Re: New Member - Robin

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Don. Your kind and caring words made me cry. What a compassionate group

you folks are. Makes me feel safe to be here.

I will make a separate post to tell you all a bit about myself and my situation,

but I wanted to answer you, Don, about the Anti-HCV test. Here is what my lab

report shows:

Anti-HCV (Qualitative) shows to be Positive (with normal being negative, of

course!).

Anti-HCV (Signal-to-Cutoff) is >= 11.0 with normal being <= 1.000 S/CO

Then there is this comment: " HCV Assay Change - Hepatitis C results reported in

accordance with CDC guidelines. Specimens reported as " Positive " are strongly

reactive with signal/cutoff ratios >=11.0. Approximately 97% of specimens

reported as " Positive " will confirm positive by the more specific RIBA version

3.0. " ....and then there's some stuff about " Weak positives " .

So basically the test tells me nothing except that I test positive for having

antibodies to the virus, that I was exposed to it at some time. Doesn't tell me

that I do or don't have hepatitis c for sure. But my gut tells me I do. So the

rest of the stuff, the genotype, viral load, biopsy results, etc...I don't have

a clue.

I will address some of you other comments in another post. Man, you guys are

something else! Smart, brave, loving, ah, never mind. I can't type through

tears...

Robin

>

> Hi Robin

> Welcome to the group.

> You have landed in a good place, among good folks.

> We all try to help each other with experiances, info, and support.

>  

> I am don in ks, 59, DX'd with HCV in 2008.

> I havent had a biopsy or done HCV TX yet.

> My labs are staying real close to the normal range, and I am dealing with

other health issues before I begin the HCV journey.

> I try to be the info guy for the group, looking up articles, researching,

building the links library, and posting the news updates each day.

> I will be more than happy to help you find answers too.

> Just ask, its never a problem.

>  

> I am not familiar with the term - 'anti HCV test'.

> Do you mean that you tested positive for chronic HCV?

> Do you know your genotype? [1A, 1B, 2, 3, 4, etc]

> Do you know your viral load?

> Do you have the results of your liver labs?

> You may want to keep a hard copy of your lab results so that you can follow

your own progress.

> You can get these from your doctor.

>  

> HCV is a funny kind of sickness, having few symptoms at first.

> At lot of folks are unknowingly infected for years or decades before the doc

tests them when they get sick, or have some sort of medical proceedure.

> For example, I may have been infected back about 1970 from using IV drugs, but

until I got sick in 2008, and ended up in the hospital, no one knew.

> The news that we test positive is always a shock, and a lot of us have never

heard of HCV.

> Im glad to hear that you are mostly healthy.

>  

> I have tried to set up the links library starting with - 'just diagnosed' -

answering basic questions most people ask, and going from there, step by step.

> I have tried to include conventional, as well as alternative medicine, because

who knows what will work well.

> One or the other, or both.

> I am also big on diet because what we eat usually defines our state of

health. 

>  

> You mention insurance.

> I have included some info on this topic.

> Click this link:

>

http://health.dir./group/ /links/MEDS_WITH_NO_INSU\

RANCE_001241471077/

>  

> It is important that you start seeing a doc on a regular basis if your HCV

positive.

> Even though HCV is mostly a slow moving disease, in some people it moves

quicker, and does liver damage.

> Keeping up with your doc will help you keep your feet on the ground concerning

the HCV progression.

>  

> Robin please feel free to talk with us, ask any questions that you need to,

and share with us things that you think, or know.

> Info in a big part of healing, and what you have to contribute may help

someone else.

> Besides, we would all like to get to know you.

>  

> Stay well my friend.

>  

> love

> don in ks