Hep C

[JessesLoco77]

Well, I've recently found out (recently meaning this morning) that I've been exposed to Hepatitis C. I was kind of devastated, and completely surprised being as I've never in my life shared a needle with ANYONE. I've always kept to myself with my IV use of Subutex, heroin, bathsalts, methamphetamine, and basically anything I can get my hands on that's able to dissolve properly. I'm always extremely clean, and would clean my needles everytime before and after use. I would clean the area before injection with alcohol/peroxide. BUT YES I DO REUSE NEEDLES. If you're not in a big city like me, then there is not any needle exchange programs available. There is actually only one in my state, and it's 3-4 hours away. I try to get new ones as much as possible, and rarely use the same one over 2 weeks.

The reason for the thread was because I was wondering if anyone else is being exposed or has Hep C.. I've done some research, and some sites make it seem like I'm going to die of liver cancer 20 years down the road. Other sites make it seem like it's not much of a big deal. I truly don't know what to believe and I'm going to discuss it with my regular doctor here soon.

See, I just recently starting going to a methadone/subutex clinic.. I've been going for a little over a month now, and when I first came in for my evaluation. They did a variety of tests, one being blood work. My results came back here the other day and they just told me about it this morning. They said my body has been exposed to Hep C and it's a very slim chance that my immune system will fight it off. ( 15% ) I'm a bit concerned but I do see that there are treatments for it, but the medicine is quite expensive, which my insurance SHOULD cover most of the costs.

I actually got really sick at work the other day, and have been having these spurts over the last few months where I literally feel like I have cotton fever all of a sudden. It doesn't always occur after injection either. They made me go home because my temperature was over 100 and accelerating. So I went to my doctor, and had some more blood work done. (mind you, this is the day before I found out about the Hep C exposure) I'm currently waiting on the results of this blood work. It should say whether or not I still test positive for hep C.

But the real questions are.. Should I worry about this? What happens if it goes untreated? Are my flu like symptoms I'm receiving on and off caused by Hep C? Do I need to be in treatment ASAP? I know none of you most likely are NOT doctors, but I was hoping that maybe someone would have a bit of knowledge about the subject, UNLIKE ME. Thanks for reading !

 

[Kittycat5]

Should you be worried? Well kinda I guess. No one likes hearing bad medical news. But Hep C treatment has progressed quickly in the past few years.

Did they mention if you are in the acute or chronic phase? The acute phase would be up to 6 months after exposure. Even if you do not know when you were exposed, there are tests they can do to try and tell. They are not perfect but pretty reliable. Anywhere from 20 to 50% of patients may spontaneously clear Hep C but being an IV drug user it is possible they may want to treat you in these phase anyway, after confirmation it truly is Hep C.

If they think it is chronic Hep C, then they will probably treat you immediately (again because of your IV drug use history). The new meds are extremely expensive but extremely effective. Some have shown cure rates in the high 90% range.

Your flu like symptoms very well could be from the infection. Many are either asymptomatic or have rather non-descript symptoms like yours.

If you go untreated? Well it could resolve, it may not progress much for years but long term, you are at high risk for liver damage. This may or may not be treatable and could even be deadly.

Try to abstain from alcohol, tylenol and other liver toxic substances. Of course treatment for your drug use is recommended as well.

I dont know if you fit in these categories but people who share straws for intranasal drug abuse and men who have risky sex with other HIV infected men also are at high risk of being infected with Hep C.

Hope everything works out. Good luck.

 

[szuko000]

Sorry to hear the bad news Its my understanding that you would have had to be exposed to the virus at some point to get infected. Maybe from a shared water source or a reused cotton or sexual encounter. I know you said you were careful but who knows and in a sense its not really whats important at this point.

If I were in your position I would do my best to educate myself as much as possible on what you should do at this point. We live in the "future" so you are in a sense lucky that you can and will get cured at some point and hep c is a long term illness so even if the "cure" is 90g there will come a break through that will dramatically lower the cost so you arent doomed.

I am far from some kind of expert or even someone with first hand knowledge but I think youll be ok. Just do your best to be healthy and liver conscious while in this part of your life. It may have been a death sentence 40 years ago but this isnt then so youll be fine

 

[Raki]

I caugh Hepatitis-C in 1984 and was diagnosed in 1991. It is a slow moving virus that will not directly affect you for literally decades. That said, it is better to get a handle on it sooner rather than later. I went through Inteferon and Ribavarin but that treatment failed. I was blessed to have gotten a slot on the American trial for Sovaldi and within a month cleared the virus. I am now free of the virus, knock on wood. Sadly thpugh Sovaldi goes for $1,400 a tablet and you need to take one tablet a day for at least 4 months.

 

[JessesLoco77]

I appreciate everyones replies and support.. I really haven't shared needles with anyone, but I shared water with someone a couple of times.. He was the only one that knew or knows that I spike. He has been exposed to the virus and actually fought it off without any treatment. But I may have caught it from him awhile back while he was being exposed. I heard that you can catch it from dry blood in your syringe, that could MAYBE be the culprit. But it's very unlikely considering I clean it everytime before and after use. My liver enzymes are 6 times normal, which I also currently have Mono too! So Mono could very well be screwing with my Liver Enzymes. But I'm currently waiting on a referral too some other doctor that is supposed to put me in treatment. I'm hoping everything works out, I'm only 18 years old, and only have been shooting for 2 years.. It's insane how fast I was exposed, I guarantee I'm the cleanest junkie any of ya'll have met The person that I may have caught it off of is actually a family member, and I was actually with him when he was tested. So I know for a fact he doesn't have it, but like I said he was exposed and fought it off. Which is nearly impossible. MY IMMUNE SYSTEM IS TRASH LoL I could never fight it off. definitely pray for me guys, I'm hoping it doesn't turn into anything super bad..

 

[Raki]

It is only blood to blood. You cant get it from saliva, as in a cup of water. It also ismt sexually transmitted.

 

[T. Calderone]

I found out last year that I have hep c. Like Raki said, Sovaldi is a new treatment that can help eradicate the disease. It is really expensive though and my insurance wouldn't cover it. So I'm on a wait list and hopefully can start it soon. You're probably feeling sick from having mono on top of this, and that will also elevate your liver enzymes. Eat green leafies and other antioxidant foods. There are supplements you can take like turmeric and milk thistle but make sure you run that by your doctor first. I imagine they will want to run more tests too. Good news is this is totally treatable and hope you feel better soon!

 

[rokkinrollaa6]

I'd suggest taking 4, 1 gramme doses of milk thistle a day until you begin treatment. it does not at all help you clear the virus, but it does improve liver health and side effects from the disease tremendously. it has helped many people I know feel a bit better, and while it does nothing to clear the virus, it does help your liver retain health a bit more. At your age of 18, you have a while to go before the disease begins to seriously effect you. stay away from drinking and heavy tylenol use. take milk thistle, and try to get on one of the treatments ASAP. I would also suggest avoiding junk food or high fat foods as these tax the liver. dont freak out too much, treatment is there. it's not like it used to be man. but you should also never re-use syringes ever and never share water either.

 

[manboychef]

Do not do what I did.

If you indeed have chronic hep c. Go to a doctor immediately. You will need to find a GI doctor in your network. Do not go on a year long prescription pill, alcohol and heroin fueled bender. It is not good for your liver. Rest everyday, so your body has a better chance of fighting it in the long run, IE..no using stims that keep you binging for days.

You are young, the world is very different now considering most people born between 1945-1965 have a very high likelihood of having the disease they have come up with some novel cures for most genotypes. The typical one in the usa is genotype 2b. It is not considered extremely aggresive, and is highly treatable. Have faith, and use this a wakeup call. I don't mean to drug use, I mean wakeup and go out and do something you enjoy and find ways to love yourself everyday.