Amazing news

[Opiyum]

I just wanted to share something that I just found out today...actually in the last ten minutes. I got mono a couple months ago and while I had that they discovered that I had Hep-C.( Which is not an STD contrary to popular belief Blood to blood only way) So they thought it was maybe a false positive which happens sometimes when a patient has Mono but the RNA tests showed that I definatly had it. They sent me for more blood tests just to be sure and today the results came back that Yes I did have it, but that my body sent it into remission on its own. There is only a four percent chance of this happening . I am very lucky because, I wont get into to much detail, but the treatment for Hep-C is incredibly intense the patient needs to take daily injections for one year. The injections make you very sick physically and mentally the Doc said some people do go a little crazy(his words) and there is only a fifty percent chance that the treatment will work. Oh yeah and its a disease that attacks the liver so unless you want to die you cant do anything in the intoxicant arena.

I'm very happy and I'm going to celebrate...:D

[piper]

They make it out to be worse than it is. I've taken care of patients in their 80's who had Hep C for many years. A lot of people have this and it's very easy to get if you are frequently in contact with people and needles. And hey, Pamela Anderson has it and she looks great. But I would be celebrating to the extremes as well.

[candy]

That is great news indeed. And Hep C is a sexually transmitted disease. Whomever told you different should update themselves. Any disease that can be transmitted sexually is an STD. Hep C/B happen to be a few of them. A STD is a disease that is transmitted during sex. And yes blood to blood contact is necessary for the transmission of Hep C, but that can happen during sex and it only takes a very small amount of blood to transmit the virus, even in an amount you cannot see.

I myself just finished the treatment for Hep C and I am also a nurse who works in Harm Reduction and Prevention. I also worked on a research project 4 years ago with the CDC on HIV and Hep C and many are misinformed regarding Hep C, even those in the Healthcare community.
I was treated with Pegasys/Ribaviron and although the treatment does have side-effects and can be really difficult, I only had weekly injections of Interferon. Treatment can depend on the the type of Hep C you have. In the U.S. we typically see Type 1,2, and 3. Type 1 is the hardest to treat. Treatment is done on a 24 or 48 week basis.

With treatment, the chances are pretty good. One reason that treatment fails is due to compliance and among those with a history of drug use, compliance is often an issue. Because the side-effects are often so difficult, many stop treatment or do not take what is prescribed. I myself felt like giving up many times, but with medication, some of the side-effects can be treated and talking to your doc is one way to help get through the long process.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that treatment is a cure. There are that small percentage of people that do clear the virus on their own, but with treatment the patient becomes what is referred to as, "undetectable." There is no negative with Hep C. It was once thought that patients were negative after treatment, but with research this is now incorrect. Like HIV, HCV is measured by the viral load or the amount of virus detected in the blood. After successful treatment, levels are seen as undetectable and this is the goal of treatment. Undetectable means that the Hep C virus cannot be detected in the blood.

With Hep C, you can live a normal healthy life. Because the liver can regenerate cells, someone with Hep C is not doomed to a lifetime of disease. Of course this is how well you take care of yourself.

Now is the time to continue to stay healthy. Take precautions and reduce your risks. Injectors should know that Hep C is not killed by bleaching needles. Using your own clean needles and equipment is the best way to avoid infection.
And remember that Hep C can be transmitted sexually. Vaginally, anal, and oral sex are all ways that you can spread and contract Hep C. You don't have to see any blood to spread the virus and during sex, there are often small micro-tears in the mucosa of the vagina and especially true in the anus. This happens most often when the vagina is dry or during rough vaginal sex. In the anus, tearing is often and without lubrication, there will be some tearing or shearing of the mucosa. This is an open wound and with anal sex, there will be small areas of shearing on the penis or raw areas where the skin has rubbed. Any time you break the skin, even on abrasions, it is considered an opened wound. Using lots of lubrication and condoms is a great way to reduce risks sexually. If using condoms just won't happen, then just use lots of lube, especially with anal sex.
With oral sex, you can also spread or contract Hep C. Sores in the mouth, gum disease, or just after you brushed your teeth, all expose you. And like I said, you don't have to see any blood, for it not to be there.

Just a few more things regarding injection. All your equipment should be kept clean. Not just needles, but cookers, filters, and water. Sharing this equipment puts you at risk as well. The best thing to do is not share any of your equipment and keep it clean. And Hep C can live outside the body for a month or more. Usually not longer than 45 days. So rinsing needles is just not enough and even blood you cannot see can contain the virus. It takes a smaller amount of the Hep C virus than it does HIV to spread from person to person.

Unfortunately, not all doctors, nurses, or others in healthcare are up to date on Hep C. It is now thought that over half of all injection drug users have Hep C and half of those are co-infected with HIV. They just don't do the testing for Hep C and those who are HIV positive don't think about Hep C testing. I really recommend anyone who has used needles and shared, to get tested for HIV/Hep C. And if you have had a neg. test, you should test again if you have had any risk in the last since months. This is due to the window period.

Not to say that docs in the office don't know their stuff, but often times those docs who only do office visits do lack new info on such things as HIV and Hep C. They don't always see those patients with those types of medical issues and just don't have the need for the newest info. Easier to send the patient somewhere else. And that can lead to mis-information.
I am glad to hear you cleared the virus and hope you stay well.

[Opiyum]

Before even finishing reading the first sentence of your reply I'm typing this. Only because this is like the third time people have switched me around on this subject. I thought it was over with the Gastroentomologi?????doctor. Whom I owe a lot of money to still.

Okay finished now and I think you sold me...I'm not going to get a bill for all this medical advice am I?

[renton]

It's a shame that people seem to not be worried or not care much about things like HIV and hep. I have friends in the medical field and some seem to think that anyone who get's such things dont deserve the same care as others because they somehow did it to themselves. I think if the government was a bit more compassionate and have more things like education and free needle exchanges than it wouldnt be quite as bad. Here in Vancouver though there taking some big steps in reducing the harm from drugs by having a safe injection site and free needles plus all the counselling and rehab people need for free.

[candy]

No charge for the medical advice and if I insulted you in anyway, I apologize. Just want to make things clear as it is often misinformation that gets people in trouble. Unfortunately, having a license to work as a doc or nurse doesn't mean your compassionate and what I found not only as an RN, but as a patient, was that most were critical and discriminated in my care.

Being an RN did nothing to change the views of those who treated me. I was still a junkie with Hep C and treated pretty bad. I was unable to get anything for sleep, pain, and even after a pretty intense surgery, I was told to increase the Vicodin they gave me, this for someone with Liver disease and on Methadone. They would not give me anything stronger at all!

What it did do was make me more compassionate to all my patients. I always had a soft spot for junkies, but now, I treat everyone the same and I feel better as a person.

Now, I say nothing of my past drug use nor that I am on Methadone. Being honest is not always the best policy and sometimes we need to BS in order to get the care we need.

It makes me ashamed to be part of something that cares so little.

[Opiyum]

Wasnt offended in the least and dont feel too bad because I think everybody in some way or another is a part of something that isnt quite what they want it to be.

[Zoop]

Any disease that you can get from sexual contact is a sexually transmitted disease. Doesn't mean that sexual contact has to be the ONLY way to catch it, but that is the only requirement for an infection to be classified as such. Did you say that in your repsonse Candy? I read the first few sentences and the last few, but the middle was muddled.

Man, when I found out that you can get infected with Hep C just by sharing a straw for sniffing drugs, I was like damn! That's fucked up, yo.

Hep sucks. I though I had it once, because my first trip to rehab, my liver enzymes were through the roof, from all the APAP I was taking with my hydrocodone, and they said, "you better get checked for hep A, B and C, bro." So, I did and I knew deep inside that I didn't have it, and I was right. But it never hurts to have hard medical evidence to back it up.

[candy]

I may have shared that and sorry the middle was muddled. Even I get a little muddled at times.
Hep C can live outside a host. Meaning, it can live outside the body for some time. HIV however cannot live outside the host. Years back, those who shared needles were bleaching to kill off any potential of HIV, little did they know, bleach did not kill Hep C.

It does suck and I wish that more info was available and that those who were taking risks would do what they could to prevent infection.
I was infected by a boyfriend I used with. He assured me he was Hep C free. I did know he was clean for HIV, but used with him anyway. Came to find out he did have Hep C and knew so! I guess when we care for someone we trust them not to harm us in anyway.

Treatment has me undetectable for the virus and as a nurse and fellow junkie, I feel I need to pass on as much info as I can!

I hope everyone is taking prevention seriously!

[Opiyum]

Now I'm wondering if it is possible for the Hep to become detectable again if it so pleased. Would it be safe to say that since my body got rid of it on its own that it will keep it that way. My doc wants me back for more tests in six months so thats basically whats making me wonder.
Also I guess we should make it very clear that what happened to me is very very rare. That I'm a lucky bastard and the chances of this happening to anyone else are slim to none. For preventions sake...right?

[candy]

Well, actually some do clear the virus on their own, so it is really not all that rare. But, yeah I would not take any risks. You can not only infect someone else, but become reinfected. Your doc wanting you back in six months is not unheard of either. Just a precaution and if you should show up with the virus, it is best to start treatment early.

Prevention is the key regarding any infectious disease and I tell all my patients/clients to test for HIV/Hep C anytime they have any risky behavior. Believe it or not, they fear spreading it more than they worry about re-infection or infection with something else. Although someone may have Hep C, you can re-infect yourself.

If you do ingage in risky behavior, such as unprotected sex or sharing of needles, now is the time to start reducing that risk and urging those around you to do the same. You would be surprised at how you can teach others to do the same. In fact, most research done on prevention and harm reduction has been on a peer to peer level. Encouraging others to teach their friends or those around them really works and most will listen to their friends before a doc or nurse. So, if we give the right info to those using, they are likely to pass it on and there you have a great example of harm reduction and how well it can work.

I think you will be fine.

[Opiyum]

I decided recently to try out a relationship with a feminino one reason being to help keep my feet on the ground. Long story short I got the go ahead and we are going out sometime this week. From what I know so far she is definately lax when it comes to experience with drugs. So if and when the time comes and she finds out a bit about me and my past I want to be clear about one thing. Very clear.
I CAN or CANT spread the hep now that it's in remission.
My sex life thanks you...

[poppy]

Regarding the hep c thing, please, please, please, if you know you have this illness/condition/disease(call it whatever!!) then at the very least you should make sure u use protection with new/different partners. I speak from experience
My partner (for want of a better word) certain opiophiles who have become friends over the last few months (u know who u are!!) know the fact that my relationship isn't all it should be. I'll say no more!!!
Anyway, basically it took four years for him to tell me that he had hep c (which had failed to respond to interferon whilst he was in prison) despite the fact that I asked him about this very early on in our relationship (due to rumours which for once I should have listened to!!!)
I forgave him but at the moment I don't know whether or not I have hep c, but assume I have. The clinic which prescribes my methadone, offers free tests for hep c which I have never taken, mainly due to the fact that my veins (arms at least) are in such poor shape.
I have vivid memories of an anesthaetist(spelling) struggling to find a usable vein when I needed minor surgery to laser pre cancerous cervical cells a couple of years back. After about an hour of poking he eventually located a (tiny) usable vein in my foot.
Since that day I worry constantly about the ability of the emergency services to recognize and therefore administer effective pain relief to me should the need arise. I wonder whether I should wear a necklace/bracelet informing the emergency services etc of my situation in the same way that someone suffering from diabetes or epilepsy would.
Between my opiate tolerence and especially my lack of veins (my own fault, no excuse except abuse!!), I am totally afraid of what may happen in terms of managing pain should an emergency situation occur.
Anyway, getting back to the point (excuse the pun!) this experience has put me off blood tests which is why I haven't found out whether I definitely have hep c.

[candy]

Hep C can be transmitted through sexual contact if there is contact with blood. The likelyhood of it being transmitted through sexual contact is however low. Unlike HIV, Hep C is only transmitted through contact with blood. HIV can be transmitted through vaginal fluids and through pre-cum, semen.

With anal sex the risks increase for Hep C exposure or passing the virus. Because the blood vessels are so close the surface in the anus, they are more likely to break or rupture and with anal sex there can be tearing/shearing of the anal mucosa and on the surface of the penis.

Using condoms is the best way to prevent the spread of Hep C. Whether it be anal sex or vaginal sex, using a condom with someone new or until you know the status of both people is the best way to stay safe.

It is hard to believe that their are still so many adults/teens who aren't using condoms. In a long term monogamous relationship that is a bit different, but for those who are dating or doing the one night stand bit as an example, not using condoms is just crazy.

And Poppy....I wouldn't worry too much. I know blood tests can be hell when they are trying to find veins, I go through the same thing. In an emergency, those docs or medical emergency techs will know what to do!

[Paregoric Kid]

it could just be at undetectable levels as others have said. some people (not many though) have a natural immunity to it. be careful not to reinfect yourself.