Aa
Alternative diagnosis to hep c?
So I use iv drugs and I've recently had a very high chance of exposure, but I came back hcv RNA negative AND a negative s/co rating after about 2 months.
This is weird to me because I've been getting practically all of the symptoms of hcv acute:
Frequent low grade Fever that resolves rather quickly
Naseua
Night sweats
Muscle aches
Joint pain
Headache
Pain in right upper abdomen (right under Rib
Cage)
Alternating between dark and clear urine (although I'm not sure that it's the "coffee" colored urine people talk about)
Numbness in extremities (hands and feet) that comes and goes
Anyone knows what the hell I've got? Could it still be hep c? All these symptoms started showing up about a month after possible exposure. I got the RNA test about 5 weeks after exposure and it was negative.
This is weird to me because I've been getting practically all of the symptoms of hcv acute:
Frequent low grade Fever that resolves rather quickly
Naseua
Night sweats
Muscle aches
Joint pain
Headache
Pain in right upper abdomen (right under Rib
Cage)
Alternating between dark and clear urine (although I'm not sure that it's the "coffee" colored urine people talk about)
Numbness in extremities (hands and feet) that comes and goes
Anyone knows what the hell I've got? Could it still be hep c? All these symptoms started showing up about a month after possible exposure. I got the RNA test about 5 weeks after exposure and it was negative.
If you are still using consider yourself one of those "junkies". You can spin it anyway you like but you are the same as those "junkies".
You dodged a bullit this time but as long as you are using there will be another time.
best of luck
You dodged a bullit this time but as long as you are using there will be another time.
best of luck
LMAO!!!
Hey Jhonathonthron.
I would not be so concerned with HCV, it doesn't make you feel all those symptoms you have, until; either you have gotten real with yourself and your killing the virus in some sort of tx, hopefully by then they will have come up with the magic pill, that so many have put at risk to find, so you and have I less to suffer. Or your dying.
I dont know I was a junkie for twenty some odd years, and hid it for awhile, years even got me a Silver Snoopy during that time. Oh yea, I gave myself Hep C too.
Never ever was I going to get high with another.....again.
Hey Jhonathonthron.
I would not be so concerned with HCV, it doesn't make you feel all those symptoms you have, until; either you have gotten real with yourself and your killing the virus in some sort of tx, hopefully by then they will have come up with the magic pill, that so many have put at risk to find, so you and have I less to suffer. Or your dying.
I dont know I was a junkie for twenty some odd years, and hid it for awhile, years even got me a Silver Snoopy during that time. Oh yea, I gave myself Hep C too.
Never ever was I going to get high with another.....again.
Thank God you came back neg,
I guess on Jun 23rd when you said you had been diagnosed with HCV you were thinking that you might have been exposed? Many people exposed never get sick for many many years it lives inside slowly destroying the liver and other organs.
All I can say is you are really lucky. Don't share anything..even with people you think are HCV clean. there is no way to tell if someone has HCV or not.
If there were... many of us would not have gone on for 30 or 40 years, living our lives, raising children, building careers.
Good luck
I guess on Jun 23rd when you said you had been diagnosed with HCV you were thinking that you might have been exposed? Many people exposed never get sick for many many years it lives inside slowly destroying the liver and other organs.
All I can say is you are really lucky. Don't share anything..even with people you think are HCV clean. there is no way to tell if someone has HCV or not.
If there were... many of us would not have gone on for 30 or 40 years, living our lives, raising children, building careers.
Good luck
HCV and I.V. drug use, together, tend to be a touchy subject, I have observed.
MY comment is about the part of this thread concerning not hanging around with "junkies", and how it may reduce contamination concerns: Isn't it possible that the actual drug (heroin, meth, cocaine) can become infected if the Dealer has...say, used the baggie that the drugs are in, to mix and draw from, with a used syringe, etc etc? I would think Hep C could live just fine in a small plastic bag or any container.
I can remember when I was into that "world"...meth was made in very unsanitary conditions, just sayin'.
MY comment is about the part of this thread concerning not hanging around with "junkies", and how it may reduce contamination concerns: Isn't it possible that the actual drug (heroin, meth, cocaine) can become infected if the Dealer has...say, used the baggie that the drugs are in, to mix and draw from, with a used syringe, etc etc? I would think Hep C could live just fine in a small plastic bag or any container.
I can remember when I was into that "world"...meth was made in very unsanitary conditions, just sayin'.
Right on Can do!
I didn't see any sarcasm from Hrspwr and I resent the implication that all people with HCV are IV drug users. There is enough to deal with, without that stigma.
" In other words the MAJORITY of people with hcv are junkies. "
NOT true.
The majority of junkies have HCV may be true, but it does *not* follow that the majority of ppl with HCV are junkies.
Illogical and presumptuous.
I didn't see any sarcasm from Hrspwr and I resent the implication that all people with HCV are IV drug users. There is enough to deal with, without that stigma.
" In other words the MAJORITY of people with hcv are junkies. "
NOT true.
The majority of junkies have HCV may be true, but it does *not* follow that the majority of ppl with HCV are junkies.
Illogical and presumptuous.
Maybe your the one that is a tad bit angry, cynical or vengeful? You join here and right off the bat you make it sound like only "junkies" have Hep C, and with your comment about now your odds are about zero. Well maybe you ought to rethink that, keep up on the news and you just might be surprised. Here's just one example but there are more out there, from hospitals to Dental offices
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/07/20/feds_hospital_tech_could_have_spread_hep_c/
See there are many of us here that don't know just how we did get lucky and got Hep C and with the stigma that is out there your choice of words just don't sound right, so maybe it's you that needs to chill a little bit. As for the poster you seem to be upset with, well not only is he one of the nicer ones here he also has a lot of knowledge on Hep C.
Good luck to you.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/07/20/feds_hospital_tech_could_have_spread_hep_c/
See there are many of us here that don't know just how we did get lucky and got Hep C and with the stigma that is out there your choice of words just don't sound right, so maybe it's you that needs to chill a little bit. As for the poster you seem to be upset with, well not only is he one of the nicer ones here he also has a lot of knowledge on Hep C.
Good luck to you.
There was no "plan" mentioned. You seem very cynical, angry, or vengeful in some way to iv drug users. Don't know what I did to insult you but I am sorry. I don't have any "plan". I've lived the junkie life and I know where it will take me. I've been to rehab twice and I am no longer physically dependent on any drug. I definitely don't plan to do drugs. I actually wish I could completely abstain from them. They are hard to quit though so I slip ever now and again. I am moving in the right direction however. I am no longer hanging out with junkies, fiending for drugs daily, or lying and stealing to get my fix. I am also not doing drugs daily... So there is definitely no "plan". Thanks for the silly sarcasm: "good luck with your plan" completely unnecessary. I came here for help not vengeful sarcasm. I am trying to quit. I don't want to be judged from someone who first of all knows nothing about me, and second was posting in a forum where I was reaching out for help. **** move bro. Not cool at all.
I used drugs for years and years, also held a high level position in the oilfield (which I am still in today),had the same plan as you (it's alright to be one, just don't look or act like one, a "junkie" that is, right), still ended up with hep c, I know where it will take you, like I said good luck with your plan.
Have a great day
Have a great day
No I don't think the only people with hcv are junkies. But, as you said yourself, junkies (or iv drug users) are at the highest risk for getting hcv. In other words the MAJORITY of people with hcv are junkies. So, cutting all ties with junkies means I have a much smaller chance of getting hcv. Also, cutting all ties with junkies means no chance of Accidently sharing needles. (which is why I thought I was exposed), spoons, cotton, or water. Also no blood around or open wounds with the majority of people with hcv.
You seem to be insulted that I said this... But you said the same thing as me at the same time (that I am at the highest risk for hcv). Why do you think I am at the highest risk? It's not like getting a shot at the hospital frequently puts you at high risk nowadays. So if I don't reuse needles, don't hang out with junkies, and use an alcohol to swab the skin prior to injecting, I have a very small chance (if any) of getting hcv. The reason that iv drug users at high risk is because they hang around other junkies and Accidently (or not) share needles, water, spoons, and cotton. They also arnt really concerned with hygiene for the most part so they don't wash or sterilize their skin prior to injection or use clean needles.
You seem to be insulted that I said this... But you said the same thing as me at the same time (that I am at the highest risk for hcv). Why do you think I am at the highest risk? It's not like getting a shot at the hospital frequently puts you at high risk nowadays. So if I don't reuse needles, don't hang out with junkies, and use an alcohol to swab the skin prior to injecting, I have a very small chance (if any) of getting hcv. The reason that iv drug users at high risk is because they hang around other junkies and Accidently (or not) share needles, water, spoons, and cotton. They also arnt really concerned with hygiene for the most part so they don't wash or sterilize their skin prior to injection or use clean needles.
"I have recently cut all ties with "junkies" so I think my risk of catching hcv is pretty close to 0 even if I am still occasionally using iv drugs"
So you think all people with hep c are the "junkie" type ?
Interesting and good luck with that plan but just so I can say you were informed, being an IV drug user you are the the highest risk of all people to contract hep c
Have a great day
So you think all people with hep c are the "junkie" type ?
Interesting and good luck with that plan but just so I can say you were informed, being an IV drug user you are the the highest risk of all people to contract hep c
Have a great day
Thank you "actingbrandnew" for the detailed answer and answering specific questions. I really don't like how some people just post generic answers that don't really address specific questions. Also thank you willbb for your input, but I have recently cut all ties with "junkies" so I think my risk of catching hcv is pretty close to 0 even if I am still occasionally using iv drugs
RNA negative AND a negative s/co rating after about 2 months.
-------------------------
Given the neg. RNA ,at that time you did not have HCV..however as you say ' I use IV drugs "then your risk is always relatively high to contract this disease amongst some others........if sharing works.
Your doctor would be the only one able to properly diagnose any symptoms you are having
best...
Will
-------------------------
Given the neg. RNA ,at that time you did not have HCV..however as you say ' I use IV drugs "then your risk is always relatively high to contract this disease amongst some others........if sharing works.
Your doctor would be the only one able to properly diagnose any symptoms you are having
best...
Will
"I got the RNA test about 5 weeks after exposure and it was negative. "
Then its my understanding you are good to go.
How soon after exposure to HCV can anti-HCV be detected?
HCV infection can be detected by anti-HCV screening tests (enzyme immunoassay) 4–10 weeks after infection. Anti-HCV can be detected in >97% of persons by 6 months after exposure.
How soon after exposure to HCV can HCV RNA be detected by PCR?
HCV RNA appears in blood and can be detected as early as 2–3 weeks after infection.
"Anyone knows what the hell I've got?"
Not the slightest clue....
Good luck
Then its my understanding you are good to go.
How soon after exposure to HCV can anti-HCV be detected?
HCV infection can be detected by anti-HCV screening tests (enzyme immunoassay) 4–10 weeks after infection. Anti-HCV can be detected in >97% of persons by 6 months after exposure.
How soon after exposure to HCV can HCV RNA be detected by PCR?
HCV RNA appears in blood and can be detected as early as 2–3 weeks after infection.
"Anyone knows what the hell I've got?"
Not the slightest clue....
Good luck
What are the symptoms of acute Hepatitis C?
Approximately 70%–80% of people with acute Hepatitis C do not have any symptoms. Some people, however, can have mild to severe symptoms soon after being infected, including
Fever
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Dark urine
Clay-colored bowel movements
Joint pain
Jaundice (yellow color in the skin or eyes)
How soon after exposure to Hepatitis C do symptoms appear?
If symptoms occur, the average time is 6–7 weeks after exposure, but this can range from 2 weeks to 6 months. However, many people infected with the Hepatitis C virus do not develop symptoms.
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/c/cfaq.htm
Approximately 70%–80% of people with acute Hepatitis C do not have any symptoms. Some people, however, can have mild to severe symptoms soon after being infected, including
Fever
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Dark urine
Clay-colored bowel movements
Joint pain
Jaundice (yellow color in the skin or eyes)
How soon after exposure to Hepatitis C do symptoms appear?
If symptoms occur, the average time is 6–7 weeks after exposure, but this can range from 2 weeks to 6 months. However, many people infected with the Hepatitis C virus do not develop symptoms.
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/c/cfaq.htm
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