Hep C is worse than HIV

[1slut]

For me the desire(..and 'need') to bareback overrides the fear of HIV.

After seroconverting, my physician told me to get on with my life as I wish, that I will not die from HIV.

I freely bb and got more and more wild enjoying rough anon sex, not caring for others and have no fear for myself knowing I am already poz.....is this the freedom you want?

Several years later, I contracted Hep C....obviously thro rough sex.

This hit me like a bombshell as hep c treatment is expensive, difficult and not always effective. I truly feel 'dirty' and 'unclean' ending up rather depressed...knowing I am now in the league of not horny lads but league of the depraved. I now can end up very ill with few readily available treatment.

Fortunately, I was able to get on a trial of new oral medication which in a free market, meds and fees can cost $150 to 200K....! The side-effects can be quite severe. During the 6 months treatment, I experienced anaemia resulting in extreme tiredness, skin rash, depression and total impotence, even viagra did not help. Also alcohol which relaxes me is forbidden. I am still not sure if this new med had cured me of hep c yet.

[Guest JizzDumpWI]

Yikes! Sounds pretty intense. So now you're poz with HepC. Looking from your current vantage point, how would you advise others? Or no matter the outcome now; you would not change a thing?

[Bttm2go]

I have a friend that went through the same. He just wanted to die. He's doing much better today. I hope it works out for you.

[makingwords]

How prevalent is Hep C? How can it be avoided, other than of course using condoms?

[Guest JizzDumpWI]

In part, selection. Honest conversation can go a long way towards prevention.

[makingwords]

Yeah but what if you're taking dick at a glory hole or dark room...

[Guest JizzDumpWI]

Some fun has risks.... That is still an informed choice.

[hungry_hole]

I thought Hep C was more common in drug users. In any event, Hep C shows that pozing does not give you the freedom that may guys claim it gives them. If I poz is going to be because I like raw sex in anon settings and not because I'm looking to be "free".

[Bottom Jim]

I contracted hep B several years ago. It was awful. Hep c is far worse. I am always on the guard against it. If a guy is a drug user no thanks

[barebackerboy]

HI Lads can I just say, ok im a dedicated barebacker through and through I got my positive diagnosis (an x gave it too me) 11 years ago and am doing well on meds which is good as i'm still alive or is it !!! I say that because of course I don't want to die and from reading this thread you put some interesting points down regarding hep C yes I do think being poz does give you a hell of a lot of sexual freedom and liberty and that's great but it does have a cost on your overall health my general health is shit these days and I'm somewhat scared of the future so I take everyday as it comes and just enjoy myself im aware of cross infection but don't hold much credibility in it and it doesn't worry me after all I'm always going to have hiv now whether I like it or not despite the tiredness lethargy poor sex drive at times and yes impotence which is a real pain when your top like me yeah I use Viagra but then I get a headache and have to use pain killers too Viagra also gives me mild dioreah so I also have to take loperamide too and energy drinks high in caffeine I do this once a week just so I can go basically and fuck my brains out at a sauna then I spend 3 days paying for it everytime occasionally I might get away with just feeling crap for a day or two at best hmmm now this hep c I certainly don't think I want that I'm currently negative of all hep strains but I have also been vaccinated against hep B and one of the others either hep A or hep C I'm sure its hep C as the one remaining strain of hep I am at risk from is easily curable as far as I know so ask your clinic about the other hepatitis vaccines available ok when I think honestly about getting hiv sure yeah id change the time I contacted it probably not have had sex before using a condom but I wold have caught it sooner or later from the next fuck down the line so when I really ask myself would I change anything the answer is no I am a barebacker end of story that's my turn on I am who and what I am despite being ostrasized generally by the gay community for it its not been easy and I am just looking for a community where I can be accepted for being me and I'm sorry if that means I like sticking my raw cock up an arse and fucking it till I cum but unless I've done that I don't feel I've even had sex and if I cant have sex I don't think life is worth living does anybody else feel like this here ?

[makingwords]

Barebackerboy,

There are vaccines for Hep A and B. We should all be vaccinated against those two. There is no vaccine against Hep C, but in general it is not spread that commonly through sex. http://www.hepatitiscentral.com/mt/archives/2007/07/can_hepatitis_c.html

[Guest]

At the beginning of this Dec/2013 the FDA approved a new drug called Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C

http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/byaudience/forpatientadvocates/ucm377920.htm

[1slut]

Thanks for the responses, guys!

I luv bb. I bb because I feel I am not complete otherwise. I like lots of different anon men and cocks loading me swapping cum like wild animals - that's me, can't change that.

I had never done drugs in any form, so for me, I got hep c thro sex. I know a friend (not sexual buddy) who also caught hep c and his treatment failed.

My trial involved the new sofosbovir and ribavirin. Sofosbovir alone costs $90,000 for 24 weeks. My physician told me although it is now approved, the use is limited due to cost.

So I have been fortunate to go on the trial for free. But treatment is not always successful and you can catch even the same strain again. In the absence of PrEP for hep c, I am scared shit to catch it again. Condom helps but sex with condom is meaningless to me.

Anyway I posted this thread because I am amazed that guys are only concerned about hiv when they bb. Just want to say there is HEP C too and it is NASTY !!

Now I have simply abstained from sex but not sure how to go forward. If offered a juicy cock in a gloryhole, I am not sure what my response'll be...... Trying to focus my interest and energy in other areas of life. Take care, guys!

[Theo8]

I've been vaccinated against hepatitis but I thought there was a Hep C vaccine

[makingwords]

Unfortunately not, Theo8. Only Hep A and B can be vaccinated against