tatoo artists using same ink??

[BellaMamma]

So when all of my doctors asked me how I think I acquired Hep C, I told them that I believe it was from a straw.  Some of them were skeptical when I told them that I have never shared a needle, since they all know that I was an IV user for years. I'm not better than anyone else, because I contracted this disease either way, but I found it rather insulting that doctors found it rather amusing that I swore I always had a fresh needle right out of the package.  The doctors always questioned my several tatoos, but I told them all the same...I always made sure that the instruments were sterelized and the needles were always right out of the package.  Then I learned something new from the Pegasys nurse, she told me that alot of tatoo artist reuse ink, and some people don't keep that in mind when checking the tatoo shop.  Got me paniking...Most of my tats are from a best friends nieghbor, he did my tatoos as well as my best friends, alot of old friends(who were users) and nearly half the people in her apart. complex.  He did all his tatoos in his house, and he always used fresh needles, but I never checked the ink.  Since Hep C can stay alive for hours in dried blood, I'm now rethinking how I got my Hep C.  And to top it off, no one except my mother and father and one brother know about my condition.  I refuse to tell others about it, I am private and believe it is my choice.  However, I would find it extremely irresponsible of me not to inform my best friend about the ink situation.  I think I'm just going to call her, and claim that I want a new tatoo(which would be a lie) and just ask her if I could watch him in the act giving another tatoo, because I am just trying to stay safe about his tatooing process.  She'll ask me why...thats when I'll say "well you know, Sharon, some diseases, like Hep C, can stay in dried blood for hours, so if he reuses his ink, this could be a problem."  My best friend, Sharon, would then think of her own health, and would definately investigate further.  It kills me to think that this tatoo artist could of possible reused his ink, and passes Hep C to lots and lots of people, including me.   I hope that is not the case, because that would be a tragidy.  Has anyone else known for sure they got thier Hep C by tatoos?  And has anyone else known for sure that they got thier Hep C from a straw?  

[FlGuy]

Based on what you've written here, may be your Mom is the source.  It's called vertical transmission. Have you compared genotypes?

[Bill1954]

Bella, while it might be intuitively possible to contract HCV through snorting drugs, I’m unaware of any evidence that this actually occurs. Big difference, you know? I agree with FlGuy; could you have contacted this via your mom at childbirth? Anyway you slice it, it still needs to be managed; good luck with everything--

Bill

[Rockerforlife]

Forget how you got it,its not important,the main thing is now is to concentrate and getting SVR.But i must add,bloody noses and straws and coke dont mix.

[FlGuy]

It does matter if the intent is to accuse or imply (the artist) that someone else is responsible when they might not be and in the process lie to a best friend.  That would be shameful. Sounds like a plan to me.

[Rockerforlife]

You are young,this is a great predictor you will get cured(SVR),find out your geno type yet and all those numbers,your stage of damage?.if your not cirrotic which i doubt you are and if your a geno type  2/3 your odds just jumped up to 80-95% cured rate with just the regular drugs...you have good odds ,being a female is a big bonus...your gonna be ok.

[Rockerforlife]

Try calling this trial

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00869661?term=RO5024048&rank=2