Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
Well, I was cured of my Hep C in 2012, (Triple Tx with Boceprivir for 28 wks) and then my Husband was cured a year later, in an AbbVie Clinical trial (12 weeks of AbbVie meds and Riba, no Inf)...but I was still worried I may have given Hep C to my sons, via maternal (vertical) transmission. Sometimes I worried that perhaps I had even given it to them via breast-feeding, and would think up scenarios like: after they were born they had thrush, and I had mastitis, etc, etc. I mean...I breast-fed them all for almost 3 yrs, lol
Sooo, after celebrating World Hep C Day yesterday, I took my 12 and 14 yr old sons in for the Hep C Antibody test. It's just a finger-prick, and then we waited 20 minutes, and I am so happy and relieved to report that they are both negative, nooo hep c antibody!
I felt like this was a good time to do it, before they were full on rebellious teen-agers, who might try to refuse, or would be flakey, etc. They were real troopers!
Sooo, after celebrating World Hep C Day yesterday, I took my 12 and 14 yr old sons in for the Hep C Antibody test. It's just a finger-prick, and then we waited 20 minutes, and I am so happy and relieved to report that they are both negative, nooo hep c antibody!
I felt like this was a good time to do it, before they were full on rebellious teen-agers, who might try to refuse, or would be flakey, etc. They were real troopers!
I think I'm just waiting until an easier cure comes out, I don't want them to have to go through 24 weeks of what I'm doing right now. My family doctor and gastro doc both say it's not necessary to test them but I know I will in the end...
He tested positive, but with a different genotype (he had issues with straws that got him infected all on his own).
To make along story short, he cleared the virus himself, the lucky bugger! lol
Yes - I know how teenagers are - one day they "CHANGE" , really...
I birthed 4 and breastfed 3 (also up to 3 yrs) after I likely contracted HCV. It was my first and biggest fear that i passed it to them either at birth or via breastfeeding. the later i found is not a risk factor but birth is.
My eldest daughter passed away before i knew so i never knew if she had it. My other three were tested and do NOT! What a RELIEF!
Hydron - your situation reminds us that in addition to having our kids tested, we also need to talk to them about risky behavior! (Not that kids ever listen tot heir parents.)
Hydron I didn't realize that your son had a different GT but I remember you saying that he spontaneously cleared. If only we could've been do lucky.
Oh and Cassy, with HIV one strain tends to dominate and there have been, to my knowledge, very few cases of having more than one. One takes over. I know we've discussed this here before. Deja vu just now. I bet most have only one dominant strain. Like the color of your hair that prevails. Well before the hair dye. ;-)