Personal stories about hepatitis testing
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Personal stories about hepatitis testing
These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.
Jax, age 40: I have been sexually active for years and have had at least a dozen sex partners. I'm going to have a hepatitis test. I have a friend who went through treatment a year or so ago. He was pretty miserable, but he came out all right. If he can do it, I can. I think I owe it to myself to find out if I have hepatitis.
Karen, age 33: I had several sex partners when I was in my 20s, but I don't consider myself promiscuous. I worry that I could have hepatitis, but the treatment sounds very unpleasant and might not even work. I think the odds are in my favor that I don't have hepatitis, so I'm not going to be tested.
Malik, age 29: I did drugs in my teens and shared needles a couple of times. I also got a tattoo in Tijuana over spring break one year. I just recently read an article about hepatitis C, and I think I'll get tested. I don't want to deal with the treatment decision right now, but I want to know if I have it.
Sam, age 44: I lived with a woman who had hepatitis C, and I watched her go through the treatment. She had a rough time of it for a year. I don't think I could handle feeling that sick for so long. I'm not going to be tested for two reasons: 1) Even if it turned out I have hepatitis, I don't think I would go through the treatment; and 2) I worry about what would happen if my insurance company or my employer found out I tested positive.
Credits
| Author | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | W. Thomas London, MD - Hepatology |
| Last Updated | August 27, 2007 |
| Last updated: | August 27, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, W. Thomas London, MD - Hepatology |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC |
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