Transmission Questions

Chay,
I'm by no means an expert, but when I was diagnosed with acute hep c, I was very careful to wear bandaids, to keep any trash with blood in it in a covered trash can away from my little boy, and to avoid any blood contact with anybody in any way. No sharing toothbrushes or razors or unprotected sex and lots of handwashing and cleaning with good soap. If I cut myself, I dressed my own wounds and used disposeable stuff like tissues and gauze to soak up blood. No one else in my family got it and I was able to keep my husband and sons away from contact with my blood, which was my main concern, even if I was paranoid.

I just think its common courtesy, because you never know. Now I am on immunosuppressants because my liver and interferon messed up my immune system, and getting hepc would quickly kill me because my immune system is now so suppressed. We often dont remember that there are people around with suppressed immune systems due to diseases or medications for diseases and they get sick much easier.

I didn't care if I was too cautious, I like people to feel comfortable around me and if it makes them more comfortable for me to put a bandaid over a scab, I do it if I can. It also is a little more attractive. Now that my kids are grown and I supposedly successfully completed tx, I still try to keep my blood to myself, just in case it would rear its ugly head, but more so because I don't want anyone elses germs either. I'm sorry I couldn't give you a more scientific response. You ask a great question and I'm not meaning to motherly, just telling you my reasons.

Everyone has there own way of dealing with this issue to some degree. I suspect the odds may be very low, if you are worried you contacted it. Getting tested for it is always a good thing, even if you think you don't have it, but have been risky. Many people drew my blood without gloves, performed surgery on me and my poor husband had to deal with a ton of blood from a hemorrhage of my female organs when he carried me to the car and he luckily didn't get it. Maybe if they could figure that one out, we'd have a cure. EMTs and medical workers deal with this issue a lot. Maybe someone will post or you could call and ask.