New Toothbrush & Razor

[Victori]

Just received the results of labs done after 4 weeks on Harvoni:

Before Harvoni, viral load 1,005,145.
After 4 weeks, viral load 15!!! Yes, I confirmed it, one five, fifteen!!!

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow!!!

Decided at beginning of 6th week to quit taking any vitamins or other supplements, except my Vitamin C, just to give my liver a break and allow Harvoni optimum performance.

Also found I had much less nausea when I quit drinking my morning tomato juice.

Just finished my 6th week and pretty much believe I must be HepC free by now.

Also determined at beginning of my last 2 weeks (week 7) I would start using a new toothbrush and razor, since these implements could possibly cause infection.

Oh, I hope you all have great results and that we all have bright futures to look forward to!

"Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul."
3 John 1:2

April 5th is Easter Sunday. In Revelation 1:18, Jesus said:
 "I am He that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore."

He really helped me make sense of this miracle of healing He has provided for me when I read these words in 1 Peter 1:3:
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

[Philadelphia]

This made me both happy for you and amused.

Amused because while another person might celebrate a momentous occasion like this with a drink, we celebrate it with a new toothbrush and razor. 

[flipflops]

how true!  I throw my toothbrush out after each use, same with the razor, I am not taking any changes of reinfection! 

[jberlin]

Great news! As my young son started growing hair many years' ago he had this annoying habit that most kids do of using whatever he found laying around instead of remembering where his own stuff was. My towel, my deodorant - because he liked our shower better - don't think my toothbrush, but you get the picture - so, I walked back into my bathroom, pulled out my razor, wrapped duct tape around the handle and said "never use this!" Just a funny memory now, but a real fear then.  Stay the course, stay well and get cured. 

One note about vitamins, not sure what all you were taking, but I would suggest continuing a general one-a-day, no way that can do anything but help. To promote liver health, cooked leafy green vegetables like spinach are suggested, and they have natural iron for blood health, and many MDs believe that milk-thistle 'may' provide some benefit, and even perhaps coffee.  Happy Easter, and best wishes!   -jack

[atomic dog]

New toothbrush and razor every day seems excessive. Once your viral drops to <20 or so, there would seem to be little chance of reinfection, since at those levels your immune system, as shattered as it may be, should be able to handle it. I replaced mine after 2 weeks and again after 4, Probably will do so again this week (beginning of Week . But, hey, different strokes for different folks.

[Anita13]

My husband just reached UD after 5 weeks, and I threw out his toothbrush! He thought I was crazy, but after three treatments and two failures, I ain't takin no chances!!!

[atomic dog]

I'm not saying you shouldn't do the things mentioned in this threat: I ditched my razor and toothbrush. But just to recap, infection or reinfection through casual contact is very rare. For the record, this is from the CDC:

Hepatitis C is usually spread when blood from a person infected with the Hepatitis C virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. Today, most people become infected with the Hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs. Before 1992, when widespread screening of the blood supply began in the United States, Hepatitis C was also commonly spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants.
People can become infected with the Hepatitis C virus during such activities as
Sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment to inject drugs;
Needlestick injuries in health care settings;
Being born to a mother who has Hepatitis C.

Less commonly, a person can also get Hepatitis C virus infection through

Sharing personal care items that may have come in contact with another person’s blood, such as razors or toothbrushes;
Having sexual contact with a person infected with the Hepatitis C virus.

[GLCII]

Hi All

I've also been changing my troothbrush & razor. I think it's a Great Idea!!!

This is my fourth time treating. After responding and then relapsing the first three times, which lasted almost 4yrs in total, I'm not taking anymore chances. For all I know, my healthcare products, razors & toothbrush, could have been my undoing the first three times.

What I did was went to the Dollar store and bought four packs of Reach Toothbrushes for $2.75 a pack. I've been changing out my toothbrush every two to three days. It might be over kill but for $6.00 a week, for a toothbrush & razor, I get peace of mind. As for razors, I only shave every other day, if that, and bought a bag of disposables that I change after every other use. I was using the Gillette ProGlide but for the price of those, I'll use the bagged Gillettes for now. (Razors are the biggest ripoff)

 I'm on pill # 32 today, of 84 and I'm going to continue using new toothbrushes and razors till I'm done. My first, two week blood test came back <15 detectable and I'm waiting on my second test now which should show <15 non-detectable. I hope! And like I said, after doing three treatments of Inter/Riba for a total of almost 4yrs and going thru the hell of that, I'm not taking anymore chances.

I think switching toothbrushes, razors, combs, nail clippers, tweezers, etc. and any other thing a person feels might cause them reinfection should be disguarded depending on what makes a person feel comfortable. As for me, I think spending $25.00 - $30.00 a month for three months is worth it.
This time, I have No Plans on getting that same Bad News as the first three times. (We've just recieved your three month blood test and "You Have Tested Positive Again") is not what I plan on hearing this time. If I thought changing out my clothes, sheets, silverware etc. would help, they'd be gone. But that's just me.

[sapphire101]

I support you GLCII. Whatever you need to do to give you peace and the feeling that you have done 100%. We have so little control beyond following the pharmacy instructions and it is satisfying to be doing something to contribute no matter how small.


As you said- It is only three months and not that much expense.

[GLCII]

Thanks sapphire

I should have clarified a little better on the toothbrushes. For $2.75 you get three Reach toothbrushes per pack. That's under a $1.00 each. That's doable.