Diagnosed with Hep C after a year of sobriety.

posttrip

Greenlighter
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Sep 22, 2015
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I am a 24 year old idiot who had a serious dependency on basically anything inject-able for the past 10 years approximately. In the past year and a half, however, I have really cleaned up my act. I now have a wonderful home, an amazing support system and a full time job that I have actually been able to hold on to as well as a year+ sober time. Just when I though everything was fine and dandy, I decided to go get tested for every possible thing you can get tested for. Low and behold I have hepatitis C from sharing spoons with my old room mate who was infected with the virus. Fuck me right? Anyway, I guess I'm maybe looking for some advice from people living with virus or anyone who has experienced something similar. I suspect that I have had the virus for a year now and it isn't something I have contracted recently but I don't have any symptoms that I have noticed really. Any tips/ stories similar are welcomed. Thanks guys. DON'T SHARE GEAR !!!
 
Hep C is cured by Sovaldi and Olysio
The next step is saving the funds it can be expensive. Best of luck to you.
 
Hep-C isn't as bad as you may think. Like Choose Life stated above there are several medications available to treat and with time cure it.

I was diagnosed with it about two years ago and instantly got the Hep-A and Hep-B vaccines - be SURE to do this if you havent already. Luckily I had the milder form of the two types which I was informed is highly treatable with a high success rate in terms of curing it. I havent sought treatment yet but its on the list for he New Year.

I've heard of it going away by itself in a number of people I know (again, depends on if its the stronger or weaker infection).
Keef Richards had it and 'lost' it too if I remember correctly...I'm convinced that chap is some kind of Vampire anyway so I suppose he doesnt count.

Get those vaccines ASAP buddy.
 
I am a 24 year old idiot who had a serious dependency on basically anything inject-able for the past 10 years approximately. In the past year and a half, however, I have really cleaned up my act. I now have a wonderful home, an amazing support system and a full time job that I have actually been able to hold on to as well as a year+ sober time. Just when I though everything was fine and dandy, I decided to go get tested for every possible thing you can get tested for. Low and behold I have hepatitis C from sharing spoons with my old room mate who was infected with the virus. Fuck me right? Anyway, I guess I'm maybe looking for some advice from people living with virus or anyone who has experienced something similar. I suspect that I have had the virus for a year now and it isn't something I have contracted recently but I don't have any symptoms that I have noticed really. Any tips/ stories similar are welcomed. Thanks guys. DON'T SHARE GEAR !!!

Don't worry, Hep C is nothing very dangerous as long as you take good care of your liver. My lover who was a junkie since she was 11 has it and she's in her mid 50s now and totally healthy. Stay away from booze except on occasion. We never used condoms and I never got it from her and neither did her ex husband so it's very difficult to transmit sexually. So you're good to go as long as you take care of yourself and don't become an alcoholic or do other damaging things to your lovely red liver and you don't need to try and do an expensive cure.

Take care and never ever ever call yourself an idiot. Leave that to your friends and family.
 
posttrip I can only imagine the feelings you must be going through, I know how it is to get that news it's scary as all hell. I found out three years ago I have it, I got the news from a posted note my OBGYN handed me. I was so confused I didn't even know they were testing me for it, I found out that I was having twins and had Hep C in one day it threw me for a loop. I had been an IV user for ten years and when I found out I had four years sober but getting news like that scared the crap outta me. My first thought was to kill the fear the way I had before, I didn't thanks to my support system. But I'm still worried and too scared to go back and get a viral load count done. I got my children tested and thankfully they are ok as well as my husband. Honestly I never knew it could be cured before reading this thread so thank you for sharing your story it helped me. I still don't think I'm ready to go back to the doctors but if my symptoms get worse I will try and find the courage to do so.
I wish you the best and never beat yourself up about the past!
 
I had it for almost 10 years and went through Harvoni treatment last winter. Best decision I ever made and the virus is gone. Good luck, friend, but understand it's not a death sentence
 
Hep C is no big deal. It is 2016, and we have a cure! A 12 week medication cycle, than it's gone, it's called harvoni, in the United States. I would assume your in the early stages and can be treated. Trust me your.not in late stages.
 
Nowadays, it's totally curable in the majority of cases. I'd say you want to start by getting a full blood work up to see where your liver enzymes are and all that jazz. You also would want to seek genotype testing along with a quantitative viral load test. In the meantime, get a flu shot along with any vaccines that may be out of date.

Ok so, the genotype testing tells you what subtype you've got. There are several subtypes, and a person with hep c can be infected with more than one kind. The quantitative viral load count measures the amount of viral particles floating around in a specific measurement of blood. Both of these test will be used in determining a course of treatment. Your liver enzyme testing will show how hard your liver is working. Your doctor may request that you get an abdominal ultrasound to check for fibrosis.

In any case, you could find that you're perfectly healthy. I've been positive for with hep c for 10 years now. My liver enzymes were a bit off for a couple years after diagnosis, but I didn't pursue treatment immediately. When I finally did get a quant. viral load count, they couldn't find any virus in my blood. I was in awe and disbelief, so made my dr's keep repeating the tests. Never did find any virus and my liver enzymes are always normal now. So yes, sustained spontaneous remission does occur. I don't think I've ever felt so fortunate in my life. So, get the testing, because the sooner you find out, the sooner you feel in control.
 
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