Worried that BF was born with hepatitis C

[skleep]

In my latest foray into insanity, I've decided to become obsessed with my boyfriend's health.  He was born in 1987 and I just realized that he was born before anyone was checking blood transfusions for hep c. To my knowledge, he didn't get any blood transfusions at birth, but I'm afraid to ask his family because I know they'll think it's odd and laugh at me.  They already think my anxiety is ridiculous.  He has never been tested for hep c because he has no risk factors and he says that if he gets tested he is only going to make my anxiety worse by feeding into it.  He's probably right.

Anyway, would he know by now, if there was something wrong?  He's almost 26 and has no weird reactions to alcohol, he's seen doctors who all seem to give him a clean bill of health (so far- knock wood).  Is this crazy?

[wegngis]

It's rare for infants to receive blood transfusions at birth.  My son spent 40 days in the hospital following his birth and did not receive a single drop of blood.  They don't just go passing that stuff out like candy, it's a valuable commodity.  Also, I don't think someone could go 26 years with undiagnosed Hepatitis C, especially after getting a clean bill of health.  I agree with your boyfriend, if he gets tested it's quite possible you could just jump to another catastrophic imagined disease.

Try to focus on treating your anxiety rather than fixating on an imagined affliction.  There are many resources available (the people here, therapists, etc.).

[oregoncoastlady]

It is bad enough that we put ourselves through agony with our anxiety. When you project it on to someone else?...so not good.
You've got to let this go. Nothing good can come of it.

[Allochka]

Sometimes I think that we really need all this anxiety for something. When I run out of symptoms to worry for myself - I switch to my boyfriend or mom. Like we constantly search for a reason to freak out. It is so strange - we crave to feel OK, but keep searching for worries...

It is very hard to deal with worry for a beloved one. But I just say to myself - I can't make my BF or mom to go to the doc, they won't do it. So there is absolutely no chance for me to get doc's reassurance at all. And this forces me to calm down by myself, to get reassured not from outside, but from inside, because there is simply no other way to keep sanity. I find it very helpful for taming my anxiety.
Your BF is absolutely correct - testing will just feed your anxiety. And insisting on it will simply piss him off. Try to reassure yourself with reasonable thoughts, not tests. It will be a start of victory path.

[sixpack]

what are you doing for your anxiety disorder?  what is working? what isn't?

anxiety disorders are serious.  they impact lives--not only the sufferer--but also the people the sufferer is with.  It ruins relationships, jobs, financial well-being.  It sucks the joy out of lives.  It takes a toll on people ---and I don't mean just emotional well-being but physical well being....  It wears a body out---