Please help me interpret this result
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Hi! My name is Mich and here’s my story. I was diagnosed of hep B when I was about 21 yo. I just came back from the Philippines, which I know for sure I got the hep B from. I’m not sure how I got it and I’m not sure if I was born with it either since mg viral load is not that high. In 2018 my viral load was at 9620 and in 2020 it went down to 4940. I’m currently a nursing student so I’m still trying to learn how to read my lab values. My liver enzymes (ALT) has been around 18-19, which is normal. I was wondering why my viral load went down when I was a heavy drinker (partied a lot). I didn’t really pay attention to my chronic hep B as I thought it was nothing to worry about. Now that I’m a nursing student, I slowly learned about chronic hep B and how it affects people. It honestly woke me up and I was pretty depressed about it. I still am worried since I do have a daughter and married. I want to be able to live a long life to see my kids grow up. I’m slowly trying to quit drinking (drinks 2-3 bottles of beer 3-4x per week) as everytime I google hep B, it always suggest to avoid alcohol at all cost as it damages the liver more and increases the viral load. I have an appointment to get a liver ultrasound next month to check if my liver is healthy but that has been worrying me. I have so much questions about what supplements i can take and I will for sure ask my Gastro about when I see him in May (soonest appointment) but for the mean time I would like to ask for the following:
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Can I take supplements such as vitamin C and collagen?
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Can I drink whey protein? (I work out and wants to supplement with whey protein)
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Do I really need to quit drinking even if I only drink in moderation?
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Is green tea helpful or harmful? I drink green tea daily.
P.S. when I found out about this community and read some stories. It significantly decreased my depression as I now feel like I’m not alone and I feel like I can get more knowledge from this community. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
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Dear @Mich,
Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing your story as well as the kind words. It’s great to hear that you are taking active steps to change your lifestyle for the better and maintaining monitoring.
Regarding your questions:
- Supplements are always a hard one to answer. Unless you have a proven deficiency in something, there’s little/no evidence that they help at all. I am unaware of any Hep B related issues with Vit C or collagen though.
- There is a previous discussion on whey powder here: Lifestyle changes, nutrition, and supplements for hep b - #94 by ThomasTu.
- I believe the more you can reduce alcohol intake, the better. But it should be a change that you can stick to (no use trying to quit and then binging because you can’t take it). There is some discussion on this elsewhere on the board: Vices - alcohol marijuana etc - #2 by ThomasTu.
- I don’t know if green tea has an effect either way. Some studies have found an protective effect on liver cancer rates (Green tea consumption, inflammation and the risk of primary hepatocellular carcinoma in a Chinese population - PMC), others have shown no effect (Effect of Coffee and Green Tea Consumption on the Risk of Liver Cancer: Cohort Analysis by Hepatitis Virus Infection Status | Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention | American Association for Cancer Research). If there is one, it’s likely pretty small. There is an repeatable detectable effect of coffee protecting against liver cancer though.
Hope this helps,
Thomas
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Hello sir
In my case, since I was born I was diagnosed with jaundice and I refer to doctor, they said it will stay like that only and there isn’t any treatment for that.Thay also said that, When I get more stress, my skin color is change to yellowish and when I am free from that it will naturally change to normal. They recommend me to maintain proper diet😊
I thought of apply for master in aboard and is there any consequences or rejection of visa?
Thank you
Dear @ChoDen,
Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing your story. The answer to your question can depend on your status: were you ever formally diagnosed with Hepatitis B through a blood test?
That said, for many countries, the visa is not affected by whether you have Hep B or not. Please see this thread for more information: Hepatitis B and Immigration/visa issues
Cheers,
Thomas
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@OlgaP
Оля, привет.
Я Дмитрий, мне 42, хронический гепатит В был с 3 или 4 лет поставлен. 15 лет назад пробовал интерферон-А, безрезультатно (только побочки были). В прошлом году (2022) без всякого лечения сдал маркеры и о чудо, выздоровление, днк вируса нет в ПЦР, и появился анти-HBsAg. Конечно после хрони полного выздоровления не бывает, так как вирусная ДНК остается внутри клеток печени, но зато при этом теперь вирус почти не размножается и наносит вреда печени, и только если иммунитет сильно ослабнет, то он может реактивироваться, но в целом при таком раскладе как у меня прогноз хороший, говорят что после такой редкой конверсии часто антитела ( анти-HBsAg) остаются на всю жизнь.
Что я делал для этого? Ничего почти. Просто спонтанно излечился. Начал пару лет назад делать йогу 1 раз в неделю, и еще иногда зимой раздетым на снег в лесу выбегаю на несколько минут (2-3), типа закаливания только не водой а снегом. Еще несколько лет много зеленого типа рукола, лук, петрушка, авокадо. Вот и всё! Видимо иммунке хватило этого. Еще за последние несколько лет поменялся в психологическом плане, возможно это тоже внесло свой вклад (по крайней мере я думаю, что внесло). Про психологические изменения, если интересно, могу отдельно тебе написать.
Будь здорова , )
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Dear @Eastwood37
I used google translate to understand your message.
We are grateful for your message and for sharing your journey with chronic hepatitis B. Your story is truly inspiring and we believe it will bring hope and comfort to many others who are facing similar situations.
We would like to focus specifically on the mental aspect of your experience and would be grateful if you could share your experience with anxiety and depression and how you were able to overcome these challenges. Additionally, we have a specific topic dedicated to food and activity changes that could help strengthen the immune system or stimulate our sprit.
We believe that your insights and advice different topics would be valuable to others who may be facing similar mental and physical challenges.
Your positive attitude and willingness to share your story is greatly appreciated, and we believe it will have a significant impact on others facing similar challenges.
We wish you all the best in this new stage of your life
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Thanks, am new here and just don’t know what to share and not to share here.or whether am using the right handle to give my story.
I was shocked when I was diagonized with CHBV in March 2022.
It was out of concern when one of my close friend died of HCC ,and through Google I got to know the major causes of it.
My first results showed in March 2022
HBsag 4043 u/ml
Hbe negative
Viral load 54
Liver profile normal
Also showed bit D was deficient at 65 and was given suppliment for that
2nd test in around Sept 2022
HBsag 4369 iu/ml
Hbesag negative
Viral load 60
Vit D tested found to be at 78
Last week I got retest and the results were as follows
HBsag 4693
Viral load 24
Hbesag negative
Anti hbe was also tested and found positive
I also did abnominal scan and the results indicated everything to be normal
I also did alpha veto protein test and this gave a value of 5.1
My vit D is showing a value of 61.1
My wife recieved now the last jab for HBV vaccine coz she tested negative when we went for the first test
I was so scared that my doctor prayed for me. I just don’t understand why this just happened to me .
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Dear @anonymous30,
Thank you for sharing your story. I think it’s good that you discovered your status before much liver damage had occurred, so that you can prevent it in future. Your low viral load is also a good sign with regards to risk of liver damage in the future and also low risk of passing it on to other people. It’s also great that your wife has been vaccinated to protect herself.
It sounds like you’re doing everything right and have got the information you need. Please feel free to explore the other threads and see how others have coped with their condition.
You are not alone,
Thomas
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Hey there, Rob @sloped876
You know what, I had been a chronic HBV carrier from age 11 to 41 (when I got spontaneously cured),
in the past few years I had frequently recurring myalgia fits, not as a diagnosis, but as a symptom that was not attended. It reminded me the drawling muscle pain I had when I was on interferon-A for HBV about 15 ago (like an echo pain from the past). This muscle pain episodes subsided when started to do yoga once a week and long walks and cold exposures. I even think that these pains may have been caused by my body reacting to HBV or trying to fight it (like it was unsuccessfully doing during interferon treatment).
Go ahead and read my story of spontaneous cure A story of achieving spontaneous functional cure after over 30 years of chronic HBV.
I sure hope you be inspired by it, or maybe you will find something useful in it.
Wishing you a long exciting life! 
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Hi there, Shoshana!
My name is Dimitry. I am the same age as you are. I had been a chronic BHV carrier since age 0-11 (exact age unknown). In 2022 I achieved a spontaneous functional cure of HBV. My fibro-scan now and also before the cure and gave reading of fibrosis stage 0 (no fibrosis whatsoever). Such condition can stay with you for life. I am inviting you to read my story of curing HBV without treatment.
I hope it inspires you.
Wishing you a long exciting life!
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Hi everyone. My name is Williette and I was just diagnosed with Chronic Hepatitis B a little over two weeks ago and it has turned my world upside down.I was born in West Africa and am unsure how I got HBV. My mom and siblings are going to get tested. My liver enzymes have always been normal during my annual blood tests so we never tested for HBV.
This diagnosis has been really challenging to accept and has come with a roller coaster of fear, anxiety, and questions. Do I have cancer/cirrhosis? Will my life be cut short? What adjustments do I need to make and can I make them? My creatinine levels are a bit elevated, are my kidneys failing?
I am 33 years old and knowing that I have been living with the virus possibly my whole life and not making the best health decisions (drinking, not always working out, eating unhealthily) has me really thinking the worst about the condition of my liver. I am scheduled to see a gastroenterologist at the end of next month to get more blood tests, but that seems so far away and the emotions that I’m currently dealing with are so strong and isolating. I know that these emotions will likely continue for some time so I am allowing them to be while also speaking with my therapist. I appreciate this forum and the others who have shared their stories. It gives me some hope.
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Welcome to the forum, @Willienillie.
Thanks for sharing your story and sorry to hear about the stress you’ve been under. I hope you can see from all the others’ experiences described on this forum that you are not alone in feeling this way.
It sounds like you’re doing all the right things in getting your family tested and scheduling a specialist appointment. Please keep us all updated on your journey!
Cheers,
Thomas
Thank you very much Thomas ,I feel much encouraged as I come to terms with the situation and accept it as the new normal.
It’s good to have this group to learn and lean on coz no one can really understand this unless they are affected.
I am in kenya and ready to connect and going forward share my experiences.
Is HBV like HIV the way doctor described it to me is scaring she said it’s worse and more deadly.
My only solace and surprising is my wife plays it down and is the only person aware of my status.
Hi Williette!
I hope you did read my story of spontaneous cure of hbv. I had hbv from 0-11 to 41 and all my life (now and before) my fibroscan showed fibrosis 0 (no fibrosis at all). So don’t be frightened.
You said your liver enzymes were normal before. This means that your liver is ok, liver cells are not getting damaged. Such states may come and go from low to high and then low again and still after so many years i don’t have any fibrosis. Often in chronic hbv liver condition remains fine your entire life. You seem to be in good shape. I hope this will cheer you up.
Please feel free to ask any questions or just to talk about anything.
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HELLO All, @ThomasTu
Thanks for creating this forum, i am grateful to share my story with alot of people in same boat as me so it’s kind of encouraging, i had first diagnosed with help b in 2012 where i was going through routine check for some other issue , i tracked ot back from where i got it seems to be from a blood transfusion in 1991 at my birth when I had a life saving surgery, since 2012 I have gone through ultra sound scan , fibroscan, LFT’s and DNA for viral load and got to know from a liver specialist that my lft is fine and fibroscan score is also normal and my DNA load is negligible, I get paranoid episode in between and sometimes i just go in with life as it is , it is with me for more than 30 years now still wondering if it can suddenly harm me where my doctor says the virus is highly unlikely to harm you as it’s with you since birth , but due to anxiety i get my self in this continues loops sometimes back in 2018 i had this health anxiety and rushed to doctor again for all the test at that point also my viral load was not present and my LFT was just fine my doctor writes on prescription that no treatment required that does not give me solace and i am always go on web to search for answers where they write so many terrible things that can happen , i have never taken any medication for same and according to my doctor the virus was never active inside me but still I feel sad and sorry and ask sometime why me ?
I will be going for another LFT this year to check for my liver health as planned to be scheduled in next couple of months , just glad to be here and looking forward for any upcoming research that gets this virus totally out of my body once it for all.
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Dear @Pranay_Bahl,
Welcome to the forum and thank you for sharing your story. I am sorry that your hepatitis B has caused you such stress, but your doctor appears to be following the international guidelines correctly and liver disease progression is generally low in people with your blood results.
By chance, have you had a test for anti-HBs antibodies? If these are positive, then you would be considered to have successfully controlled the virus.
Yours sincerely,
Thomas
Hello @ThomasTu @availlant
what is termed as inactive carrier? and can there be any chance of reactivation? Never taken any medication for same always termed as no treatment required for it. Just paranoid on certain days and specifically very scared to take the test again and again please help