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Are We Reinfecting Ourselves?
This may sound like an odd question, but I am wondering if we should be changing our toothbrushes every month while on treatment, especially if we have mouth sores. How about razors? It seems that if we can get infected via toothbrushes and razors, then we could also reinfect ourselves by using the same ones over and over. It seems that perhaps changing toothbrushes every month while on treatment might be a good idea. What do others think?
I wondered that same thing and went out and bought a bunch of toothbrushes so I wouldn't use the same one within the four days the virus could infect someone, but I don't thing we can now that we are on medication and all the things that are personal have not been used, well at least in this house for a while, so the virus would be dead by now anyway, but I did like others go out and buy new razors and toothbrushes and nail clippers. Just because i guess.........
I have had scalp derm in the past and even though I wash my brushes regularly it still freaks me out somewhat. Thank goodness they arent expensive brushes; I buy them at Target.
Well no sense in pushing it I suppose. Toothbrushes are cheap so mine is going in the trash. i am at the point that if you told me there were pink with purple polka dot elephants in the yard, I would go look ;)
If it makes you feel better then change them, but as lynda said how would one know the day they became und?..... Just waiting the week to get your und results hopefully you have used your toothbrush many times.
Hi Pooh...we should probably be throwing them out every month anyway! I know I don't do it often enough. Not a bad idea!
I use a disposable razor each time that I shave now and once UND will do something similar to the Sonicare tooth brush head. Also, toss all old hairbrushes.
Very good question and yes I would change my toothbrush.You should change toothbrushes regularly anyway.But definatly yes if you become SVR...
That is a good question pooh and definitive answer lynda and If I would have thought about it I would have thrown out the old and got all new for "the symbolic Gesture" :)
You can't reinfect yourself while you are treating. I repeat, you can't reinfect yourself while you are treating and you can't reinfect yourself with your own HCV RNA. The body develops an immunity to that particular strain. No prescribing guidelines for any antiviral therapy medications state once the patient becomes UND the toothbrush must be replaced because of possible reinfection and this includes Incivek and Victrelis. Interferon and ribavirin have been around a long time and I'm sure at some point it was considered but it simply isn't true. Besides, no one knows the exact day and minute they become UND anyway so if one believes they can reinfect themselves they should be throwing their toothbrush away after evey use until the first PCR shows UND.
That shouldn't be necessary. However, as a symbolic gesture of celebration, the first thing I did when I was told I was UND was to throw away my razor, change the brush head on my electric toothbrush and change the endpiece on the waterpic.
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