They did a second blood test for hepatitits C for me called Quantity and the results says HCV Ab 31.9H s/co ratio o.o-o.9. What does it mean? Does it say how active I have it? I saw another Dr. today and he said he will do another test tomorrow to see if my liver is good shape or not, it will be done through blood again. I did a sonogram 3 months ago and everything look perfect. Please explain to me more in detail of all the tests I need. I am worry as well as all my family. Thank you!! You have tested positive for the Hepatitis
C virus. You need to have other blood work
done, known as a viral load. Let me explain:
A virus is very different from just normal
bacteria. It needs a living being in order
to replicate itself. It does this by entering
the body and going into the nucleus of
our cells to do this. By taking a viral load,
the doctor can tell how much of the virus
is in your blood and then you will be
treated accordingly. The idea is to
stop this replication of the virus and
destroy it. Liver disease usually
starts out with the liver cells having
inflammation. When the inflammation
progresses, usually because it is not treated, it can cause the cells of the liver
to start to die. If this happens, the
functions the liver cells do to keep the
body healthy, starts to deteriate.
The doctor can tell this by blood testing
known as the liver Enzymes and also
the Liver function tests. The liver enzymes
will tell the doctor if there may be damage
to the cells and the liver functions tests
tell the doctor how well the liver cells
are performing to keep the body healthy.
The liver cells have over 500 functions,
but only a few are chosen for these tests.
Here is a link to a site on the web that
is terrific for Hepatitis C patients to have...
http://www.janis7hepc.com/
It is one of the best on the web.
The links you can go to on this site will
explain about the viral load and these
other tests. There is much information
here and it will give you a good idea
of what is ahead.
The ultrasound usually will show if the
liver is enlarged and if there is a problem
with blood flow as well as if there are
any nodules on it. Let me explain:
When inflammation develops, this causes
the liver to enlarge in size. The doctor
can sometimes feel this upon examination.
If you ever cooked a piece of liver, than
you know that the liver is normally smooth.
This enlargement causes the liver to feel
spongy. IF the disease advances far on,
the liver will start to shrink in size and
develop scar tissue inside of it and then
when the liver cells try to regenerate, they
press up against the scar tissue and
bolge outward. Since you said yours looked
normal, then they may have caught this
in time to help stop this from occurring.
I'm explaining this to you so you have
some idea of what they are looking for.
No one test is 100% accurate. You will
need to have more than one blood test and
then the doctor will determine if you need
a CT scan or other testing to be done.
I will tell you that the very best test to have
done to be sure how the liver is doing...is
the liver biopsy. Most doctors will not
do this test except as a last resort and if
it is definitely needed.
I hope this has been of some help to you. First of all I want you to know I have Hepatitis B. I have a friend who has Hepatitis C and this is important for you to know. "Both of us are doing just fine". He's 58 and I'm 61. So far both of us are healthy. Two years ago he (C carrier) had a problem with his liver but that was due to heavy drinking so he quit. I know it's scary to discover we have these disease but they can be managed and you can remain healthy. Stay off heavy alcohol use and drug use and you should be just fine. Good luck. The test confirms you are positive for active HCV infection.
Thats the bad news...the good news is, if you treat asap, your chances of responding to antiviral chemotherapy are good- no matter what the genotype you have.
Genotype 1's and 3's are hardest to treat where as genotypes 2 and 4's are easier to treat.
Depdending on genotype and if your a good canadite for treatment, will give the doctor how long you need to be on treatment.
The only true test to see how the liver is, is a biopsy. Not to worry however, they are not as bad as one may think. I had three biopsies prior to treatment and even volunteered a follow up biopsy. Really no pain, more like pressure.
Sonograms will only indicate severe damage and cancer.
Many of us go decades not knowing we are ill. I had hcv for almost 27 years before being diagnosed at age 34. I was only a grade and stage 2.1. The damage was cut in half and my hcv is resolved (cured).
Check out Hepatitis C- Objectives or other support groups online. Try not to worry okay? The results you've got is probably just a Hepatitis C screen.
A positive test on the Hepatitis screen does not mean that you have chronic Hepatitis.
It only tells you that you have the antibody to the Hepatitis C.
The next thing you need to do is get you HCV viral load and genotype:
If your HCV viral load is undetectable ...it means you have resolved hepatitis C. No treatment needed.
If your have HCV viral is detectable or positive, then you have chronic hepatitis C. The next step is to get the genotype to plan for the length of treatment.
In some instances, we do not perform liver biopsy especially for genotype 2 and 3 because the treatment is very responsive to Peg Intron and Ribavirin.
There are treatment options for Chronic Hep C like Peg Intron and Ribavirin. Duration of treatment depends on your genotype (6months for genotype 2 and 3) and one year for genotype 1. Treatment response to genotype 1 is worse then genotype 2 and 3. |
