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Talking about Hepatitis - To tel or not to tell?
I wanted to write this post because I have not seen this issue come up. It may have been talked about before I just haven't seen it. I was diagnosed with Hep C back almost a year ago. I just started a clinical trial last week. The issue I want to talk about is whether or not you should tell your friends, acquaintances that you have Hepatitis. I find the issue a little difficult to talk about really. All my family members know I have Hep C.
This forum is an easy place to talk about Hepatitis because that's what's it's for and the people who participate are most often diagnosed with Hepatitis. We don't have anything to hide here. Most of us on this forum have one thing in common, which is what leads us to this forum. There's no discrimination here. But in the real world trying to explain to someone you have Hepatitis is like a whole different issue. They don't really understand what Hepatitis is or how it works. They have preconceived notions that it can be contagious threw physical contact. There are a whole host of issues that the general public does not understand about this virus.
I have a friend ( It's really a group of friends)of mine that I told I had Hepatitis. I typically see this friend 6 or 7 times a year but since I have told him I have Hepatitis I have not seen him one time. I'm usually invited to party's and other events and not one time in the last year have I been invited to any events. It's like once this group of friends found out I had Hepatitis they just want to stay clear of me. I get the feeling that they seem to think if I come around that somehow they can be infected by me. So I still talk with them over the phone and stuff. I just haven't seen them in person. I also am a member of a club and I have been able to participate in club meetings up to this point but now that I am being treated for Hep C. The drugs are having a significant impact on my health and therefore may not be able to participate in club meeting as I would normally do. How do I explain this to them? I'm afraid that if I tell them I have Hepatitis that I would be discriminated against by at least some members. I could get kick out of the club altogether. I feel like some people will just look down on me and not want anything to do with me anymore. I've thought about telling them I have cancer instead of Hep C. I think they would be more sympathetic to the situation but then I would be living a lie which is something I don't like. I'm going to have to tell them something and I just don't like the idea of telling them I have Hep C. So I find this whole situation a bit difficult. Should I tell or shouldn't I? I know I can't be alone in this situation. I just wanted some feedback about how some of you handle this situation. I think it's a good topic to talk about and I think I would find it interesting to see what other forum members have to say about this subject.
Peace!
Keith
This forum is an easy place to talk about Hepatitis because that's what's it's for and the people who participate are most often diagnosed with Hepatitis. We don't have anything to hide here. Most of us on this forum have one thing in common, which is what leads us to this forum. There's no discrimination here. But in the real world trying to explain to someone you have Hepatitis is like a whole different issue. They don't really understand what Hepatitis is or how it works. They have preconceived notions that it can be contagious threw physical contact. There are a whole host of issues that the general public does not understand about this virus.
I have a friend ( It's really a group of friends)of mine that I told I had Hepatitis. I typically see this friend 6 or 7 times a year but since I have told him I have Hepatitis I have not seen him one time. I'm usually invited to party's and other events and not one time in the last year have I been invited to any events. It's like once this group of friends found out I had Hepatitis they just want to stay clear of me. I get the feeling that they seem to think if I come around that somehow they can be infected by me. So I still talk with them over the phone and stuff. I just haven't seen them in person. I also am a member of a club and I have been able to participate in club meetings up to this point but now that I am being treated for Hep C. The drugs are having a significant impact on my health and therefore may not be able to participate in club meeting as I would normally do. How do I explain this to them? I'm afraid that if I tell them I have Hepatitis that I would be discriminated against by at least some members. I could get kick out of the club altogether. I feel like some people will just look down on me and not want anything to do with me anymore. I've thought about telling them I have cancer instead of Hep C. I think they would be more sympathetic to the situation but then I would be living a lie which is something I don't like. I'm going to have to tell them something and I just don't like the idea of telling them I have Hep C. So I find this whole situation a bit difficult. Should I tell or shouldn't I? I know I can't be alone in this situation. I just wanted some feedback about how some of you handle this situation. I think it's a good topic to talk about and I think I would find it interesting to see what other forum members have to say about this subject.
Peace!
Keith
I think I totally screwed up and I have already told to many people. I don't think I realized what I was up against. Not having any experience at this and just trying to be honest with people I inadvertently said things to people thinking that they are my friends only to find out I was alienated after I told them. That totally *****. I guess you can really find out who your friends are when you tell then you have Hep C. I think I'm learning the hard way, which is very typical for me.
By the way Karaoke is FUN... It's funny sometimes to watch the drunks people get to the stage to sing... can be really funny to watch..LOL
Lynn
Lynn
I just told my immediate family of my HCV. If anyone asked why I didn't have my usual pep was due to the chemo drugs I was taking, and leave it at that. If I was pressed I said that it was a blood disorder and I had to take chemo drugs. I wouldn't got into it any more than that. Let them think what they wanted. At that time I really didn't care, of course this was during TX (I'm a Non-responder, never had a 2 log drop in 12 wks.). If people tried to push me I would completely change the subject, and would not let the conversation go back to my "disease".
You have to make your own choice of who to tell..
Good Luck
Lynn (tahoeunicorn)
You have to make your own choice of who to tell..
Good Luck
Lynn (tahoeunicorn)
If you want to keep a secret.....DO NOT TELL NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON ON THE PLANET....all it takes is one....and it may even be your own mother and a spouse....the only way to be sure no one knows is to tell NO ONE...and i mean no-one
I would not tell anyone except your spouse. Society still has not been educated on this disease and if you tell you will find yourself losing friends, family, jobs and even doctors / dentists !!! good luck
I know my around the machine...."welcome to the machine"....Pink Floyd...love that song
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