Re-infecting Self?

[patsy]

I don't know if I am cured or not. I take my last Pegasus shot tonight, then one more week of Solvaldi/Rib. I have no real idea where I got the Hep C or how long I've had it. Found out trying to donate blood about a year and a half-two years ago. I know that to transfer it you have to have infected blood enter your blood. Is there a chance you could re-infect yourself with something that may have a trace of your own blood on it? That probably sounds silly. I haven't really been under a doctor's care but thought maybe they caution you about this on completion of treatment. Just wondering.

Patsy

[Mike]

Yes. The Hep-C virus can live in dried blood outside the body for 42 days. If you clear the virus, you can reinfect yourself within that time frame.

This would be very rare; but could happen through nail clippers, toothbrushes, needles and so forth.

I'm a diabetic and use the flexpen. I don't always change the flexpen's needle after each dosage  (I do now). If cleared the virus at week 12 (end of treatment, I could actually reinfect my self the next day. Anther example is testing you sugar levels with a finger pin and not changing it after each uses (this is something a lot of diabetics do, especially if they test on the upper arm). That pin may not be changed for a week. This isn't a problem if you have the virus (you can't infect yourself with something you already have). But it changes after you clear the virus.

Again this would be very rare; but there is a chance. And taking a chance in reinfecting myself is not an option.

I asked my GI about it (Can you reinfect yourself after you clear the virus?), and he quickly said get rid of your old toothbrush, razors and so on.

There is some debate about this - but not in theory, there is no debate.

The safe bet is change you toothbrush, razor, nail clippers, files, combs, brushes and so on once to  you clear the virus.
 
Better safe then sorry.

Best wishes, Mike

[patsy]

Mike,
So glad I asked. I wonder if sloppy manicures can transmit, probably. My daughter refuses to go to a place she thinks is sloppy. I do my own and will be changing the things you suggested and my manicure tools. Yikes.

You know what makes me mad is that stigma. An employer shouldn't legally be able to stop giving you hours because they think you might have Hep C but if they can get away with it, some (most) will. I'm worried that might be happening to me. At a meeting the staff had, the custodian gave all of us a talk on biohazard procedures. He actually stood up there and said there is no cure for Hep C and lumped it together with other conditions I think of as way more dangerous to people. I never told anyone I had it but I do think I mentioned being on a medication regimen that had side-effects. I know, dumb. Now I am not getting any hours. I'm just a sub at our library system but I really counted on that little extra income and enjoyed the job a lot. I may be wrong that this is happening but I'm all paranoid right now cuz of the interferon side-effects. I took my last injection a while ago. Now, 6 more days of the Sovaldi and Ribavirin. I sure have my fingers crossed but meanwhile starting to think of looking for another job. Ugh, I thought I was done job-hunting at age 65. I know, poor me. Haha!

[Mike]

It would be very, very rare to get Hep-C from a manicure, though, under the right circumstances, it is possible.

That's why sharing nail clippers, toothbrushes and so on are are listed as things to avoid in the literature, in order to prevent transmission or infection.

Also, Hep-C is a qualifying disability under the American's with Disabilities Act. You due have rights under this Act and can't be discriminated in employment, housing and so on.

If you believe that you are being discriminated at work, you can contact the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission for guidance and direction.

Best wishes, Mike

[lporterrn]

It would be very unlikely that you would reinfect yourself while on treatment since you are on hep C drugs. You can clean up your manicure utensils with alcohol or a one-part bleach/10-part water solution. 

[patsy]

That makes absolute sense. Not that my manicure stuff is that great but no sense throwing them away! Good old alcohol.

Patsy

[Calico17]

This is an interesting topic.  But, just a thought, since exposure to the virus, would not the body or immune system response, carry an antibody to the virus to prevent reinfection similar to say the mumps or measles, or like if you receive a vaccine against polio, etc.  Isn't testing positive for the virus always going to be there whether it's been cleared or not.  I am probably not understanding this as clearly as I should, obviously, and am not even sure I am making any sense. 

[Lukey]

Mike,

Isn't it OK to disinfect these things? I have nail trimmers I've owned for 40 years, and other things I have soaked in Borax, which is an anti viral. Also, hydrogen peroxide, boiling, alcohol, grapefruit seed extract, all things that kill pathogens.

I asked my gastro's nurse and she told me to just get a new toothbrush after a while which I will do, until the EOTx. My nail clippers don't have fresh dried blood on them. I seldom make myself bleed when I use them, and if I did, it may have been 10-30 years ago and as you said, virii cannot survive that long. Throwing away these items, except for toothbrush, seems like overkill to me.

I know a lady on Tx that bought over 100 tooth brushes and was throwing one away every day. There is really no need to be this extreme. Some precautions are great.

Toothbrushes also can be disinfected with h202, Borax, etc. but it needs to be done right, and tossing one ever week or so won't hurt. The nurse didn't seem too concerned about it happening in general.

Joe

[Lukey]

It would be very unlikely that you would reinfect yourself while on treatment since you are on hep C drugs. You can clean up your manicure utensils with alcohol or a one-part bleach/10-part water solution.

Hi there,

I'd click "Like" on this if I could. This is the same reasoning my gastro's nurse has, and IMHO, they're an awesome clinic up there in Bristol TN.  Excellent reply. Short and to the point.

[Lukey]

That makes absolute sense. Not that my manicure stuff is that great but no sense throwing them away! Good old alcohol.

Patsy

Agreed. Just like medical utensils that surgeons use, they just keep disinfecting them over and over again for many years. They last virtually forever and were not meant to be thrown away.

Soak your combs, clippers, etc., in alcohol and that should kill any virus in short order.

[Mike]

Toothbrushes should be replaced every 2 months (or sooner) regardless of whether or not you have Hep-C. Disposable razors, well, are disposable. A new nail clipper costs about $3-5. A nice comb or a brush, under $10.00.

100% guarantee of not being reinfected by one of these items: Priceless!

Mike

[kate0b1]

Agh Mike, once again you make me think of things I hadn't given any thought to!! I guess when I break up with my GI guy, I will replace all my stuff lol, Im liking the 100% peace of mind. (ps I do replace my toothbrush about ever 3 months already).

kate

[donk]

While you are taking the anti virals even if you reinfect from a toothbrush, razor etc the anti viral will kill it. The crucial point as I see it is towards the end of treatment. I have no idea how long it takes an anti viral to locate and disable the HCV replication. That would be the time to get rid of used toothbrushes and razors. As far as combs and nail clippers are concerned if HCV is transmittable through these items many people would get HCV that weren't drug users or got tainted blood transfusions prior to blood bank testing for HCV. All that being said I'll probably do all the above around the last 4 weeks of tx.

[Long_Haul]

I plan is to replace clippers, toothbrushes etc as soon as is I see UD on my viral load. I will repeat at TX completion day just to be sure.  The dragon will not be resurrected in my body! 
Can't be too careful,
AL