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.
PATIENT Jake
I'm a therapist. People come to me for help with drug abuse.
But 20 years ago, I was a college freshman, I went a little wild.
For the first time I was away from home, and I did some drugs.
And yes, I shared needles once or twice.
If only I could go back and change what I did...
Jake
FACT
When ask if Jake had used IV drugs, Jake couldn't believe that the one or two times he had used he could have contracted hep c.
The average patient with chronic hep c has a blood concentration of the virus of two million particles per milliliter of whole blood.
That's equivalent to 2,000 particles of virus in the amount of blood that would sit on the head of a small stickpin.
With this concentration it's easy to see that wiping or rinsing a needle with water or salt solutions won't remove all the virus particles.
Indeed, a large amount of virus may remain on the needle.
MY THOUGHTS
Imagine in the good old days, when we would have to take a vaccin in school, ect....
Mckenzie
One day at the time
I'm a therapist. People come to me for help with drug abuse.
But 20 years ago, I was a college freshman, I went a little wild.
For the first time I was away from home, and I did some drugs.
And yes, I shared needles once or twice.
If only I could go back and change what I did...
Jake
FACT
When ask if Jake had used IV drugs, Jake couldn't believe that the one or two times he had used he could have contracted hep c.
The average patient with chronic hep c has a blood concentration of the virus of two million particles per milliliter of whole blood.
That's equivalent to 2,000 particles of virus in the amount of blood that would sit on the head of a small stickpin.
With this concentration it's easy to see that wiping or rinsing a needle with water or salt solutions won't remove all the virus particles.
Indeed, a large amount of virus may remain on the needle.
MY THOUGHTS
Imagine in the good old days, when we would have to take a vaccin in school, ect....
Mckenzie
One day at the time
deleted_user
Yea, I felt so guilty when I cleaned up. Family did an intervention and my brother in law got rid of some needles filled with drugs. He emptied them out and as he was putting the cap on, one needle poked him. It was so hard to tell him to check himself. I feel more guilty about that than all the dirty low down stuff done for drugs. What he did was out of love and he is family. So far he has tested negative, but it is the one thing that still keeps me up at night, especially since he's family. We have no idea how much our selfish actions can put others in jeopardy. I hope he remains free of this virus, he has young kid's and I'd hate to be responsible for him getting this disease. In fact, after I got clean, I found out you can be infected with multiple genotypes. I just thought, "oh well. I already have it so I don't need to be that careful." How wrong I was, in more ways than one. Luckily(imagine saying luckily), I only have genotype 1b. Biposy results tomm.. I hope all is well.
deleted_user
I also shared a needle a few times between 92 - 95, met my partner in 96, and with his help,and surport, and his help in caring for my 6yr old son, I sorted myself out,then in Dec 06 find out i,ve hep c, I was more scared and worried about my partner, and it was the most horrible thing ever, thinking that I could of infected the one person who I trully love, and has stood by me through so much, having to go home and tell him, and then for him to have a blood test, thankfully he was ok, and ever since we always use condoms, I have my own toilet bag for my toothbrush, nail clippers, etc, at first it was hard being that extra bit carefull, but now it's just habit, also explaining to my 17yr old son, he see's me "looking ok" and from that thinks i'm feeling ok,
deleted_user
In the 70s when I got HEPC everyone shared needles! Imagine the amount of people that were affected by this! Back than know one knew how serious Hep was. It wasnt till the early 90s I myself found out.
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