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Hepatitis C Community
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I'm high risk. I think.
by ryanmiller, May 03, 2008 03:22AM
My uncle recently found out that he has hepatitis C. They believe he's had it for at least 30 years. I was talking to my mom about this, and I realized how uninformed I was about this disease, I thought symptoms showed up after a short period of time, I had friends that had this virus, and they knew about it within months. And my grandfather died of this disease when I was only 4, in 1984, only a few years after contraction. I started to do research after the chat with my mom, I wanted to understand this disease that has afflicted my family, and I after some reading I realized that I might have this virus. I have made poor choices in my life, I used to be a heavy drug user, and I IV'd my drugs for about a two month period of my use, and during this time, I would shoot up with people that I knew had hepatitis C. I thought I was careful though, never sharing needles, and I would bleach the spoons that I shared. After some reading tonight I realized that bleach doesn't always do the trick. This whole experience with IV drugs scared me, I quit drugs all together, and never looked back. I got myself checked for hep c after this, but it was about a month after this ordeal. I was also reading tonight that it's possible that the virus wouldn't be detected this soon after contraction. I freaked out at first, but I've been reading for many hours now, and I'm am starting to realize that this isn't the end of my world, you are all such warm and knowledgeable people. The time that I possibly have contracted hep c was about three years ago. I realize that you often will have no notable symptoms, but I've never felt better, happier, and healthier in my life than I do right now, should this give me hope? I pray that I don't have this disease, but I am bracing myself for the worse. I am a strong person, and will make it through this whatever the result. I don't really have any specific question, I just was hoping some kind soul would have some thoughts on my situation, and/or any corrections to what I believe I understand about this complex disease.
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That way you don't have any more concerns... Yanno?
Good luck - nice to know you've changed your life much for the better - and sending hope your way!
Meki
The fact that you feel great doesn't have anything to do with whether you have HCV or not. Symptoms often don't display until much later stages of advanced liver disease from Hep C. The only way you will KNOW that you have active HCV or not is to go get a blood test done. Then you can direct your energies appropriately.
Good luck.
Trish
And while you wait for your results post away. Awesome, awesome peeps here. You will find what you need here.
Recently I find I have been needin' the love and thankfully I have been gettin' the love (and expert info and support and differing opinions and kicks in the butt, etc.)
We will be happy to do the same for you.
FF