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"?

[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.
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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.