What the heck is going on here? (13 wks) I thought I was immune to Hepatitis B and Measles!?

Question

This spring my husband and I took a trip to Mexico. (March). We requested a Hepatitis A/B vaccination. My family doctor at the time said, OK, but he wanted to see if I was immune to B already, because I was positive that I had a Hep B vaccination in high school, and he didn't want to give me an unnecessary vaccination.

The test came back that I was immune to Hep B, just like I thought. So was my husband. So we both just got the Hep B and had a wonderful trip.

In late March I went back to the doctor and told him my husband and I wanted to start getting pregnant, and I asked if there was anything I needed to do or know, and I specifically asked what kind of vaccinations I needed, if any. He said I was up to date, put me on a multivitamin, and in mid May we started officially trying to get pregnant.

Mid- June I was pregnant. My family doctor moved so I had to get another one. This doctor gave me all kinds of tests at 4 weeks. I just got the test results on Friday. I am now 13 weeks. This was the soonest I could see him. He told me that I had zero immunity to Hep B and that I was also not immune to German measles. When I questioned him about this, he got arrogant and said that maybe it had worn off since I got tested.

I'm angry because I wouldn't have got pregnant without getting immunized against these things. And I am POSITIVE that I was immunized for measles in the past. If I was to get the measles now my baby could get seriously affected. Am I immune or not? Should I get a new doctor? What the heck is going on?!

Answer 1

Yes, I would get a second opinion. Get a copy of your shot records and take them with you.

Answer 2

German measles are rare in the U.S. so I wouldn't worry about catching it, and Hep B is rare, and if your husband doesn't have it, you aren't an IV drug user and don't get a tattoo why do you think you are going to contract Hep B???? You might not have gotten the Hep B vaccine in H.S. like you thought and you didnt' get it now, maybe your old doctor was wrong that you were immune? You could not get away with not being immune to measles and go through the u.S. school system, so  I think that's a little crazy, have another blood test with a different doctor and recheck.

Answer 3

Same with me but with the chicken pox shot.  

Answer 4

If I were you, I would get a second opinion, at least.  Other than that, there's not much else you can do at the moment, besides making sure you stay away from anything that could infect you with either of those.  

But yes, definitely a second opinion, just to double check.

Answer 5

Since you were tested for immunity to Hep B not long ago and were immune, it is unlikely that you've suddenly become non-immune.  That would be extremely strange, unless you didn't take your Hep B correctly in high school -- that could limit the time you are immune.  

Did you get 3 shots, spaced out over several months, of Hep B vaccination?  

I would get a second opinion for sure.  Maybe the lab made a goof.

If the lab goofed with the hep B, perhaps they goofed with the german measles test (rubella).

Perhaps they did not, though!

I got my MMR last in highschool and for some reason I'm immune to mumps and rubella, but not to classic measles!

Classic measles, though, doesn't have the health implications toward the baby like Rubella does.

Are you SURE he said you're no longer immune to German measles -- did he just say measles?

Lucky for you, though -- if you're not immune to Hepatitis B or Rubella, you're really not likely to end up with either.

"The immunization program has been quite successful. Cuba declared the disease eliminated in the 1990s, and in 2004 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that both the congenital and acquired forms of rubella had been eliminated from the United States."

Rubella has been eliminated in the U.S. -- do not worry yourself sick about getting it!

Just do not travel anywhere that Rubella is still around, if you are not immune to it.

"The primary method of transmission reflects the prevalence of chronic HBV infection in a given area. In low prevalence areas such as the continental United States and Western Europe, where less than 2% of the population is chronically infected, injection drug abuse and unprotected s*x are the primary methods, although other factors (like blood transfusions, unsanitary tattoos/piercings) may be important."

Hepatitis B has nearly been eliminated in the U.S. as well.  Just don't use IV drugs, have s*x with anyone but your husband, get a tattoo/piercing right now, and I know you couldn't avoid a blood transfusion -- but that mode of transmission is very very rare.

On top of getting a second opinion, I'd change doctors anyway.  I don't like ANY doctor that gets indignant and acts like I've questioned God when I question them.  

They should be more humble than that since -- anyone -- including a doctor -- can be wrong.

Good luck!  Do not fret or be afraid -- even if you're not immune, you and your baby are going to be alright.  :)