Hello Hep B community! I’m a 30-year-old male diagnosed with Hepatitis B last December during a routine checkup. My initial lab results showed HBsAg reactive, HBV DNA 802 million, ALT 120 u/mL, HBsAb reactive and HBeAg reactive. After starting Truvada, my HBV DNA dropped to 21,000 IU/mL but ALT increased to 289 u/mL within four months. I was adviced to repeat LFT after a month ,and ALT 61u/mL .kinldy help interpret my lab realuts .This journey has been tough, filled with fears about the future. Can anyone share tips on coping with the emotional aspects of living with Hep B?
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Hi @Takawa,
Welcome to the community, and I am sorry to hear about your condition. We hear you. It is hard with the initial diagnosis, but one can adapt a little better as time goes on. Many of us can understand what you are going through. For some people, looking for support from those who care and love them helps. Others find that talking about things with the people they trust helps as well. Some also find being alone with their thoughts helpful as well. Working out or occupying oneself works for some people as well, so they are not left thinking a lot about HBV. Some people find reading about HBV and trying to understand the disease helpful, but that can get overwhelming. Spending less time on Dr. Google can be good, too. There is too much inaccurate information about HBV on there, which can be unhelpful at times.
There is no one single way to deal with the emotional aspect of this disease. Try and find what works best for you. I know it is challenging and tough, but we are all here for you. You are not alone. Thanks, Bansah1
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Thank for the encouragement
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Hi @Bansah1
Thanks for this encouraging response to @Takawa . Do you know what his results mean?
@Takawa we understand the emotions will run up and down. I find controlling my thoughts helpful. Like, replying to myself, Is that really true? My thoughts tend to run to extreme situations and events, worst case scenarios. 
I can even laugh at myself sometimes.
I’ve had HepB for over 40 years. Never been hospitalised for it. Been on treatment about 7 years. Only annoying part is getting blood test and ultra sound every six months.
They are very important. Never put them off. Even when they come back normal time after time.
Welcome to the forum.
BTW I’m 65 years old this year, so you can live a long life.
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Hi @Takawa,
Your results indicate an HBV infection with active viral replication. The antiviral is working as indicated by the drop in HBV DNA from 802 million to 21,000. This is good. Keep up with your treatment; these high figures will drop even further with time. It will take time to get the numbers back to the normal range, so try not to get frustrated about it. Be patient, and with time, you will get there. The one thing odd about your results is that it says HBsAb is reactive. This should not change what I have said above. It could be an error. Please continue to take your antiviral and remain under care. It is critical to do that. Thanks, Bansah1
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Whats would be the explanation behind a positive HbsAb ?
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It could be a false positive. Especially since you are positive for HBsAg and have a high viral load with evidence of viral replication makes me think the surface antibody positive is an error. Bansah1
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These tests are very sensitive so false positives can happen. It’s rare to have patients be positive for surface antigen and antibody altogether.
Very good encouragement everything you’ve mentioned worked best for me the time I was tested positive
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