Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
My name is Samantha & Im 23 years old. My friends & family call me sam or sam jo, so feel free :) I came to this community because last week I had an accidental needle poke at work (Im an LPN) & I was immediatly tested to see if I have AIDS or Hepatitis & if the person whos needle I poked myself had AIDS or any type of Hepatitis. It came back that all her tests were fine, but I had a positive hapatitis c result. Im unsure how I could of gotten hep c & at this point Im just confused about everything. I do have many tattoos which is the only way I feel this could of happened, but I have read that tattoos have never been proven or linked to hep c. Anyways, long story short, I went today to have nucleic acid testing done, I guess thats a definate way to find out if my reading was fale positive. My whole future is running thru my head & I feel like everything is crumbling. I am engaged to be married in 9 months & if I come out surly positive with hep c then he will have to be tested too. Ever sense I found out I feel like I have been taken over & Im scared I will give it to him or someone else. Also we planned Immediatly after our wedding to start having kids & now I feel like we cant because I was reading 5 out of every 100 born to hep. c mothers will get it....& I feel like my luck I will give my child hepatitis. I know it could be worse & I should feel greatful that its not worse but I dont know how to look on the up side. This is so hard to deal with right now. Then my fiance keeps trying to encourage me to get treatment immediatly once we find out if I have it for sure but I have been reading about some of you who have had tx & it doesnt sound like a good thing to go thru. I am trying to be positive but I feel like I have already given up on myself. Anyone with advice please share.
love sam jo
love sam jo
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I have been here before, a long long time ago and now I am back.Forgive me for not just saying what I want to say,even under a triple dose of antidepressants it is still raw and seeping and I am hesitant at revealing it as at least under the bandages around my heart I don,t have to look at how raw and wounded.My child was cleaved from my heart by his own actions. my child of ten,turning eleven...
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
First, find out your genotype, then you'll find out what stage/grade your liver is.
Take a BIG deep breathe. There is time to adjust, HCV is not the worse thing that can happen in your life. TX(treatment) may be difficult at times but it is certainly doable. Come here often....and bring your questions.
I got a lot of encouragement on this web site. It's the right place to be. Just take it one day at a time. Also, regarding your boyfriend and him getting it from you... it's hard to get it from sex. My boyfriend and I have been sleeping together for a year and 1/2 and he's negative. Hope this helps! Take care and I'm here if you want to talk!!
thanks a million,
sam
I think you would be shocked if you knew how many people have Hep C and don't even know it.
They live their lives, they marry, they have kids, they grow old and then they die. And many never know they had the virus.
So very many people die with it, not from it. So very many people find out they have the virus when they are in their 40s or 50s or older. They have their spouses/mates/childern all tested and guess what? Nobody else has the virus!
As for where you contracted it, who really knows? All we can do is make guesses but I am willing to bet that lots of times, what we suspect was the source is not.
If you stop and think about it, how can anybody know for sure? I was thinking about just that the other day. Now, all reputable tattooists MUST be regularly tested - I am sure it's the law in several or all states, and also in many countries, (hey tatt, can you help me out here?) so the tattooists may know because on one test they would be negative, and the next would be positive. They would still not know EXACTLY how or when, but they would have a window, sort of.
Meh, the source is meaningless. You got it or you don't. Once you know, you deal with it.
And that's where we can help you.
Please know that there are so very many people on this site and some others who can help you with just about any question you may have.
So take a deep breath, relax and what is, is.
To know the road ahead, ask the man coming back.
First, understand that you would not have tested positive for hep C that soon after the stick, because it usually takes four months for the antibodies to develop. Unfortunately, this means you've had the virus for some time already. Fortunately, you've found out about it early, so you can start taking steps to care for yourself and your liver.
Either way, it's okay to get emotional. It's a hard pill to swallow.
At this point, the only thing you need to concern yourself with is your status. Only then can you really look at the rest of the picture.
I know it sounds scary, but the fact is, having hep C isn't a death sentence, but it's really an opportunity to change lifestyle habits to a much more healthier lifestyle for your liver, your health and those who care about you.
Just breathe, hon and trust that you will be able to get through this a day at a time.