Hepatitis C

[katierose]

I am not sure if this is the right place to post this. I just have to get it out because currently I am terrified and I don't want to worry or depress family and friends with this, at least not yet. I have 2 children and am pregnant with my 3rd. Last week at my obstetrician appointment I was told that in my blood test results I came up positive for hep C. This was a full week ago now. I have always been very healthy and my children too. It was absolutely the last thing I would ever have expected to hear. The following day I went for more blood tests. My obstetrician set up an appointment to discuss further results for tomorrow. I didn't want to wait that long so I went back to my GP yesterday to get the results. She didn't have them and on calling the pathologist was told they didn't do the test right and I had to do it again. Now my obstetrician has told me I have to wait until next week for the results.

On the advise of my GP I got my 14 month old daughter tested. It was the most horrible thing! They had trouble getting blood from her and it hurt her and holding her while she was tested for a dangerous illness I may have passed on to her was almost unbearable. Last night I read on the internet that babies under 2 should not be tested because if the mother has the antibodies for hep C they will also without it necessarily meaning they are infected, so it seems I put her through that for nothing.
I want to know if there is anyone out there who has any experience of hepatitis C. I want to know what to expect.

[Lilys*mummy]

I have no advice but just wanted to say that I'm so sorry you are going through this :hugs::hugs::hugs:.

[miasmumma]

hi first of all :hugs:.

my father has hep c, so i can only tell you what i know based on that. i would advise you to visit you gp to get all the necessary referals and info on the condition. whilst hep c is something feared by the general community the fact is that it is only transmitabel via blood toblood contact, so there is a very slim chance you could have passed it on or will pass it on (its just about being aware). from what i understand your unborn baby will be fine.

in terms of telling your family, i would seriously consider who you tell and only tell people in confidence and who you can trust (due to societies rediculous stigma).

hep c is a disease that attacks the liver and manifests itself differently in each person. you will need testing to determine the current conditon of your liver and how badly the disease is affecting it. unlike hiv, hep c isnt a death sentenced and if picked up early can be treated with a huge range of trial medicines. in terms of everyday affects you will probabaly just feel very very tired. i hope i have helped a little. there are a number of hep c support groups across australia that might be of interest to you.

once again:hugs:, this is probably going to be a stessful time for you and your family and i wish you all the best. goodluck with the duration of your pregnancy.