Bills,

Thanks. I appreciate you sharing about the colorful past. At first my biggest fear was  being outed about my past. At some point it became more important to help others than guard my past. This, Hep C, is just too new to me. Looks like you live by the water. Wish I were in a warmer place. I am a missionary and currently serving in North Dakota. Its -16 degrees here. Lots of snow. Several years ago I dedicated my life to working with homeless and addicted people. I used to be homeless. There is some homelessness here but not much. Lots of alcoholism amd drug addiction. Im not sure how long God will have us here. Having a very hard time understanding why God would allow this after I have worked so hard for Him for so long.

Corvette Man

You have a colorful past. So do I  That last line keep your mouth shut  good one  ( tough love )  I agree you dont have to tell anyone. Try not to sweat it  Most people when arrested start explaining and dig a deeper hole exercise your right to remain silent  You can get this off your chest here.   Your health is more important than anything  It is scary very scary  With all the overcoming I see here you have a great track record  I know you can do this. Many here have been there I have too. I wish I knew about this forum several years ago It would have saved me a ton of sleepless nights your going to be OK  

To all of you:

I  am so appreciative of all the good advice. I know some of you sincerely desire to educate others and relieve the stigma associated with Hep C. I wish I were strong enough to take this cause on. I am not able to at this time. I am still in shock and still filled with immense fear and sadness. I have had many a stigma to overcome. "alcoholism and drug addiction 20years clean and sober", "child abuse survivor", "ex-felon / re-entry into society", I earned a B.S. in business and graduated with honors in spite of having a learning disability that made me quit school after 9th grade. In short, I have lived a very hard life filled with many obstacles to overcome and I am absolutely wore out. I just got to a point where I can earn a living and now "This, Hep C"? Really? Talk about a faith shaker. Please bear with me. The day may come when I can be more open with this, but not yet. I am thankful that there are people who are strong enough to carry the banner for this cause. 'As for me: I am still trying to figure things out like 1. What is Dragon poison? 2. What is fire in the hole?

I hope a do not seem petty or little because of my selfish fear. So far, you guys are the only ones besides my wife that knows. Its lonely.

Vette Man

As my Irish grandmother would say.....weesh to ya. Which means keep your mouth shut.....lol  It's nobody's business but yours. You know you can't give it to anyone unless it's blood to blood so I wouldn't worry about it.

On a lighter note, I've wanted to fire myself many times but I was never successful.

Iris,

Thanks. Being the business owner, I would have to fire myself. I do have to worry about my clients firing me. Could be catastrophic.

Vette Man

Nothern,

Are you a nurse? I appreciate your honesty with your trusted co-workers. As a haircutter, I am rarely with people I know well enough to trust and Oh how people like to gossip in small communities. It would destroy my business and the only way I have to support my family. I wish I did not have to deal with this. I can even begin to tell you how bad this hurts. I wish I could be more open. I feel like the worst minister ever. I am ashamed. The thing is, I have to take my wife and her security to heart. I have shed many a tear over this.

At the Christmas party yesterday  (  someone I didnt tell  ) pulled me away and looking in my eyes asked So how are you?  going to be ok?  It really touched me as I dont have regular interaction with him. Some people genuinely care and they stand out. Other people dont know what to say and are afraid of saying the wrong thing so they don't. I dont think worst of them I understand that. Ill let them talk if they want to on their time. But in all cases I answer very little. I just accept their concerns tell them Im fine and change the subject. I can't imagine getting into the fire in the hole and rashes and I don't want to preach how terriable this is. Sympathyty is the last thing I want from them. 

Hi Jim, I don`t see why not and maybe the best way to approach it would be for you or someone else to start a `recovery room` type thread, maybe in the members only `Between Ourselves` section or here in `General Discussion`.   How does that sound?  ~ Jill

I hear you Phil. In that setting I'm very open about it but not at work. 

I think we need a "room" on this site. This place seems to be crawling with people like us. What do the moderators think of that idea? 

I told no one at work. I told my immediate family (wife and kids). They needed to know as there was a chance I had infected them, and they would have noticed anyway. And I told virtually all of my friends. Note though that most of my friends are in the rooms of recovery. A fair number of those would respond "Me too".

I pretty much told everybody, and some of the reactions were a little ignorant. But the vast majority were very understanding, and I could tell the people knew somethng about the virus and how it can be spread. They weren't afraid of me and were very helpful on my bad days. But this would not be right for everybody. I was lucky to have such good friends and family.

Alan

Telling other is a very personal decision to make. When I first found out(1994) I only told my now-wife and very close family. But over time word spreads, and now pretty much everyone I'm close to knows. I dont try to hide it now, no shame here, but I dont brag about it either. Through the years i've come to find that a lot of the people i know, either have or know some one else who has hep c, unfortunally we're not in a very exclusive club. My wife's sister and mother are also married to men with hep c, so i'm guessing there are a bunch of us out there.

People who are ignorant (meaning they just don't possess knowledge as opposed to being stupid) fear the Hepatitus word.  They may be vaguely aware that there are different types but they don't know that they're unrelated or what the differences are.  Mainly it's about contagion.  So you can either educate them or not tell them.  Some people are not worth the effort to educate.  For those, if you need to share anything, tell them liver disease.  Avoid the words hepatitus and virus.

Got pos blood result for hep C in 2002 I kept the secret for about 6 years  only direct family Then 2008 sought treatment a few more were told

My 3 rd treatment July 2012 I had to tell a few people at work  I have a problem and needed to to take leave  I only said Cirrhosis and liver damage  The words hep c never came out there except to my cousin His wife is a Trauma RN    I was a very hard thing to talk about with my co workers, supervisors, HR and owners of the company  etc

Since I let 60% of the truth out  I figure wait and see how the news spreads It did but I don't care anymore I don't say Hep C just liver disease and cirrhosis It's up to them to figure it out  If they don't understand and want to run go ahead. I can't run from this virus so I won't chase them. It is reliving to not be hiding and making excuses anymore      I can tell who is sincerely concerned about how I'm doing from the nosey ones all that matters now is staying UND

I have the people I trust and care  and I have this forum  I'v had a change of attitude    I'll " TRY"  to be happy and content what ever happens. I don't need or want the negitive people running my life with whispers and looking at me It sheds light on them for what they are. I 'm hopeful to stay UND  later to ones who run are nosey or gossip they are only in my way.

 i'm not adviseing anyone to tell just telling my story as it applied to me

I don't think you need to tell clients about HCV. I told a lot of people. HCV and treatment need to come out of the closet and get rid of the stigma of being a "bad" thing. If people ask me how I got it, I tell them "bad choices when I was younger" or "I don't know." (Depends on how well I know the person.)Like Jill, when I tell people about HCV and the treatment that I am undergoing, they are very understanding and do not run away from me screaming.

Vette Man: Tell the nuns in confidence. They will not share but could be a great support system for you.

Just my opinions.

Thank you for the insite everyone. This is extremely difficult for me. I have two nurses in my church that have been asking very direct questions. Although liver cancer sounds scary, it explains the chemotherapy and the side effects. I wish people were not so judgemental and ignorant. I really do not know the people well enough to decide I can trust them yet. I know I will have to figure this out but I was hoping someone had a good explaination that would not make people feel like I have HIV or the plague.

I am so happy however that I have found a group of people that I can, "just be me" with. Thank you for that.

Vette Man

I went through the same thing. I told a select few in my family. I didn't tell my son because of his ignorant wife(didnt want to risk not seeing granddaughter) and didn't tell my two best friends. There seems to be more sympathy if it is some kind of cancer then HCV. Best of luck my friend.

Sensitive point. All of my friends (incl some close collegues) are aware am on  HCV tx. Am still going to the office every day, a bit relaxed schedule due to X'mas lull soon.

You are right, many are ignorant and there is no need for them even to be aware. Ignorance creates monsters.

For the rest, who notice I am pale, fatigue, not sharp on schedule, but with whom I do not want to share, - I just undergo gastroentherological medication course. Period. Enough to explain.

Hi Robert, as Iris said this has been discussed many times before and you`ll find that most of us have had to decide on the best way forward with this issue at some point, especially where work is concerned.  I would beware of telling anyone you have liver cancer though as that could sound very scary, although some people do say they`re having a course of chemo and that`s often enough to satisfy people like work colleagues without having to go into any more detals. 

Personally I only told a few close friends and family before and during tx, although it was much easier for me because I wan`t working.  But after it was all over I was so relieved to have cleared the virus that I did tell a lot more people and was pleasantly surprised at how well they took it on board. 

Best of luck, I`m sure you`ll have plenty more replies,  Jill xx

Ps - I`m moving this thread to the General Discussion section.

Hi Gang,

I am really having a hard time telling others what is going on with me. I am afraid I will scare people away by telling the truth. I dont want people to think I do not trust them as friends. I would almost rather people think I have liver cancer which would explain the chemo therapy. Since my job requires me to touch people, it could negatively affect my only income. I will not be having sex with them or sharing needles so they are safe, but people are really paranoid and ignorant. I am very confused about what to do with this. I think this is my first problem to solve so I will be able to keep an income and a support network.

Hi Robert, This a topic that comes up frequently, and basically it boils down to, tell who you can,( that is ...who you know your secret will be safe with) but that might not be everyone. I don't think you have to tell everyone at work, save for maybe a supervisor, so they know what they can, and maybe won't be able to expect of you. It would be against the law for them to fire you. If you think you are in danger of that...then I wouldn't say anything. Or if they did fire you...you might be able to sue the pants off of em! See how things progress before you blurt anything out. Best wishes dear, Iris