Something I Heard About Hep C

[Ironic]

I don't remember exactly where I read this, but it wasn't just some rando and a party talking shit.

Obviously sharing needles/cookers/etc could get you infected..but how about this? You know how sometimes when you can't find a vein, a friend may help you? Well, people are fucking retards, and often if someone helps you hit, when they pull the rig out they'll put their thumb on the hole.

Basically, I read that hep C could be transmitted by the other person's skin cells. Like if they have hep c, their thumb on the hole could give it to you.

I also read that the chances of getting hep c from a dirty needle stick (one that is hep c pos, not a random one) is about 1/30.

Seems like both of those things can't be true..anywho, when I tried recently to Google it further I really got the idea that the only way to get hep C is by having an infected persons blood in your open wound, possibly (rarely) an infected persons mucous membrane. It seems like they are starting to think it is rare to get it from sexual contact.

What do you guys think?

[Thanat0s]

id be very surprised.
blood to blood is how its spread.
its not on the surface of the skin unless fairly fresh blood is/was present.

[Disconnect]

yeah, the skin cell thing is bullshit.
otherwise everything someone touches would be infectious it you have an open wound of any kind.
and that's just too damn farfetched for my liking.
it's through blood and maybe through sexual contact,
but, yes, it is extremely rare that way.
basically as long as you're not doing any knifeplay or rough anal or anything else that brings blood,
you're 99% not gonna get hep c from the mattress mambo.

[Der Alte Krieger]

I don't think you need to worry about that. But then I already got it so you might get more opinions

[Thanat0s]

heh, yeah me too on that one...

I don't think you need to worry about that. But then I already got it so you might get more opinions

[mainline]

The chances of getting HCV through nonbloody sexual contact are slim.

[SeVeN]

yeah, the skin cell thing is bullshit.
otherwise everything someone touches would be infectious it you have an open wound of any kind.
and that's just too damn farfetched for my liking.
it's through blood and maybe through sexual contact,
but, yes, it is extremely rare that way.
basically as long as you're not doing any knifeplay or rough anal or anything else that brings blood,
you're 99% not gonna get hep c from the mattress mambo.

In fact the sexual contact part is actually from when some one bleeds during the intercourse.

So indeed, as far as "our" science goes on the matter, its blood born.

[Sweet Jane]

Everyone I know seems to think that you can 'give yourself HepC'....they say if you use the same needle a few times instead of a new one every time, that the blood in the used rig is how you can infect yourself even if you've never been exposed...

It just dosen't seem possible/realistic to me since you have to be exposed to the virus at some point....so you would have to get it somewhere....not from your own uninfected blood.... I have friends that swear that their doctor told 'em that...


Why do people seem to think this? And, is there any truth at all to that? I just wonder how that theory got started...

[at&t]

> Why do people seem to think this? And, is there any truth at all to that?
> I just wonder how that theory got started...

No, there isn't any truth to it,

How it got started was possibly that "the doctor" at the Needle Exchange or wherever told them it so that they would bother washing their rigs and try not to reuse them 100 times for fear of HepC.

But... The little white lie has saved some of their veins, prevented some of their abscesses, so.. <shrugs>

"Spontaneous Generation," they used to call it. Before Pasteur.

[candy]

Chance of using a needle that someone else used who has Hep C is pretty high. 1 out of 30, I am not sure if that is true.
You cannot get Hep C from skin cells. Hep C is contracted by blood to blood contact.

The percentages of getting Hep C through sexual contact is low, but it is alway best to be careful.

I would suggest that you do some reading about Hep C and get the right information.
Try this link below:

http://www.hepatitis-central.com/

[Ironic]

Chance of using a needle that someone else used who has Hep C is pretty high. 1 out of 30, I am not sure if that is true.
You cannot get Hep C from skin cells. Hep C is contracted by blood to blood contact.

The percentages of getting Hep C through sexual contact is low, but it is alway best to be careful.

I would suggest that you do some reading about Hep C and get the right information.
Try this link below:

http://www.hepatitis-central.com/

TYVM for the link. I didn't think that thing about the skin cells was true, but I have heard a lot about how Hep C is a super rugged virus and relatively easy to contract.

I'm a lesbian and I plan to stay away from needles. Got a super-honest, non-using SO that can't see me with any damn tracks. If I stick to that lifestyle I should be safe

[candy]

Ironic,
Hep C is a pretty rugged virus to treat and with blood to blood contact, yes, it can be easy to contract.

Not using needles is a great way to prevent getting the virus. Make sure that during sexual contact, your partner and yourself are not menstruating.
You could contract it through oral sex if one of you were to have a sore in your mouth and the other is still menstruating. I worked with many gay and lesbian groups here in Los Angeles when I worked for an AIDS organization and a few of the lesbians I talked with stated that some would use a tampon if they were menstruating so they could still receive oral sex. Hence, no mess! But, this is still a no-no and should be avoided. It is not a way to prevent the spread of HIV or Hep C in women. Just a bit of HR for you.

I am just curious Ironic, and I hope I am not being to intrusive, but are you worried about having Hep C? You certainly do not have to answer here at all.
And if you would like you can contact me by the info on my profile page if you ever need to or have any questions about Hep C. I am more than happy to help anyone who has any questions about Hep C and needs any information.

[Ironic]

Ironic,
Hep C is a pretty rugged virus to treat and with blood to blood contact, yes, it can be easy to contract.

Not using needles is a great way to prevent getting the virus. Make sure that during sexual contact, your partner and yourself are not menstruating.
You could contract it through oral sex if one of you were to have a sore in your mouth and the other is still menstruating. I worked with many gay and lesbian groups here in Los Angeles when I worked for an AIDS organization and a few of the lesbians I talked with stated that some would use a tampon if they were menstruating so they could still receive oral sex. Hence, no mess! But, this is still a no-no and should be avoided. It is not a way to prevent the spread of HIV or Hep C in women. Just a bit of HR for you.

I am just curious Ironic, and I hope I am not being to intrusive, but are you worried about having Hep C? You certainly do not have to answer here at all.
And if you would like you can contact me by the info on my profile page if you ever need to or have any questions about Hep C. I am more than happy to help anyone who has any questions about Hep C and needs any information.

Firstly Candy, I want to thank you for the information. Knowledge is the best form of harm reduction and I think it is admirable that you dedicate your knowledge as a health professional to a bunch of strangers (and the many friends you have made on Opiophile too, of course

You aren't being too intrusive. It feels like you care, it is nice.

I'm actually somewhat surprised about your suggestion of not having sex on the period, not because it doesn't make sense, just because well..I guess I have never thought much about it..though a long time ago when I did something stupid regarding shooting, I remember waiting till it was over just in case..so I guess I did consider it. Anywho, I don't thinkk it matters much now, because my gf is a non-drug user and very smart, safe, honest person (no STD risk there).

As far as me, I don't have a lot of reason to worry about having hep C. It has been a long time since I've shared a needle, and even then it was (relatively) low-risk. Not that sharing is EVER low-risk, I just mean that I shared with about 3 trusted friends (ever), and almost every time we would share we would bleach the spikes out. Of course, there were a few times we didn't..but the last time I shared a needle at all, washed or not, was over a year ago. I may have shared water accidentally like 9 months ago (not sure, we were FUCKED up) with one of these same trusted friends. By trusted friend I just mean that they say they are clean (and get tested frequently) and the people I am talkin about were/are closet needle users with clean needle sources who didn't even IV around other people.

Of course, I've had multiple hep C tests done since, the last one having been done about 6 weeks ago, all negative. I get tested rather frequently due to my past activities..I've heard horror stories about people testing negative for something for months or years and all of a sudden, BAM..so I figure I might as well continue being tested. My stepmom is a doctor and her fave horror story for me is her surgeon buddy that contracted hep c from a routine colonoscopy in the hospital.

The only contagious thing I have is HSV-1 (cold sore). I informed my gf early on in our relationship, and she says she thinks she has had a cold sore before but isn't sure..you'd be surprised how many people don't realize cold sores = HSV.

When I cheat (get high behind her back), I get really guilty, and it makes me paranoid and brings out my OCD, I suppose. One of the reasons I feel guilty is my gf has lupus..so if she got one of these diseases, it could be really bad. When I cheated the other day, I used an old needle, but I was the only one who had ever used it, and only once a few months ago. It is a back up I was keeping because I don't really shoot up anymore, but if I got the urge didn't wanna use someone elses. It is fucking ridiculous how hard it is to get a clean needle..I mean its not impossible but you can't buy em without a script here anymore.

So yeah, mostly guilt-fueled paranoia. Something is wrong with me health-wise that they think is my thyroid that somewhat fits the symptoms of hep but I think that is just me being a hypochondriac, what with the negative tests and not turning yellow and all.

[candy]

Ironic,

If your last test was 6 weeks ago and you have not engaged in any risky behaviors, then you are OK.
And you are very welcome. Anytime you have a health related question or one related to HR, you can always
contact me.
Get that thyroid checked out. I too have had thyroid problems in the past and wow what a difference it makes when you get treatment going with meds.
Are you seeing an endocrinologist for your thyroid or just being followed by your regular doc? Best to see an endocrinologist if your thyroid levels are out of whack and you are symptomatic.

And, just to let you know, you can have chronic liver disease and not have jaundice (yellowing of the skin). It is a sign that generally comes on to late for those who don't know they may have a disease such as Hep C.

Best to you and I hope you get that thyroid checked out or find out what is causing you problems.

[justdavid]

yeah, the skin cell thing is bullshit.
otherwise everything someone touches would be infectious it you have an open wound of any kind.
and that's just too damn farfetched for my liking.
it's through blood and maybe through sexual contact,
but, yes, it is extremely rare that way.
basically as long as you're not doing any knifeplay or rough anal or anything else that brings blood,
you're 99% not gonna get hep c from the mattress mambo.

You realize you've really contradicted yourself here.

Admitting its a blood borne pathogeb but stating "maybe" it cam be transmitted through sex.


On topic. The skin cell crap is crap unless theres a wound pb the said finger. Keep in mind that not all open wounds are noticeable. It's not too far fetched for a junkie to poke their finger recapping a rig and forgetting about it and continuing their day.

[AboveTheClouds402]

If what you say is true, I need to be tested ASAP. The guy who helped me lose my IV virginity has Hep-C. It doesn't help that I already have Lupus, which is also a immune-system disease.

Fuck D:

[Ironic]

If what you say is true, I need to be tested ASAP. The guy who helped me lose my IV virginity has Hep-C. It doesn't help that I already have Lupus, which is also a immune-system disease.

Fuck D:

That is really where my question was coming from. Having someone help you IV, and are there any risks as long as you don't come in contact with their blood or share works?

Abovetheclouds, if I found out anyone I was using with had hep c, Id get tested ASAP. it's so easy to accidentally share water or put down your needles and mix them up.

Thank you to everyone who responded and assuaged my paranoid fears!