Breastfeeding :: Hepatitis C Positive With Viral Load
Found out through my OBGYN that i am Hep C positive. Shocking because I've never been a drug user, never had a transfusion, ext. Requested a retest which also came back positive, just to be sure. Then they did a RNA test and it came back with no viral load. Does this mean I cleared the virus on my own and won't ever need treatment? Should I do this test again? Also, since i'm pregnant and am wanting to breastfeed, I'm wondering if it is passable or not since I have no viral load? Will it be safe to breastfeed? I know it is not passable threw the actual milk, but am concerned with cracked/bleeding nipple or teething that could possibly cause me to bleed.
View 2 RepliesHepatitis B :: Viral Load Still Around 200 IU After 3 Years Of Viread
I have been on Viread for three years and my viral load never goes undetectable. The viral load went down in the past two years. However, it has been up and down in the range of 100 to 300 IU in the past year. It seems that it will never go down to undetectable. The test for mutation failed three times because of very low viral load. Am I non-responder to Viread? Should I switch to another treatment? Should I be concerned?
View 13 RepliesHepatitis :: HBV DNA Viral Load Is 6200 IU/mL - HBe Antibody Is Positive?
I am 36 years old. My LFT levels are normal but HBV DNA Viral Load is 6200 IU/mL. HBe Antigen is negative and HBe antibody is positive. Can you please explain what all these mean and how likely is the sever damage to liver in this state? What do I need to do to reduce or finish the Viral load and how much time is it likely to take?
View 24 RepliesLupus :: Anti-dsDNA And Anti-smith?
Are these anti-bodies found in people that do not have lupus? I have both, but the numbers are very low, so they're not flagged. I've seen in a number of places online that anti-dsDNA and anti-sm are pretty exclusive to Lupus.
View 6 RepliesIs Prostatitis An Indication Of An HIV Infection?
Unprotected sex with a female that I know well (but do you really know people? she says i have nothing to worry about) , happened approx 7 weeks ago. Approximately 3 weeks post, was diagnosed with Prostatitis. I'm a 46 y/o male and have crohn's. The provider stated usually caused by bacteria, or often times is an unknown cause. All my blood work CBC, CMP etc came back within normal ranges. We did a gonorrhea and Chlamydia test via urine specimen and it was negative as well. Antibiotic, seemed to clear it up, though still seem to have mild flare now and then.
I googled the condition just to look for some additional information. I see that it is one of the most common urologic conditions for men and seems to hit the 40-50 year range most. I was concerned when I saw that HIV was listed. To this I am freaked out and have become very stressed. The provider wasn't even going to do the G&C tests until I asked if we should - and she didn't seem too concerned.
Question:
1) Is Prostatitis an indication of an HIV infection? An ARS symptom? Do I have a need to worry? (understanding a test is the way to rule out, which I will have done)
2) Can my test at this point in time be considered conclusive once completed?
Pernicious Anaemia :: B12 - Low Cellular Levels, High Serum Levels After 5 Years Treatment
I found out I had a B12 deficiency 5 years ago. My levels were very dangerously low at the cellular/functional level. I was told I was near paralysis. Now, after 5 years, they are still low. They have come up to almost borderline, but it still flags red on my tests. My serum levels though are too high for the lab to measure! Its just not getting into my cells so it's not able to be used. I do twice a week injections plus twice a month IV B12 and still it has taken my body 5 years just to go up a little bit. I feel the effects of the shot for about 15 hours barely then I just feel awful again, thankfully it's prescribed every 2 days. But I don't want to do it every 2 days forever!
In the beginning I was told it would take a month or two to get my body back to normal and then just a shot every few months for maintenance. My drs have not only increased my dose but also the frequency and STILL after all these years I'm deficient.
Thyroid Disorders :: T4 Levels And Cortisol Levels Low?
Why are my T4 levels and Cortisol levels low?
I have been having symptoms of depression, fatigue, low libido and weight gain over the last few years. I am 50 and have gone through menopause. My latest lab results are:
TSH 1.064 (0.358-3.74)
Free T4 9.7 (9.8-18.8)
ferritin 16 (3-105)
B12 498 (156-672)
Cortisol 28 (155-570)
RBC's normal
I am not taking any thyroid meds......only nexium and Cymbalta.
What do these results mean? Can someone give me some insight into the results please?
Hepatitis C :: 66 Years Old With Reactive Hepatitis
my father is 66 years old, it has been found out through blood test (ANTI HCV) his cutoff value is 1.00 and patient value is 12.51. which further reveals reactive hepatitis. what do you suggest for him?
View 1 RepliesVestibular Neuritis - Viral Infection In Ear?
About 3 months ago (Nov 1). I woke up one morning and did not feel dizzy but definitely off. Groggy, lightheaded, wonky I guess you could say. I can describe it like how it would look if you were standing at the top of a tall building. Things just looked foggy to me. It scared the hell out of me. I waited about 2 weeks because I thought I was just tired. It wasn't going away so I went to the emergency room and the first thing he did was check my ear and told me it was red and inflamed which is causing me to feel wonky. He said it was a mild Vestibular Neuritis. He said it's just viral and it will go away on it's own. Well, I have gone to my family doctor about 5 times since then JUST to have her check in my ear. It's now February and she still sees that it is red and inflamed. She said she doesn't want to just throw antibiotics at it because it DEFINITELY is NOT an infections and that it is viral. She said she also does not want to prescribe dizzy meds because if the room is not spinning then she doesn't want me to take them. I feel like I'd rather feel dizzy than feel this!!! How long does this "viral" crap last???? I have not felt ANY improvement since it started. Unless I am just used to feeling this way so it doesn't seem as scary anymore?? The only way I can describe it is that I am the most tired I have EVER been in my life. (gone for TONS of bloodwork and I am totally fine everywhere). SO just super tired and I have MASSIVE sensitivity to certain lights. I work under one at work and maintenance had to come in and dim the light for me. It's so frustrating because people look at me and automatically know that something is wrong with me because they see I am trying to focus on their faces. It's been like 4 months and I can't even deal with this anymore. My doctor seems as if she is fed up with me which I hate because I obviously wouldn't be going there if there weren't a problem. Last time I went she said the ear was still red and that she was going to send me to an ENT specialist. I have been waiting SO long for this appointment and it is finally on March 3. I just have the strongest feeling they are going to send me away AGAIN saying I need an MRI and then I have to wait even LONGER. My husband and I want to try and have a baby and we have totally put our lives on hold because I don't want to be pregnant and not being able to go for these tests that you can't go to when pregnant. I just want answers. I'm so upset. I know it's not vertigo because things aren't spinning. It's so hard to describe I'm just so tired and have a foggy head and sometimes that same ear aches and even that side of my head aches too. And forget being under certain lights. Does anybody know what I am talking about?? Please help me. I'm so nervous about going to this END as well because I don't want them finding anything super serious. I am so scared from all of this and I just wish I could get some answers. Will the ENT confirm that it is in fact VN? My doctor hasn't confirmed that. She just keeps saying "it's red and it's viral." I am so fed up and so sick and tired of feeling tired and foggy and wonky.
View 22 RepliesHow To Deal With Viral Vestibular Neuritis?
Long story short I went to urgent care about 5 months ago because I was feeling lightheaded and disoriented. The NP told me I had an inner ear infection and gave me meds.
About 4 days later my symptoms had not improved and I went to the ER. They ran tons of tests and all were clear, then told me they also thought it an ear infection. I was diagnosed with a middle ear infection and sinusitis, told to stop my old meds and take some new ones.
I took a full round of antibiotics to clear the infection and after the bottle was empty i noticed no improvement, and may have felt worse.
I made an appointment for balance testing and an MRI with my ENT. The MRI come back squeaky clean. The balance test revealed that I had sustained "low frequency nerve damage in both ears". I now realize he probably meant vestibular nerve damage.
It's been close to 6 months now, I do feel much better than when this started but I still have constant brain fog and a feeling of imbalance. I also seem to feel worse when I go to stores or busy places. (oddly enough this excludes the gym, it's the one place I feel normal some times, I believe due to the fact working out releases endorphins, i'm not sure). I took an auditory test and they said everything seemed normal which is why I think it is neuritis and not labyrinths, as labs usually also causes hearing damage?
What do you guys think, sound like vestibular neuritis?
P.S. I'm doing some at home vestibular exercises, I meet with my ENT on the 22nd and am going to get him to refer me to VRT. At the moment the hardest thing to deal with is the brain fog, and anxiety it causes. I was thinking about asking to be put on Zoloft as my mother takes this and says it does wonders for her. I'm just nervous that it could make my brain fog worse, or slow down compensation. Do you think either of these could happen?
P.P.S. if you have a success story in dealing with this or know someone who has I would love to hear it. I'm beginning to feel that my life will always be like this and it's <seriously depressing> to be honest.
Anti-Inflammatories :: High Off Of Cataflam?
My grandmother is 53 years old and has arthritis. She takes cataflam against pain and inflammation. Some time ago she started telling us that her tablets are missing. She thinks someone is taking them. I have a younger brother who is a teenager. When I asked him if he knows anything about grandma missing medicine, he yelled at me, slammed the door and went out with his friends. Is it possible that he is taking Cataflam? I mean, is it possible to get a high of cataflam?
View 2 RepliesAnkylosing Spondylitis :: Anti-TNF Drugs In UK?
I have read on several message boards lately that there could be two new anti-tnf drugs coming to the market soon. Would that make the total 5? If so then does anyone know when these will be available to the UK market?
View 4 RepliesAutoimmune Disorders :: Positive ANA And Anti-SSA/Ro
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia years ago due to constant and sometimes debilitating muscle and joint pain. I am seeing a new PCP and she ordered some blood tests. The first was just a general screening but my c-reactive protein came back as elevated (also my platelets) so the doc ordered an ANA with reflex if positive. ANA came back positive (no titer information - it was just a positive/negative test I guess) and anti-SSA came back at 8.0 (negative range is 0.0 to 0.9). But RA factor, anti-centromere B antibodies, anti-dna (ds) qn, anti-jo-1, anti chromatin, anti scleroderma-70, rnp, anti-SSB, and smith antibodies are all normal.
Besides my muscle and joint pain I have had periods of alopecia (losing quarter to half-dollar sized patches of hair on my head), full-body rashes during especially hot times, asthma, and suspected endometriosis (currently controlled by depo-provera). I also used to never get sunburnt but my face especially gets really red now if I am in the sun for more than a little while. I have darker skin so its sometimes hard to see but lately my cheeks and nose seem constantly flushed.
All of these symptoms have been spaced out and gradual so I never thought anything of each individual symptom. The alcopecia was blamed on "stress" when I went to the doctor for it. The rashes I blamed on a simple "heat rash". My pain was diagnosed at first as carpal tunnel and then as fibromyalgia. But now with the ANA and anti-SSA tests I am thinking it all may be related. But I don't know and my doctor is out of town, and although I know she will refer me to a rheumatologist now as we have talked about that, who knows when I will actually be able to see the rheumatologist. So any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I am thinking maybe SLE (lupus) but with only that one anti-SSA and none of the others I don't know. Also I do have flares 2-3 times a month where my pain gets much worse but it constantly hurts and aches the rest of the time regardless, which doesn't seem like typical lupus. Oh and I also had severe fatigue until my doc put me on Savella which helped with the fatigue but not the pain. So now I am on gabapentin also but it doesn't seem to help too much either.
I would do almost anything just to be pain-free for even just a day. I am hoping with the ANA results now the doctors will not only maybe be better able to treat me but also will take my pain seriously.
Vestibular Neuritis - Inner Ear Due To Viral Infection - Imbalance
After 3 long months and what seems like an endless struggle to get diagnosed, I have been diagnosed with an imbalance between my inner ears due to a viral infection, leading to a diagnosis of vestibular neuritis. The doctor said my migraines could also possibly be presenting themselves atypically and aggravating the situation.
I am doing vestibular rehabilitation exercises and taking steps to unclog my sinuses.
This is the longest ailment I've had and quite frankly I'm fed up, I know rehabilition will take a while, however does anyone know how long this thing can last??? It's ruining my concentration at work and puts me off social situations (I can't drink, it makes me wake up the next day feeling extra dizzy)
Vestibular Neuritis Viral Inner Ear - Valtrex And Valium
I been diagnosed with vestibular neuritis I am dizzy taking valtrex and Valium can anyone give me some imput on this I had my first vertigo spell on sat.
View 3 RepliesUndiagnosed :: Viral Infection From Tick Bite?
I live near Sydney , Australia, 49 years old, normally very fit and healthy. 8 weeks ago I was bitten by a large adult tick on right shoulder while hiking. It was on me for about 24hrs before I noticed, killed and removed it. A week after bite, chronic dull headaches started, sinus pain focussed on left side with whitish foamy post nasal drip, neck like a pepper grinder when I turn it, jaw joints clicking and stiff, darkened hollows around eyes, extreme unnatural fatigue. Have been to 3 separate GP doctors and local hospital ED several times and they were at a loss except to give me painkillers and antibiotics. Given 4 blood tests and all returned completely normal with no markers for inflammation, serology negative for infections. Had sinus x-ray: normal. Had brain MRI: normal Have taken so far in sequence, Doxycycline 100, then Amoxicillin Forte with Clavulanic Acid, now on Cephalexin and Metronidazole in combination with grape seed extract. None have made much difference except to lessen the headaches and I suppose rule out bacterial infections, so what I have is probably viral. Taking loads of vit C, garlic, horseradish, etc and resting in bed but nothing is helping. This going on for 6 weeks now, very debilitating.
View 2 RepliesViral Infections :: On And Off Fever With Sore Throat
I have seasonal allergies, although, this may not be that case, because this year I have not had allergies.
I have had a BAD sore throat, and it really tends to hurt when I swallow. I've taken cough drops, honey, salt water rinses, tylenol and ibuprofen, and even gargled my prescription Lidocaine for numbing, and none of its working. I can't post a picture because I don't know how right now, but my throat is red, but no pus spots, no swollen tonsils, or anything else seems wrong. My sore throat has been accompanied by a fever that comes and goes, and a headache that lasts and day and goes, then comes back, and goes again. Is there anything I can take for what is going on, and can you tell me what I might have?
Post Viral Fatigue This Year Following A Bad Virus
I was diagnosed with post viral fatigue this year following a bad virus. Before that I was pretty healthy, I walked to work everyday and was at the gym a few times a week. Now, although I have recovered a lot from when it first hit, I still struggle day to day. Something as small as walking up the stairs knocks me ill, and a few hours out can leave me aching for days. Even cooking a meal isn't usually an option.
I'm getting frustrated because although I can accept that nights out and shopping centres are out of the question (I'm in my mid twenties, so what I usually did), I'm still working full time, even though this means that most of my time off is spent resting (in pain) to try and keep myself fit for work. I can't quit my job because we need the money but I'm not coping very well. My employer is usually good but because there is technically nothing wrong with me (my doctor thinks it will pass, and its not classed as a disability) they won't make any allowances or accommodations, which means that its not unusual for me to work very late nights or six days a week. My performance is suffering and I worry about dismissal. I want to work part time to give myself more rest (and be better at my job) but I won't be able to pay the bills, and my family don't think this is an option for us.
I've tried going back to the doctors but although she has run blood tests etc, I kind of get the feeling that she doesn't see why I'm bothering her, as she just tells me that recovery can take several months, and it's not quite been six.
It just leaves me frustrated because I feel so guilty about being ill. Although they tell me to rest and recover, it seems to be as long as I can manage pretty much as I did before. I know I put too much pressure on myself, but I feel as though I'm doing something wrong by needing help now, even though I've worked my whole life.
Does anyone else feel this way?
Anti Anxiety Drugs :: Xanax And Lorazepam Together?
I’ve been having anxiety attacks for years now, and during this time I’ve been on several anti depressants - I’m currently on sertraline, but alongside them I’ve been also prescribed Xanax to help better control my anxiety. Since my old psychiatrist retired, I’ve got a new one and she thinks I’ve been on Xanax for too long and is now considering to switch me to Lorazepam.
I’m bit afraid that I might go into withdrawal from Xanax, so I’m wondering would it be OK if I continued to take Xanax for at least a while together with Lorazepam?