Hi Kim
I understand what you are saying. It is shocking news to hear but its not the end of everything. If you read alot of the discussions and posts on here. Some are on treatment and some are not. My boyfriend has Hep C, but I would not leave him because he has it. I do not have it and my son does not either. He and I have been together 3 years but just now living together for 7 months because I want to be here for him.

Treatment is doing well for him, and he is undectable right now due to treatment.

He is going to need you. The support is what we all need. On DS everyone here are friends and share stories of what all goes through, and help one another.

I am not here to tell you what to do or to leave your husband. If you both truly love one another you both can accomplish anything. You both be strong and get all the information you can get on Hep C. You can ask as many questions here on DS. We will be glad to answer as much as we can to our knowledge.

As for his job that is a very good question. The best advice I can give you is to see what the doctor says regarding working around chemicals etc.

Girl, its normal for you to feel this way. I know believe me. My exhusband has Hep C, and can't do anything about it because he's an alcholic.

If you want to send me a message or IM pls do. I will be here for you as well as everyone else on here. Hang in there and keep your chin up.

Hugs.........

And just because he has HCV doesn't mean you aren't going to grow old together. 99% of people with HCV will die from something OTHER than the HCV itself. It is a very slow progressing disease, and depending on health factors it can take 10, 20, 30, 40 yrs to progress into possible fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver cancer. This is generally an asymptomatic (no-symtpoms) disease with about 90% of people being symptom free. About 4 million people live with HCV. HCV is blood borne, his blood has to get into your bloodstream. Here are a couple of good sights to further explain the virus. You are not alone. I remember my bewilderment when I first learned I had HCV and all I could think about was my kids being alone with no mommy. Sure it's hard to swallow, do the greiving you need to do, but arm yourself with the answers and the truth, nothing but the best, knowledge is power, and stand strong if you love your man. I am sure he is just as scared too :) You can do this! Luv ya.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatitis_C

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/

There are other links to website in the recommendations area and then there is a member started group for those supporting their loved ones afflicted with HCV, here is a link if you want to check out further

http://dailystrength.org/groups/supportersofpeoplewithhepc

Kim, you came to the right spot. There will be many people on this site who are much more knowledgeable than me that can answer your questions but, in the meantime, I want to tell you that this is a situation you will be able to live with safely.

You and your husband need to educate yourselves on this disease by reading, reading, reading. What matters is making sure you and your husband and kids follow all the safe practices of daily living to avoid sharing the disease - very simple steps to take. It's a blood borne disease. You will find that information very easily on the web. I'd take the time to post some sites but I'm way past my bedtime and have to go. I just saw your post and wanted to get something down for you to try to calm you.

As far as his job, I'm assuming that he will have to avoid a job involving chemicals but that's a question for his doctor.

Keep in mind that he is the one with the illness and he will need your support right this very minute. I also understand your need for support! You will need to support each other. You have come to the right place...you will have support here too.

God bless you both. Learn about this disease together and support one another. It's hard for him and it's hard for you but you can do this.

Your feelings are normal. Please keep searching this site and you will find posts that will answer a lot of your questions if your up because you can't sleep.

You and your husband will be in my prayers tonight. I will check on you in the morning. Take care and try not to worry...we've all been there in one way or another.

Mary

Ok Kim its normal to be scared and upset when you or a love one finds out you have Hep C. It's shocking yes, but take a big breath sister, its gonna be all right. Most people who have Hep C die of something else and not of the Hep C. You and your husband will still grow old together and he will be around to see your grandkids. Even if he tested positive for Hep C antigens, it does not mean he is carrying the virus, which is chronic Hep C. 15-20% of folks clear the virus on their own, though they will always test positive for the antibodies. About 80% of people then go onto chronic Hep C, and of those people, fewer than 1 out of 5 goes on to cirrhosis after 20 years. You husband will need more test, like a liver biopsy to determine the extent of damage to his liver. After all test are complete and this can take many weeks and or months, your husbands doctor will discuss treatment with him. Not everyone is a candidate for treatment. Some people are so mildy effected that they try and control it by living a healthy lifestyle and eating right. Other folks are just not good candidates because of other health issues. If he goes the treatment route, depending on his genotype, he has a 50-80% chance of clearing the virus. Hep C is not a death sentence. Take this time to learn as much as you can about the disease. It's gonna be ok, but your husband is gonna need your love and support. This is a great site, there are husbands, wives, mothers, daughters, Dads etc coming here to share and they either all have Hep C themselves or a loved one does. It's always the scariest at first, but with a little info on this disease, you will realize that you two can handle this.
As far as your husband's job, I cannot answer about that. Surely his work place is monitored by OSHA, but if he and his doctor feel its a danger to him and he can transfer, perhaps he should.
Best luck to you and your family. Welcome, this is a caring site with many helpful and kind folks. We are all going through this too. Hugs Jeannie

They say that 70% of Viet Nam Vets got Hep C from the air guns used for vaccinations.
Yes, I would say he needs to get a job without chemical exposure. I'm glad you found us. There are many many here with love to share and help is on the way. I've had HCV since I was 19. I'm 54. I didn't know about it until late 2006. I thought I was just growing old. I changed my diet a little and started taking supplements to support and rebuild the liver and to interrupt the viral cycle, as well as to build the immune system so it can kick the virus's butt.

I'm happy to say that 18 months later, I'm doing quite well and I'm back to the person I was before menopause. (And I just thought it was menopause hitting me hard.)

So take a few breaths and read a lot. http://hcvadvocate.org was where I got my first and best information, there may be other sites, check the recommendations link up top of the page.

Hope this helps. Oh, it might be good to see a counselor together and talk about this in a supportive environment.

KS - I know this is a shock but take some time to let it sink in. It's not the end. I have Hep C and have been married to the same person for 29 years - he is negative and we have three grown children who are negative. I am a health care worker and I'm not 100% sure how I got it but here I am. I would hope you would not end your marriage based on this illness. We don't always get what we want my dear - but things happen for a reason. I'm presently on treatment and responding well -- I have the opportunity to kick this virus out of my body for good and go on to live the rest of my life. This is only a speed bump - it has slowed me down a bit but I'm not going to lay down and die. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger and I plan to be one strong old lady. Kim, look me up and write me anytime -- we're here to support you, your husband, and your family.

As far as your husband's job I would suggest he get evaluated by a Hepatologist or Gastroenterologist to find out what his viral load is, what his genotype is and whether there is liver damage. He is young and may have very little if any liver damage at this point. A specialist can advise him about environmental exposure. If you take nothing from this post please believe that there is hope. We come here to support each other with the goal of living our lives as well as we can in spite of this disease. It's not abnormal to be worried -- it means you care. I'm here for you anytime - you have officially been added to my prayer list baby girl. Take care of yourself. Peggy

He will need your support. You also have the childen to think about. Many here are couples and one has hep and the other doesn't. There are many precaustions you can take to make you and you and your children safe. If you love him then stay with him for good and bad. Hopefully you can connect up with some of these couples and they can give you more advice with their experiences and how to hep proof the home.

I wish you the best.

Hi Kim
I have HCV for 30 plus years found out in 06 and my husband never even considered leaving me, I just finished treatment and am now virus free and back to my old self. I have been married for 18 years my husband does not have it nor does my daughter.. How wonderful to catch it early.
Why would you leave him? What if you got cancer or you found out you had a disease would you want him to consider leaving you? To heal together is a great gift. It can bring you closer. Any disease is a journey of healing, and any journey of healing can be a great gift. There is treatment and it is a managable disease. I went into fear when I first found out, and now I am healing, begin from there lets heal this beast, many of us here are doing just that!

Everybody's got this crap. Welcome to the club. It's a club we didn't ask to be in. You're so young, you probally haven't had it for 2 long. And you can't say your husband gave it to you or vice versa. You're in the "Why me" stage. I'm married and my wife doesn't have it. We have a lot of unprotected sex. And I play with my nieces and nephews, sometimes they bite me, and I share cups and drinks with my wife. So don't get all freaked out. You're not a leper. And you're not as contageous as you think. Try to accept it, then let's figure out your options. It's just something we have to face. Nothing to be afraid of. This period of denial, self shame, and self pity may last a couple of months. It's a period we all had to go through. But on the other side is acceptance, wisdom, and strength. But you must go through this part. If not, a person becomes stuck in it and never faces reality.

everyone gave you wonderful responses, i won't add much but my support to you. my husband is 10 yrs older than me. we've been married for almost 13 yrs and have 3 young children. we found out 4 yrs ago that he had hep c. he didn't do anything about it until last fall. during that time it was frustrating to me but i have since realized it took him that amount of time to process and come to terms with what he was going to do (he had been thru several courses of chemo before i met him and was none too excited about treatment for hep c). everyone processes things differently. i have learned many things thru the trials my husb and i have been thru. we are closer, we trust each other and have a loyalty that is very deep. feel free to message me anytime. you will go thru the gamut of emotions and they may change by the minute. this site is great for education and support. welcome!

Hi Kim, not much more to add except my support. We all went through what you are experiencing right now. I was diagnosed first in my family and was devastated. Had my family tested the three oldest children were all negative but husband and youngest daughter were also positive. My life as I knew it came crashing down around me. It's been 7 years since I was diagnosed and sometimes I still get mad about it. Here if you need anything. Hang in there with the help of all here on DS it get managable.

I understand how you feel friend, it is so scary but you can make it...I really don't know you so I don't want to give the wrong advice just my opinion...Learn as much as you can about hep c and if you decide to stay with hubby he will need as much support as you can give...Love ya...

Hi friend welcome to the club. Sorry to hear the news but it takes many many many moons for hcv to develop into any thing which can kill. only 15% get Liver cancer and 5% who died. I been married for 31 years and My wife and I are still very much in love and still together.Remenber for better or worse.
Keep up you spirits I will be your new friend!
gator Buzz

Welcome Kim, everyone gave you such great answers I just wanted to specifically give a link for people newly diagnosed with hcv. It's in the advocate site someone already mentioned.

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/First_Steps.asp

More specifically the pdf file there at http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/Newly%20Diagnosed.pdf
will answer alot or your questions. Good luck to you both. It's hard but not impossible. I was diagnosed Feb, 2007 at the age 0f 27 and was a complete shock since I was not at risk for the disease. I've been on treatment since Nov. 2, 2007 and will be done in September. The virus has been undectable in my blood since my third week of treatment!

Thanks everyone for the replies and the support and info you all have given me. Today was a little better, he left for work about an hour earlier to sit down with his superior at work and explain what was oging on. As of now he's sitting at the dispensary(base hospital) waiting for the Dr there to confirm his results. Just to confirm some things up front, when he got in the car yesterday he said "if you want to leave I'll understand", i never once said I would walk away from this marriage. I love this man and the two children he gave me with all I have. I will keep everyone updated and once again I am so thankful to have a found a place like this. I'm sure to be here at least 3 times a week, or as much as my rowdy children will allow.

Kim