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.

426 Members
21,304 Posts
0 Online
Gastrointestinal System
/ Hepatitis C Support Group

how did you find out?

Arabella1
Arabella1
I am curious how people found out they contracted HCV (? Did you have any symptoms before being diagnosed? I have zero symptoms, though I have heard that some people don't THINK they have symptoms, then clear the virus and realize they actually DID because of how much better they felt after being cleared. I am trying to stay out of my head and not over analyze my every gas pain darker urine (which I discovered my B vitamins make my pee look almost radioactive in the mornings!!!) Maybe one symptom I have is anxiety, it comes and goes sometimes out of the blue, If I'm idle I notice it, if I keep moving and excersizing it goes completely , Do you think there is a link between Anxiety and our Livers?
deleted_user
deleted_user
No symptoms at all. A new primary care physician decided to follow up on an elevated ALT level, and discovered the HCV.. Turns out my ALT's had been elevated since at least 1999, but no one thought to dig further until 2009. No idea how I got HCV...
Arabella1
Arabella1
yeah mine were elevated about 2 years ago, sounds like you have/had a good doc. to investigate further rather than just blowing it off. having no symptoms blows my mind, but I'm definitely NOT complaining!
deleted_user
deleted_user
People are usually asymptomatic until the liver damage becomes quite severe, and by then it's harder to treat. I'd like to see some Public Service Announcements about getting your ALT levels checked...
TulsaGal
TulsaGal
I had symptoms for years, but no one ever diagnosed me. Heck, HCV wasn't even identified until years after I got it. In 2003 I had a nasty case of breast cancer. They thought my cancer had metastized to my liver because of my elevated liver enzymes. It was initially a relief to find out it was JUST HCV. Between a "poor prognosis" from the cancer diagnosis, 6 mos of chemo and 7 surgeries in 2 years I really didn't have any energy to worry about my HCV. First gastro doc said HCV as not a problem due to low VL. Several years later a different doctor suspected cirrhosis based upon my low platelets. I am so glad that I found a good doctor. I didn't like getting bad news, but it was another wake up call to take care of myself.
joemz20
joemz20
1969, after a blood transfusion. Got jaundice and unbelievably tired, showed up at college, they saw my color and sent me home for the term. Was diagnosed with NonA-NonB since they hadn't isolated C yet

For 25 years I thought I once had Hep, and it cleared, and then I became hep free. I thought it was an historical event, like breaking a leg

Then a good doctor, hearing my history, told me that it never cleared. In general LFTs were OK, viral load around 7m, only slight fibrosis. So no panic, but it was time to get rid of this bastard

In week 35 of Triple (Victrelis), and fatigued, but way way less than when I first contracted hcv.
deleted_user
deleted_user
@ Joe -

In this case I represent the 1%.
dillytime
dillytime
i went to the dr complaining of being very tired in 1997..he took blood but never told me he was checking for hepc,,i thought cbc,,,then he called and told me to come in and there it is........