method of aquisition

[ram921]

I notice many people being very specific in how they contracted Hepatitis C virus. Like, " contracted through transfusion", or,"needle stick accident-healthcare pro," or whatever. Is those individuals' disease somehow different from, "cross-contaminated tattoo ink", or "used drugs intravenously"? I thought we were all in the same boat.Perhaps a separate forum- "Their own fault", and, "victims of"?

[jmjm530]

Perceptive comment. The HCV stigma is all pervasive.

[jdwithhcv]

Yes, very perceptive.  Glad you brought it up.  I notice it too and it makes me nuts.

jd

[Isobella]

Wow.  Well said.

isobella

[desrt]

There is one difference.
Those who got it through transfusion never had the 20% chance to clear it on their own. Transfusion related cases never clear spontaneously.

[mremeet]

I don't think there's anything wrong or morally corrupt with people who contracted HCV through drug use or through contaminated tattoo needles. I also don't think there's anything wrong with people mentioning however they got HCV (either in their posts or in their profiles). I think it's informative, just like any other personal tidbits they wish to offer. And if members wish to share that info - what does it matter?

And what brand of cigarettes do you smoke? Is that a Chimpsterfield I see? ;-)

[fretboard]

Oh I smoke Marlboro. lol  I put it out front when I first joined this forum that I got HepC thru IVDU.  I did that for two reasons, actually there's probably more than two reasons, but here I go.  Number one, was if anyone here didn't want an ex-drug addict on their forum and wanted to keep the IV part out of it then I wanted to know that, coming into the forum.  Number two reason was, I did alot of work on myself to get 5 yrs. clean and I am super proud of myself, so whenever I get the chance to blow my own horn about being clean, I will blow that horn loudly.  The last reason I mentioned how I got infected was to show any youth reading that shooting dope is serious, I actually know one person who shot dope once, and ended up HepC positive.  I don't know what the big deal is about mentioning IVDU, transfusion, violence, rape.  It doesn't matter that's only how we think we got it, it doesn't mean that's actually how we got infected.  I had a transfusion in 1982, I had my ear pierced when I was 15, nothing is definite with HepC so I don't see it matters if you mention it or not.  Another thing to keep in mind is that nobody I know, knows that I'm even a member of this forum, except my wife.  
God Bless  

[ram921]

The chimp was forced to quit when his enablers abandoned him.  I don't know about any of his other life-style choices, so he may or may not have HepC.  I don't think he is a health care professional.  I may be wrong.  I won't offer any judgments -positive or negative-about anyone's morality except my own, and I think that shooting drugs is self-abuse, and  immoral in nature.  -Physical risks aside, I think the act corrupts the spirit, is devoid of self-respect, and perpetuates sickness.  Hence-immoral behavior. As an afterthought, it's also illegal. But that's OK. People are only human,after all. Unless they're a chimp.  That used to smoke.  I think It'd be naive if I believed people stated the way they contracted HepC as a simple offer of information, but it's a kind thought.  Plausible, but unlikely. Fretboard makes a good point- I don't know for sure how I got It- innocently, or through recklessness, but of this I am certain: I sure didn't mean to .

[Isobella]

I don't know about alll that monkey business, but I think that we are just one big group of people who don't want to have HepC.

Fret-I have always been a fan of your honesty. Hep isn't the first battle you have fought and WON, and you deserve to be proud of yourself....I sure am!  :-)

Back in the day....Virginia Slims Regular

[ram921]

Of course you're right. It's merely mental masturbation, anyway.  Something to write about.  Filler.  Like existentialism- distracting and fun to talk about, but in the end it's just bull---t.

[Trish77]

I've never really seen any prejudice here with regards to how people got their HCV or think they got it because very few people can actually pinpoint it so maybe the ones actually saying where they got it are the few who have been able to nail it down.  I don't see it mentioned a whole lot other than in context in a discussion, which is the only time I bring it up myself here and the only time I really see it being discussed by anyone..  

I do think we all operate pretty much like we're all in this together and if anyone ASKS someone how they got their Hep C, they pretty much get told that ain't cool.  I don't see anybody asking someone else how they got their Hep C before offering any support and I'm thinking maybe you're reading a little much into it on this forum.

Trish

[medicmommy]

Personally, I'm wearing getting the hep c from a needle stick as a badge. Even though I was careful, I got it anyway. I'm trying to spread awareness and education, particularly amongst my medical peers, that this is NOT just an IV drug user's disease...Anyone can get it. It can be found in healthy looking young people or cute old ladies...Or your next door neighbor. It is a disease to be respected, but not feared...and it is not necessarily a death sentence. I thought I was well informed about Hep C before I got it. Turns out, I didn't know squat. -and I'm a Paramedic. Did you know most medical manuals list IV drug use and blood transfusions as the ONLY means of transmission? The more aware and better informed people are, the less teeth the stigma has, and the better care hep C patients will get...It shames me greatly to see and hear patients getting care grudgingly instead of freely, and being treated like lepers just because of this stupid stigma. Not everyone is going to know how or when they got it. I'm fortunate that I know because it alleviated a lot of anxiety...I was a regular blood donor in the 1980s and early 90's...A "Galloneer"...that's a lot of  blood...(Turns out I was screened for hep antibodies in 1999, just before I had my child)...So, how doesn't matter, but when does....Sorry if this puts anyone on the defensive...                                        ~Melinda

[eureka254]

Well, if there WERE 2 forums: "Did it to myself" and "victim of," I'd simply add both forums and maximize my information seeking -- my rationale would be, gee whiz, after all, my husband ENLISTED in the corps, so he qualifies for both. ;)  Maybe like medicmommy, I'm pinning a badge of sorts on him -- I do feel that getting wider attention requires realization from the "general populace" that being drug-free does NOT make you immune.  My perhaps ineffectual contribution at raising awareness.

The irony is that though we all (I hope!) try not to judge based on age, gender, and race, this disease forces discrimination on us, doesn't it?  We are told about the chances of cure based on these measures.  And our discussions, though based on commonality of being affected one way or another by this virus, are based on distinctions:  genotype, stage, grade, etc.  Our need to discriminate is human -- it's our ability not to let it prejudice us that is the challenge that's up to each of us to meet.
Good post, ram... and lots of great responses, too.

Trying to put the Camels down for good,
~eureka

[virgocharm]

i aplaud you

[rita863]

Listen we are one with hep.  I think the only reason it should be mentioned is to educate,and thats if someone asks.  I dont think any less of a ivdu or myself.  I married the ivdu and i probally got from pulling the works from him and poking myself. or i used a tooth brush, or a nail clipper.  or i am in the 1% of sexual transmitted.  either way it doesnt matter.  i am someone who has hep and is treating and needs help to get through.  thats the bottom line.    i dont judge anyone on how they got it.  i just want to educate if i can.

now if i can only quit smoking....

peace
rita

[fretboard]

This forum is great in that most of the ppl on here look at it only one way, and that's that we are all in the same boat no matter how you got it.  Unfortunately in the outside world the stigma is alive and kickin' hard.  They don't only look at people like me who got it thru IV, but included in that is accidental needlesticks and infected thru a contaminated vial, those are still considered routes of IV technically.  On another note, my doctor used the following method in guessing when I got infected.  "many experts estimate the length of exposure to HCV in drug users by subtracting one year from the total number of lifetime years of needle use".  It took me way back to 1968 which I thought was ridiculous.  I had HepA when I was 16 or 17.  In 1972 or 73 I had a pain on my right side, my Mother took me to the emergency room.  This is the time period that I believe I got infected and I was in my acute phase.  I know when I got infected, not the exact day but at least right around the same time.  The doctor at the ER prescribed me Donnatal at the time, said I had a tenderness around my liver area, but assured my Mother that it wasn't my appendix.  I just wanted to clear the air, that I have a very good idea when I was actually infected.  Again, I am now clean and much appreciative that the forum has accepted me as just another forum member.  God Bless

[debnevada]

i think everyone should post everything they feel comfortable posting here.  in the end, we are in the same boat, but hearing the variations in everyones stories teaching everyone something about...um....everyone.....

gawd, that sounded lame, but of course....post tx....i am mentally lame...hee hee

[meakea]

"Those who got it through transfusion never had the 20% chance to clear it on their own."

This is interesting - I hadn't read that before.  I'd tell you why I find it interesting but then I'd have to tell you that I got my Hep C from a transfusion and that might upset the apple cart...so I won't mention it.  :)

[Lady Lauri]

Eureka....Our need to discriminate is human -- it's our ability not to let it prejudice us that is the challenge that's up to each of us to meet..........
Fabulous comment!

Medimommy....good post.

Ram, any...........
Good post. I'll try not to drag this out, there is a method to my madness :)......

Ran away at barely 16, quit school, hitchhiked west. We THINK I got HCV during my drug experimenting  years as a 'street kid'. I was a 'good girl' that tried about every drug out there and was even a virgin when I tried heroin, thru most of that time!  Somehow ......I never got addicted to anything (cept cigs!!) By 20 I knew it was not the life for me, became extremely anti drug and , well, see my profile! I lived in that world, saw a LOT, left many I cared about to leave it behind me, got diploma, raised 3 sons and so on.  That said.....since my hep dx in May 06 I have told many how we THINK I got it, they were shocked but only in ...I'm so dam anti they can't believe I did it. Not once has anyone judged me in a negative way and actually applauded me in getting away from /out of it all. And right now, I applaud you, Fret and anyone else for that same thing, getting out of that world, getting clean. While I never had to fight the addiction part, just walking away from that whole lifestyle was DAM hard, many things to change so I wear THAT badge proudly, and so should anyone else here that got HCV from IV use and got clean. Anyone still trying to get clean, I assure you all or most here will gladly support and welcome you here in that fight and in OUR HCV fight.  

  All that said.....Moa, Alagirl  wears a badge of one kind,  medicmommy of another and so on but we ALL have a HCV 'badge' in this. I am proud to show mine, be proud of yours :) I have not seen prejudice here in this and I do believe we all (most) are wise enough and humble enough to admit that we have all made (many) mistakes in our life's, albeit not the same mistakes.  I understand how you may feel that when a person say's 'transfusion', etc. it is like stating  'NOT IV use', but I really don't think that's the case HERE. I may not walk into work or a party and say 'I used to do drugs'....but here…. I will, never feeling looked down upon. (and God bless anyone in the outside world that does that to me as they always end up being the one looked down upon before the conversation is done! Yes, it has happened 'out here'.)

I truly hope no one here or that comes here ever feels less important or less of a person due to how they got HCV. I COULD have gotten it from sweat shop nail salons also, but as I did use IV drugs….I’ll always be labeled that in that stats.

Good thread as we can clear this up for people here that may feel as you do.
And VERY happy for you in conquering addiction.

On to conquering these dam Marlboro’s  :(

LL

[Lady Lauri]

Dam , so much for not long and .....Hep dx in May 07....not 06, not that it matters :) dx, bx, tx all in one year!

[Trish77]

It seemed to me the thread was started based on how people identify themselves in these forums and at least my own comment was directed at that.

Interesting discussion on if we have stigmatism within our own Hep C community.

Identification outside of these forums, badges or otherwise, is a whole other discussion!

[Isobella]

This thread has really made me think about  why I am so scared to tell anyone about my diagnosis.  One friend even said---what, do you have AIDS or something???? That didn't even bother me enough to admit that I have HepC.  (not that there is anything wrong with having AIDS-a virus is a virus)

In just the few days I have been on tx, I can feel my vise-like grip on my big fat secret loosening.  I can almost understand why people come out and admit it AFTER tx. Why that makes sense---I don't know.

I think I have a stigmatism against myself.  

Maybe that is what the eye doctor has been meaning all these years when he said I had an (a)stigmatisim.  (I can't believe I said that----thank y'all for putting up with my weird humor this morning!!!)

Bottom line is that this thread got me to thinking...no small task these days.

[FlGuy]

Thinking and tx'ing are not compatible.  You need to give up one of them.  Good luck on your continuing treatment.

[Isobella]

ACK!! One more thing to think about---think I'll stick with tx'ing for a while.

Thanks!

Izzy

[jmjm530]

Iso: I think I have a stigmatism against myself.
----------------------------------------
I think that's one of the main points being discussed. It's always  seemed a little presumptuous to me, that just because we have Hep C, that we are somehow immune from the prejudices and stigmas of the general population. Related, I've always thought that one  important reason people treat -- not everyone --
is because of this predjudice/stigma they don't want to be associated with. I see this as unfortunate because it's a tough enough decision anyway without having to factor in how other people may look at us.