Hepatitis positive antibodies? Oh and Raynauds.

[adventurine]

I'm falling to pieces.

Not so long ago my hand was swelling up in fingers, got a blood test for arthritis and as far as I knew it came back negative and all was well with the world. Today I went to the doctors because my toes have been going a white/grey (my extremeties are always cold and cut off their own circulation even on a hot summers day because I just don't feel much in the way of heat), got pictures of it and gp said right away after listening to me and looking at my pictures that I have Raynauds disease.

So that wasn't nice.

Then she went on to tell me or inform me that apparently the blood they took also was showing positive for Hepatitis antibodies. I asked questions about it but she seemed to brush it off as some sort of virus and that I'm fine. She didn't do a follow up or investigate it. I'm scared, the only thing I can think of is the tattoo work I got done, but I investigated the place. They are licensed, they have the correct equipment for sterilization and everything is used once and thrown away to cut down on the risk of transmitting anything. They have been open for a long time and no one's got a bad thing to say about them in their various reviews that I researched.

I have never done drugs or slept around and when entering into my new relationship years ago my partner and I went through a full screening and both of us were given the all clear.

I'm due to see a gp next Friday for something else, I am gonna ask more about this and request a confirmation test as I understand a positive Hep antibodies test means that I was probably infected with Hepatitis at some point and I've either fought it off leaving just the antibodies present, or I'm still infected. Either way I just don't know. Why would the GP just brush it off as nothing?!:scared15:

[ScaredLizard]

You are ok sweetie. What kind of hepatitis antibodies. If it was for Heptatitis B? That just means you are immune to Heptatitis B (Usually through vaccination when you were a child) It's very likely what she was talking about and was telling you 'You are immune!'

As for Reynaud's Syndrome I have that too! It sucks! Sometimes my feet and hands turn blue! Stress brings it on worse too!

[adventurine]

Thank you for the quick response!

I dunno, my mind was in a jumble. I thought I heard c. I don't know what vaccinations I've had. I was born and grew up in America, living in Scotland now. I didn't know we got a hep B vaccine?

Yeah Raynauds is a bit of a pain! As a child it was always in one hand but as time got on it's mainly in my feet, I get a lot of episodes in a dayspan and sometimes the tip of my nose does it too! I was told that people with Raynauds are more susceptible to frost bit so to cover up lots in cold weather.

[ScaredLizard]

Thank you for the quick response!

I dunno, my mind was in a jumble. I thought I heard c. I don't know what vaccinations I've had. I was born and grew up in America, living in Scotland now. I didn't know we got a hep B vaccine?

Yeah Raynauds is a bit of a pain! As a child it was always in one hand but as time got on it's mainly in my feet, I get a lot of episodes in a dayspan and sometimes the tip of my nose does it too! I was told that people with Raynauds are more susceptible to frost bit so to cover up lots in cold weather.

The USA has been doing Heptatitis B since 1994 and Heptatitis A since 1991. Both are viral and since you have 0 other symptoms I really doubt you have either or Hepatitis C. Definitely if you are concerned since she did mention it bring it back up with your dr. But honestly it doesn't sound like she was worried.

Raynaud's definitely isn't fun! Even just sitting in the bathtub my feet will turn blue sometimes LOL so frustrating and my hands and feet are chronically cold all the time.

[adventurine]

Thank you, I feel a little better now, felt like crying earlier. Health anxiety makes it feel like the world is ending and makes everything terrifying!

Oh I know what you mean about cold hands and feet! Everyone is always commenting on it and I often use my poor boyfriend as an impromptu heater in the middle of the night. He says my hands and feet are like blocks of ice, even through gloves or socks!

[ScaredLizard]

Health Anxiety really does make it feel as if the world is ending and I totally understand! I'm there myself!

Haha you sound like me with your hands and feet. The only time they are warm? Is in the middle of an anxiety attack!

[adventurine]

Just occurred to me that I was born in 86 so vaccines would have been later, don't know if I've been vaccinated, oh damn I wish I could just stop thinking about this stuff. Exhausting all of this worrying!

I like having a hot water bottle around, really helps to get to sleep if your feeling cold!

[ScaredLizard]

Just occurred to me that I was born in 86 so vaccines would have been later, don't know if I've been vaccinated, oh damn I wish I could just stop thinking about this stuff. Exhausting all of this worrying!

I like having a hot water bottle around, really helps to get to sleep if your feeling cold!

I was born in 84. If you went to public school in the US? You are good I had them done because it was required for school in like.....3rd? Grade maybe.

I have cats! They are good for cold hands and feet :D

[adventurine]

Oooh, yeah I went to public school :) phew. I probly had the vaccine, but will ask the gp next week what the hell she was on about. I can't imagine that I would be infected with it with how stringent I am with checking out a place before I get pierced or tattoo'd, ensuring they have the proper equipment, the place looking clean, great reviews, an up to date licence and years of experience.

Kitties! Pets are lovely, I really want a little doggy but not in the position to get one at present, I have a parakeet though :) a very spoiled parakeet.

[scaredpt]

What type of antibodies? I once had a blood test and it came back positive for multple indicators of a type of hepatitis as well as lupus, but my doctor said it wasn't anything to be concerned about. I saw a liver specialist and he did a few more tests and I was actually fine

[adventurine]

I think I went into pure panic mode but I think I heard her say 'c', I'm not sure on that though. My anxiety makes it difficult to function let alone think. It's comforting that everything turned out okay for you!

As far as I understand it it was just an antibodies test that I didn't know that they screened as I was getting tested for something else entirely. So the test to get an answer as to whether I have an ongoing infection hasn't been done, just the one that is an indicator for it.

[ScaredLizard]

Oooh, yeah I went to public school :) phew. I probly had the vaccine, but will ask the gp next week what the hell she was on about. I can't imagine that I would be infected with it with how stringent I am with checking out a place before I get pierced or tattoo'd, ensuring they have the proper equipment, the place looking clean, great reviews, an up to date licence and years of experience.

Kitties! Pets are lovely, I really want a little doggy but not in the position to get one at present, I have a parakeet though :) a very spoiled parakeet.

Yeah if you went through public school in the US you are good for Hepatitis B and A and if that's what they tested for you definitely have antibodies for those :yesyes::yesyes: Also good news? now you don't have to worry about GETTING Hep A or B

Awwww I love birds! I have 4 cats and a dog! LOL