truth about hep c from other sufferers please?

Question

I have so much information given on yahoo answers that varies, mostly from people who dont know about it who say you can catch it from kissing so on, can anybody with hep c tell me how to stay free of it if your partner has it and if it is indeed clearable for a long duration and then is called cured.

Answer 1

I have had Hep C and did the treatment 6 years ago. I have been undetectable ever since, and now I use the C word: cured! You cannot catch this disease from kissing, and it is very hard to transmit sexually unless there is an exchange of blood (rough sex, anal sex, or unusual sex practices like sticking pins or needles into the skin). My husband & I have never used condoms; he's never had hep c. I belong to a support group that has many couples as members; none of the non-hep C partners have contracted it, and they have been married 10 years, 25 years, and 30some odd years. According to studies, there is a 1-3% chance of passing the virus on through sex, very low odds indeed. The risk of passing from mother to child is 5%, also low.
If your partner has cleared the virus on treatment, then he is considered a sustained responder when he is still undetectable for 6 months after treatment has stopped. If he is still undetectable at the 2 year mark, then in all probability, it will not return as long as he doesn't become exposed to transmission risk factors again.
You sound very scared. That is because you aren't educated about it. Knowledge is power. As someone who's been down that road, I would suggest you get in contact with a local support group and learn about the disease so you don't have to live in fear. Best wishes to you and your partner.

Answer 2

There are several Genotypes of Hep-C virus, all of which are contagious but 'NOT' from kissing, not unless the sufferer has
a broken, bloody sore in their mouth or on their lips.
Blood is the way that Hep-C is tranferred from one person to another, and there's only 'ONE' reported case in the millions
who now have this crap, that this patient seems to have gotten it
some other way than by blood transfer.
I myself don't really believe this, as I think she must have had some 'little' unknown cut or scrape somewhere that she wasn't aware of.
Some research statements you'll find on the net only give
'possible' ways to spread the virus.
But i have done extensive research, read and re-read hundreds of reports with my final conclusion as stated above.
BUT' as a concerned sufferer myself, I don't take 'any' chances
when it comes to infecting others, so I am diligent about 'never' allowing anyone to use my things, 'toothbrush' knife-fork etc.
Even comb or hairbrush, for a very good reason really.
We 'all' get little pimples on our head sometimes, and i'd be concerned it might bleed if I broke the head unknowingly.
Same with toothbrush and utensils.
We never know if we excrete tiny amounts of blood when brushing, or from sinus drainage that could contain blood.
Better safe than sorry, that's me!!
BLOOD is your answer my dear.
And 'Yes" some genotypes of the virus 'are' curable.
But not mine 'Genotype 1'. I use 'all natural products to treat myself.

Answer 3

My personal experience with Hep C comes from my ex-husband having it. We found out that he had it while donating blood at a local blood drive and recieved a letter requesting he see a doctor and that his blood had been denied. The way it was explained to us is I could have gotten it if we shared the same razor, tooth brush ect...transfere possible due to things such as bleeding of the gums with the tooth brush and nicks while shaveing... said as far as sex use a condom with care... He has taken the treatment and is now showing no signs of ever having Hep C .... We were married for 14 years with out the transfer of Hep C.....
My suggestion is periodic testing just to be safe and early detection.

Answer 4

I've had hepatits c now for going on twenty one years now. I had a blood transfussion two weeks after I was born. I enrolled in a clinical trail at Shands Hosp. in Gainesville, FL. There, I was on combination treatment of interferon and ribavirin for 18 months, with a 5 year follow up study sponsored by the pharmacutical company. I'm currently in remission and have been for four years now. Hepatits C (HCV) is primarily spread through the blood of an infected person. HCV has at least six genotypes--the genetic make-up of the virus. This helps to identify the specific antibodies of the virus.Your doctor can perform a test to determine your partners genotype. Each genotype responds differently to treament. There are several tests a doctor can do to determine if you have HCV. You can have a "false-positive" and a "false-negative" test. This is rare. More importanly HCV is not spread by sneezing, hugging, coughing, food or water, sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses, or casual contact. HCV can be spread during sex but it does not occur very offten. To keep from becoming infected with HCV follow the recommendations provided by the CDC:
--Don't ever shoot drugs. If you shoot drugs, stop and get into a treatment program. If you can't stop, never reuse or share syringes, water, or drug works, and get vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
--Do not share toothbrushes, razors, or other personal care articles. They might have blood on them.
--If you are a healthcare worker, always follow routine barrier precautions and safely handle needles and other sharps. Get vaccinated against hepatitis B
--Consider the health risks if you are thinking about getting a tattoo or body piercing: You can get infected if:
the tools that are used have someone else's blood on them.
the artist or piercer doesn't follow good health practices, such as washing hands and using disposable gloves.
--HCV can be spread by sex, but this does not occur very often. If you are having sex, but not with one steady partner:

--You and your partners can get other diseases spread by having sex (e.g., AIDS, hepatitis B, gonorrhea or chlamydia).
--You should use latex condoms correctly and every time. The efficacy of latex condoms in preventing infection with HCV is unknown, but their proper use may reduce transmission.

--You should get vaccinated against hepatitis B.

You and your partner if you havent already should consult one or more of the following: gastroenterologists, infectiouse disease physician, and/or hepatologist.

Answer 5

Ok, here is what I know. my mom has it. she had it and we didnt know it and she sliced her knee, I was 9 yrs old, I bandaged it and held the bloody napkin on it the whole way to the hospital. we found out then that she had it. luckily I never caught it. we shared eating utemsils, finger nail clippers, hair bruses etc. and I have been tested multiple times and it has always been neg.

also, she was married to my dad for 13 years, they kisses, had sex ( with no protection, b/c my mom cant have kids, i was adopted.) , shared forks, etc, my dad also never caught it and they did those things for 13 years. I hope some of this helps, this is all from personal experience with hep c

Answer 6

You all pass!!!!! WHOOOOOO HOOOOOO....ya'll made my NIGHT! I didn't have to correct any of you. Brilliant answers!

Everyone above me is correct!

Oh, forget the condom.....if your in a long term, monogomous relationship, chances are if you don't have it now, you wont get it at all...but...to be on the safe side, wear one if you must!