hey candy, myth or truth, hep from own needle?

[oxydose]

hey candy, let me start by saying I admire your commitment to this board and to the safety of us users. as you know as well as anyone most of the time admitting anything to medical people about such habits gets you looked down upon, i've been treated like shit in a ER because of my tracks in the past.

well anyways i've heard from a couple different people that one could get a form of hepititus from reusing there own needles. being as i can legally buy clean rigs (diabetic) and have a running script for them i know i have no excuse to not use a new spike every hit, but IRL people dont always do these things. and i'm one of them, i've reused by own needles plenty of times but have never shared a needle, EVER! because i always re-register after fully injection i make sure to always rinse out my needles of blood, about 4-5 pulls and pushes of water.

soooo, can i get a form of hep from doing this? or is a myth?

[candy]

hey candy, let me start by saying I admire your commitment to this board and to the safety of us users. as you know as well as anyone most of the time admitting anything to medical people about such habits gets you looked down upon, i've been treated like shit in a ER because of my tracks in the past.

well anyways i've heard from a couple different people that one could get a form of hepititus from reusing there own needles. being as i can legally buy clean rigs (diabetic) and have a running script for them i know i have no excuse to not use a new spike every hit, but IRL people dont always do these things. and i'm one of them, i've reused by own needles plenty of times but have never shared a needle, EVER! because i always re-register after fully injection i make sure to always rinse out my needles of blood, about 4-5 pulls and pushes of water.

soooo, can i get a form of hep from doing this? or is a myth?


If you have Hep C already, no!

Now there are different types of Hep C: 1, 2, and 3. You can be infected with another strain of Hep and of course, there are people with Hep C and Hep B, but your not going to re-infect yourself!

Just continue to avoid sharing and you will be fine!

[oxydose]

If you have Hep C already, no!

Now there are different types of Hep C: 1, 2, and 3. You can be infected with another strain of Hep and of course, there are people with Hep C and Hep B, but your not going to re-infect yourself!

Just continue to avoid sharing and you will be fine!

wait wait, you must of misunderstood me, as far as I know I _DON'T_ have any types of Hep. My question is can you give it to yourself by reusing needles (all of them yours)?

[candy]

wait wait, you must of misunderstood me, as far as I know I _DON'T_ have any types of Hep. My question is can you give it to yourself by reusing needles (all of them yours)?


NO! You get it from other people who are infected with Hep C. If you don't have He4p C, there is no possible way you can get it from using your own gear!

Now, if you have shared in the past, I suggest you get a HIV/Hep C test. Regardless of who you shared with! They may not know they have it and then again maybe they do and don't give a shit one way or another cause they are gonna get high!

Would you like some info on Hep C?

[jacky]

I subjected myself to a few instances of uncleanliness when I was using IV and not really having a house to call my own.

I ended up getting Hep B, but everyone in my using circle that got hep ended up with C.....ended up I probably got the hep B from my girlfreind, who did not use any drug except alchohol.

Hep B is one of the biggest STD's, and something like 70% of the people that get it dont show symptoms.

I dont know alot about C, other than I am lucky I didnt contract it.

I know a fair number of people that contracted it, and so far all of them are still alive, and relatively healthy, a few continue to drink moderately, and one of those guys is 55 plus years old.

I got sick as a dog on that virus...horrible, gut wrenching, shitting out of my mouth sick. darkness, bad dreams, and scared family members was my life for at least 3 weeks.

everyone runs the risk of B or A if they dont use condoms or eat food prepared by others respectively.

thanks Candy once again....your knowledge is a blessing here.

[nick]

Jacky you were "lucky" bro.I have a close friend dieing of Hep C.His only chance now is a liver transplant.Too late for inteferon.

It hurts just to see him......it's a really ugly death.

[jonny-5]

please dont look at this as me "stealing someones thread" but i have a question on the same topic for anyone who knows. ive been told (but not sure weather or not to believe it) that you can get hep C from not just sharing needles, but the spoon that you cook the shit in. any validity to this?

[nick]

please dont look at this as me "stealing someones thread" but i have a question on the same topic for anyone who knows. ive been told (but not sure weather or not to believe it) that you can get hep C from not just sharing needles, but the spoon that you cook the shit in. any validity to this?

It's true.

Hell,you can get hep c sharing a snorting tube.


So, TAKE CARE.

[oxydose]

NO! You get it from other people who are infected with Hep C. If you don't have He4p C, there is no possible way you can get it from using your own gear!

Now, if you have shared in the past, I suggest you get a HIV/Hep C test. Regardless of who you shared with! They may not know they have it and then again maybe they do and don't give a shit one way or another cause they are gonna get high!

Would you like some info on Hep C?

i've never shared a needle at all, only thing close was me first using one and giving it to someone else, and telling them to keep/throw it. I've always used my own cups of water and all that too, but yeah I wouldn't mind knowing some symptoms of hep if you have the time, thanks for help candy, that knowledge makes me feel a lot better.

[jonny-5]

It's true.

Hell,you can get hep c sharing a snorting tube.


So, TAKE CARE.


well, looks like someone needs to get tested again. damn it. thanx for the info tho nick.

[greasy_bear]

i've never shared a needle at all, only thing close was me first using one and giving it to someone else, and telling them to keep/throw it. I've always used my own cups of water and all that too, but yeah I wouldn't mind knowing some symptoms of hep if you have the time, thanks for help candy, that knowledge makes me feel a lot better.
I'm not Candy, but I know a bit about HVC. I've been infected since the late seventies.
For most people chronically infected, they have no indication that something is wrong with their liver until there has been significant damage. The test for the antibody is cheap. It can tell you if you've ever been exposed to the virus. About 15% of those exposed manage to fight off the virus and will test positive for the antibody, but not have a chronic infection. If you test + for the HVC antigen, another test, for the active virus will be given. In addition to active virii, this test will also determine which subtype you are infected with (1-a, 1-b, 2-a, 2-b, 3-a, 3-b, 4-a, 4-b) and the number of copies of the virus per mL of blood. The next step in the diagnostic process is a liver biopsy. A needle is used to snatch a small sample of tissue to be studied microscopically. This is used to determine the amount of inflammation in the tissue and the percentage of the liver that is irreversibly damaged. All this information needs to be considered in deciding whether a particular case warrants treatment or merely needs to be monitored.
Using myself as an example, it's likely that I was infected in 1977-78. I never noticed any symptoms at all at that time. In the late eighties, the Red Cross notified me that a second donation I made had exhibited elevated liver enzymes and advised me to consult my doctor. My GP determined that I probably had nonA-nonB hepatitis and since I wasn't sick, I merely needed to keep an eye on my liver functions. Skip ahead to 1999 when I started seeing a new doctor and I mention this nonA-nonB diagnosis a decade earlier. Further testing determined that I am chronically infected with type 1a HVC. A biopsy showed both moderate amounts of inflammation and damage (I'm a 2-3 on a scale of 1-4). I have a case that's slowly chewing away at my liver. So far I've tried two six month rounds of treatment with Interferon and Ribavirin. The meds are a bastard to take and only had a small, temporary, impact on the viral levels I have.
In general, I feel ok. I sometimes have a low-grade fever for no reason, am inexplicably fatigued, get disgusting night sweats and have a dull pain in the area of my liver. I no longer drink alcohol and am supposed to limit the amount of APAP I consume. Watch what I eat and avoid fumes from solvents and such. Eventually, I'll get another biopsy and take another course of treatment. I hope that they come up with something easier and more effective than Interferon based treatment. It's pretty uncomfortable and doesn't work for around half of those who need it.
Sorry for all the words. I tried to keep it as short as possible.

[nick]

I'm not Candy, but I know a bit about HVC. I've been infected since the late seventies.
For most people chronically infected, they have no indication that something is wrong with their liver until there has been significant damage. The test for the antibody is cheap. It can tell you if you've ever been exposed to the virus. About 15% of those exposed manage to fight off the virus and will test positive for the antibody, but not have a chronic infection. If you test + for the HVC antigen, another test, for the active virus will be given. In addition to active virii, this test will also determine which subtype you are infected with (1-a, 1-b, 2-a, 2-b, 3-a, 3-b, 4-a, 4-b) and the number of copies of the virus per mL of blood. The next step in the diagnostic process is a liver biopsy. A needle is used to snatch a small sample of tissue to be studied microscopically. This is used to determine the amount of inflammation in the tissue and the percentage of the liver that is irreversibly damaged. All this information needs to be considered in deciding whether a particular case warrants treatment or merely needs to be monitored.
Using myself as an example, it's likely that I was infected in 1977-78. I never noticed any symptoms at all at that time. In the late eighties, the Red Cross notified me that a second donation I made had exhibited elevated liver enzymes and advised me to consult my doctor. My GP determined that I probably had nonA-nonB hepatitis and since I wasn't sick, I merely needed to keep an eye on my liver functions. Skip ahead to 1999 when I started seeing a new doctor and I mention this nonA-nonB diagnosis a decade earlier. Further testing determined that I am chronically infected with type 1a HVC. A biopsy showed both moderate amounts of inflammation and damage (I'm a 2-3 on a scale of 1-4). I have a case that's slowly chewing away at my liver. So far I've tried two six month rounds of treatment with Interferon and Ribavirin. The meds are a bastard to take and only had a small, temporary, impact on the viral levels I have.
In general, I feel ok. I sometimes have a low-grade fever for no reason, am inexplicably fatigued, get disgusting night sweats and have a dull pain in the area of my liver. I no longer drink alcohol and am supposed to limit the amount of APAP I consume. Watch what I eat and avoid fumes from solvents and such. Eventually, I'll get another biopsy and take another course of treatment. I hope that they come up with something easier and more effective than Interferon based treatment. It's pretty uncomfortable and doesn't work for around half of those who need it.
Sorry for all the words. I tried to keep it as short as possible.

I'm not sure which geneotype you are,but inteferon works in 80% of cases.

I'm really sorry it hasn't worked for you man.

Try Milk thistle.

Look on the bright side you could be HIV positive.

[greasy_bear]

I'm not sure which geneotype you are,but inteferon works in 80% of cases.
I'm really sorry it hasn't worked for you man.
Try Milk thistle.
Look on the bright side you could be HIV positive.
I'm a 1a. Ones are the most resistant to treatment.
I was enrolled in a dosing study for Pegintron/Ribavirin.
There are still a couple of Interferon based protocols I haven't tried such as Roche's Pegasys or consensus interferon and they're all working on something new. There's over 3 million known infections in the US alone.
I used to sweat it, but I've learned to relax.
Stress is bad for my liver.
My wife is a type 3. Her liver is nice and healthy, so far. I try not to bang it around too much. ;)

[nick]

I'm a 1a. Ones are the most resistant to treatment.
I was enrolled in a dosing study for Pegintron/Ribavirin.
There are still a couple of Interferon based protocols I haven't tried such as Roche's Pegasys or consensus interferon and they're all working on something new. There's over 3 million known infections in the US alone.
I used to sweat it, but I've learned to relax.
Stress is bad for my liver.
My wife is a type 3. Her liver is nice and healthy, so far. I try not to bang it around too much. ;)

Wise words.Stress won't help.

Keep taking the meds and I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

My S.O. has hep C and thankfully it's in remission.In fact just about everyone I know has hep.

I got lucky.

[SDSEP]

Just some info. As stated HCV is a tough son of a bitch, considering it can live outside the body for 4 days and bleach doesn't even kill it, as you can see its an uphill battle. However, the good part is that if you take care of yourself I've seen people get infected over 20 years ago w/ no symptoms and others who have symptoms upon diagnosis. However, since 1A does constitute 85% of the HCV infections in america it sucks. Good luck with the treatment, but the most important thing is you have the knowledge and aren't relying on DRs to tell you whats best for you.

Stay Up

[Rhonda]

How could you give something to yourself if you dont have it? That does not make sense.

[Opiyum]

I just recently heard this myth about contracting Hep C from just reusing needles and not sharing or anything of the sort.
I had Hep C once and forget how lucky I am to no longer have to deal with that.
I had a feeling it was BS. I'm glad that this has been confirmed.

[oxydose]

How could you give something to yourself if you dont have it? That does not make sense.

I dunno, didn't sound totally unfesiable to me though, good to know its false though. Cause stupidly enough i've never let my lack of a new needle stop me once I got it into my head that I wanted to get off. Ohh well

[HeidiW]

I got hep b and c, and the hep c type 2 genotype,no interferon will help my ass

[candy]

please dont look at this as me "stealing someones thread" but i have a question on the same topic for anyone who knows. ive been told (but not sure weather or not to believe it) that you can get hep C from not just sharing needles, but the spoon that you cook the shit in. any validity to this?


Absolutely.

Unlike HIV, Hep C can live outside the body or host for 24 hours or more. Which means if you shared any other equipment with someone with Hep C, you are at risk. It could be the spoon, the cotton, the rinse water or water to cook(some use the same water for both), and even on a snorting straw.

I worked on a research project about 5 years ago with the CDC testing IV users from age 15-30 to see the rate of infection, co-infection and if peer education could help to decrease the numbers of new infections. It really works.

Share what you know. I know it sucks when maybe you don't have all the equipment you need, but remember bleach does not kill Hep C and if you are going to clean syringes with bleach, make sure you do it right. 3, 3, 3.

3 times rinse in clean water
3 times rinse in half-strength bleach
3 times rinse in new clean water(not the first rinse water) This only works for HIV.

Just don't share any equipment, no matter what your best friend says or your girl/guy. I always told clients to say,"It's not what you might have, but what I may have and I just don't want to take that chance of passing something to you!" It can work. Teach your friends about using cleaner techniques.

And anyone not immunized for Hep A/B...Go out and get it done!

If you would like any more info on Hep C or have a specific question, post it!

[candy]

I got hep b and c, and the hep c type 2 genotype,no interferon will help my ass


Type 2 and 3 are easier to treat Heidi as you may know. Did the docs say you were untreatable.

Recently things have changed with Hep C treatment with the Pegylated interferon and the Ribaviron combo. It worked for me.

Did they say it had to do with the Hep B. I would just keep pushing the issue. I do know that one thing they do not want is illegal drug use. The liver has enough work to do on the Interferon and Ribaviron and the side-effects can vary from person to person.

Just wondering if you have been seen by the Hepatologist or the liver doc for those who don't know what a Hepatologist is. I would exhaust all my options when things start to settle down a bit more and you recover from your recent injuries.
We love ya hear and want to keep you around as long as possible!

[nick]

Type 2 and 3 are easier to treat Heidi as you may know. Did the docs say you were untreatable.

Recently things have changed with Hep C treatment with the Pegylated interferon and the Ribaviron combo. It worked for me.

Did they say it had to do with the Hep B. I would just keep pushing the issue. I do know that one thing they do not want is illegal drug use. The liver has enough work to do on the Interferon and Ribaviron and the side-effects can vary from person to person.

Just wondering if you have been seen by the Hepatologist or the liver doc for those who don't know what a Hepatologist is. I would exhaust all my options when things start to settle down a bit more and you recover from your recent injuries.
We love ya hear and want to keep you around as long as possible!

Candy's right,you shoud push it Heidi.