kathy,

i don't do anything different that i wouldn't ordinarily do. if you cut yourself, clean it up and treat the wound. don't frecnh kiss anyone if you have sores in your mouth.

use common sense. my wife has no fears of catching hepc from me. i have 8 grandkids and i just be myself when i am around them.

i hope this makes you feel a little better,
take care,
joe

thanks joe i needed to hear that

Kathy, I agree with Joe.

I have had Hep C mostly likely my entire life and I'll be 54 in a few months. I didn't find out about my Hep C until April of this year. I lived life with my family over the years and no one caught it. I gave birth to 3 sons while unknowingly having Hep C and none of them have Hep C, my husband of 13 years doesn't have it and my ex-husband whom I was with for 20+ years does not have it.

So...just practice the standard precautions that go with Hep C and everyone will be fine.

i feel you. im in the same boat sometimes, i thought about that when i started this project im doing for the children on the pediatric floor, i was worried and still am worried whether i should tell the chief of nursing that i have it before i hand the dolls out to the children , i mean i know i have to bleed on them for them to get it, but im afraid if i tell her that she wont let me do the project and it is something i want to do. so i def know how you feel. i still worry about it.

thanks...hadn't thought of all the people i've been around for years that don't have it..glad i posted i feel better thanks again

good heavens! of course you're not contagious! in the past ten years i've had two sexual partners who don't have hep C. they both got tested and they don't even have the antibodies.

the only way it's passed from person to person is through blood. so, just don't share your toothbrush (put it up somewhere so the kids don't happen to 'play' with it in their mouths) and don't share your razor. that's about all i can think of?

Even if I licked your blood off the floor, I wouldn't get hep C. Stomach acid dissolves the virus. You don't get it by eating it. That's hep A, which is totally different. Hep A is basically eating shit. Either the food wasn't washed off right, impure water was used, or a fly transmitted. This is all in your head. I've been married and with my wife for 8 years, and we have sex without protection and even sometimes when she's ending her period but still a little on it. I know women who have it, have lots of sex with their partner when they're on their period, and their partners have it. I play with my nieces and nephews (horseplay) and sometimes they try to bite me. I usually just stop them, but they don't have it. The virus has to enter the skin through a penetration of the skin. And since the skin is 6 layers thick and clots very quick, this is hard to do. If you let fear enter your life, that fear will grow like something contagious. Let go of the fear and enter into acceptance. You'll be much more comfortable personally and in your dealings with others. When you've had this for a while, it gets easier to accept. But you must let go of the fear and obsessive thinking that accompanies it or it'll drive you crazy. There's nothing to worry about. Everything is perfect the way it is.

partners DON'T have it. Sorry, typo

to sc,

i am sure i would not tell if i were in your position. it would be quite a gamble. your are not putting the kids in danger. you know what to do if you cut yourself and your co-workers must be well versed in treatment of blood borne pathogens.

just my opinion

At first I felt just like you. I was paranoid that I would give it to others. I am not sure how I got the virus, which made me more paranoid. Like others said it is not a good place to be. There needs to be blood to blood contact. I have relaxed a lot in the last month and am really careful whenever I bleed or someone else is bleeding. Know your feelings are not unusual and you are not alone.
Hugs,
Alicia

thanks..my daughter is grown i just send her favorite foods to her house when i cook them you've all been so helpfull guess i was getting a little obsessive..bill w your post was helpfull and funny (hepa eating shit) lol thank you all

Kat,
I've had hcv for 28 years.I have had different relationships through the years.No one has gotten it from me that i know of.
You can't help how you feel sweety.I too have fears.Like Bill says we have to work our way into acceptance, friend.And it's not easy, but you know what?It's always been okay and it will continue to be okay, sweety.
Much Love,
Ru

I have hep b and i know exactly what you are saying! If you think you are alone in your fear for others once dianosed you arent hun! I left my husband , got an apartment back in my hometown and locked myself away for 2 months not even allowing my son in past the front room. I was especially afraid of him being near my dishes and restroom so i bought all plastic dishes! I know i was being over parinoid but i was scared to death of the word contagious!! and i love my family and even strangers!
I finally decided to listen to the doctors to an extent.....you are not goin to give anyone this disease by looking at them i promise.ust take a few precautions and you will see it helps to let them back in!

you would have to have blood contact with someone and use same tooth brush or razor. Its ok calm down millions of people have this and dont know it, you know,barb

dont do what i did.... I felt the same way, and cut myself off from dating and remained celibate for 12 years....................... What was I thinking........??? I completed the treatment and I am free from HEP C....