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I think I am infected

think I am infected with hcv based on:
1) I have typical symptoms of hep c
2) I had sex with a massage girl sevaral times over 2 years(20 time or so)

All are protected except for one time oral.
The oral was one year ago and I got a bruise kind of thing on my penis post that episode...had some covid symptoms like cough and headahce...but no fever and abdomen issues or so...
My last exposure was 7 weeks ago...as I felt somw symptoms I got her tested and she turned out to be hepc positive(s/co ratio 1.78).
I have the symptoms like pain or burn below right ribs and loose stools...

Have you seen anyone getting infected this way?

Thanks

5 Responses
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683231 tn?1467323017
Hep c is not easily contracted.

Hep c takes decades (if ever) to cause liver damage.

Hep c today is very treatable with the new meds having better than 99% cure rates.

I doubt you are infected. If you continue to have unwarranted worries about a difficult to contract easily cured illness that takes decades to cause any real harm I suggest you seek counseling.
Helpful - 0
683231 tn?1467323017
Typical symptoms are no symptoms. What you described are not symptoms of a hep c infection.

Are you possible suffering from anxiety? I suggest you may consider counseling and anti-anxiety medications.
Helpful - 0
9 Comments
Thanks for the responses Lynn. Yes I am quite anxious...and worrying about it all the time..
Worrying is a waste of time. It doesn’t change anything, it just messes with your mind and steals your happiness.

I’m currently facing a possible diagnosis of liver cancer. I need more testing the end of this month to try to determine if I do or don’t have it. I don’t think about it all the time it is a waste of time. All the worrying in the world won’t change the outcome.
True.Wish you good luck.
Btw, what is the relapse rate once hepc is cured?
Cure is durable in the majority of infections. Relapse is more frequent in those who engage in high-risk activities. These reinspections are not relapses in truth they are new infections. Having previously been infected with hepatitis C provides no immunity from future infection.

“ Methods. A search identified studies analysing HCV recurrence post-SVR. The recurrence rate for each study was calculated using events/person years of follow-up (PYFU). Results were pooled using a random-effects model and used to calculate 5-year recurrence risk. Three patient groups were analysed: (1) Mono-HCV infected “low-risk” patients; (2) Mono-HCV infected “high-risk” patients (injecting drug users or prisoners); (3) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV coinfected patients. Recurrence was defined as confirmed HCV RNA detectability post-SVR.

Results. In the 43 studies of HCV mono-infected “low-risk” patients (n = 7969) the pooled recurrence rate was 1.85/1000 PYFU (95% confidence interval [CI], .71–3.35; I2 = 73%) leading to a summary 5-year recurrence risk of 0.95% (95% CI, .35%–1.69%). For the 14 studies of HCV monoinfected “high-risk” patients (n = 771) the pooled recurrence rate was 22.32/1000 PYFU (95% CI, 13.07–33.46; I2 = 27%) leading to a summary 5-year risk of 10.67% (95% CI, 6.38%–15.66%). For the 4 studies of HIV/HCV coinfected patients the pooled recurrence rate was 32.02/1000 PYFU (95% CI, .00–123.49; I2 = 96%) leading to a summary 5-year risk of 15.02% (95% CI, .00%–48.26%). The higher pooled estimates of recurrence in the high-risk and coinfected cohorts were driven by an increase in reinfection rather than late relapse.

Conclusions. SVR appears durable in the majority of patients at 5 years post-treatment. The large difference in 5 year event rate by risk group is driven mainly by an increased reinfection risk.”
I really suggest you devote you mental and emotional energy to something else.

You are worrying yourself about a difficult contract illness that takes decades if ever to cause any real harm and today is very curable.
And the fact remains that you are at very low risk of having contracted hepatitis C in the situation you described. Simply wait 12 12 weeks required post this exposure and get tested for the antibodies. In the meanwhile think about anything else than this because you’re really not at risk.

Consider your worst case scenario, so say you are infected, you wait six months to be treated to make sure that your body is not going to beat the infection on its own, then simply take one pill a day for possibly as few as eight weeks and be cured.

Nothing to worry about no mater what the outcome of your antibody test.
For myself since I’ve had cirrhosis now for 13 years even if this next test shows I don’t have liver cancer I have to be checked every six months because I’m at high risk for developing liver cancer because I’ve had cirrhosis for so long but again I don’t let this occupy my thoughts. For me my best case scenario is I live as long as I can with liver cirrhosis or potentially develop liver cancer and either need a liver transplant if I can get one or die from liver disease. None of those options is a great scenario.
Thanks a lot for you support. You are awesome.
Aww shucks thanks. Good luck with your situation and life in general
683231 tn?1467323017
“ What are the symptoms of acute (new) hepatitis C?
Many people newly infected with the hepatitis C virus don’t have symptoms, don’t look or feel sick, and therefore don’t know they are infected. For people who develop symptoms, they usually happen 2–12 weeks after exposure to the hepatitis C virus and can include yellow skin or eyes, not wanting to eat, upset stomach, throwing up, stomach pain, fever, dark urine, light-colored stool, joint pain, and feeling tired.

What are the symptoms of chronic (long-term) hepatitis C?
Most people with chronic hepatitis C don’t have any symptoms or have only general symptoms like chronic fatigue and depression. Many people eventually develop chronic liver disease, which can range from mild to severe and include cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and liver cancer. Chronic liver disease in people with hepatitis C usually happens slowly, without any signs or symptoms, over several decades. Chronic hepatitis C virus infection is often not recognized until people are screened for blood donation or from an abnormal blood test found during a routine doctor’s visit.”
Helpful - 0
683231 tn?1467323017
“ How is hepatitis C spread?
The hepatitis C virus is usually spread when someone comes into contact with blood from an infected person. This can happen through:

►Sharing drug-injection equipment.

Today, most people become infected with hepatitis C by sharing needles, syringes, or any other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs.

►Birth.

Approximately 6% of infants born to infected mothers will get hepatitis C.

►Healthcare exposures.

Although uncommon, people can become infected when health-care professionals do not follow the proper steps needed to prevent the spread of bloodborne infections.

►Sex with an infected person.

While uncommon, hepatitis C can spread during sex, though it has been reported more often among men who have sex with men.

►Unregulated tattoos or body piercings.

Hepatitis C can spread when getting tattoos or body piercings in unlicensed facilities, informal settings, or with
non-sterile instruments.

►Sharing personal items.

People can get infected from sharing glucose monitors, razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, and other items that may have come into contact with infected blood, even in amounts too small to see.

►Blood transfusions and organ transplants.

Before widespread screening of the blood supply in 1992, hepatitis C was also spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants. Now, the risk of transmission to recipients of blood or blood products is extremely low.

Hepatitis C is not spread by sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing. It is also not spread through food or water.”
Helpful - 0
683231 tn?1467323017
“►Sex with an infected person.

While uncommon, hepatitis C can spread during sex, though it has been reported more often among men who have sex with men.”

https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/cfaq.htm#B1
Helpful - 0
3 Comments
Have you seen anyone contracting through any sexual acts?
No not really

In the situation with a long term monogamous couple there are many cases where one has hep c and the other does not. Long-term monogamous couples are not advised by the US CDC that they need to take any special precautions as the transmission rate in such couples is extremely low.

As I said earlier for those who engage in rough sexual practices such as BDSM, blood sports, or those who have multiple sexual partners the risk is somewhat increased. But essentially sexual relations are not an efficient means for the transmission of hepatitis C
Hepatitis C: The Hepatitis C virus may be transmitted via sexual contact. However, studies have shown that such transmission is very rare. A higher rate of sexual transmission of the hepatitis C infection is seen in MSM, especially those who practice unprotected anal intercourse and have an infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
What are the chances of getting Hep C sexually?

Hepatitis C spreads by contact with an infected person’s blood. Although uncommon, hepatitis C can be transmitted through sexual activity, if the person has genital sores and cuts. It can also be transmitted during menstruation. However, just 2% of hepatitis C cases are sexually transmitted.
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