WIworrier

I know some of you have had experience with this. My 19 yr old son (who has been clean for over a month...DOC is H) and is doing really well was informed from a friend she was positive for hep c antibdy. So I made him go in for labs and he is too. Last year at this time his test was negative. His friend now says she is not positive and all is ok? Can anyone explain? Should we wait a few months and re-test? Or have the "advanced" test (which costs about $400+!)
Any advice?????

Ann

If he used needles, it could be from that. Hep C is not necessarily a sexually transmitted disease, and there are many ways one can get it. That said, if he has sex with anyone or has had sex since he last tested negative, he should let the people know and use protection in the future.

I think his doctor should guide him on this, tell him when the best time to retest might be and also start him on any treatment or medication that he may need for this.

Ann

This article from Wikipedia may be helpful to you and to him.

Hepatitis C - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

littlebird77

I'm a little confused, does he share needles with this girl? as Ann mentioned, it is not an STD...it is blood to blood transmission... though one can get it also from not cleaning their needles and reusing the same one. So if he plans on using H, I would suggest an annual test.

Beantowngirl

I found this info with some basic googling:

Sounds like his friend might have cleared the virus. He should have a chat with his doctor about whether it's best to test further at this point. His doctor may say it's not worth doing yet since if he does end up having Hep C they will probably refrain from starting him on the treatments yet. From what I've heard the treatments are pretty rough, almost like having chemotherapy or something. His doctor will probably want him to have way more than a month of being clean before starting treatments, likely at least a year.

Sorry to hear this is a possibility for your son. My ex has Hep C and I gathered the courage last week to make a doctor's appointment to have myself tested this Friday. It is very rarely transmitted through sex but I will worry about it until I get tested so off to the doctor I go.

Beantowngirl

Forgot to include the link to what I quoted:
All About Hepatitis C - Antibody Tests: The ELISA and RIBA

Hammerhead

My ex had/has Hep C (contracted thru cocaine straw) He went for treatment for 6 months. At the 4 month mark his insurance company dropped him even after giving approval prior to treatment... (Doctor would not begin treatment without letter of approval from Insurance). The side effects are just like chemotherapy... I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

We scrapped money together to get the last 2 months of treatment... and the doctor was so kind to assist us with additional free medication which helped tremendously.

At 6 months the doctor told him his liver levels were back to normal... but he couldn't know for sure if he was "cured" until follow-up tests 3 months, 6 months and a year later. My ex never went back for any follow-up tests.

In the meanwhile... exH decided he wanted to drink again!!!! So I told him... you must confer with your doctor before you drink around me... The doctor told him he could have 4 ounces a week! So naturally he started out with 4 ounces a week... then he decided to be "creative" and save his 4 ounces one week and have 8 ounces the next week.... needless to say that's not what the doctor intended...

Nonetheless... it took 2 months for my exH to be in complete denial that he ever had Hep C (WTF) and since he didn't have insurance... he didn't have a doctor!!! It went even further downhill from there...

I too worry because we had unprotected sex... and I need to be tested... Thanks Beantowngirl.

WIworrier

He was just a friend to this girl and did 1x share a needle with her...though it is not incommon for them to "clean" the needle and reuse it on themselves. So my question then is...should he get re tested at some point....
He does not have ins and I did pay for the anti body test. The remainder of the tests are quite costly along with seeing a specialist. He did get a message from the local health dept today to call them back. The dr.'s office must of had to report it to them....
Has anyone had this experience or know of someone???

Hammerhead

My suggestion...allow your son to tend to his own affairs... i.e. since he doesn't have insurance... you can let him know the local health department called... but then leave it alone... the more you "help" the less responsibility he takes for his actions... he suffers no consequence to his behavior.

I stated earlier... my exH did not appreciate nor adhere to any help given. I think he may have taken things more seriously had he dealt with the issue or had invested himself in the process.... and if he didn't... would have saved me a lot of time and heartache.

Just my opinion.

sunnygirl68

WI: I tested positive for Hep C about 4 years ago, (contracted from a blood transfusion in 1988), the way the liver specialist explained it to me was this, at one time I did have Hep C from the transfusion, however my body's natural defenses fought it off, she said I was VERY lucky, and she was only able to tell someone that about 4 times a year! She said that I could never contract Hep C at this point (kind of like having measles as a child), but just to be safe that my liver is functioning properly, I should have my liver enzymes checked once a year as part of my physical.
I have never had a problem with my test being abnormal.
I hope that helps.