Aa
Advice needed.
I don't know what to do and even whether I should do anything about this. Without going into the details, I have good reasons to believe that I acquired HCV via purposeful inoculation by a malicious person (i.e. a woman stabbed me with a skin biopsy device protruding from her bag, which she rammed into my quad with a swing of her arm). This was taking place during breaks at a weekend-long seminar in 1995. I also saw her doing the same to other people there. I remember that woman very well.
2 years ago I went to the forum dedicated to the theme of that seminar and shared my story, with the aim of corroborating my memory. Even though I was diagnosed with HCV in 1998, I was not seeing a doc for many years after that, and could not remember exactly my genotype, and without this piece of info all that was turning into just 'empty talk'. There was no point continuing then. Last month I was retested and it turned out 2a, just as I thought.
Now, here are my thoughts. In the early 2000s it became known that people associated with those seminars had au unusually high prevalence of HCV (with unknown distribution of genotypes in that group). 2a is a relatively rare genotype in the US. Its prevalence was reported as 3.5% in 1999 article in New England Journal of Medicine. I was thinking, If it turns out that most of them had this rare genotype, that would strongly corroborate my story, no?
Also, I have a little crater-like scar left in the middle of my quad, just where that woman stubbed me. That was not a needle that she used. I believe it was a skin biopsy device that removes a tiny column of flesh (I heard a loud click when it happened) and that's why, when it healed, a little indentation remained. Her other victims should have the same kind of scar at about the same height (because she employed the same method: she rammed her bag into the victim's leg as if by accident).
Recently, I returned to that forum with this updated info, but the moderator deleted the thread and banned me.
What can I do and should I really do anything?
I wanted to reach those who were there too, even though it was 18+ years ago. Should I post it on other HCV forums? Or should I drop it entirely?
2 years ago I went to the forum dedicated to the theme of that seminar and shared my story, with the aim of corroborating my memory. Even though I was diagnosed with HCV in 1998, I was not seeing a doc for many years after that, and could not remember exactly my genotype, and without this piece of info all that was turning into just 'empty talk'. There was no point continuing then. Last month I was retested and it turned out 2a, just as I thought.
Now, here are my thoughts. In the early 2000s it became known that people associated with those seminars had au unusually high prevalence of HCV (with unknown distribution of genotypes in that group). 2a is a relatively rare genotype in the US. Its prevalence was reported as 3.5% in 1999 article in New England Journal of Medicine. I was thinking, If it turns out that most of them had this rare genotype, that would strongly corroborate my story, no?
Also, I have a little crater-like scar left in the middle of my quad, just where that woman stubbed me. That was not a needle that she used. I believe it was a skin biopsy device that removes a tiny column of flesh (I heard a loud click when it happened) and that's why, when it healed, a little indentation remained. Her other victims should have the same kind of scar at about the same height (because she employed the same method: she rammed her bag into the victim's leg as if by accident).
Recently, I returned to that forum with this updated info, but the moderator deleted the thread and banned me.
What can I do and should I really do anything?
I wanted to reach those who were there too, even though it was 18+ years ago. Should I post it on other HCV forums? Or should I drop it entirely?
Your doubts are reasonable and understandable. I will post the details of that incident tomorrow and you will have more info to make a better assessment. Unless I share my story and someone corroborates, I will never find out what exactly happened there.
Of course, I do not know exactly that I was stabbed with a 'skin biopsy device'. I surmised that based on the fact that I still have a little, round, crater-like scar. I had far worse injuries _after_ that incident. Like, 2 years later I skid on ruff pavement rollerblading which shaved off a palm-size patch off the side of my leg just below the knee, so that you could see the meat plainly. You can hardly tell now; only a quarter-size discoloration remains at what was the center of the wound. But there is no scar, the skin is smooth over the whole area.
If it were just a stab with a sharp object, nothing should remain after 18+ years. In contrast, a skin biopsy device removes a column of flesh and leaves very neat, perfectly round little wound (and is also very, very painful -- once I stepped on a board with huge nails sticking out and it was nothing in comparison).
Plus, I remember a click, like a pen click, only louder. That's why I think that was a skin biopsy device. But since I did not see it actually, I am open to suggestions what else it could have been.
The mod on that forum said that statistically, the chance of transmitting HCV by simply sticking someone with an infected needle is 1 in 100 (or some low number like this -- I don't remember now). A biopsy device would forcefully inject stuff deep into flesh. It seems this woman was very determined.
And all I have really, for 'evidence' that could damn her, besides a rare 2a genotype, is this scar -- and if I am right, that's a very specific kind of scar -- plus the height of this scar from the floor, 28.5 inches +/- half an inch (with the same type of shoes on). If somebody else remembers her (and she was a large, difficult to overlook, woman with long brown hair) and has the same 3 things to match, that could not be easily dismissed.
(And it's good that it's a rare genotype. It it were 1b, that alone would make it impossible to pursue).
Later :)
Of course, I do not know exactly that I was stabbed with a 'skin biopsy device'. I surmised that based on the fact that I still have a little, round, crater-like scar. I had far worse injuries _after_ that incident. Like, 2 years later I skid on ruff pavement rollerblading which shaved off a palm-size patch off the side of my leg just below the knee, so that you could see the meat plainly. You can hardly tell now; only a quarter-size discoloration remains at what was the center of the wound. But there is no scar, the skin is smooth over the whole area.
If it were just a stab with a sharp object, nothing should remain after 18+ years. In contrast, a skin biopsy device removes a column of flesh and leaves very neat, perfectly round little wound (and is also very, very painful -- once I stepped on a board with huge nails sticking out and it was nothing in comparison).
Plus, I remember a click, like a pen click, only louder. That's why I think that was a skin biopsy device. But since I did not see it actually, I am open to suggestions what else it could have been.
The mod on that forum said that statistically, the chance of transmitting HCV by simply sticking someone with an infected needle is 1 in 100 (or some low number like this -- I don't remember now). A biopsy device would forcefully inject stuff deep into flesh. It seems this woman was very determined.
And all I have really, for 'evidence' that could damn her, besides a rare 2a genotype, is this scar -- and if I am right, that's a very specific kind of scar -- plus the height of this scar from the floor, 28.5 inches +/- half an inch (with the same type of shoes on). If somebody else remembers her (and she was a large, difficult to overlook, woman with long brown hair) and has the same 3 things to match, that could not be easily dismissed.
(And it's good that it's a rare genotype. It it were 1b, that alone would make it impossible to pursue).
Later :)
First of all.....JimmyMose gave you excellent advice.
You were stabbed with skin biopsy device sticking out of someone's purse?
___________________________
How did you know that? How did you know others had been stabbed with with a skin biopsy device?
I would like to tell you the story from another point of view. You and some other people were stabbed by accident with something sharp sticking out of a women purse. Someone who was stabbed had Hepatitis C and in fact could have passed it to you.....OR you could have had Hepatitis C and passed it to them. The women with the purse....like many women had something sharp
in her purse with all the other sharp weapons like tweezers, those half combs with handles, scissors, broken stuff, stuff and more stuff. What can be in a womens purse is an endless list.
Many people just can't figure out HOW they got Hepatitis C. Your not alone.
That fact is you could have just been the victim of a freak accident.
You were stabbed with skin biopsy device sticking out of someone's purse?
___________________________
How did you know that? How did you know others had been stabbed with with a skin biopsy device?
I would like to tell you the story from another point of view. You and some other people were stabbed by accident with something sharp sticking out of a women purse. Someone who was stabbed had Hepatitis C and in fact could have passed it to you.....OR you could have had Hepatitis C and passed it to them. The women with the purse....like many women had something sharp
in her purse with all the other sharp weapons like tweezers, those half combs with handles, scissors, broken stuff, stuff and more stuff. What can be in a womens purse is an endless list.
Many people just can't figure out HOW they got Hepatitis C. Your not alone.
That fact is you could have just been the victim of a freak accident.
Jimmy, thank you! (now I understand why the mod freaked out and deleted my thread). No, I don't view the group as responsible party who should be held accountable. To the contrary, I see them as the first victims of that woman. They recruited members for the group, as it was just forming in 1995, from the workshop attendees. My impression was that the woman deliberately targeted young attractive women and that's the contingent from which they drew their members.
For all I know, she was doing the same at all other venues she attended. I will post a description of her appearance later on. I need to rest now.
And that was taking place in LA. I don't know anything about the statue of limitations in CA.
Re genotype 2a, back in 1998 when I was first diagnosed, I believe a different test was used from the one commonly used now.The test currently in use cannot differentiate between 2a and 2c and so the result is reported as 2a/2c. But I remember well that my result was not a mixed genotype.
About 100,000 people in the US with this genotype, it would be very strange if they would preferentially converge on that group. I'm not a statistician, but IMO the distribution of genotypes in the group should reflect the distribution in the population at large -? A disproportionate prevalence of this otherwise rare genotype in this group would be rather suspicious, no?
For all I know, she was doing the same at all other venues she attended. I will post a description of her appearance later on. I need to rest now.
And that was taking place in LA. I don't know anything about the statue of limitations in CA.
Re genotype 2a, back in 1998 when I was first diagnosed, I believe a different test was used from the one commonly used now.The test currently in use cannot differentiate between 2a and 2c and so the result is reported as 2a/2c. But I remember well that my result was not a mixed genotype.
About 100,000 people in the US with this genotype, it would be very strange if they would preferentially converge on that group. I'm not a statistician, but IMO the distribution of genotypes in the group should reflect the distribution in the population at large -? A disproportionate prevalence of this otherwise rare genotype in this group would be rather suspicious, no?
Thank you for your feedback. No, this was not an ongoing forum that I was involved with. I came there 2 years ago with the specific aim to corroborate my memory, find others, commiserate -- and also I was hoping this way to find out which genotype I had, since I could not quite remember it, and I was thinking about getting into a clinical trial and for that needed to know it (I had not a clue how to go about getting into a trial and absolutely could not afford a doc). I had a total of ~8 posts and only one thread there (it still comes up on google cache).
The problem is that this forum was active until maybe 2005-2008 and now lists at most 1 post per day, with 2 guys there, who are also moderators, basically letting each other know that they are still alive.
But before the main mod deleted my thread, it accumulated ~850 views, in 2 years. The replies I got were from the mods, one saying that I must be irrational and should seek treatment and the other saying that he had attended all of those workshops and does not recall anything of the sort.
That forum was created in 1998, after the death of the charismatic leader around whom it all revolved. Basically, he "was not supposed to die" (I know). His death from liver cancer put his followers into a shock and led to investigation of his claims, as a result of which he was exposed as a fraud.
I missed all that fun, because, after I finally got to see him at that workshop in 1995, I was profoundly disillusioned (he positioned himself in his books as great sorcerer and 'energy connoisseur', but what I saw was an old, feeble and obviously sick man). And so I ran and never looked back.
Sunday evening, when the wrokshop was over, I came home and relaxed with a half a bottle of red wine that remained, thinking it over (and no, overwhelmed by the whole thing I did not think about that woman who ran into me Sat morning). I was overwhelmed by the whole thing (imagine, for years I dreamed about meeting this 'great man' and at long last it happened) . Soon I became sick and threw up -- as if I had drank not 2 glasses but 2 bottles wine. It is very rare that I become sick and through up. I knew it could not be the wine, so I interpreted it as a physical manifestation of the profound disillusionment I felt.
I found out about his death from the media in 1998 and learned about that forum ~2009, when I was googling around in order to clarify a term for an online conversation I had about him. Associated with that forum, there are extensive archives of discussions his followers had after his death. That's where I learned all those details about HCV in his group, The charismatic leader died of liver cancer secondary to his HCV (leaked by his doctor). In this context, the unspoken allusion was that he infected the women of his group via sex, and initially I assumed this too. But now that I have educated myself about HCV, I know that it is not easily spread via heterosexual intercourse. What could account for an unusually high prevalence of HCV in his group? I believe the answer may be lying in this woman, who also, I believe, deliberately inoculated me.
The problem is that this forum was active until maybe 2005-2008 and now lists at most 1 post per day, with 2 guys there, who are also moderators, basically letting each other know that they are still alive.
But before the main mod deleted my thread, it accumulated ~850 views, in 2 years. The replies I got were from the mods, one saying that I must be irrational and should seek treatment and the other saying that he had attended all of those workshops and does not recall anything of the sort.
That forum was created in 1998, after the death of the charismatic leader around whom it all revolved. Basically, he "was not supposed to die" (I know). His death from liver cancer put his followers into a shock and led to investigation of his claims, as a result of which he was exposed as a fraud.
I missed all that fun, because, after I finally got to see him at that workshop in 1995, I was profoundly disillusioned (he positioned himself in his books as great sorcerer and 'energy connoisseur', but what I saw was an old, feeble and obviously sick man). And so I ran and never looked back.
Sunday evening, when the wrokshop was over, I came home and relaxed with a half a bottle of red wine that remained, thinking it over (and no, overwhelmed by the whole thing I did not think about that woman who ran into me Sat morning). I was overwhelmed by the whole thing (imagine, for years I dreamed about meeting this 'great man' and at long last it happened) . Soon I became sick and threw up -- as if I had drank not 2 glasses but 2 bottles wine. It is very rare that I become sick and through up. I knew it could not be the wine, so I interpreted it as a physical manifestation of the profound disillusionment I felt.
I found out about his death from the media in 1998 and learned about that forum ~2009, when I was googling around in order to clarify a term for an online conversation I had about him. Associated with that forum, there are extensive archives of discussions his followers had after his death. That's where I learned all those details about HCV in his group, The charismatic leader died of liver cancer secondary to his HCV (leaked by his doctor). In this context, the unspoken allusion was that he infected the women of his group via sex, and initially I assumed this too. But now that I have educated myself about HCV, I know that it is not easily spread via heterosexual intercourse. What could account for an unusually high prevalence of HCV in his group? I believe the answer may be lying in this woman, who also, I believe, deliberately inoculated me.
... try to answer your question about what I would do...
On reading your posts it seems that this is an ongoing forum that you were involved with... until you were banned. Social media is a great place to begin your own campaign and I would start either my own forum or maybe set up a Facebook page looking for other women who were attacked my this mentally, criminal woman.
I might even try to set up an interview with a police detective and see if anyone reported the incident way back then. You probably couldn't find any hospital reports as those would be confidential...
If you have some money you can dedicate to this I might hire a private detective - if you live in a small town it might be easy to track down this insane woman especially with your excellent memory and since it was at a "weekend long seminar" and if it was a private event there would have been a list of attendees.
This kind of crime is very specific with a medical tool not easily available and she may have been arrested - I think you should look into the police records/detective etc.
Best of luck with your treatment and peace of mind.
On reading your posts it seems that this is an ongoing forum that you were involved with... until you were banned. Social media is a great place to begin your own campaign and I would start either my own forum or maybe set up a Facebook page looking for other women who were attacked my this mentally, criminal woman.
I might even try to set up an interview with a police detective and see if anyone reported the incident way back then. You probably couldn't find any hospital reports as those would be confidential...
If you have some money you can dedicate to this I might hire a private detective - if you live in a small town it might be easy to track down this insane woman especially with your excellent memory and since it was at a "weekend long seminar" and if it was a private event there would have been a list of attendees.
This kind of crime is very specific with a medical tool not easily available and she may have been arrested - I think you should look into the police records/detective etc.
Best of luck with your treatment and peace of mind.
I am sorry for your bad experience.
Was the "weekend-long seminar in 1995." cult and/or religious related where people might be afraid to say something. A couple of years ago remember hearing something about a spiritual cleansing weekend where participants were in a hot sauna steam tent for a long time and someone or more? died The organizer was arrested and convicted.
"I also saw her doing the same to other people there" What was the reaction of people at the time this was occurring? With this happening to multiple people you would expect some to yell out and someone to try to restrain this woman and contact the police. Did you mention the incident to any of the seminar leaders after it happened?
I'm not sure about the laws in the state the seminar occurred in, but most likely the statue of limitations has expired.
This is a puzzling and troubling story and new to me.
Do you know if this type of "seminar" and the person in charge are still offering these? Don't provide specific brand name of seminar or real persons name here. Many time they will try to sue anyone speaking out for defamation.
"In the early 2000s it became known that people associated with those seminars had an unusually high prevalence of HCV" If this was a news story by a respected publication and is still available on line you could provide a link.
The the seminar name and/or persons involved could be googled along with "review" or "criticism" "bad" etc? Anyone who may be a victim of a preparator in the past could contract authorities if appropriate to offer help if related persons or organizations may have committed offences within the statue of limitations based on search results. .
Counseling related to adverse experiences can be helpful to some people.
I am GT2a & c According to recent statistics there may be over 100,000 persons in the US with GT2a 3.5% x 3.2 million
Please accept my apology and ignore any of this if it causes increased discomfort. Wish you success in achieving SVR with treatment.
Was the "weekend-long seminar in 1995." cult and/or religious related where people might be afraid to say something. A couple of years ago remember hearing something about a spiritual cleansing weekend where participants were in a hot sauna steam tent for a long time and someone or more? died The organizer was arrested and convicted.
"I also saw her doing the same to other people there" What was the reaction of people at the time this was occurring? With this happening to multiple people you would expect some to yell out and someone to try to restrain this woman and contact the police. Did you mention the incident to any of the seminar leaders after it happened?
I'm not sure about the laws in the state the seminar occurred in, but most likely the statue of limitations has expired.
This is a puzzling and troubling story and new to me.
Do you know if this type of "seminar" and the person in charge are still offering these? Don't provide specific brand name of seminar or real persons name here. Many time they will try to sue anyone speaking out for defamation.
"In the early 2000s it became known that people associated with those seminars had an unusually high prevalence of HCV" If this was a news story by a respected publication and is still available on line you could provide a link.
The the seminar name and/or persons involved could be googled along with "review" or "criticism" "bad" etc? Anyone who may be a victim of a preparator in the past could contract authorities if appropriate to offer help if related persons or organizations may have committed offences within the statue of limitations based on search results. .
Counseling related to adverse experiences can be helpful to some people.
I am GT2a & c According to recent statistics there may be over 100,000 persons in the US with GT2a 3.5% x 3.2 million
Please accept my apology and ignore any of this if it causes increased discomfort. Wish you success in achieving SVR with treatment.
OMG! What a nightmare, did they catch the lady and stop her? What was her intent I wonder? People are so in need of help mentally these days. I feel sorry for you and I can not add much medically, just want you to know you just need to focus on your Hep C and consider yourself blessed because it sounds like she out to do some damge to someone and thank God it was not you that day.
thanks for sharing your story. i have no real in put , and i know how things from the past can bother one for a long time…sorry you had that happen..if you do find some others , just the support/connection may help..then again if this said person was still out there doing this kind of stuff…ugh! .so long ago though..
good luck with your treatment!
your story reminded me of when i was in high school the "mean girls" stabbed me in my butt with a pen really hard while passing in the crowded hallway.. have not thought of that in 35 years…!
people are just so strange/mean sometimes…how the thought and action of harming someone for no reason is beyond me..
but then again i am naive ... a tree hugger flower child type
good luck with your treatment!
your story reminded me of when i was in high school the "mean girls" stabbed me in my butt with a pen really hard while passing in the crowded hallway.. have not thought of that in 35 years…!
people are just so strange/mean sometimes…how the thought and action of harming someone for no reason is beyond me..
but then again i am naive ... a tree hugger flower child type
Thank you for your reply. Yes, I am being treated, that's how I found out (again) my genotype. I'm seeing the doc in 3 weeks and will start the treatment prob. within a month after that.
Because this thing is finally coming to a close, this old story began to really bother me. I have not thought much about it before, but became almost obsessive lately.
What would you do in my place?
As for why? I guess it's a validation issue for me. I want to find those other women into whom she rammed her bag -- and each let out a loud yelp, it was very painful. I want to commensurate with them ..about a life that went downhill soon after that. About the frustration with constant fatigue and lack of motivation.. Lost job, cause I just could not maintain it.. Lost home.. Lost life.
It's coming to an end now. I am reading the SVR posts and looking forward to return of my life too. No more fatigue!
But this, I know, very strange and unlikely at the first glance story, is bothering me lately. I remember that woman well. What if I can find her other victims? What if we all have the same rare genotype? What if we all have the same little mark on the leg at the same height? What if we all remember that woman?
What should I do?
Because this thing is finally coming to a close, this old story began to really bother me. I have not thought much about it before, but became almost obsessive lately.
What would you do in my place?
As for why? I guess it's a validation issue for me. I want to find those other women into whom she rammed her bag -- and each let out a loud yelp, it was very painful. I want to commensurate with them ..about a life that went downhill soon after that. About the frustration with constant fatigue and lack of motivation.. Lost job, cause I just could not maintain it.. Lost home.. Lost life.
It's coming to an end now. I am reading the SVR posts and looking forward to return of my life too. No more fatigue!
But this, I know, very strange and unlikely at the first glance story, is bothering me lately. I remember that woman well. What if I can find her other victims? What if we all have the same rare genotype? What if we all have the same little mark on the leg at the same height? What if we all remember that woman?
What should I do?
I think this experience has stayed with you many years and I really don't think
anyone here can advise you on whether to drop it entirely or not.
What I would like to know is are you looking into treatment for your Hep C?
There are new meds available now that give you the best opportunity for a cure there has ever been. I think your priority should be to that at this time and then once you can put your Hep C behind you, then you can decide what you want to do about how you believe you got it in the first place.
Just my opinion.
Wishing you the best whatever way you go.
Nan
anyone here can advise you on whether to drop it entirely or not.
What I would like to know is are you looking into treatment for your Hep C?
There are new meds available now that give you the best opportunity for a cure there has ever been. I think your priority should be to that at this time and then once you can put your Hep C behind you, then you can decide what you want to do about how you believe you got it in the first place.
Just my opinion.
Wishing you the best whatever way you go.
Nan
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