Hepatitis B Support Group
Hepatitis B virus infection may either be acute (self-limited) or chronic (long-standing). Persons with self-limited infection clear the infection spontaneously within weeks to months. There are currently several treatments for chronic hepatitis B that can increase a person's chance of clearing the infection.
Hey all--
I just found out hours ago that I have hep b. I went to the doctor last Thursday because I had been having some flu like symptoms and noticed my urine was dark (gold-orange in color).
Doctor had me come in the next morning and then informed me I had what he thought was Hep A. Keep in mind, I had already had blood tests there 3 times ove the last year or so where they were checking to make sure my liver was not being damaged from new medications I had started taking--which one would assume would have turned something up before this.
I called the docs office today, because I had more blood taken after he informed me I had Hep A. I hadn't heard back since last Friday, so I called today. He wasn't in, so I left a message that I was concerned about my results. He called me back this evening and informed me I have Hep B. I was FLOORED! First thing he said was "don't have sex with anyone and don't share utensils etc..."
My confusion is, how did I get this? Is it ONLY spread through sex? Because that seems to be the assumption, but I'm pretty sure I didn't get it that way. Is it possible if someone were to be preparing food and bled in it or spit a bloody phlem loogie into my food or drink that I could get this? It was originally thought that I got it from contaminated food or water. Two weeks before my symptoms, I had been on a trip to New Orleans and I have heard rumors that the sewer system in the French Quarter is REALLY bad (especially post-Katrina) and is totally possible with the attitudes and reputations of some people in New Orleans, that someone could have contaminated my food. I just would like to know, is it possible this could have happened? Because if it's sex ONLY, than I'm at a loss. I have a sex partner who I am 100% sure--and I know that's what everyone thinks, but I am sure of it--has not had sex with anyone but me in the last 4 years or so.
I'm afraid that I may have passed it on to them in the last couple of weeks, because I did have sex with this person before I knew about my diagnosis, but during the time when the virus would have been in my body. My partner is going to be tested tomorrow and will start the vaccination against Hep B--hopefully.
Right now, I am jaundiced and my abdomen is really tender. It doesn't hurt, but I'm bloated and it's tender and really uncomfortable. I am battling nausea on occasion. I haven't thrown up, but I feel somewhat nauseous after eating sometimes. My bowel movements are somewhat regular. They are a little looser than normal, but not diarrhea. I have been staying hydrated and drinking a good deal of water. My urine is usually darkest when I wake up, but after I drink some water it is not AS dark. But definitely more color than normal.
I have read multiple times that 90 to 95% of Hep B patients go on to rid there body of the virus over time and that afterwards, they become immune. Is this true? I'm going in to see my doctor, not tomorrow morning, but the next morning (2 days) so he can do some more blood work and I'm sure he's going to sit me down when I get in give me the low down.
Can any of you out there identify with these symptoms? Maybe give me a hint at what to expect or some positive optimistic advice that I can cling to to ease my mind a bit?
Please know that ANY information is GREATLY appreciated. And I will be your friend for life. As long as that is... :(
I'm really thankful that I found this site and I am able to contact people who are dealing with this virus. I'm still in shock and overwhelmed thinking about everything that could go wrong etc. I'm just hoping that the norm is that most people go on to live long healthy lives who contract this virus.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Rob in Oxford, Mississippi
P.S. if anyone would like to send private messages, shoot me a heads up post on here and I'll check my email at rdschromm@yahoo.com
I just found out hours ago that I have hep b. I went to the doctor last Thursday because I had been having some flu like symptoms and noticed my urine was dark (gold-orange in color).
Doctor had me come in the next morning and then informed me I had what he thought was Hep A. Keep in mind, I had already had blood tests there 3 times ove the last year or so where they were checking to make sure my liver was not being damaged from new medications I had started taking--which one would assume would have turned something up before this.
I called the docs office today, because I had more blood taken after he informed me I had Hep A. I hadn't heard back since last Friday, so I called today. He wasn't in, so I left a message that I was concerned about my results. He called me back this evening and informed me I have Hep B. I was FLOORED! First thing he said was "don't have sex with anyone and don't share utensils etc..."
My confusion is, how did I get this? Is it ONLY spread through sex? Because that seems to be the assumption, but I'm pretty sure I didn't get it that way. Is it possible if someone were to be preparing food and bled in it or spit a bloody phlem loogie into my food or drink that I could get this? It was originally thought that I got it from contaminated food or water. Two weeks before my symptoms, I had been on a trip to New Orleans and I have heard rumors that the sewer system in the French Quarter is REALLY bad (especially post-Katrina) and is totally possible with the attitudes and reputations of some people in New Orleans, that someone could have contaminated my food. I just would like to know, is it possible this could have happened? Because if it's sex ONLY, than I'm at a loss. I have a sex partner who I am 100% sure--and I know that's what everyone thinks, but I am sure of it--has not had sex with anyone but me in the last 4 years or so.
I'm afraid that I may have passed it on to them in the last couple of weeks, because I did have sex with this person before I knew about my diagnosis, but during the time when the virus would have been in my body. My partner is going to be tested tomorrow and will start the vaccination against Hep B--hopefully.
Right now, I am jaundiced and my abdomen is really tender. It doesn't hurt, but I'm bloated and it's tender and really uncomfortable. I am battling nausea on occasion. I haven't thrown up, but I feel somewhat nauseous after eating sometimes. My bowel movements are somewhat regular. They are a little looser than normal, but not diarrhea. I have been staying hydrated and drinking a good deal of water. My urine is usually darkest when I wake up, but after I drink some water it is not AS dark. But definitely more color than normal.
I have read multiple times that 90 to 95% of Hep B patients go on to rid there body of the virus over time and that afterwards, they become immune. Is this true? I'm going in to see my doctor, not tomorrow morning, but the next morning (2 days) so he can do some more blood work and I'm sure he's going to sit me down when I get in give me the low down.
Can any of you out there identify with these symptoms? Maybe give me a hint at what to expect or some positive optimistic advice that I can cling to to ease my mind a bit?
Please know that ANY information is GREATLY appreciated. And I will be your friend for life. As long as that is... :(
I'm really thankful that I found this site and I am able to contact people who are dealing with this virus. I'm still in shock and overwhelmed thinking about everything that could go wrong etc. I'm just hoping that the norm is that most people go on to live long healthy lives who contract this virus.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Rob in Oxford, Mississippi
P.S. if anyone would like to send private messages, shoot me a heads up post on here and I'll check my email at rdschromm@yahoo.com
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
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I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
Now, I believe this is passed on only through sexual contact and body fluids but not like spitting in your food. AND it can be dormant in your body for years, so realistically, you could have gotten this years and years ago and it's now surfacing.
My suggestion: find a hepatologist. Don't just stay with your internal medicine doctor. You do need a specialist in this case.
I also believe you can have A & B but I may be wrong. So you may have a case of A on top of B.
Yes, a healthy long life is possible, but you do need proper treatment and possibly a change in lifestyle.
Good luck!
Thanks for getting back to me. I think I'm going to try to find a specialist in Memphis. I went to the doctor today and he tested my liver enzymes and all and he seemed totally convinced that my body is already fighting it off and that he really didn't think I had any risk of chronic hep b and long term liver damage. He said sex is the primary way hep b is transmitted, but there are other methods and circumstances it can be transmitted such as needles, tattoo (needles), and other circumstances of body fluid swapping. I asked him would it at all be possible that if someone hocked up a bloody loogie into my food or cut themselves and bled into my food, could it be possible to contract it... He said it would be very rare, but he guessed it could happen.
Regardless of whether I'm still dealing with this disease months from now or not, I have already started a lifestyle change and plan on being VERY conscious of everything that goes into my body--and where I put my body and parts of it--for now on. Sitting awake at night and pondering over all of the worst case scenerios is enough to make one go crazy, and it makes you realize just how valuable life and being in good health is.
My partner--I'm gay--is going to be tested Monday. My biggest fear is that I jeopardized his health. Literally, I have only had ONE risky sexual encounter in the past few years and this has all made me realize that a few seconds of fun is not worth my life or the lives of those I love.
So, you can be tested without having symptoms? Because if that's the case, I think I was already tested over the last few months because they were monitoring my liver regarding medications I was being prescribed. I think the lab tests included scans for Hep and other liver damaging disorders etc... Also, I've read that most people experience symptoms sometime in the first couple of weeks to 6 months or so of contracting the Hep virus.
Is your case, where you had no signs for years, very rare?
I don't know. This is all just so crazy and I'm still in shock, confused, and just wish I knew where I got it.
Thank you SO MUCH for getting back to me. You included some info that I'm definitely going to follow up on.
Take care and best wishes.
--Rob XOXO
You're a strong man! I think once you get past the shock of this diagnosis you will take it on, full charge. I was told once to "stand up straight, square my shoulders, and face it full on." And I so believe in that!
Good karma going your way that your partner doesn't have it! I had it for sooooo long. I was told with pregnancy #2, in 1994, that I had abnormal liver tests. Nothing was done at that time, but I believe that was the beginning. All 3 kids were immunized just in case, and I'm so glad they were. Now, 13 years later, I have a full diagnosis. This on top of recently being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease. So it was a shocking year, to say the least. Then they tested me for everything under the sun .... It's wacky and not easy to deal with. But you know what? I squared my shoulder and because ultra informed. My husband was tested, everything's okay there. Now I'm sure to exercise faithfully, eat well, no alcohol, little red meat (bad for the liver) and just lead a good life. And I'm going to enjoy it.
So good luck to you in everything! And may you and your partner be happy for a looooong time.
PS: Almost everyone's had some sort of "risky" encounter. Hey, isn't that what college is for? lol We live and we learn.
I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis; I know how you must be feeling right now: scared, confused, depressed, angry etc.
I am still dealing with my diagnosis. I became jaundiced and lost some weight (not a bad side effect...lol) and was low on energy for a few weeks. I have felt MUCH better for the past few weeks and my jaundice went away after about a week and a half of being yellow. Had a check-up at the doctor a couple of weeks ago and everything was great, except that the test showed the Hep B virus was still in my liver. So, I have an appointment with a specialist next Tuesday and I guess they'll run some tests to give me a more accurate diagnosis and prediction of what my future holds. I'm still very much afraid, but feeling a little bit more optimistic these days on my prospects of recovering and/or living with this thing.
I wish you all the best. If you need anyone to talk to, post here or you can email me at rdschrom@olemiss.edu
Take care.
--Rob
I am a Hep B patient and also work at a major Hep B center as an outreach volunteer. It is so sad that it took your doctor so long to find out that you have Hep B. This is the website you should visit for some back ground material. www.hepb.org
Hep B is only trasmitted via blood and body fluids. It is also 100 times more infectious than HIV. You can NOT pass this virus on to someone by sharing utensils. Cascual contact like kissing and hugging will not pass it either. You should not share personal items like tooth brush, tooth paste, tooth picks, razors, hair blushes and needles etc with anyone.
One best advise I can give you is make sure you ask for a 2nd opinion and ask to see a Hepatologist (a liver specialist) and not a GI(gastroenterologist). There are not a lot of Hepatologist in private practive but all major medical center should have one. The web site address that I gave you also provide a list of liver doctor by location. If you can't find one, go to the CDC site. Hep B is a serious and complicated disease. A lot of doctors are not up to speed on the subject either.
You need to ask your doctor to run a list of test for you inculding the following and explain the result to you in details:
HbsAg, HbsAB, HbeAg, HgcAB, ALT, AST, Bilirubin, HBV DNA
Plus an ultra sound scan (or MRI)of your liver.
YOU MUST TAKE CONTROL OF THE SITUATION AND ACT FAST TO SEEK MEDICAL CARE ASAP.
I wish I can help more. Best of luck to you.