Ongoing Symptoms No answers

Hi all

Almost a year ago now, I had a possible exposure to HCV during high risk unprotected sex, (Im a gay male). I had, and still have numerous symptoms, from severe blotchy red palms, blotchy rash on my torso, swollen glands, loose stools, pain on my right side and awful fatigue but insomnia despite. I have been to the doctor many times, and she has taken many tests, the latest being about a month ago, FBC, ESR, many more and liver function included came back normal.

I had a negative HCV and HIV eight months after the possible exposure, and am vaccinated against HBV so they refused to test for it.

My doctor says these symptoms are caused by stress but I find this difficult to believe. I have of course been worried, but not to such an extent that I can see it being the sloe cause of all these symptoms. Do you think that with these tests all being normal, Hepatitis or liver damage can be definitely ruled out?

I've just moved to Germany and feel anxious about going to see a doctor because of the language barrier, yet Im still feeling pretty ill, I desperately need some advice!

Simple, I agree with Trish's suggestion. There are generally no symptoms with Hep C until one has had it for decades. Then the main symptom is fatigue. I was diagnosed with hep C in '93, but had contracted it in the late 60s. I developed liver cancer from the hep C, but had no pain until just prior to surgery.

Good luck to you, and please come back and post again!

Connie

Thanks for your replies, I am feeling a bit more relaxed about it now, but am still baffled as to what is causing all of these symptoms, the ones that concern me are the red hands....extremly red and blotchy, sometinmes a little painful, the same on my chest, and the fatigue, everything i read on these says liver!... If these symptoms were caused by cirrosis of the liver would all of my past blood tests been normal, i know you're not doctors, but an informed opinion would be great.Does the hep b shot always work? I am concerned about this and a little baffled at why they wouldnt test me for it. I mentioned in my last post that i ahd just moved to Germany, im trying to find a doctor to get a second opinion but its proving difficult at the moment. If it did turn out that i had HBV, do you think i would be able to handle the treatment and work? I have just started my dream job and dont want to have to give it up and move back home...

Once again, thanks for any advice you can give me!

Will let you know when i fifnally get to a doctor!

right connie, let me think how this goes,,,,,positive antigens mean you have been exposed(which can be because of vaccine) , positive surface antigens mean the virus is active,and antibodies mean that your body has fought it off and you have an immunity built up to the virus,,,,,,,I think this is how it goes! It was explained to me in detail by a dr( who i kept grilling for all the info i could),,,but its been almost 2 years and my brain doesnt work well sometimes lol Let us know what you find out,and hope you feel better soon

I can give you guys a quick short explanation of some HBV serologic tests. anti-HBS (surface antibody) presence indicates previous exposure to HBV, the virus is not present and cannot be transmitted, and that the pt is protected from future infections. This test can also indicate a vaccination. HBsAG (surface antigen) is an early indicator of HBV. If the Hep B surface antigen is present, the the pt can either be a carrier (virus is 'withdrawn' and not very active, if at all) or the virus is active, and can be transmitted to others. HBeAg (hep B e-antigen) is used to decipher the infectivity of a pt, and will not be present if the pt is a carrier (used to determine the case in a HBsAG-present pt) HBV DNA is used much in the same way as HBeAG, however this test is more sensitive, and elevated levels indicate a high level of contagiousness. Using these test, combined with others (depending on time scale and if the infection is acute or chronic), we can see what the virus is doing.

Hope all is well