I recently found out that my ex-girlfriend has HepC, and had it during the time we were together.

She explained that her doctor had said her past sexual partners (such as myself) do not face any serious risk. According to her and the doc, the disease is mostly spread intravenously, through blood transfusions or IV drug use. But I am still very, very upset and worried about this.

Today I went to my doctor to have a blood test, just to ease my mind once and for all. I feel really scared and alone right now. If anyone knows about possibilities of sexual transmission, or can give me any insights, I would be so grateful to you.

I was in a monogamous, longterm relationship with this girl for about a year and half. We did have unprotected sex. On one occasion, I came into contact with some of her menstrual blood accidentally. This is what worries me most of all.

Doctors and online sources have told me I'm at a minimal risk. My ex insists that I have nothing to worry about. But until I get the test results, I won't be at peace.

This is honestly the hardest thing I've ever gone through. The waiting, worrying, the paranoia, feeling embarrassed because some people scoff at my worries, and then feeling worried again because other sources indicate I might have been at some risk.

I know this is just an anonymous internet forum, but I really need help and don't know where to go.

Hi Seth!

I know what its like to worry and wait, I have Hep C and the worrying didn't change a thing, just made me miserable.

First thing you need to do is calm down! Why do you want to go borrow trouble? You probably don't have HCV. Don't worry or be anxious; wait for the facts. The experts are giving you correct information, your risk is very very minimal so don't do this to yourself!

Hep C is not a diagnosis of impending doom and death; its a disease that needs to be adressed. And I believe that the bible is the Word of God and He said that worrying will not add one day to my life so He's in charge and I don't sweat it.

Worrying and fretting will not change a thing but use this to your advantage to learn about this epidemic and please give your ex-girlfriend some support! She needs a lot of support and strength from friends and loved one right now. Tell her about this board!

Be cool and don't take on unnecessary loads!

Hi Seth--

Jeannie is right, the docs,too. The odds are very much in your favor.
I've had hep c for 30 plus years. didn't know it until very recently. During the decades of my ignorance, i was married twice, and had a third long-term relationship, had kids, unprotected sex, etc. In my family we played sports together, cooked as a family sport (lots of knicks with knives), lived through many nose bleeds, kissing of "boo-boos" back and forth parents and children, accidents, emergency room visits, etc.
After 30 years of this, NONE of my exes or kids got hep c. thank god, i guess, since we never knew we were supposed to be careful of blood or anything.
one man does not make a full study, but if my experience is any guide, transmission just doesn't happen very easily at all.

write back again when you have the results. but until then, relax,
relax.

sean

Jeannie and Sean, I don't know how to thank you for your responses. I was honestly breaking down and didn't know what to do.

This message board is really a godsend. Especially compared to the other hepC forums that I've browsed, where unfortunately there seems to be a lot of misinformation and alarmism regarding transmission.

I have been reading many of the archived posts on this site, following links, and doing my own research into hepC. I am now much more calm and reassured, not only about my own health, but about my ex-girlfriend and her life with this condition.

Just to let you know, Jeannie, I did recommend this forum to my ex. She promised to read it and I expect she may begin participating herself. We are on good terms and I will give her all the support she needs in the face of this condition. I'll also post back early next week, after I speak to my doctor.

I want to just say to the regulars here, after reading your stories I think you're extremely decent and good-hearted people, for refusing to suffer and also trying to help others. Peace.

High risk sex -with Blood, rough, or with STDs, carries a 7% infectious rate.

You odds are excellent. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Hi Pat and others.

I just read through the "old" hepC forum on this site. There was one post by Thanbey that caught my eye:

"...the risk is to the female partner in heterosexual sex...There is no known case of a male being infected by his female partner."

This was also very reassuring.

glad to hear it

HI SETH !
I READ YOUR MESSAGE ON THE BOARD . I AGREE WITH THE OTHERS ALSO.THIS IS MY SECOND MARRIAGE , AND IT'S BEEN 15 GREAT YEARS. I HAD AN OPERATION BACK IN /82, I JUST FOUND OUT IN 2000 , THAT I HAVE HEP C .MY HUSBAND DOES NOT HAVE IT , HOWEVER HE DOES GET CHECKED EVERY 6 MONTHS, FOR HIS OWN PIECE OF MIND . PERSONALLY , I DON'T THINK THAT YOU WOULD HAVE IT . HOWEVER IT NEVER HURTS TO BE CHECKED OUT .ALSO I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU ARE READING UP ON THIS BLOOD TO BLOOD VIRUS. TAKE CARE ....MJ.


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mj.

Thanks Ask!

I just got back from the doctor, and my results were negative for HCV antibodies. It's been more than 6 months since I was with my ex, so the doctor said it wasn't necessary to get tested again. Actually, the doctor had said it wasn't necessary to get tested in the first place ... heheh.

You guys are absolutely right that just having HCV is not a "death sentence" or in any way the end of one's life, but I'm still SO relieved now.

I am really, really grateful for the support and information from this forum. I'll check back regularly to see how everyone is doing, and also just to learn and listen. Peace.

Hooray!!!! Seth.

I am so happy for you. Your relief must be tremendous! I hope you take this opportunity and educate your friends and family about HCV and dispell some of the rumors about infection. We need your support too!

Take good care of yourself. Make this a positive life changing experience for you. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dance.gif

Seth,
I am glad to hear everything worked out. My husband has hep c and was diagnosed 3 months before we were married. It has been 3 1/2 years and I am tested yearly and to date I have tested negative.

Keep your chin up!

Heather

Thanks Jeannie and Heather. Everything's been going fine, and I hope the same with you, as well. I've been silent, but I'm reading all the posts and learning new things every day. Peace and good luck to all of you :-)

.

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www.hcop.org (http://www.hcop.org)
preapproved by moderator1

I happened upon this topic on healthboards and decided to "take a peek". I think I can help give some insight. I am married to a man who has been chronic active for the past 20+ years. He's now completed his SECOND Interferon & Ribavirin treatment. We have been married for almost 10 years now. I have had unprotected sex with him always. I get tested every 3 years just to stay on top of things and maybe one step ahead. We've had 2 of his doctors tell us that, if you are monogomous, you are will not transmit the virus. If you have more than one sexual partner at a time, you stand a much higher chance of transmitting it to both partners. We make sure not to share razors, etc. If he cuts himself, he helps himself until the blood is under control. Then I help him dress it. I make sure I have no open cuts on my hands before getting involved, too. Latex gloves are a necessity in our household. You can live with someone who has Hep C and not be afraid. Just face it head on and know what it's all about.

I hope your situation turns out well for you. I'm sure it will. You said you were monogomous with her during your dating. That is a PLUS for you now.
Good Luck.

I happened upon this topic on healthboards and decided to "take a peek". I think I can help give some insight. I am married to a man who has been chronic active for the past 20+ years. He's now completed his SECOND Interferon & Ribavirin treatment. We have been married for almost 10 years now. I have had unprotected sex with him always. I get tested every 3 years just to stay on top of things and maybe one step ahead. We've had 2 of his doctors tell us that, if you are monogomous, you are will not transmit the virus. If you have more than one sexual partner at a time, you stand a much higher chance of transmitting it to both partners. We make sure not to share razors, etc. If he cuts himself, he helps himself until the blood is under control. Then I help him dress it. I make sure I have no open cuts on my hands before getting involved, too. Latex gloves are a necessity in our household. You can live with someone who has Hep C and not be afraid. Just face it head on and know what it's all about.

I hope your situation turns out well for you. I'm sure it will. You said you were monogomous with her during your dating. That is a PLUS for you now.
Good Luck.

Thanks for sharing your experience and insight. Unfortunately, monogamy is no guarantee. The chance of transmission is always either zero or 100% in any single situation.



However, after a successful course of treatment, transmission risk is reduced significantly if not totally. Sexual transmission is corollated with viral load. Also, in studies, the longer a monogamous couple were together, the higher the chances of a transmission. Now, this could be due to inevitability in some cases, but also that viral load tends to increase over time. I don't know that we know all the answers. I certainly do not.

Maybe I am reading your post incorrectly, but I have never seen latex gloves suggested for prevention of sexual transmission.

Lastly, female partners of men undergoing treatment might consider using condoms during the treatment and for six months therafter. If the treatment can kill a developing fetus, it probably isn't that good for a woman's body, either.

welcome to the board,

thanbey

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I meant we keep Latex gloves around the house in general to protect against exposing any open cuts from my hands while treating my husband. I appreciate the correction and getting the record straight for me. Hope all goes well.

Wacky Pat, the link didn't work. :(

i just went to a hep c meeting with one of the most well known hep docs and he specifically touched on that subject. no one in the field is even telling couples with one that has hep c to use protection. it is not spread sexually and the only time they have found a possible case where it might have been is whent he person has had major multiple sex partners. his exact example was like 1000. and another thing he said was that he thinks the only reason that was was because of sexually transmitted deseases that cause people to have open soars make it possible to transmitt. people are together for 30 years having unprotected sex where one partner has it and the other does not, and the one never does get infected. chill out. i understand you being freaked out but you really don't have to be.

i just went to a hep c meeting with one of the most well known hep docs and he specifically touched on that subject. no one in the field is even telling couples with one that has hep c to use protection. it is not spread sexually and the only time they have found a possible case where it might have been is whent he person has had major multiple sex partners. his exact example was like 1000. and another thing he said was that he thinks the only reason that was was because of sexually transmitted deseases that cause people to have open soars make it possible to transmitt. people are together for 30 years having unprotected sex where one partner has it and the other does not, and the one never does get infected. chill out. i understand you being freaked out but you really don't have to be.


If you wish to attend one meeting with one doctor and accept that doctor's opinion without question, that is your right.

But I personally know many doctors and medical professionals that would laugh that guy off the stage. His conclusions are not supported by the scientific studies, especially recent ones.

No one should panic about sexual transmission. It happens, but not at high rates. We do not know why that is. We do know it happens. We know it happens to perfectly ordinary people. We also know that many couples are together for years and do not transmit the virus through any means. We don't know what accounts for that, either.

Just because something comes out of the mouth of a doctor doesn't make it a medical fact.



thanbey

If you wish to attend one meeting with one doctor and accept that doctor's opinion without question, that is your right.

But I personally know many doctors and medical professionals that would laugh that guy off the stage. His conclusions are not supported by the scientific studies, especially recent ones.

No one should panic about sexual transmission. It happens, but not at high rates. We do not know why that is. We do know it happens. We know it happens to perfectly ordinary people. We also know that many couples are together for years and do not transmit the virus through any means. We don't know what accounts for that, either.

Just because something comes out of the mouth of a doctor doesn't make it a medical fact.



thanbey
i do not trust just his opinion. i , do somewhat, trust his and my doctor's and a few other doctor's opinions that currently are souley involved with hep c patients only. don't get me wrong, i am always skeptical, because you never know what motivates people in this day and age. the one thing i did like about this doctor was that he said that doctors are wrong and that in 20 years most likely %50 of what he thinks is right now will not be. that was honest and i liked that. he has been a huge advocate for hep c before anyone else was ever paying attention to it. he has been one of the first treating patients. but also, a lot of it has been some what experimental, because no one really knows the long term effects. then you have to ask what is long term? long term to me is 20 or 30 years, but what is long term to the fda or the drug companies? and actually all of his studies are up to date. everything he went over was up to date and from personal experience out of his treated patients. the numbers were scary actually. like 40% to 50% seemed to be "cured" and the rest were s.o.l.

i do not trust just his opinion. i , do somewhat, trust his and my doctor's and a few other doctor's opinions that currently are souley involved with hep c patients only. don't get me wrong, i am always skeptical, because you never know what motivates people in this day and age. the one thing i did like about this doctor was that he said that doctors are wrong and that in 20 years most likely %50 of what he thinks is right now will not be. that was honest and i liked that. he has been a huge advocate for hep c before anyone else was ever paying attention to it. he has been one of the first treating patients. but also, a lot of it has been some what experimental, because no one really knows the long term effects. then you have to ask what is long term? long term to me is 20 or 30 years, but what is long term to the fda or the drug companies? and actually all of his studies are up to date. everything he went over was up to date and from personal experience out of his treated patients. the numbers were scary actually. like 40% to 50% seemed to be "cured" and the rest were s.o.l.

I was in Kentucky organizing classes for doctors and other health care professional in 1997 or 1998 (can't remember now) and had to bring in people from out of state to do medical teaching in Kentucky. We were even on the front page of the Lexington Herald at the time. I sure hadn't heard of him then and no one else had that I was in contact with, either, including the state health officer and governor's office.

He and I agree that we just don't know if what is being touted today will hold up over time. On that point I agree with him. That is why I make statements that encourage safety and wise decisionmaking regarding personal practices.

Take care.

thanbey

I was in Kentucky organizing classes for doctors and other health care professional in 1997 or 1998 (can't remember now) and had to bring in people from out of state to do medical teaching in Kentucky. We were even on the front page of the Lexington Herald at the time. I sure hadn't heard of him then and no one else had that I was in contact with, either, including the state health officer and governor's office.

He and I agree that we just don't know if what is being touted today will hold up over time. On that point I agree with him. That is why I make statements that encourage safety and wise decisionmaking regarding personal practices.

Take care.

thanbey
in your opinion, what kind of supplements and vitamin should i be taking or not be taking?

The risk of sexual transmission worries me,although my current boyfriend who I have been sleeping with for about 5/6 yrs now,tested negative for Hep C...I am pretty sure I had Hep C all along and was not aware(just was diagnosed about a yr ago) and we had unprotected sex many times and luckily I didnt pass it to him.

Since I was diagnosed we havent had unprotected sex,even tho the risk is less than 3% I still dont want to put him at risk.

in your opinion, what kind of supplements and vitamin should i be taking or not be taking?


I have no opinion on what you should be taking.

Studies on vitamin E have not shown much promise. The B vitamins are currently in studies and the Veteran's Administration, for one, is giving some patients B-12 shots once a month. (B vitamins are stored in the liver)

Milk thistle has been looked at and may have some benefit as has alpha lipoic acid.

That is pretty much the extent of what I know. Colloidal silver is dangerous.

This is something I suggest you have a personal evalustion about by a professional far more knowledgeable on this subject than I am and who can order blood tests to check out whether you have any vitamin deficiencies.

thanbey