Personal HCV History - Steve

[Guest guest]

StevePersonally I don't believe that the "how" is important at any level. In fact, I question that any of us can know for absolute sure. Except perhaps, for the folks that have had a blood transfusion and traced it back to it's origin. Past that, I really don't believe we can know. All any of us can know for sure, is that this is an epidemic worldwide and a whole lot of work needs to be done to get the news out to the public. Thus, we sure better not be stigmatizing each other cause there is enough work to de-stigmatizing for the public.Gloria

I just have a simple question about how we got this thing called Hep-C. Does it really make a difference in how we are treated if we know how we got it?? I mean are people treated differently if they acquired it from drug use, or from a hospital, or from any other way…I think not! As far as I know, the treatment is basically the same no matter how we got it…am I wrong about this? Love ya all! RHStevej From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Gloria Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2010 10:18 PM Subject: Re: [ ] Personal HCV History - Sharon Cheryl and SharonI know that when we first learn about our own infections, it comes as a big shock. I can only imagine that the exact same thing happens to our kids. However, once they begin getting all the facts - this should not be a

blame game!!!Most of us do not really have any idea where or when we were infected! Sure, it's been shoved down our throats that it is a baby boomer, drug addict disease. If that was true, why is it that more than half the people that current know that they are infected, honestly have never been involved in harmful behaviour??Here in Canada, it was in the favour that our governments and health agencies to keep propagating the IV Drug theory. A class action suit was launched back a number of years ago, because of the bad blood that was being used, even after the blood banks knew to screen for HepC. However, if a person could prove that they had received that blood; but, also copped to any drug use - they were out on their ears with a claim.Therefore, my belief is that none of us should so easily stigmatize ourselves with that theory. Plus, the fact remains that it really doesn't matter how we got

it. The fact remains that we have to fight the dragon out of our bodies.Gloria Hi Sharon, I too passed the virus onto my daughter at birth (she is 18), that's how I found out I had it last year when tests showed she had the virus and they told me to get checked to rule it out. My son (he is 21)

hasn't been tested yet because he doesn't have health insurance yet and I don't want him to be denied for a pre-existing condition. I know my husband has it also, but he hasn't gone in to get himself checked. My daughter was more understanding with me, I am afraid my son will be more angry about passing this awful thing on to them. I know I didn't do it purposely and I told my OBGYN about my drug past when I decided to have children. Sadly back in 1986 they weren't testing for HepC. But we are all standing together and going to give it our best shot to try to beat this awful disease. I am the only one who has started tx. I am on week 13 of tx and currently undectable! Be strong and don't worry about how you got it, just how to get rid of it. God bless you and your family.Cheryl in MD