Hi,
Recent events have me really worried about catching HEP C. Since reading that the virus survives well outside the body, it seems like it could be lurking anywhere. This past weekend, I was at a neighborhood BBQ and I noticed this older man had a cut outside of his hand. He shook my hand and I immediately noticed a droplet of blood on my thumb. I actually walked over to the pool and dipped my hands in the pool, then I went to wash my hands. I also remember that he handed me a cup earlier in that day and I filled it w/ water from the fountain to drink. I do have gingivitis and my gums sometimes bleed. Nevertheless, I was extremely anxious all day due to that experience and I didn't sleep well at all for a few days. The old man, by the way, said he was retired military and I heard that a lot of military baby boomers have HEP C.
Yesterday I went to the gym for a light workout and shook a few peoples hands on the way out. I wasn't really that sweaty and I made the mistake of picking my nose a few minutes later in the car on my way home. That got me really nervous too because I'm wondering if there were any small traces of blood on some of the equipment or on some of the peoples' hands.
I try to be hygienic as possible but sometimes I pick at my nose or rub my eyes and I'm nervous about HEP C transmission because I am around people all day and some people might have small cuts, etc. I even get nervous at the barber shop because sometimes the electric shaver seems sharp and I've never seen them sanitize them (and I've been to several barbershops).
Should I be worried about HEP C from these incidents? I got tested a year ago and I was negative. I just feel it's so easy to get the virus.