Hep B - social forum

[Peteshine]

Hi guys,

Just wanted to let you guys know i recently attended the first ever Hep B & C forum at our local hospital. Created for more help with questions and just being able to know there are others with the same plight.

Good idea but i don't think the event coulda started any worse for me....

The first sign of things to come was when i found out i was actually the only Hep B sufferer in the room of 30+.... There was nobody in there remotely near my age and it seemed a lot of them came to the meeting just for a good old moan... There was nothing positive about any single body in that room apart from me.... I so wanted to mention this forum and say how i found such positivity in everyone who has contributed on here...

The Hep C patients were not only moaning about the effects suffered when going on the interferon medication, they also complained about costs of parking their cars when picking up their medi (which you all might be aware is free in the UK thanks to the good ole' NHS system)..... There was also a lot of GP attacking in that they couldn't figure out why there GP wasn't clued up on HEP C.

In some ways i felt i could relate to their anger and annoyance but I believe one of the major steps of dealing with their illness is positivity.... Yes none of us want what we have but we have it nevertheless.... dealing with it mentally is the first step... then being able to be pro-active towards living is the 2nd...

It really enlightened me how a lot of sufferers still have not accepted what they have. This brings me to the point if you can't accept what you have how are u suppose to make strides for a better way of life....

Lastly do you even think it would be beneficial for me to go back to this group when i am the only one there with HBV and also the only positive one? Upon leaving, getting into my car and driving off i had time to reflect on my life with HBV from when i initially found out to the strong individual i have become...

Just a big thank you for all you big P people!

[zellyf]

Pete,

If its purely a support group then I'm not sure it is helpful if the group is not very positive.  If there is good information about the liver then, maybe you could get something out of it.  Hep B and Hep C are very different viruses with different progression.  

Thanks for the report!  As always, your contributions here are very appreciated and we're glad you're such an important part of our community.

[cajim]

Thanks for sharing.