Guest guest Posted February 28, 2002 Report Share Posted February 28, 2002 Hi ,<br><br>Welcome to the group. First thing...DON'T PANIC. You don't even know if you have HCV yet. You don't want to put the cart before the horse here. The test you want the Dr to give you is called the HCV RNA PCR QUALITATIVE. This is the most sensitive and will give you the answer you are looking for.<br><br>As for your relationship, yes you are at risk due to the blood contact. ANY blood contact is a risk factor. No one here would EVER label you as a freak for any reason. Many people here got their HCV via drug use, so we don't label anyone. It doesn't really matter HOW someone gets HCV, the important thing is what we do with our life after we get a positive reading.<br><br>IF you do have HCV and IF you got it from your girlfriend, you will be in the very beginning stages of it. This is a good thing. HCV takes a good 20 yrs to do any substantial damage to the liver, provided you do not drink as well. You could decide to do the treatment with good success, because you are newly infected.<br><br>Do not allow your Dr to do the " wait and see " story. Waiting and doing nothing can cause many more problems later down the road. If you find out you are positive, go to a Gastroenterologist/Hepatologist. (a liver specialist) Have him do a liver biopsy. You don't know for SURE that you got it from her....IF you have it.<br><br>Most people with HCV will never go on to cirrhosis and end stage liver failure. Only 20% of those who have fibrosis will go on to cirrhosis. Of THAT number only 20% will go on to end stage. That takes many, MANY years. If you do have it, eat healthy, exercise, do not drink ANY alcohol, and you can live a long and happy life.<br><br>If you are positive, you have a moral obligation to tell any other Dr's you see, Dentists, and prospective sexual partners. Be sure to use protection. Remember, it is a blood-to-blood disease so your blood has to mix with their's in order to transmit this.<br><br>Try not to panic before you find out anything, ok? If you are HCV positive, it doesn't have to be a death sentence, and isn't in most cases. We are here to help you get through this difficult part ok?<br><br>Hang in there till you know for sure!<br><br>LeighAnn<br><a href=http://www.geocities.com/1Leighann target=new>http://www.geocities.com/1Leighann</a> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 28, 2002 Report Share Posted February 28, 2002 Hi ,<br><br>Welcome to the group. First thing...DON'T PANIC. You don't even know if you have HCV yet. You don't want to put the cart before the horse here. The test you want the Dr to give you is called the HCV RNA PCR QUALITATIVE. This is the most sensitive and will give you the answer you are looking for.<br><br>As for your relationship, yes you are at risk due to the blood contact. ANY blood contact is a risk factor. No one here would EVER label you as a freak for any reason. Many people here got their HCV via drug use, so we don't label anyone. It doesn't really matter HOW someone gets HCV, the important thing is what we do with our life after we get a positive reading.<br><br>IF you do have HCV and IF you got it from your girlfriend, you will be in the very beginning stages of it. This is a good thing. HCV takes a good 20 yrs to do any substantial damage to the liver, provided you do not drink as well. You could decide to do the treatment with good success, because you are newly infected.<br><br>Do not allow your Dr to do the " wait and see " story. Waiting and doing nothing can cause many more problems later down the road. If you find out you are positive, go to a Gastroenterologist/Hepatologist. (a liver specialist) Have him do a liver biopsy. You don't know for SURE that you got it from her....IF you have it.<br><br>Most people with HCV will never go on to cirrhosis and end stage liver failure. Only 20% of those who have fibrosis will go on to cirrhosis. Of THAT number only 20% will go on to end stage. That takes many, MANY years. If you do have it, eat healthy, exercise, do not drink ANY alcohol, and you can live a long and happy life.<br><br>If you are positive, you have a moral obligation to tell any other Dr's you see, Dentists, and prospective sexual partners. Be sure to use protection. Remember, it is a blood-to-blood disease so your blood has to mix with their's in order to transmit this.<br><br>Try not to panic before you find out anything, ok? If you are HCV positive, it doesn't have to be a death sentence, and isn't in most cases. We are here to help you get through this difficult part ok?<br><br>Hang in there till you know for sure!<br><br>LeighAnn<br><a href=http://www.geocities.com/1Leighann target=new>http://www.geocities.com/1Leighann</a> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 28, 2002 Report Share Posted February 28, 2002 .....alright... I will hang in there. I'll take all of your advice on the matter. <br>But as far as never reaching the end phase....well, I'm only 27. That gives me plenty more than 20 years to deal with it if I come up positive. <br>The one thing that comforts me is that you said it was blood to blood contact. That's not exactly the way it happened between my g/f and I, so I may be safer than I thought I was. In any case, I'll go for the test as soon as I can.<br>and, I'll stick around here as well....especially assuming I do come up positive.<br><br>thanks,<br>~M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 28, 2002 Report Share Posted February 28, 2002 .....alright... I will hang in there. I'll take all of your advice on the matter. <br>But as far as never reaching the end phase....well, I'm only 27. That gives me plenty more than 20 years to deal with it if I come up positive. <br>The one thing that comforts me is that you said it was blood to blood contact. That's not exactly the way it happened between my g/f and I, so I may be safer than I thought I was. In any case, I'll go for the test as soon as I can.<br>and, I'll stick around here as well....especially assuming I do come up positive.<br><br>thanks,<br>~M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2004 Report Share Posted September 17, 2004 My name is Donna. I am a 45 y/o woman with a husband and a beautiful 6 y/o daughter. I was diagnosed with Hep C in July, before a gall bladder surgery. I was supposed to have my liver biopsied during that surgery, but the surgeon who did the surgery said my liver had chirrosis and he needed a specialist to do it. After I recovered from that, The doctor decided to start me on Peg Intron/Rebetol therapy. The day before I was supposed to start the therapy, the doctor calls and tells me that I can't start the therapy because my levels we elevated, indicating I might have AIH. I am now, very frightened, and angry because this means another 2 weeks until my biopsy, and then however long it takes the biopsy results to come back. I know I will beat this, but I thank you for giving me a chance to vent. Many Blessings, Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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