My friend has hep c and i am scared to death?

It is unfortunate that the health system in the US is so politically correct that this question requires answers from others. First of all HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) is spread only by blood / blood contact. This makes it both harder, and easier to spread, than you might think.

Sexual contact will NOT, under normal conditions, cause infections. Rough sex (where blood is shed), and unprotected anal sex are the exceptions. Normal sexual activities (including oral sex) would spread infection only if there were open sores(ie bleeding gums, menses, cuts, etc.) on both parties to allow blood / blood contact. US medical community finally did a definitive study and determined that what HCV carriers have said all along, blood / blood contact only, was correct.

Do not use HCV carriers hairbrush, toothbrush, nail clippers, or razor. All of these items may contain trace amounts of blood from mosquito bites scratched open, bleeding gums, trimming of an ingrown nail, or nick from razor. Like I said only trace amounts of blood products, but that's all it takes.

If you snort (inhale through nose) drugs, do NOT use same straw, bill, etc. as anyone else. It is a recognized point of entry when a HCV carrier snorts coke, etc. they leave small amounts of blood serum on straw, especially if they are a regular user with burned up nasal passages. This serum is often passed on the straw. Injection is it's own problem, if someone is into that they will probably not pay much attention to anything someone says and will end up with HCV, or worse.

Don't hit someone unless you know they aren't a HCV carrier. We were told as kids that hitting is bad, well it's really bad if you split someone's lip and cut yourself on a tooth. So be careful of hotheads with anger management issues, bruises and cuts may be the least of what you can get from them.

Then there is always my favorite method, exposure to dried blood products. This virus is a tough little SOB! Days after a blood droplet has dried up, the HCV can still be picked up off the surface of whatever it has dried on. Rubber gloves and at least 15% bleach solution are mandatory for cleaning surfaces that may have blood products from a HCV carrier. If you get stabbed by a splinter that seems to be in a position where others would have been likely to get stabbed, encourage blood flow out of wound for a short time. Then treat as you would otherwise. It is somewhat less likely for you to get HCV that way. Not a large difference, but every little bit helps.

There is NO cure at this point, if someone says they are cured they are confusing clear, with cured! The Red Cross will not accept blood products from anyone who has had HCV. There is no cure, it's like cancer, it can go into remission for the rest of someone's life, but it is not considered cured.

Tell your friend to beware of quacks with snake oil cures. There may be some homeopathic cures available, but they have not been tested. Be leery if someone offers instructions on how to make your own cure, run it past a hepatologist / gastroenterologist before using. At least it's free, and they are probably sincere in their beliefs. Beware of those who want to sell you a product. There's nothing worse than some SOB trying to prey on another's fear for their life. Some CURES have been found to be harmful to the liver, and when your liver is already struggling with HCV it can develop into liver failure rapidly.

Now for the good news! Stay away from likely sources of blood / blood contact and you will NOT catch HCV. It is also important to remind yourself, and your friend, that roughly 85% of HCV carriers die WITH the disease, NOT FROM it.

HCV is not an automatic death sentence. With precautions a fairly normal life can be lived. I have two kids in their 20's and my second marriage has produced two more, both under 12. None of the kids has HCV, and neither my ex or my current spouse has it. I, on the other hand, have had it for about 30 years

First, I'm sorry your having so much to deal with. Sometimes people don't show signs until they have another health problem, which could be related to hepatitis C. I would get a second opinion, if you haven't already done so. There needs to be good communication between you and your doctor. Whenever a doctor gives you a medication, takes you off one, or changes it, you need to know why. Before you go to your doctor, write down questions, it's easier than trying to remember when your stressed. Keep a list of all your medications including over the counter and the dosages. I keep lists on my computer, it's easy to change as your needs do and the doctor can easily read it, now if only they could write. If this is to much for you to handle right now, ask a friend or a loved one to go with you to your doctor You are not a nuisance to your family, I'm sure they love and care about you, they are probably just as frustrated as you are, maybe more because they don't know how to help you, let them help even if it's just a hug. Check with hospitals in your area about support groups, sometimes talking to others in a similar situation, helps. I hope you feel better soon, my prayers are with you.

Don't turn your back on your friend, she needs you more now than ever. As for getting Hep C easy, there are simple and easy precautions to observe that prevent it from being passed on. Just remember that your friend needs your support, she probably feels very alone and scared right now. One of the best things to do is just be supportive and reassure her that you will be her friend through it. There is treatment that works, and liver failure is not inevitable and she probably be able to live a long and productive life.

Homeopathic treatment for Hepatitis C/B Liver Cirrhosis :-

1.SULFUR 30

2.BRYONIA 30

3.CARDUUS MARIANUS in Q (Mother Tincture)

4.CHELIDONIUM MAJUS in Q (Mother Tincture)

5.LYCOPODIUM 1M(1000)

Take remedy 1 and 2 thrice a day half hour before meals followed by 20 drops each of 3 and 4 half hour after meals together in a half a cup of hot water and take 5 after a week of taking the above regularly just one dose a week. Avoid Chocolates, Coffee, Mints and Red Meat while taking Homeopathic Medicines and avoid all foodstuffs, which gives you constipation at all costs.

If there is any ambiguity about the dosage or the potency of the medicine please ask me before doing anything.

And keep me posted about your progress at least every three days.

It would be better if you send me the details of the patient exactly the way he or she feels not the doctors Diagnosis let the patient describe their own feeling exactly the way they are feeling the above will clear all in any case but it would be lots better if you send complete details.

Take Care and God Bless you!

You need to talk to your physician or a local clinic

Here is a link with good info

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/90/100604.htm

It can be spread by:

Having sex with an infected person without a condom (though experts don't know if condoms prevent transmission or just reduce it).

Sharing drugs and needles.

Being cut by infected needles (health care workers).

Birth from a mother to a child.

Hepatitis C is not spread through food, water, or by casual contact.

Hep C is only transmitted blood-to-blood. So it is pretty unlikely you will "catch it" from her. YOu need to be supportive for her if you care about her at all- people with Hep C don't seem to get a lot of sympathy, unlike people with other serious diseases.

You should be helping her to cope with it by encouraging her to eat well and get lots of rest, she needs to keep her strength up.

Yes, it's possible to completely cure, but results vary from one case to the next, and in some people, the virus never completely clears from the system, although it will be greatly diminished and allow her to lead a fairly normal life.

If you are close to her, then you don't want to abandon her. But talk to her doctor to see if there is any kind of meds you can take to keep from getting it. Do some research on the internet to find out more info. Try www.webmd.com.