HFA = Hep Forum Anonymous

Hi, my name is Aiuta and I'm a... Hep Forum addict. I just wanted to come clean; I stayed up all night reading the Archives. Among others, I've read from kalio, cuteus, jmjm, mkeela, nygirl, SFbaygirl, Forseegood, Susan400, GrandmA, Mr. Beagle Bailey (I'm SO sorry about your recent disappointment, I didn't know & can't imagine). I've learned more about Vertex, Procrit, sx of tx and other Hepatic abbreviations than had I spent hours w/a Dr.  I've read your arguments, jokes and banter; all are charming. The exchanges are not always Pollyann-esque, but what real-life group of diverse, thinking individuals is?  There is truth, disappointment, suffering, as well as hope and help, here.  It's beautiful.  Hanging out with you all is not a bad place to be spending my owl hours. I feel grateful and privileged to be a part of this Forum and of your lives. Thank you.  

Well, it's almost 7am out here in California and I think I'll try to get some much needed winks.  Again thank you for keeping me company, entertaining AND informing me this night.  I'm a better person for it, as well as a happier one (staying up all night is a last ditch efforts of my psychiatrist to reduce depression, since lack of sleep can induce hypomania).  

All my best,

Aiuta

P.S.  I have a question. I was looking to google some famous Hep C sufferers for some added inspiration this evening, but couldn't find the "Celebrities" posting.  Does anyone remember that thread?  I think it was posted in July or August. If it was removed, would the MedHelp staff consider re-posting it?

[azgrl]

GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:
1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.

GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:
1) Raising teenagers is like nailing Jell-O to a tree.
2) Wrinkles don't hurt.
3) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD
1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:
1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus.
4) You look like Santa Claus.

SUCCESS:
At age   4 success is . . not peeing in your pants.
At age 12 success is . . having friends.
At age 16 success is . . having a drivers license.
At age 35 success is . . having money.
At age 50 success is . . having money.
At age 70 success is . . having a drivers license.
At age 75 success is . . having friends.
At age 80 success is . . not peeing in your pants.

hahahahaha....I'm 32 and it's still a good day if I don't pee my pants......no jump rope for this girl.  Oh wait...I'm 33...see even my mind is going.

deb in az

[azgrl]

FW: Andy Rooney admires women over 40

As I grow in age, I value women who are over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, "What are you thinking?" She doesn't care what you think.

If a woman over 40 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it's usually something more interesting.

Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it.  

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40.

Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk or if you are acting like one!  You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons.  Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of 40+, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year-old waitress.

Ladies, I apologize. For all those men who say, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?"  Here's an update for you:  Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage. Why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire pig, just to get a little sausage.

[azgrl]

Subject: dumb hillbillies


Three Hillbillies are sitting on a porch shootin' the breeze

1st Hillbilly: "My wife sure is stupid!...She bought an air conditioner."

2nd Hillbilly: "Why is that stupid?"

1st Hillbilly: "We ain't got no 'lectricity!"

2nd Hillbilly: "That's nothin'! My wife is so stupid, she bought one of them new fangled warshin' machines!"

1st Hillbilly: "Why is that so stupid?"

2nd Hillbilly: "Cause we ain't got no plummin'!"

3rd Hillbilly: "That ain't nuthin'! My wife is dumber than both yer wifes put together! I was going through her purse the other day lookin' fer some change, and I found 6 condoms in thar."

1st and 2nd Hillbillies: "Well what's so dumb about that?"

3rd Hillbilly: "She ain't got no ******."

deb in az

[cuteus]

check the url I found above, Ray charles is in there with hep c, interesting. I guess an MD can find more things than we can!
hope you are feeling great lately!

[sfbaygirl]

Glad you are here. I am sure reading those archives had you laughing and crying. That is what is so good about this forum, we can have fun and talk about serious stuff. With the tx being so long, we get to know about one another too.

Hope you are starting to feel better. I think it was a great idea to hang out here instead of dwelling on all the stuff you are dealing with.

I was thinking the other day about your statement about not having children and while I still don't know if my x was bipolar (I think so, but he is dead now) I am SO glad I had them. One son is a senior at Berkeley, working full time, raising a family and owns two homes. NO bipolar. The other son is in prison, is bipolar, but he is still the sweetest kid (27). I can't imagine imagine my life without them. Of course, I am no expert on genetics, but I would talk to someone who is before making such a tough decision.

[MrsOckert]

I remember the thread your talking about, but not the title.  I don't think the title was celebrities.

I've learned a lot from reading the archives, too.  Very interesting stuff.

A couple goes to the doctor cause they just can't remember anything anymore.  Doctor says "I'm sorry.  It's just your age.  I can't give you anything for it.  You'll just have to start writing stuff down to help you remember".

Later that night husband decides he wants a bowl of ice cream.  Wife says "ooooh, I want one, too.  But put strawberries on mine.  You better write this down."

Husband: I don't need to write that down.  I'll remember.  Ice Cream and strawberries.

Wife: Whipped cream, too.  Ice Cream, strawberries and whipped cream.  You better write this down.

Husband: would you stop worrying I'm not going to forget.

Husband goes to kitchen and is gone a long time.  Comes back and hands wife a plate of bacon and eggs.

Wife says "You forgot the toast".

[cuteus]

your post reminds me of one forum member who started the thread asking for help because she was addicted to the forum. Amerabrit, from upstate NY. treated her acute infection and is now SVR. there is one celebrity for you!
I am glad you found this lifeline called MH.  In its 10 plus yrs it has helped many here.

look what i found just now! why stop with hep c?  check how old Eddie Albert was when he died! and Evil Knievel's disease
http://www.westnet.com/~ds/cgh.html

[friole]

funny post.  I think I copies the celebs - let me look....

yep - here they be..... and I bet this is just a fraction of those infected.  Funny that the stigma is still there, even with musicians known to be IVDU...................


Celebrities with hepatitis C, according to news reports:

[tonybuck]

Hello hope everthing is going well. How did your issue with the rescue drugs turnout? I remember posting about sx in my first month and you had asked if I was on a ad. I was put on 75mg. ellexor after my first shot. Well that just a little history What I want to share is that last week I was taking either motrin or tylenol almost daily for discomfort. I went to the doc on monday for routine labs and right out of the blue he ups my ad. to 150mg(he must of been a mind reader). This week I have not had to take no motrin or tylenol. Along with starting to take ambien about two weeks ago and starting to get rest I have been doing better.I have never been a good judge of diagnosing myself with depression. So if that little tweak in meds helps make it a little more bearable than thank God for that. Take Care. I am on shot 20 of 48 and und. at 12 weeks. If I remember right you are around shot 22 or 23?

[Forseegood]

forgot one thing (and there are many others) maybe you have a garden? or a place for a garden? Or a community planting place, perhaps where you could garden with others? that's very good for depression, working with your hands in any way, and seeing what you've done, thowing pots, etc...just trying to come up with some stuff for ya, maybe you do some of these things already...there is even volunteer stuff you could do from your home computer if youre not up to going out...

[aiuta]

Thanks so much for your post.  It really helped me.  Now, after having read the archives, I feel I know you a bit better too.  Unless my memory has been over-INTERFEREoned and I'm mixing up my stories, I am wondering how things are going with your step-daughter.  That sounded like a very difficult situation.  

I really appreciated what you said about your other children and how glad you are you've had them.  Having children has been an issue for me for some time now.  The bipolar II, rather than I, label does console me a bit, but still, I know the likelihood of me having a child with at the least a mood disorder is higher than average.  This is something I will have to continue to think about, as well as talk to a lot of other people about, before doing.  

I have worked with children a lot in my life, most recently directing elementary school kids in a play as well as being a nanny to two beautiful children, aged 10 and 6.  These experiences have been very fulfilling to me and have increased my desire to be a mom.  And then there is the biological clock, which I don't care what anyone says, DOES exist... at least in me.  I was 24 when they officially diagnosed me with bipolar II, even though dr's had suspected as such since I was 17.  With my diagnosis in-hand, and still in my mid-20's, I always thought I'd be very happy to be an Aunt who spoiled her nieces and nephews.  I am an Aunt 3x over today, but I swear, when I turned 29 and 30, it was like something clicked within me and I had such a desire to have my own children.  I am a product of a divorced and remarried family though, and that, in addition to the bipolar diagnosis, maintains the brakes firmly tightened in this area.  Of course, having a boyfriend would help too... though after my most recent experience, girls are beginning to look better and better... JUST KIDDING.  I love men and I would insist on having one with me as a partner (not just a donor) if I were to one day raise children.  

Did I understand correctly that you also experienced a sexual assault?  If so, I am so sorry.  Can I ask how long it took you to feel like you got over it, or did you ever?  Did it take a long time to trust men again--in a more romantic or intimate way?  

On a lighter note though--because I do think it's best not to spend more collective time in the mire than I already do on my own--THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU SAID IN YOUR POST.  I really appreciated what you wrote about your children.  I think it's so cool that you have so much love for them BOTH.  Even if I end up adopting or not having my OWN (biological) children, I will always feel that being a caregiver to children is one of life's great gifts.  Have a great day, SFbaygirl, and thank you again for your help and support.  Most sincerely, Aiuta

[painterlady13]

I too must admit I am addicted to the hep c forum....   Oh well if that is the only thing I can lay claim to being addicted to I'LL TAKE IT!!!!!   BTW all since I know of no where else here to post it My 19 year old son graduated from Army Boot camp this morning. and while I couldn't be there for him I know that my brother was.  I am so proud of this kid he fought to bring up grades in school to be able to join and now he has been successful.

[tonybuck]

Glad to hear you got a reprieve. I believe my job is working into a benifit for tx. I live on the high school grounds along with working fulltime as the day utillity worker I am also the campus resident who secures and keeps watch over the school on off hours, holidays an such. One of my responsibillities is to open the school up in the morning. It takes about a hour of walking a around shutting off alarms, opening doors, raising the flags,making newspaper deliveries, and such.That responsibillty to make sure everthing is ready for when students and staff arrive gets me up and gets the blood and medicine moving. I am also able to take breaks when the sx are overwhelming such as loss of breath, sweats, and fatigue.
       Everthing blew over quickly with the concerned employees.Allot of the promblem was the way I let it affect me. I lived in denial of this disease for so long that I never dealt with it.Once on tx. I began to be honest, I have benifitted from that honesty. Take Care

[Forseegood]

wow, what interesting posts! Just wanted to say, I know I am kind of an anomaly, but I never really "wanted" to have children, the desire was never really there...don't mean to say I don't "like" children, they are wonderful in soup!!! (of course, just kidding, an old WC Fields line) it just never occured to me, and I was fine without them....when people told me that I would regret it when I was old, I would tell them that I hope to be traveling and climbing the "Great Wall" or something when I'm old, whattya talking about?


Course, another line from John Lennon, life happens to you when youre busy making other plans...I became aware of a teenage girl who used to live in my building (when she was little I would get her collector Barbie Doll dresses that she liked a lot) that didn't really have a good place to go...both her parents are alcoholics/drug addicts that were raising her very badly...her mother just kind of "gave" her to me...raising her was cutting into her drinking time...

So I took her in and it's been one of the best things I have done in my life, if not the best...She's a junior in high school now and she's much more well adjusted then anyone would think, given her background...they said she had "leaning disabilities" which now I can see are mostly psychological...bad habits due to low self esteem that we both have been working on, now she really likes learning....but she's far from perfect, my big hope is to just get her through high school and focused on computer graphics (something she show promise in)..I make mistakes, a lot in the beginning, but we're muddling on through...

If you are childless (which might mean that you have the time) I recommend getting into big brothers or big sisters, or an organization like that who have kids that just need an adult to take them on an outing when they can...or to spend the day with them when you can...you can do this with foster kids in group homes as well in certain programs...or donate time to a non-profit organization, an animal org, etc...to me the big trick with depression and things like that is getting out of one's head, and nothing helps like helping someone else...just a suggestion or two, and only if youre up to it...be well...

[aiuta]

Thanks so much for re-posting that celeb thread.  I really appreciate it.  I just discovered how to access the Forum Archives back to '96.  Between the list of celebs I now have to google (thanks to you) and the 10-year old Archives, I forsee many future sleepless nights followed by depression-free tomorrows.  Thanks again, friole : )  Aiuta

[aiuta]

What a cool story about the young lady you are raising.  I've always liked that John Lennon quote.  Another spin I've heard, though more religious, is "people make plans and G-d laughs".  Of course this could mean that the plans some Higher Power has for me could be better than my own, but my naturally negatively- geared mind tends to think it means G-d is sinister and will mess up MY (great) plans.  That kind of thinking is the real laugh.  I appreciate your posts, forseegood.  When I was going through the archives, I paid extra attention when I saw a post with your name attached.  Alright, I have spent WAY to long on this Forum, and I really do need to get to work.  Ciao for now.  Aiuta

[friole]

az - thanks for the jokes.  Hows the nether regions toady?

cutie - quite an awesome list.  How could Eddie Albert be 99?  Amazing how many were termed morbidly obese? Just goes to show, money doesn't buy health.

aiuta - this is a beautiful thread.  I have cruised the archives too many a time.  It is kind of fun because you can go back to the treatment times of those who are now done.  Still there is just too much to look at. I am sure like forsee (?) said, your life will happen while you are making plans.

[sfbaygirl]

Yes, I am on 22/48. The rescue drug issue has worked out. I got a reprive for a week! Then I may have to bite the bullet and get the shots, but even a week extra without pain is good!

You know I have had somatic pain awhile back. This is caused by emotions and is real. When the emotional problems were helped, by AD's or therapy, the pains disapeared. It is amazing what our minds can do. I am really glad you are getting relief.

How is work? I can't imagine doing your job on tx. That is really physically demanding. As a former teacher, I know how much work you do. Hope things are better at work with that incident. I assume it has calmed down?

[sfbaygirl]

Wow, you did read those archives. I have forgotten everything I have posted about my life. Sometimes I think about making a chart for people here, so I can remember details of things they posted a while back. Still think it would be good, but I can't seem to get the energy to do it.

I was raped twice and didn't get help until the second time. I had the guy put in jail (he had been in San Quintin for 5 rapes previously) they let him out, because they said I could have gotten away. Ridiculous. I felt raped by the system all over again. I was so freaked, I ended up drinking and sent my kids away. I was afraid he would come back. Ended up going to rehab for a month and therapy several times a week. After five years, I felt SO much better about myself. I learned how to not blame myself to live again. I went back to school and got my teaching credential. I believe when I was attacked by a parent and then students years later it brought back my PTSD that I am dealing with now. I have a hard time going places alone anymore. I am fighting to get my power back by sueing the school district. I don't expect much, except pay, but just doing this has helped my self esteem doing something about it.

My step daughter (16) is in boot camp in Utah. She was a mess,  still is. I believe she is bipolar I (her mothers side) and has boderline personality. She has improved after 3 years there and hundreds of thousands of dollars, but I don't think we will ever have a good relationship until she's in her thirties with anyone. She is a spoiled brat and when she has such entitlement issues, refuses to follow rules or respect me in my own house, I can't deal. I have tried and tried. Now, esp. on tx, I can't put up with this anymore and have to stick up for myself. Her dad and mother coddle her, which doesn't help, and IMO feed her disrespect for me. She will be home in Dec. and I sure hope we don't have the repeat of what has gone on in the past...we'll see. My 11 y/o step daughter is a sweetie. She has her moments, as she doesn't get the disapline she needs from her mother and father. I tend to run a tight ship here. No kid is going to scream at me or disrespect me and must help clean up their messes. She doesn't have to at Mom's and John doesn't see it and wants to comfort her when I make her clean up. He steals her struggle, IMO. Anyway, this is a biggy for us, as John and I have differences about raising the kids. It's a tough one!

Sorry to go on and on, you asked so you got the dirty details!!!

[GrandmaA]

Another good thing about gardening is the trees will be there when you need them. They will not go off to college and get married.