Hepatitis C test

[rocketgrl1210]

I've read a few messages on here about being tested after 11 weeks.... even 9 weeks and it being a-ok to know for a fact that people don't have hepatitis.

My question would be (which I have asked before but I wanted another go at it for answers) if after 19 weeks would be in the clear for hepatitis. I was tested at 19 weeks... and unfortunately I do want to test at 26 weeks BUT I lack funds for testing so I wanted to see if I even needed to.

I was talking to my doctor the other day and I said "I was tested for hepatitis C at 19 weeks" and he replied "Well, were you negative?" I said "Yes" and he said "Nothing to worry about. You have NOTHING to worry about." He's a doctor at the medical center of the university that I attend and he even thinks that I'm being ridiculous to worry so much about it.

Yes I know I have major anxiety issues. I'm taking medication for it and I'm seeing a therapist. I'm just nervous and I wanted other's opinions. I've heard about even 3 months I should be fine but I've also heard that I'm needing to test at 6 months.

[rocketgrl1210]

I think I'm getting over this, but I wanted to ask one more question... I was again at work and came across a woman who handed me a coupon with blood on it. I touched it and I was like "Whoa blood!" in my mind, and the woman didn't seem to care. I looked at my hands and there wasn't cuts or anything on them. So I hand sanitized the rest of the day.

For the first time, I'm not afraid of it. I think I only cared about the blood thing because I touched "wet" blood and had a cut. Now it's just like "Really? I can't believe I freaked out about this...

What do you guys think? Am I ok? My fiancee thinks I'm ok and my sister laughed at me because she said there's a few ways to get it and touching blood without cuts on my hands coming in contact with it is not one of them.

[Diane12855]

You got a winner there!

You'll be better in about 2 .1 weeks......I hope.

Diane

[rocketgrl1210]

Surprisingly I haven't been freaking out about getting married. But I think I've just been so focused on the whole blood on the counter thing for so long that the stress of my wedding kind of died. I'm TERRIFIED of him thinking he's making a mistake, especially after all of this. He's just so understanding and I don't get it. Most guys would RUN if they had a girlfriend freaking about blood and having OCD and Anxiety all over the place. He even attends my therapy sessions.

Slowly but surely I'm calming down from it all. I'm getting married in 2 weeks and I'm more worried about this for some reason.

[Diane12855]

I know what caused it... the wedding. You are getting ready for a major change in your life. I just got married 4 years ago. I was nuts until about 6 months into my marriage. My poor husband!

If you are like me, it is easier to admit that you're scared about a disease, than to admit you are afraid about the wedding. I wasn't afraid I was making a mistake... I was afraid my husband would decide he was making a mistake at the last minute. I have learned since then that if I address my real fear, and not try to mask it with some other nonsense, I can deal with it.
All you can do is wait it out. Tell your future husband your concern ONE time, and then trust what he says. Try to keep yourself busy with preparations and exercises and talking with female friends.

When is the wedding?

Diane

[rocketgrl1210]

Thank you, Alagirl, your advice is VERY helpful. I was so nervous because I had people saying I'm fine while others saying that they are definitely sure that I have it. I don't get it. I talked to my therapist about it and she just said that my anxiety from it had to come from somewhere... I just can't think of what caused it and why I actually thought about it. I've NEVER been this worried about HCV or HIV. It's just weird.

Spectda,believe me I'm trying haha... Stress from this and the wedding are definitely controlling my world at the moment.  I was on medication for OCD but I was getting sick from it and the doctor removed me from it. I definitely had long talks about it and like I said, I have NO idea what caused this.  

[spectda]

This is a time for you to celebrate and enjoy your life, just let it go. Keep telling yourself that. you really don't have hep c. We would all drive ourselves crazy if we thought about all the possibilities of things that most likely won't hurt us.

Are you on some meds for anxiety or obsessive compulsive disorder? They might be helpful to you. I am not a doctor nor do I know enough about your condition, just want to offer that there is help out there and I hope you are seeing people who can provide it for you.

-Dave

[alagirl]

I went back and read your initial post on this and you really were never at risk in the first place.  I don't mean this unkindly because its apparent to me that you are genuinely very distressed about this.  Perhaps it has something to do with anxiety about your upcoming wedding.  Just definitely know that you are not at risk for hcv or hiv due to the feb incident.  Maybe there is a specific reason you're focusing on it though.  You could talk to your therapist about it.  But physically, and in terms of infection, know that you're safe.

[rocketgrl1210]

Thanks both of you for your advice. I'm so nervous about it that it's affecting my relationship with my almost to be husband. I'm getting married in a few weeks and i've become a nightmare since february when the situation happened. But I'm glad you both gave me the advice. :)

[alagirl]

you do not need to test at six months.  Even health care workers who have a known exposure are told to test at baseline, six weeks and then twelve weeks.  If they are still negative at twelve weeks, that is the last time they are advised to test.  I got hcv after a known exposure.  My antibody level was already over the moon by 7 - 8 weeks after exposure - which is when I tested.  You were clear at nineteen weeks.  So you really are ok.  You don't need to test.

[spectda]

Your doctor is offering good advice. Let this one go, you don't have it.

Your lucky, most of us wish we could be so lucky! try to enjoy your life, it's good you are getting some help for your anxiety. I have a feeling no matter what any test or person says you are going to worry about having disease. You have to find a way to let it go because the anxiety is your hep c so to speak, getting treatment for anxiety will hopefully make you more comfortable.
Dave