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Posted 3/17/2006 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All

Around the 6th of March I began to feel unwell with some stomach pain. In the following days I lost my appetite completely and noticed my urine was darker. This went on for about a week, in which I began to feel itchy, followed by yellowing of the eyes, skin and pale faeces. This prompted me to go to the local clinic and be tested for Hepatitis B.

I had the results through today HBsAg positive.

Total bilirubin 9.1

Direct bilirubin 8.5

AST 3,488

ALT 4,068

The situation is I live in a foreign land and there is a bit of a language barrier. The doctor has prescribed me some vitamins and asked me to come back next month to be retested.

Is this normal procedure? The doctor seems to think it is acute Hepatits because of the sudden onset.

I have a million questions and its hard to find the answer, theres a lot of conflicting information online.

Esssentially apart from the jaundice, dark urine, pale faeces and some tiredness. I have not felt any pain in my right side, I have occasionally felt a twinge there but no real discomfort.

I'm basically curious if anyone else has been through this here?

Thanks for reading and I wish you all the best of luck.

Posted 3/18/2006 1:31 AM (GMT 0)

Hi John,

Welcome to the forum. You will find support here and help with your questions. Feel free to browse the forum and join in our threads.

I'm caregiver for my husband who has cirrhosis and esophageal cancer.

Barb

Posted 3/18/2006 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Jon, welcome to the forum.I don't have hep c so I can't help you there but I do have cirrhosis & you have definately got cirrhotic symptoms. You need to get a hepatologist . One where there is no language barrier hon.Your right a lot of the info online is very conflicting. One more reason why you need a good hepatologist & start taking the very best possible care of yourself you can.As you go thru the posts here you will find a lot of info from patients & caregivers. the most important thing is a hepatologist. There are people here who are very knowledgable about the hep part of things.Please feel free to go thru the other posts here & join in the conversations. We'd love to hear from you.You will recieve a lot of understanding support here. Take care sweetie. later....
Posted 3/18/2006 7:25 AM (GMT 0)

Welcome, John!  I have chronic active hep C and liver cancer.  I had hep B, probably around the same time I contracted the hep C (late 60s), but my immune system threw it off.  I will always have the hep B antibody.  I don't remember having any symptoms at all when I first got both the C and B.  I believe you should be on something other than vitamins.  You do need to get a lot of rest.  Your liver panel numbers are quite high, so it sounds like you may have cirrhosis or liver failure.  sad    As Lerie suggested, you really need to get involved with a hepatologist and let him/her manage the hepatitis for you.  You most likely will need a biopsy.

Please feel free to come back often and update us on your disease and what is being done.

Best of luck to you,

Connie

Posted 3/18/2006 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jon it is critical you get a hepatologist from your symptoms you sound quite advanced. Like Connie & I have both stated it really dow sound like advanced cirrhosis or liver failure which occurs very quickly & not many symptoms to warn us. My thoughts & prayers are with you. We are all here to support you. later....
Posted 3/18/2006 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
1 mth is not actually enough time to determine if you have chronic or acute hep b,,even an acute attack will show hep b in your system for up to 6 mths. Your symptoms seem like acute hep b,,,and one month is reasonable for your levels to be checked again. I had a severe acute attack last aug that I almost didnt make it through and I was seen one month later to make sure that everything was going back to normal. Definately see someone else if you feel uncomfortable about your care! good luck
trish
Posted 3/29/2006 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jon,
I have Hep C 2B My ast is normal and my alt is 50 but my viral load is 8 million which is high so yes I 'm doing treatment.....I had all those symptoms too please go and see a hep dr...and stay with us too. This is the best forum.
eileen
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