", painless and easy, a very good measuring tool, to gauge if your liver has lost any elasticity due to the inflammatory response of the liver with having HCV over time. "Fibroscan" scores are also expressed in Fscores (converted from a kilopascal number) - and are also shown as F0 to F4.

Fscores also have some bearing on drug treatments choices.

I expect an abdominal ultrasound should be done as well - you can also ask for this abdominal ultrasound.

Be prepared to explore with the doc what immunizations you have had done in the past, ie. hepA, hepB, influenza and/or pneumococcal. Most people will automatically have their immunity levels and status for hepA and hepB tested by the doc, and immunization (or re-immunization) for A & B may be required if your immunity levels are not adequate. It is a good assessment to have, especially important is the B assessment, but they are all important for your own protection to be sure your have enough immunity to these other things while you are in an already busy, disadvantaged state of having HCV. We don't want to have/gain another another virus on top of HCV! 

So, you can see there is much assessment that should be done prior to starting treatment. It is a process, be assured, they will guide you through it, in a step by step format, I just mention all this so you can be prepared for it and expect it.

Knowledge is power, already (due to your good efforts) you have found out what you needed to know, quickly. A very good thing! Knowing what steps may be expected next, will only serve to make you your own best advocate to make sure things are getting done for you in a timely and thoughtful manner.

Don't worry - you are going to do fine and be fine! I know that is easy for me to say, I know it IS hard stuff to go thru when first presented with it, but it is so true today, that so many of us now, with these wonderful new DAA's, are finally being able to be cured easily and quickly. It is NOT the chancey, difficult or frightening a venture it was as in the old days.

Please do keep us posted when you know more. C.

Hey GG,

That's good news, that you somehow managed to get further bloodtesting and further hepc bloodtesting, a "load" or quantitative PCR test (despite no insurance?).

Maybe I am still not understanding your coverage "application" problem, or what request you had made at the hospital, but regardless, I am glad you did get some addtional testing. I hope you got my pm to you regarding same, but perhaps your insurance is not an issue now?

Do keep us posted, we only wish good news for you.  C.

That happens more often than it should. Some of those labs get overloaded and it takes an extra day or two. Try and get your mind on something else. Don't dwell on it, that never helps. Easier said than done, but you'll sleep better! Hopefully tomorrow, GG 

We'll be anxious to hear your results! 

Hi again GG,

I kinda skimmed over what you were saying earlier (about getting in a trial or applying to your hospital and waiting for approval), I re-read that and see now this "ap" you are waiting to find out about, is for approval of health insurance coverage? I was not paying attention to that. So, no health insurance?

I am trying to search how, in your state, one can still get some health care and/or some further hepc testing done, if not insured. I'll pm you with some links. C.

thank you very much for the info on coupons  i printed all of that info. i appreciate it so much im trying to stay positive  i have my ups and downs  ,still, ive been sleeping alot lately, sometimes i dont even want to get out of bed, i  know when i finally get on the cure wagon it will change its the waiting thats driving me crazy not knowing if im going to  be approved to me every day is precious the sooner ii get on medication  the less damage i will have in my body.

One more thing, if you need to consider other payment options, we have a list of organizations that may provide it. There are copayment coupons available from some manufacturers. $5.00 copays with those coupons is typical. So you MUST check for these benefits when you know more from your doctor.

We'll do our best to keep you informed and answer your questions. Stay positive, it's easy to get down in the dumps, don't go there. It's way better now and easier than ever before. With few exceptions, literally, he rate of success is about 97% - 98% on the new oral drugs. Side effects are low to non existent. Fatigue and headache are the most often experienced Sfx. We can offer solutions that will help you address anything that might come along. 

Payment Assistance Programs

thank u  for  responding .. u gave me a little more hope.. where i live in Maine getting insurance or any kind of help is really hard, i just submitted an application for help so ill find out soon weather they are going to  approve  my request or not.  i tried to look for trials  but there is none to be seen in Maine which is discouraging  just in case this  application gets denied .

 i do notice in really small print that it says under anti hcv       QNS-final alert    it says samplevalue:2.949. cut off value: 0.620. sample/cutoff ratio value:4.756. result IR    WELL im just waiting to here back from the hospital about my application to get care and  hopefully get this all straightened out and get on the cure regiment . thank u again so much  for your info .. it means alot to me 

Hi GG,

Welcome to the forum. Sorry you got that shock, but better now than after your liver failed. The treatments are far easier now and way more effective.

Other than your HCV Antibody and HCV PCR, every test negative. With a positive PCR I'm surprised there wasn't more defined information with it. Since there was no viral quantification provided I wonder if your doctor performed the qualitative test. It provides a negative or positive result, it confirms infection only. The quantitative test provides a viral load or quantity. It's necessary that the amount of virus (iU/ml) be determined. It may help choose the shortest course of treatment.

Use our search function at the top. A single keyword or two will provide lots of information and previous discussions here on the forum.

Hijustagirl,

im only a fly by night here these days and the real troops with the knowledge will heLo you soon I'm sure. I'm just writing now because most of us don't publish personal details publically on This forum and as someone who has just had their credit card details scammed online, (nothing to do with this site) but I wouldn't be putting my name, date of birth etc up like you have. Can you take them down yourself? If not ask a moderator. As far as I can see, they're only telling you that you have come into contact with Hep C. Many people who contracted in their twenties fight it off successfully with their own immunosystems so maybe you are one of those. Just like with any disease you have had and beaten, antibodies remain. 

So you will need another test to determine if it's active or not. This will also determine your genome type. I think it's like flu - there are many strains. With Hep C the most usual are  one, two a and b and three. There are other less usual ones. Thing is these days they are curable with ann8 or 12 week course of tablets which in most cases have few side effects. The state of your liver will be assessed also, by one thing is for sure, no matter how damaged it is, without alcohol and the virus, it will improve. 

We have all been in the rabbit in the spot light stage you are in. This can be resolved. Good luck in your journey.

Syd

Hello again.

Is there a way you can redact all personal information and post your results? One thing we can do here is read those pretty good. Of course we do NOT give Medical advice, that is left to the folks trained and certified in those areas.

The HCV RNA will produce your viral load. Also on that same test read out you will see the Geno Type.

At any rate no need to feel lonely, you have us here and we know how to beat this Dragon.

JimmyK

i dont have a doctor as of yet, im trying to get freecare through the hospital, is there really a cure that can happen in 12 weeks? or even 4?, that could save my life with my new job that i was concerned that i was gonna be out of commission , for a long while. i guess everyone is different, i dont understand my test results  or how to read it other than it saying im positive, i dont know whether im chronic or acute , i dont know whether its genotype 1,2,or 3 either ..its so confusing and frustrating, plus i very worried about my liver and if theres damage, it am the original baby boomers - born in 1965  which is the year that falls under  the most cases at my age group..  thank you for your reply i was feeling very alone with nobody that can relate to talk to about this.. i just dont want to die..