Anxiety killing me

[scaredtodeath]

Lately i have been very concerned over contracting hep c. I have never injected drugs or been in contact with blood. My fears stem from past drug inhalation. Ive snorted drugs maybe 10 times in my life (27 yrs old). never had an open wound or noticed any blood and it was never a prolonged session. my nasal passages are completely intact im just worrying endlessly over exposure please help with facts and opinions to help ease my mind.

[CureSeeker]

Get a screening test.  If its negative - 'nuff said.   Stop the risky behavior too. 

If the screening test comes back positive - remember that positive doesn't necessarily mean positive, and schedule a RIBA test.   If its negative - 'nuff said.

Don't lose your mind.  You are very young.  Get checked out.  At best, a screening test will put your fears to rest. 

[CureSeeker]

Sorry, just read that RIBA is outdated.  Your doctor can advise you what test if the screening doesn't come back negative. 

[Lynn K]

Looks like you asked essentially the same question back in April

https://forums.hepmag.com/index.php?topic=4813.msg49577#msg49577

I am assuming your drug use is likely contributing to your anxiety so a second good reason to quit the first being the small risk of contracting hep c or other illnesses in this manner.

Just to add hep c is very curable today with the new medicines but why risk catching hep c or anything else from using drugs?

I am sure those of us here who contracted hep c from younger drug use wish they could turn back the clock and undo that decision

Good luck

[CureSeeker]

I remember when I and a couple close friends used a sewing needle and an ice cube to pierce each others ears - it was like a thing when we were teenagers.  Surely wouldn't do that again.

And then, when I was 18, I simply had to have a tattoo - even though the state I lived in didn't have regulated tattoo parlors yet.

Oh well - the silly mistakes of youth  *shrugs*

[gnatcatcher]

scaredtodeath, it takes many years for the hep C to start doing major damage, and even then, people (myself included) get cured with the new meds. You're only 27. I had hep C for almost 44 years before I started Harvoni, yet it cured me. So, you don't need to consider this a crisis, but testing would finally put you at ease.

The first test is an HCV antibody test: if it's reactive (positive), then your immune system encountered HCV at some point in your past and created antibodies to it. That doesn't tell you whether you have HCV now, because many people have strong enough immune systems and small enough exposure that they clear HCV on their own.

If the antibody test is reactive, then the doctor will order a test that sees whether HCV is currently detected and (depending on the test ordered) may even measure how much HCV is detected, known as the Viral Load. At my lab, this latter test is labeled "HCV RNA, QN, RT PCR"; different labs use different labels. "Undetected" or "not detected" (or similar term) means negative (you don't have HCV); if there is a viral load, then typically a specialist will order additional tests so the right treatment is prescribed and approved by insurance.

Given your lack of blood-to-blood contact, it is highly unlikely you have HCV. Your current fear could be just another wake-up call that you haven't been living your best life, and age 27 is a great time to start doing exactly that.

Best wishes,

Gnatty

[CureSeeker]

I have a lot of respect for the opinions of those that have posted here - and some who may have decided something to the contrary, in the past, but my state's Health Department feels you should be tested if you ever snorted drugs.

https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/1810.pdf


And, apparently so does WebMD.

http://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/understanding-hepatitis-c-prevention#1

Bleeding in the nasal passages frequently occurs when taking cocaine this way, and >>>microscopic droplets<<< may enter the straw and be passed on to the next user, >>>even if they can't be seen<<<.

We all openly state that none of us are medical professionals on these boards, so, scaredtodeath, please get tested.  Let us know how the test goes.

Chances are its nothing, or even if it was something, your body could clear it on its own if you have a good immune system.  You may be doing it for nothing, but if you are positive, its better to catch now than later.

If cost is an issue, call your states health department to find out if anyone near you is offering the test for free.  There is no better way to ease your fears than to learn the truth, and change your behavior - and get treated IF you need to be.

Best wishes!