INTRODUCTION THREAD: People affected by Hep B

Just diagnosed or new to the community
707

Hi :slightly_smiling_face: I am from Poland and I found out about the infection by accident. Before the hernia operation, I had a routine blood test for hepatitis B. I got infected probably when I was a child or teenager. Maybe it was during surgery on a broken leg, or maybe at the dentist. I will never know it. I was fully vaccinated against hepatitis B as a child and it happened to me anyway…I am over 30 now and I am have this probably at least from 20 years. Maybe a little less, maybe a little more, or maybe I was infected shortly after birth. Like I said, I’ll never know. I would like to share my research and results and get their interpretation and answers to some bothering me questions. I’m glad that I could talk to expert here and other get knowledge from other people experience. Greetings

[image]

708

Hi @BaRt,

Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing your story. Your experiences are similar to many in this community, so I hope you won’t feel alone here.

Your image did seem to attach to your message, but feel free to write down your research and results.

Cheers,
Thomas

2 Likes
709

Thank you for your reply.
I will write down in chronological order my test results.

Year 2016 First test ever I was around 27 and have this probably from10-15 years
HBV DNA 432IU/ml
FibroScan Metavir F0/F1, 4,6 kPa (liver stiffnes)

Year 2017
HBV DNA 259IU/ml

Year 2018
FibroScan Metavir F0/F1, 4,4kPa (liver stiffnes)

Year 2023.02
HBV DNA 1,21 x 10^3 IU/ml
AFP 3,6 ng/ml (norms 0,0-9,0)
ALT 28 U/I
Ultrasound of liver (different device than previous FibroScan) 3,75 kPa (liver stiffness). Doctor describe this like F0/F1 in Metavir scale

Year 2023.08
HBV DNA 1,67 x10^3 IU/ml
ALT 38 U/I
AFP 3,1 ng/ml

I can also attach screens of this results in case that I missed something in interpretations of this findings

How it looks like from your persepective? I noticed that viral load has increased, and ALT is higher than in previous test. Howerer I don’t have knowledge how ALT was in previous years.

710

Dear @BaRt,

These are relatively small increases, but it is worthwhile to keep monitoring to determine if there is an ongoing trend towards increasing HBV DNA and increasing ALT (these are still within what is considered “normal” range in many countries).

Hope this helps,
Thomas

711

Hi all,
My name is Gourav Rana. You all can call me Rana.
I live in Switzerland Indian born. I got to know about my Hep B around in 2015 but due to lack of awareness and knowledgeable about the disease I ignored it for so long until now when I had a few complications and got to know really about it what is it and what does this sickness do to you.
Life has been a roller coaster since then and I have been to my doctor like 7-8 times and done all kind of test CT scan, colonoscopy, Gastroscopy I mean you name the test and j have done it. Luckily all good though I am taking antivirals and Ayurvedic medicine at the same time and it did a great job, have no idea how but in the first month my viral load dropped from 18900000 to 480 iu/ml.
But somehow recently my KPA shoot up a little from 7to 10 to which doctor said that it will settle itself give it a few moths. Rest is ok with ultrasound and all test, liver health looks good according to my Hepatologist.
I am on Vemlidy currently.

712

Hi, I’m from Nigeria, was diagnosed with Hepatitis B in 2018, I haven’t tell anyone expect my girlfriend. I haven’t started treatment till date too.
I have been reading a lot of tips from this site but I just joined this forum.

2 Likes
713

Hi, I’m in Kwara State too, is there a way we can link up?

714

I wonder if is there any natural ways to decrease viral load? I’m active person, I don’t drink alcohol etc. eat clean. What about add taking curcumin, lactoferin, resveratrol for example? What can I do in terms of my diet to make my health better/decrease viral load?

1 Like
715

Hi group,am from Uganda. My doctor seems too reluctant to attend to me should I look for another specialist?

717

Dear @Temmason,

Welcome to the forum! Glad you found us and are finding it useful. There are ongoing threads for people in Nigeria here:

Hope these are useful to you!

Hi @BaRt,

Best to browse the supplement thread Lifestyle changes, nutrition, and supplements for hep b for the discussion about these.

Just to note, the Australian TGA (the FDA equivalent) has just recommended that people should not take turmeric supplements due to the risk of liver injury: https://www.tga.gov.au/news/safety-alerts/medicines-containing-turmeric-or-curcumin-risk-liver-injury

Dear @opa,

If you do not feel comfortable with your doctor and do not feel they are taking you seriously, it is worthwhile to explore other qualified doctors that you might have a better relationship with. However, depending on your tests, you may not require further treatment or only need occasional monitoring based on best quality recommendations in the field.

Thomas

1 Like
718

Hi @Opa
What makes you say he is reluctant to treat you?
Do you mean, doesn’t want to put you on treatment?

719

Welcome @Temmason
Thanks for sharing your story.
Fantastic you are reading advice and tips from this forum.
You are in the right place.
Keep reading to increase your awareness of this disease.
Are you seeing a doctor and being monitored every 6 months?

2 Likes
720

Thanks Thomas for reply. I will definitely study this forum category [Lifestyle changes, nutrition, and supplements for hep b]

Aside form the diet: do You think covid vaccine could trigger higher viral load?
I was so sceptical about this vaxs cause I couldn’t find any study that included people with hepatits B in trials while testing vax or there were 5 people and for me it was like nothing.
So I decided to educate myself in vax and wait for other studies or other type of vaccine I could trust. So I was waiting and waiting. I decided that I will not take mRNA vax or vector ones cause for me it was too many questions without answers and doctors couldn’t give me answers to my questions.
I waited 2 years and pople around me were getting covid from left to right. Even few times the same persons. I wasn’t vax and also didn’t catch covid. Then apperad new type of more traditional vaxine: protein based (just like hepatitis b vax I also had (irony)). I got the vax and 2 weeks after second shot I catch covid. Could You imagine? I was like you gotta be kidding me.
So my questions are:

  1. Do You think covid vaccine could trigger higher viral load?
  2. Was it good idea to take vax for covid? Especailly protein based one?
721

Hi @BaRt,

Some important information to guide your thinking…

Numerous large cohort studies in top tier journals have shown the the majority of SARS-CoV-2 infection is asymptomatic or very mildly symptomatic - just like other respiratory infections like influenza and other coronaviruses (there are at least 4 other coronaviruses we have known about before the recent pandemic which seasonally cause ~30% of the common cold cases reported). You can be infected by the SARS-CoV2 virus and be either asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms. It is impossible to know if you have been infected or not previously with SARS-CoV2.

It is also important to understand the just like influenza and other coronaviruses, the SARS-CoV2 virus mutates rapidly and can escape the effects of vaccines. This is the reason for the loss of activity with recent SARS-CoV2 vaccines and why the annual influenza vaccine is a mixture of 4 different viral strains which is changed every year and yet is still only effective in 30-50% of adults (based on CDC data). For other viruses where mutation rates are very low (measles, mumps and polio for example), vaccines provide > 99% infection and are effective in preventing disease (not infection) in people. HBV vaccination is also highly effective in preventing the development of chronic HBV infection.

While there are specific issues with overall population efficacy of vaccination with certain respiratory viruses, overall vaccination (especially with technologies proven very safe and effective over more than 7 decades) is an ESSENTIAL AND CRITICAL aspect of community based medicine. Especially in the elderly or otherwise immunosuppressed.

Developing symptoms following respiratory infection is a function of your immune health and exposure to previous closely related infections. This is the reason with the winter season is also called the “flu” season as it corresponds to the period of lowest immune function in the population in general.

With these issues in mind you should not think that there is necessarily any link between your developing symptomatic SARS-CoV2 infection and your vaccination with a standard protein based vaccine.

There is no data suggesting that vaccination in general is associated with increases in HBV viral load. If anything, the immunostimulation provided by vaccination or concomitant respiratory viral infection would be expected to reduce HBV viral load. These “crossover” immunotherapeutic effects have long been known for other respiratory viruses.

I echo Thomas’ comments here that in your case, the chronology of HBV DNA results does not suggest an increase in HBV viral load but normal fluctuation over time in the absence of oral antiviral therapy (which is good). Your liver function and liver inflammation status also appear to be stable over time (the wobble in all of the data you provided is normal) so there is no evidence of liver disease. I suspect this is why your doctor has not placed you on antiviral therapy but I encourage you to continue the discussion with your doctor about this.

Best regards,

Andrew

1 Like
722

Hi family, I have always got difficulties in taking medication whenever am attacked with any illness not related to HBV such malaria because my doctor tells me not to take medicines anyhow since they would worsen my already sick liver. Any advice please.
Am also told not to eat any foods with cooking oil yet foods like fish, meat,chapati etc need to be frayed. What then should I eat coz most foods here are frayed?

723

Hello.
Thanks to every one that share their story, I read almost for 2 year now, and it helped me alot, so I dont freak out.

Sorry for the long post and my english.

My name is Nicklas, im 30 years old and from Denmark. I have been with a girl the 12 April 2023, and 2 days after I got Pain in the "lower"abdominal area.(Not stomach) Then 1 week after I saw a Doctor, he made some test for normal sexual sickness like Klamydia and so on. Notthing came back positive. Then after a total of 2 weeks I got really sick that total lasted 5 days with symptoms like fatigue and poor appetite that lasted 1-2 days. then after that I got it better again, but still had pain in the lower abdomnial area.

I went back to the doctor after 1 more week, so we are now 3 weeks after i was with the girl. They did some re-test of normal sexual sickness and a Hiv test as I asked for it. all came back negative. weeks went by. I still had some pain in the lower area. then about 30 days more I got sick again. lasted for 4-6 days. same as before. heavy fatigue and 2 days with poor appetite and joint pain in the legs. So I WENT back to the doctor again again, did a re test of HIV and some lever test to see what the hell is going on, as im am more and more worry, why im “falling” down again and again.

The HIV test came back negative again, and alot of other test was fine as they “said” (And I dont have any lower abomnial pain)

My ALAT was (22 UL/MG) (wich is fine)?
Lactatdehydrogenase (210 UL) normal is 105-205 in Denmark.
C-reaktivt protein (CRP - 13 (MG/L) “Normal is <8”

even due CRP and Lactatdehydrognease is a little to high if you look on the scale, they said that is notthing to worry about, I dont have a acute HBV or HBV in that fact and wont do more test. I talk with 3 different doctors.

(2rd blood test) was made 11-12 weeks after I was with the girl, if I had acute HBV should ATLAT and stuff like that not be really high?

Then I got better again, but now here 2 weeks ago (so that is 18 weeks later), I got sick again and was sick for almost 12 days.

I did nerver see symptoms of:

Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain "stomach"
Jaundice
Dark urine.

I only saw clay-colored stool 1-2 day. and then it went back to normal. (and that was about 2 weeks time)

Is now 31/8/2023 and im feeling better again after the 12 days sick. “is 15 days” now but not fully recovery.

So is a total of 20 weeks now since I was with the girl. If I had Acute HBV, should My ALT and Lactatdehydrogenase not be much higher? Is it normal for HBV to have symtoms that come and then is gone, and then come back?

Hope you have time to reply.

Thanks alot.

(I saw alot of your videos and I leaned alot about HBV-HCV-HDV)

724

Forgot to send to more test.

Albumin 46g/L (normal 36-48)
Bilirubiner 9.5 (umol/L)

725

Hi @opa,

Thanks for the questions. The Hepatitis B medications are safe for your liver, even when you have other illnesses (they are even given at higher doses in people with failing livers because it helps protect the liver).

The type of oil you eat can matter: it is healthier to use non-saturated oils (e.g., olive oil, canola oil) than saturated fats/oils (butter, ghee, tallow). It is all a balance and you do necessarily have to cut out all oils whatsoever, indeed our bodies need some oils/fats to stay healthy.

Dear @nick0912,

The only way to make sure about whether you have been exposed to Hep B is having the blood panel for hep B done (that is, Hep B surface antigen, Hep B surface antibody, and Hep B core antibody). Anything else is only circumstantial and is not conclusive.

Hope this helps,
Thomas

726

I understand, and i Will Call My doctor again.

But is it normal to get sick again and again if is a new/acute hbv?

727

Not yet on treatment. New complications keep on emerging every now and then. Feeling body itching, my abdomen not comfortable with what seems like water sounds and feeling like vomiting.
Am real scared coz my dr seems not bothered at all. Am within Uganda could anyone please help to connect me to the best liver doctors within the country?