suspected hepatitis c

[paranoidnurse]

I recently have a blood spill from my patient who has HEPA c. I have open wound that is deep enough to give me a sting whenever I put alcohol in my hand. I reported it to my head. The doctor said that as long as it's not needle prick, I have a small chance of getting infected.
It happened 7 days ago. Although I know that it's too soon for the symptoms to occur, but I can't help but worry. I have pain on the right side of my abdomen whenever I deep breath. It's actually not painful just uncomfortable. I sometimes feel that it's pulsating or "I feel like there's a baby moving inside me, except that I can feel it on the upper right part of my abdomen.
How would you describe your joint pain? I also feel occasional pain in my right toes and hips. I feel bloated at times but I can disregard this because I have hyperacidity.

[paranoidnurse]

Good luck on your treatment Flynn.

[flyinlynn]

Yes I am taking Harvoni for 24 weeks I am on week 13 plus my dr added Ribavirin seveal weeks into treatment. This is my 5th attempt to treat hep c hopefully I will be successful this time.

Most folks with hep c do feel tired a lot and some do experience extrahepatic symptoms like Cryoglobulinemia and many report joint and body aches. As well as other symptoms. Also some when first infected do experience an acute phase of the infection with major symptoms but this doesn't happen that often.

My experiences are not entirely uncommon that is why they call hep c the silent killer as most have minimal symptoms until very well advanced. A frequent comment is I can't be sick I feel fine. But again many also do experience more debilitating symptoms than I have.

Again wishing you good health
Lynn

[paranoidnurse]

I see.. So the symptom was for liver cirrhosis. I read some article that there are more advanced medications for hep c now but still pricey. The insurance company doesn't want to cover diseases like these because they are professionally acquired.

My grand pa had liver cirrhosis from taking too much analgesics. My uncle has fatty liver disease from taking too much steroids for his psoriasis. I can imagine how hard it is to have such liver problem. That's why I avoid all things that could harm my liver. But because of my carelessness, I couldn't help but over think.

Take care Flynn.

[paranoidnurse]

I think so too. Maybe my body was just reacting to some symptoms because I overthinking it. I will have my blood checked soon. Thanks

[flyinlynn]

Just wanted to add I had no symptoms of hep c ever.

I found out when I donated blood likely 12 years after I was infected. If I hadn't been being followed for my hep c, the first noticeable symptom I had was swollen lower legs due to edema related to my liver cirrhosis which I already had for 2 years at that point before I had that symptom.

So my first symptom I ever took notice of that would have gotten me to a doctor to ask was 30 years after I was infected and that was a symptom of cirrhosis not hep c per say.

Good luck to you hope you test negative but today's medicines are much more effective and easier to take and or relatively short duration.

Worst case, get diagnosed, get treated, get cured.

Lynn

[AWorriedMom]

Do you think it is possible that your symptoms are from stress over this accident? Symtoms so early are very unlikely. If you have a need to know immediately, you can ask for an HCV/RNA by PCR ( viral load) test. This test is definitive around two weeks after exposure and gives you more information than the antibody test. The antibody test just tells you if you have been exposed. The viral load tells you if you actually are infected. I hope you are just fine. Remember that healthcare providers have only a 2% chance of infection from a needle stick exposure. Good luck.

[paranoidnurse]

Hi! Thank you for your answer. I would reconsider having my blood checked. I would have myself check on 6th week or 7th week. I think every person has different reaction to hcv. I hope more people would share their experience on the early onset of their symptoms.

Right now, I still have joint pain, this time, it's on my neck and shoulder. Always on the right side. I still have abdominal pain. I easily get tired. I can tolerate sleep from 2am and wake up 5am and still feel energetic. But now, I sleep from 8pm a and wake up 6am and still feel tired.

[paranoidnurse]

Thanks for the advice. Yes, the patient is hcv possitive. I was careless that time. As I was about to leave, the patient's relative accidentally pulled my patient's iv. I immediately get a cotton and applied pressure. The blood completely soaked the cotton causing the blood to spill through my affected finger.

[paranoidnurse]

It's actually a test whether there's a concealed open wound. If you feel sting while applying alcohol, chances are, you have open wound. But for me, it's not concealed.
We are practicing but I was careless this time.

[HopeInPA]

Hi, I believe I know when I was infected (not 100% though, but maybe 95%) and my first symptom was, on the 3rd day, Sun evening, when I came home after a long tiring weekend and had 2 glasses of red wine to unwind. Soon after I was sick and throwing up as if I downed 2 bottles. Already then I thought that was very unusual. Then,I had fevers, especially at night, waking up so drenched in sweat that I had to change not just  my t-shirt, but also all linens.

Progressively, as weeks and months went by, I was feeling out of sorts and one of the first things to go was my skin, which started to age rapidly (I had perfect skin until then). I believe, this was due to excessive amyloid deposits, the proteins the innate immune system produces to fight off the infection (these proteins aggregate to form nets that catch the intruder and then accumulate, since the intruder never leaves).  The skin started to get blotchy and I developed multiple growths and "birth marks" and discolorations, both lighter and darker. Then 3-4 small, red spider  (-?) spots appeared, one of them on my face.  At the same time I started to get floaters in the eyes and also noticed that my tongue became larger. All this are symptoms of excessive amyloid deposits. But I don't recall having joint pains, that's just not 'my thing'.

I felt progressively worse, tired during the day. Spent ~2 years going from dr to dr but my bloodwork was always perfect, including liver enzymes, and it did not occur to them to check for hepatitis (though they checked me for everything else, including HIV). Eventually, my last dr convinced me that 'it was all in my head', and, believing him, I participated when there was a blood drive at work. A month later got a letter from Red Cross, that I had hep C.    

[keepingOnkeepingOn]

You wouldn't have symptoms from the virus even if you did get it 7 days ago. Symptoms take years. Was the blood contaminated with the virus? When handling blood do you use gloves? I got this virus from a blood bank so never take any chances. Follow protocol at all times. Thinking oh it'll never happen to me is dangerous.

[flyinlynn]

Hi

Are you not using universal precautions and always wearing gloves when caring for patients and changing you gloves between patients? How are you getting alcohol on a cut?

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HCV/HCVfaq.htm

What are the signs and symptoms of acute HCV infection?
Persons with newly acquired HCV infection usually are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms that are unlikely to prompt a visit to a health care professional. When symptoms occur, they can include

•Fever
•Fatigue
•Dark urine
•Clay-colored stool
•Abdominal pain
•Loss of appetite
•Nausea
•Vomiting
•Joint pain
•Jaundice


Most people experience no symptoms from Hep c a small percentage experience acute symptoms.

Symptoms for hep c except for chronic tiredness are from the result of advancing liver disease which takes decades to develop.

Even if you do at some point become infected with hep c the new treatments are easier to tolerate than the old ones of much shorted duration and promise the eradication of the virus for most.

Good luck
Lynn