Madam Hooper

[AWorriedMom]

I happened upon your post about your daughter biting you. I just want to share a bit of my story and hopefully that will put things in perspective for you.

I was diagnosed in 1991 but got the virus in 1966. My girls were born in 1967 and 1970. So, we lived for 25 years before we were aware that I had hepatitis C. No one in my family is infected. It is very difficult to pass this virus sexually in a long term monogamous relationship, especially from a woman to a man. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) does not even recommend barrier protection in married couples.

My girls, I am sure, have used my toothbrush by mistake at some point in their lives. I know for a fact that they had used my razor many times. Both of them are clear. I am NOT saying it is a good idea, I just want to show you that while it is possible to transmit the disease in a family, it is exceedingly rare. Even healthcare workers who have been pierced by a needle from a hepatitis C positive patient, has only a 2% chance of contracting the disease.

So, be careful, but don't panic.

[Mmorgan856]

after reading all the ways to contract the virus, I'm not so sure how I got it.  I was positive I contracted it through a massive blood contamination during an exceptionally bloody wreck while working as an EMT back in the 80s.  I was immunized against hep B but I'm not sure they even knew about Hep C then.  Back then, the main concern was HIV an went through 6 mth. Labs for that.  I thought I dodged a bullet then.  But after all the posting, realized, I got a tattoo in the 80s also, so could've been either one.  I know it doesn't matter how u got it, the main concern is getting rid of it.  I just mentioned this because I never thought about tattoos before coming on this site. Thanks everyone for sharing this.    Mary

[HopeInPA]

Thanks Dee, I should have added no snorting coke either to the list of no tattoos, no transfusions and no injectable drugs lol. And I heard that in eastern Europe, especially Ukraine, hepatitis B is routinely spread by the dentists, though I'm pretty sure that the ones I happened to come across in the US were on the level.  ..though yes, I've read horror stories in pubmed about those "snorkels" they use for irrigation during drilling -- they were found to harbor the nastiest of bacteria (those studies did not check for viruses). And that was the "norm". That's why I always take at least 2 different types of antibiotics whenever I see a dentist.  

Regarding the virus surviving for 6 moths, one still would have to somehow get it into bloodstream, no? I imagine it's very hard to do in a course of a normal life.  Something very unusual has to happen in an environment where HCV had been already somehow deposited. What are the odds of all these conditions converging to make this happen? I'd say nil to none. .


...but I hope you realize that your subsequent posts went in stark contrast to the first two that said that occasional sharing of razors, toothbrushes and nail clippers, I imagine,  did not lead to transmission -?

[Dee1956]

Hi I just did a search and found this.  I know there are many others.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/rogue-dentist-exposed-7000-patients-hiv-hepatitis/story?id=18834611

[Dee1956]

Oops, sorry I meant to say we think I got it from a gama globulin shot which was given to me in the late 70's.  This shot contains blood and was routinely given to help boost a persons immune system after being exposed to Hepatitis and even the measles when I was a child

[Dee1956]

There are other ways to get it.  Recently someone on here said that new research shows it can live outside the body for 6 months which is much longer than the 4 days I was told back in 2008
You can get it by snorting anything with a rolled up dollar bill or straw after someone with HCV has used it.
You can get it by sharing razors, toothbrushes, getting a tattoo, poorly sterilized manicure pedicure tools, dental procedures.  This would be microscopic blood particles you would not be able to see.
I have read in the news about doctors spreading it while not sterilizing instruments.    I would imagine if the stories are out there...how many are not?
While very rare, women can pass it on to their children during birth.  It can be transmitted through rough sex.

I have read that 75% of the people who have HCV do not know they have it.  They don't even know they should be tested because  the ways it can be transmitted are not out there.

I will try to find a list

[HopeInPA]

Thank you for sharing this. Though it only deepens the mystery as to how they got it for people who never injected, never had tattoos or blood transfusions.

[Dee1956]

Hi there, it is really nice of you to write.  I agree, Not knowing that I had HCV I am sure that my children at one time or another used my razor or my toothbrush.  We did not know that we needed to be careful.  My children are clear.  I did not know for 30 years that I had HCV.  I also had a room mate and we shared razors, I did not know she had HCV, we were not careful.  We did not know we needed to be
Take Care, Dee