Hellow, I am 36 years old male. I was diagnosed as chronic inactive hepatitis b carrier with negative hepatitis b.e antigen 10 years ago. For all 10 years my liver enzymes and liver ultrasound have been normal. My last viral loads were taken 5 months ago and were 144IU/mL. My worry is will I live full life to my old age? I have not been taking any anti viral. Can I get any evidence from this community if there are people who are above 70 or 80 years living with chronic inactive hepatitis b without taking anti virals. My worriers are very severe as if I am going to lose my life tomorrow. I need your advice to console my heart please
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Hi @Mkomabaraka,
Welcome to the community. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Looking at what you have shared, your immune system has done a good job of keeping your infection under control. This is good, given how long it has been well controlled.
Certainly, nothing in this world is guaranteed, but I also think everything is possible. Keep up the hope, one day at a time. You can definitely live long; this requires making positive health choices and remaining monitored. Avoiding anything that can damage the liver, reducing stress, exercising, getting good sleep and rest, etc., can all help. These little steps can have huge impacts. Keep doing what you are doing, and try to worry less about the future. We don’t control what tomorrow holds; however, we do control today because it is here with us. One day at a time.
We are all doing the best we can to live a long life. I hope this helps, knowing that you are not alone. Bansah1
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I was diagnosed with Hepatitis B in my 20s — I’m now 71, so I’ve been living with it for nearly 50 years. When I was first diagnosed, there was no treatment available, so I simply lived my life as fully as I could until antiviral medications became available about 25 years ago.
Since then, I’ve followed the recommended monitoring protocol — lab work and an ultrasound every six months. A few years ago, one of those scans revealed a lesion on my liver, and my monitoring was increased to every three months until it was confirmed to be non-cancerous. It was a stressful period, but the vigilance paid off.
I understand you’re hoping to hear that you can live well with Hepatitis B without medication — and I genuinely wish I could give you a simple answer. What I can tell you is that I’ve been on antiviral medication for 25 years with no adverse effects. During that time I had a senior leadership role at a publicly traded company, traveled to more than 50 countries, and have continued to live a full and active life.
You’re actually in a much better position than I was at your age. If your doctor recommends treatment, it likely means taking one pill a day — for most people, with little to no side effects — to protect your liver from long-term damage. Researchers are also actively working on what’s being called a “functional cure,” and clinical trials are underway that offer real hope for the future.
Take care of yourself, follow your doctor’s guidance, stay on top of your monitoring, and don’t let this define you. You can absolutely live a long, healthy, and rich life!
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Hi @Mkomabaraka,
Further to @BBritt’s great life experiences, @Caraline has also previously shared that she continues to live a relatively normal life >40 years after her diagnosis. We have people of all ages on this forum and with appropriate monitoring can live full and healthy lives.
Thomas
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Welcome @Mkomabaraka.
You are in the right place. This forum is to help other HepB sufferers to understand their illness.
I’m not 70 years old, just turned 66. Like you I didn’t think I would live to that age 
but I have.
I am well and loving life. I have grandchildren, 3. Another situation I didn’t think I would see. 
I get my blood test and ultrasound every 6 months. Live healthy.
Years ago my liver results came back high so I was put on treatment-1 tablet a day on an empty stomach combined with my other tablets I have to take. Nothing to do with the HepB.
It’s the worry that will kill you. There’s so many diseases we can get. HepB when control has little impact on my lifestyle.
If you need to go on treatment please do.
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Your viral load is very low and you may clear the virus in the nearest future. I know some people who were chronically ill and they cleared the virus after years.
And, this year and the next one, a functional cure is expected to break through, just dive into the Networking and Learning Resources here in the forum and find out.
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Oh! Is that what they call functional cure? I would be very happy if I clear them