Re: Has anyone actually cleared the virus???

Hi, This is a great question and brings about even more questions for me.

Since 2005 I have been told that I have cleared the Hepatitis C virus, though I have heard so much conficting information about regarding this and am still skeptical and full of questions.
- Does clearing the virus mean you dont have it anymore or does it mean its just hiding like in remission.
- Does it mean that I cant give it to anyone?
- Can it spontaniously reappear?
I hope someone has answers?

I am still confused to this day and family and friends are confused too.

I was diagnosed with chronic Hepatitus C in 2001 at the age of 19 - a week after I prematurely delivered my twin boys and became ill due to complications and infections. It was devastating and unbelievable news. (likely I got it from a few pints of blood I recieved when I was 14)

I began combination therepy, peg/interferon a year later. But, due to being a working, single mom to twins, and major side effects, I only did it for 5 months before stopping. I gave up and figured there wasn't much I could do other than try to be thankful for what blessings and life I had and try not to think about it. I was afraid to go back to see the doc and find out my prognosis so I didn't.

I finally went back to see the doctor in 2005 and was told that it appeared that the virus had cleared but further testing and frequent bloodwork would need to be done. I had bloodwork done two more times, 3 months apart. When I returned to my doctor he again said it's been cleared! I couldn't believe it!!! A miricle!! Dispite this wonderful news I was still skepticle and confused.

Because I had moved alot I have had various docs. Some did not seem to think that this was possible but did not order the tests to prove it wrong. Additionally, everything I have ever read and researched says there is no cure. The people in my life are also confused and say they thought there is no cure, that it can just hide and so many people don't believe me. Others think it's in remission - like cancer- and could come back. IM SO CONFUSED AND SCARED!

Anyway, I've been ill on and off for the past year with occational fevers, fatigue, and just ill feeling. In the back of my mind I wondered if I still had Hep C and it was now causing problems. 6 months ago, the next bout of fevers and flu like symptoms I went the doctors. I was thinking I had the flu. Doc's did bloodwork, suggested the flu or a virus and sent me home. A few days later I got a letter from my doc saying that my test came back positive for hep c and I was to get further testing. I did and was told that the test the previous doc had done was not the right test, that this test would always come back positive. He did the extensive blood tests and told me that there was no sign of Hep C that it appears that it had cleared as I was told in 2005. I felt relieved yet not fully convinced.

Ok so now the long story-sorry.

Last month I became very ill with high fevers, severe fatigue, and severe joint aches and pain. After a week of this I finally went to the doc. She said it was probably a virus of some sort and sent me home. A few days went by and I got worse and went to the hospitals ER. The ER doc did bloodwork and x rays and came back to my room and said my tests indicated some liver damage and my liver enzymes were really high. He said he was concerned that it had to do with my Hep C. He wanted me to stay and monitor me in the hospital for a few days. I had my twins with and told him I had to get them situated so he agreed to let me go home if I would go seem my regular doc the next day to be seen and get bloodwork. He said that if my blood tests showed any futher increase that I'd probably have to be admitted to the hospital for observation and care. So the next morning(Friday) I went to see my doc and she did the bloodwork and told me that my liver enzymes had tripled since the night before!!!! I told her what the ER doc had said and she said she didn't think it was hep c related and didn't think I needed to be admitted into the hospital. She said she was thinking that it could be lymes since I had mentioned we'd gone fishing in a wooded area or something else like mono. So she said ordered those bloodtests and said go home and rest and return on monday and they would check my liver enzymes and give me the lymes and mono test results. I wasn't really happy about this as I was soooo sick and all and kinda felt like she should've put me in the hospital. But I went home and tried to rest. In the middle of the night I couldn't take it any more and felt worse than I ever had so I went to the ER again. This time my bloodtest came back saying my bloodtests were still increasing and so they wanted to admit me into the hospital for a few days to figure out what was going on.
Anyway I was tested again for tick diseases and a bunch of stuff and although the test were all negative they treated me with an antibiotic. Two days later my liver enzymes were lowering and so the doc sent me home with a diagnosis of anaplasmosis (a rare tick disease) and lymes disease and said to follow up with my regular doc. I did and my levels were getting back to normal and told that I should feel a bit better after a week on the Antibiotic and scheduled an appt. to come back in a week to see her.

Well, to cut this short- Its now been a month of being ill. I'm on a second round of Antibiotics . I 've returned every three days to my doc and my liver enzymes are back to normal but I am still having occational low fevers, severe joint pain, and fatigue. The last time I saw my doc I was informed that I also have come down with mono now!

So any ideas on this whole situation would be great.

I