Hep C Discussion Forum

Isiscat2011 · Guru

RE: Relapse or reinfection

Dzdayscomin · Senior Member

One month after starting my tx i just got a new razor cartridge and tooth brush and that's it, so back to just the regular changing due to being dull or worn out.

I get being cautious but I think some of this is a bit over the top, being no proof of anyone reinfecting themselves as far as I know.

Angel67 · Senior Member

Huey wrote:
Milliganus wrote:
Arghhhh! I hadn't thought about the toothbrush thing. I just finished my clinical trial. They never even mentioned anything about this topic. So I've been off the meds for a week and I just threw out my old toothbrush. Since I don't know if I've achieved UND since I haven't seen the results, I'm trying not to over react to this particular subject.

Angel67--I understand the dilemma with your daughter. As long as she is using, I believe she is at risk. Being a former addict in my very younger years which cursed me with this stuff, continued use and getting treatment seems to be a waste of time and may deprive her of the benefit of the new drugs in the future. I also have a step daughter who was an addict. All I can do for her is pray for her continued recovery. We are truly powerless as parents when they become adults. We can only set good examples.
Regarding stigma...I've always felt it when people asked what was wrong with me. I've had Hep C for almost 40 years, have been clean & sober for 30, but everyone always wanted to know how I got it. Ashamed, I would usually say I don't know...

Finally, many of us won't have to think about excuses anymore, it will no longer be an issue!
Blessing to you.
Put mine in a plastic cover and covered up the air holes at the end with bandaids, Toothbrush that is,

I think I will buy about four hundred cheap tooth brushes & a couple of dozen razors...one use & in the bin! I should actually wrap them up in case the garage guy gets a cut from one.

Angel67 · Senior Member

Tig56 wrote:
The stigma while improving is still a problem for many. The best way to deal with it is through education and tough skin. The more public service advertisements the better, provided they are addressing the right information. From the early 90's to now, the stigma has gotten less harsh but it still exists. I've handled it both by informing only those that needed to know and by educating myself in such a manner that I can educate the people that might express an improper view of the disease. ( Don't forget the tough skin too)
The wait is often the most difficult. You're in the right place. Among friends and spending the time educating yourself. Hang in there!
Tig

I have always been impatient! I have learned so much about the liver in the past few weeks....what a tough organ it is!

Angel67 · Senior Member

Milliganus wrote:
Arghhhh! I hadn't thought about the toothbrush thing. I just finished my clinical trial. They never even mentioned anything about this topic. So I've been off the meds for a week and I just threw out my old toothbrush. Since I don't know if I've achieved UND since I haven't seen the results, I'm trying not to over react to this particular subject.

Angel67--I understand the dilemma with your daughter. As long as she is using, I believe she is at risk. Being a former addict in my very younger years which cursed me with this stuff, continued use and getting treatment seems to be a waste of time and may deprive her of the benefit of the new drugs in the future. I also have a step daughter who was an addict. All I can do for her is pray for her continued recovery. We are truly powerless as parents when they become adults. We can only set good examples.
Regarding stigma...I've always felt it when people asked what was wrong with me. I've had Hep C for almost 40 years, have been clean & sober for 30, but everyone always wanted to know how I got it. Ashamed, I would usually say I don't know...

Finally, many of us won't have to think about excuses anymore, it will no longer be an issue!
Blessing to you.

My daughter assures me she has never taken any risks, but putting a needle in your arm is a terrible risk. There were at least twenty deaths up in Scotland recently among drug addicts & the cause of death was...Anthrax! My guess is that the drugs may have been stored in a skin of some sort back in Turkey or Afghanistan , then the Anthrax got into the product? But it's just one example of why this is risky behaviour. The funny thing is I stopped all my drinking & drugging a long time ago, my kids never saw me take one drink, but it still didn't stop the eldest ending up on that same path. I refuse to participate in being stigmatized....this is just a virus like any other and we need to shatter all the silly judgement that comes from certain people....after all, they may be carrying too?

Angel67 · Senior Member

Isiscat2011 wrote:
Yes, there is a big taboo here too, and that can make it harder for people to get tested and treated.
Will you know whether you get tx or not in a week, Angel67? What is the tx you are hoping for?

Next week is an Ultrasound scan & a meeting with my consultant to discuss the results and what the treatment may be. I guess this is all dependent upon my genotype( probably 1 or 3). The only way to get the new medicine here is through a clinical trial and i imagine that is what I shall be going on....but I just don't know at the moment, we shall see. As for what I want...I don't want Interferon, actually my doctor said that I was not suitable for that as I had spent some time in a "Lunatic Asylum"! But I don't think our NHS takes this into consideration, oh well, I shall ask them for a strait-jacket to go with the Rib & Interferon !

Huey · Guru

Milliganus wrote:
Arghhhh! I hadn't thought about the toothbrush thing. I just finished my clinical trial. They never even mentioned anything about this topic. So I've been off the meds for a week and I just threw out my old toothbrush. Since I don't know if I've achieved UND since I haven't seen the results, I'm trying not to over react to this particular subject.

Angel67--I understand the dilemma with your daughter. As long as she is using, I believe she is at risk. Being a former addict in my very younger years which cursed me with this stuff, continued use and getting treatment seems to be a waste of time and may deprive her of the benefit of the new drugs in the future. I also have a step daughter who was an addict. All I can do for her is pray for her continued recovery. We are truly powerless as parents when they become adults. We can only set good examples.
Regarding stigma...I've always felt it when people asked what was wrong with me. I've had Hep C for almost 40 years, have been clean & sober for 30, but everyone always wanted to know how I got it. Ashamed, I would usually say I don't know...

Finally, many of us won't have to think about excuses anymore, it will no longer be an issue!
Blessing to you.

Put mine in a plastic cover and covered up the air holes at the end with bandaids, Toothbrush that is,

Milliganus · Senior Member

Arghhhh! I hadn't thought about the toothbrush thing. I just finished my clinical trial. They never even mentioned anything about this topic. So I've been off the meds for a week and I just threw out my old toothbrush. Since I don't know if I've achieved UND since I haven't seen the results, I'm trying not to over react to this particular subject.

Angel67--I understand the dilemma with your daughter. As long as she is using, I believe she is at risk. Being a former addict in my very younger years which cursed me with this stuff, continued use and getting treatment seems to be a waste of time and may deprive her of the benefit of the new drugs in the future. I also have a step daughter who was an addict. All I can do for her is pray for her continued recovery. We are truly powerless as parents when they become adults. We can only set good examples.

Regarding stigma...I've always felt it when people asked what was wrong with me. I've had Hep C for almost 40 years, have been clean & sober for 30, but everyone always wanted to know how I got it. Ashamed, I would usually say I don't know...

Finally, many of us won't have to think about excuses anymore, it will no longer be an issue!

Blessing to you.

Tig · Admin

The stigma while improving is still a problem for many. The best way to deal with it is through education and tough skin. The more public service advertisements the better, provided they are addressing the right information. From the early 90's to now, the stigma has gotten less harsh but it still exists. I've handled it both by informing only those that needed to know and by educating myself in such a manner that I can educate the people that might express an improper view of the disease. ( Don't forget the tough skin too)

The wait is often the most difficult. You're in the right place. Among friends and spending the time educating yourself. Hang in there!

Tig

Isiscat2011 · Guru

Yes, there is a big taboo here too, and that can make it harder for people to get tested and treated.

Will you know whether you get tx or not in a week, Angel67? What is the tx you are hoping for?

Angel67 · Senior Member

It's been an education...becoming aware of this virus. There is a taboo attached to it over here in the UK. People think "Junkie" when they hear Hep C. Most of the people I have come across are old Vietnam veterans or women who had caesareans ! I am getting worn down by this waiting, waiting for my final diagnosis. My OCD is playing with my mind & setting up the worst possible scenario...only another week & then I will know the good or bad news!

Isiscat2011 · Guru

Angel67 wrote:
I have been looking at so many figures for HCV medicines recently, and I wonder how many of the relapses that patients have are actually reinfections? I suppose we could reinfect through a razor or a toothbrush, but some of us who use drugs probably reinfect through the hypodermic and obviously that would be hard to admit to your consultant doctor...especially after they have doled out expensive drugs to cure you! But perhaps (taking this idea into account) the actual cure rates are higher than advertised? If some of the relapses are actually reinfections, perhaps these drugs work better than we think?

Considering all the hype I doubt these drugs work better than we think. Just hoping they work as well. :)

Reinfection through IV drug use is certainly a possibility but keep in mind that >75% of existing HCV sufferers are baby boomers, who contracted HCV decades ago, and do not use IV drugs. Many were never IV drug users.

The reason HCV testing is recommended by the CDC for people born between 1945 to 1965 is because HCV was so prevalent in the 70s and 80s. The IV drug usage during that period is often cited as the reason for the HCV spread, but this explanation ignores the role of the military and the medical industries, neither of which were yet taking precautions against the HCV spread and were in fact contributing to it.

The remaining <25% of the infected HCV population consists of many IV drug users under the age of 30 so this population is at risk of reinfection if they continue to use IV drugs. It is estimated that 1/3 of current IV drug users do have HCV.

In any event, the risk of reinfection to the majority of HCV patients who achieve SVR is extremely slight, because societal precautions are now taken to reduce the risk of spread and because they are not IV drug users. Their odds of becoming infected with HCV are roughly the same as anyone else's.

-- Edited by Isiscat2011 on Wednesday 8th of October 2014 04:40:19 PM

Angel67 · Senior Member

A sewing needle...the hidden dangers of needle work! Seriously, I look at everything differently now & am super careful while cooking etc.

Huey · Guru

Angel67 wrote:
I have been looking at so many figures for HCV medicines recently, and I wonder how many of the relapses that patients have are actually reinfections? I suppose we could reinfect through a razor or a toothbrush, but some of us who use drugs probably reinfect through the hypodermic and obviously that would be hard to admit to your consultant doctor...especially after they have doled out expensive drugs to cure you! But perhaps (taking this idea into account) the actual cure rates are higher than advertised? If some of the relapses are actually reinfections, perhaps these drugs work better than we think?

The HCV virus can Live on surfaces . I myself was infected I think by a sewing needle,

Angel67 · Senior Member

Tig life seems to only throw problems at you...mainly other peoples problems ! Often it's the people you really care about so you are obliged to sort out their ****, it doesn't half get tiring! I didn't Know that virus could lie that long! I heard it could survive in dried blood...you can really see the potential for spreading it or reinfection...I don't even know if I used someone else syringe? I know a spoon was shared...wish I had used my own cutlery! over here in the UK it seems the only way people are getting the new generation of drugs is through clinical trials and I hope I can get myself on one. I will know more by the end of next week as I am still waiting on a ultrasound & genotype test.

Peter M · Veteran Member

One of the things I did during treatment with S/O was to throw out ALL my toothbrushes and dental implements as soon as I was UND (at 8 weeks). I didn't throw out my electric razor, which would have even been more conservative. I read that the HCV can live for up to six weeks on a surface.

So far I have tested UND at 4 and 8 weeks and am currently waiting for the results of my 12 weeks eot VL.

I really don't think anyone would risk reinfection after 12 weeks of expensive DAAs. Even an addict; although there are no certainties when it comes to human nature!

Tig · Admin

Sorry you're having to deal with such issues, that's got to be difficult all by itself. Your impression of a repeat Interferon experience is very accurate! However, the good news for those treating today are the new shorter acting DAA's and treatments. Hopefully people will be able to experience the Hep free future we all strive for, without the endless months of harsh medications. Maybe the ease of treatment will offer people that previously refused the opportunity, because of its unpleasant nature, another chance and it will help them realize the value of a healthy, drug free life.

Tig

Angel67 · Senior Member

My eldest daughter is a Heroin addict, she keeps coming off the stuff and Methadone, then always starts again...this pattern put this idea in my head, and we can never know an absolute truth about someone else's experience, only what they tell us. I guess anyone who endured Interferon wouldn't be on a hurt to go through that again !

Tig · Admin

Thats a lot to consider! While we can reinfect or relapse at some point in the future, I think the chances of reinfection by returning to IVDU is limited. We've discussed the possibilities of reinfection here many times (search: reinfection) and you'll see the many thoughts shared about how, maybe and what if's. While I'm sure there are people that do return to old and unhealthy habits, I think the number of people doing so, after committing themselves to treatment, which means both accepting the expense and the desire to be healthy again, is low indeed. I don't believe (JMHO) that those numbers are so high they would impact the published SVR rates.

Tig

Angel67 · Senior Member

I have been looking at so many figures for HCV medicines recently, and I wonder how many of the relapses that patients have are actually reinfections? I suppose we could reinfect through a razor or a toothbrush, but some of us who use drugs probably reinfect through the hypodermic and obviously that would be hard to admit to your consultant doctor...especially after they have doled out expensive drugs to cure you! But perhaps (taking this idea into account) the actual cure rates are higher than advertised? If some of the relapses are actually reinfections, perhaps these drugs work better than we think?

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