Worried I contracted Hepatitis C through snorting

[beantown33]

Hi, I'm 20 years old and I snorted cocaine one night in mid-december with a bunch of guys.  I knew most of the ppl in the group except for one or two. I do not know if any of these people have hepatitis c.  However, I've read a bunch of things online and have become extremely concerned.  In the days following my snorting experience (we only snorted) I had very bad headaches.  These headaches have been off and on since then.  In addition, I've had some rashes in my genital area, have experienced bad hangovers (worse then i used to get), have had burning urination, and have had tingling off and on in my extremities.  I'm really worried that I may have contracted HCV. I didn't notice any blood on the dollar bill we used but it is possible there could have been some.  Do you think I should be worried? I'm really worried/scared and have been experiencing a lot of anxiety over this.  Please help me! Thanks!

[JazzCat]

I'm humbled by your candor and honesty. Your testimony should be required reading for every 20-year-old who doesn't understand the concept of consequences.

[strator]

beantown -
Like others have said it

[genedog]

going back on tx soon i hope felt great after tx for about 1 week, ins wont pay pegasys say i make to much $ for free meds. how are you?

[GoofyDad]

Snorting blow is not a good idea, and I don't advocate it. True for chugging beers, sleeping around, smoking cigs, and a host of other activities. Do as I say, not as I did, LOL. OK - the coke is worse, but you haven't exactly committed a crime against humanity here.  

I've got to agree with Chet. I think your chances of contracting HCV by the events you describe are extremely low. Probably higher from risk factors that haven't yet been identified - oh wait, I'm trying to put you at ease here - no more talk of unknown risk factors.

Anyway, my advice would be to mention it to your doc at some point (hey doc, I get really bad hangovers when I drink too much....)!

BTW, if itchy nutz were going to kill you, most of us guys would have expired in our 20's!

Layoff the drugs and you'll sleep better. Good luck my friend.

[confusedkid]

I have heard from the UK hepatitis site that this is only in theory, and the risk has never actually been proven. It seems like a very poor way to get the virus, as it should not live outside the body for that long. If it lived outside the body for that long a time, you would see many more people getting it.

The study saying it did live for like 4 days outside the body was done with a strange experiment injecting monkeys with blood that was frozen (?) or something like that.

The best way to study this is to look at population studies and to see how people are getting hepatitis C. We have seen a drastic decrease in the number of people getting the virus, despite at least 15% of the population trying cocaine at least once. It only seems to appear in those that are injecting drugs, or have had some sort of needle encounter. The studies done connecting hepatitis C rates and cocaine use have always had a hard time ruling out other risk factors like injecting drugs.

Im not a doctor, but this is just my 2 cents on it. Look at the CDC's recommendations for testing, and you will see that snorting is not a reason to test.

- Chet

[Bill1954]

I'm not sure I understand, Gene--are you geting the meds from Commitment For Care, or your private insurance company?

I'm doing OK, finishing up 56 weeks Tx this week. Took my last Peg shot on Friday. Hoping for the best here.

Good luck with the next round, and stay in touch---Go Bucks!!

Bill