another cocaine ? (you were all so helpful last time)

[beantown33]

Hi Everyone:

You were all very helpful the last time i posted a question...thank you very much.  I have a doctors appointment tomorrow and i'm planning on getting some blood tests done.  At this point, I just want to know but I still am unsure of the risks of contracting HCV through snorting cocaine...I've only used a couple of times but am still extremely nervous.  My questions are:

1) Did any of you ever have prolonged headaches for a whole week after using (it was a decent amount and i am relatively inexperienced)?

2) Can HIV be transmitted through snorting (if so I may get checked for that as well)?

3)Is there a good chance I contracted HCV from snorting and that is why i'm experiencing headaches, sleeplessness, some itching, some tingling etc.?

Thanks so much...I'd be going (even more) crazy if it wasn't for all of your help

3)

[mnkdrt]

hmm, I would have never known you could get hcv from snorting. After further reading as many as 10% of patients got it that way.
learn something every day.
When I did drugs I never felt like that for a week after a binge of cocaine. One time I stopped taking antidepressant cold turkey and got the symptoms you mentioned.

[Upbeat]

I think the more you search the more you will find information on this mode of transference.  I never had a blood transfusion and I never did any needles ever.  Either sex or the straw.  I suspect the straw more than I do the sex. I guess I will never know for sure.

                                                         Ron

[NYgirl]

The doctor has every single confidence in the world that this is EXACTLY HOW I CONTRACTED HCV.

I have had this disease for approximately 25 years. In the 80s I NEVER used a needle. I was a "rock star" (in my mind I guess) and we NEVER ran out of coke - when we did lovely "fans" gave us more more more to try and get close to us. I did a LOT and had a habit for at least 20 years.

The doctor fully believes that it is EASY for one person to use a straw..have microdroplets of blood (you know people who do coke have DREADFUL noses and just because you can't SEE the blood sure doesn't mean it's not there) and then hand off to the next person who snorts not only the coke BUT the HCV as well.  Since your nose is such a lovely moist warm bloodfilled place it's quite SIMPLE to transfer it that way.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THIS IS HOW I GOT IT EITHER - IT IS COMPLETELY VERY POSSIBLE TO DO AND ANYONE WHO TELLS YOU IT IS NOT IS WRONG (sorry) but I am living proof.

I believe the reason doctors don't get this into the data that much is because people tend to PROGRESS in their heavy addiction and that generally means from SNORTING to SYRINGES - and of course if you say you've ever used a syringe they are going to figure that you got it that way and not bother asking about snorting.

They would have to find people who DID snort and NEVER used a needle to figure out exactly how many I suppose.

I think 10% is a light guess if you think of it my way and the fact that doctors are just coming to terms with this method.

[sailinlady]

http://www.ukcoalition.org/hepc/coke.htm

[NYgirl]

Calfia said:
an acute episode of Hep C would have occurred weeks later,


I NEVER had an acute bought of Hep and like a lot had no idea I had it at all until just this past year.

[sailinlady]

How are you doing?