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.
Is it possible to have HCV antibodies and not the virus? What on earth does the doctor mean when he writes "exposed to HCV at some point, antibodies present" And then says nothing else like maybe...I'm sorry, your child has hepatitis C, you should seek treatment options?? The antibody comment was written on a lab result, but face to face the doctor never even mentioned Hep C. I just found the scribbled comment on a lab result, months after the visit. Oh happy day. I have always been careful about blood, maybe a finger nail clipper? I dont know. If this is my legacy to my children, I dont know what I am going to do.
My initial gastro misinterpreted the antibody test and told me he was sure i was one of the lucky 20% who had cleared the virus.... .he then called back days later to say he was wrong and i needed a viral load test.... I am now doing triple treatment. Best of luch for you child.
My wife was actually the one speaking to the doctor. I just found the slip of paper. She said the doctor didnt mention anything but good things. I'll start digging around for which doctor it was.
I test posative for TB because I must have been exposed at some point, but I don't have TB. I will always test posative for it now I'm told.
I asked my wife to request a hep C test in addition to the physical/ check up. It just dawned on me that maybe the lab slip came in the mail, long after the fact? That would explain the "cool clinical" footnote on the lab slip. Perhaps the Doctor just never followed up. shoot. Damn coffee table clutter. Is there an instant antibody test? So I freakin dropped the ball, not the doctor. I'll bet. Doctor should have called or something.
They would have to do an RNA test to find out if the child actually has the virus. Don't forget, it's not easy to get this virus, and 80-85% of people exposed to it clear it on their own without even knowing that they had it. Everyone on this site - myself included - is among the unlucky 15% who did not clear it and developed chronic HCV.