shame?

[crazydeb]

i have just been diagnosed with hep c and have read that some people fell shame at having this. I do not feel shame and no one eles should either. it is not like we asked for this to happen and not like we purposely went out and got it. so PlEASE do not feel shame.

[ladybug52]

I'm trying to work through the whole embarrassment issue of having this disease. I don't know how I got this, there are certainly many ways I qualify for exposure and some are nothing to be proud of.

[northstar]

Its like the smoker who gets cancer.
There is not alot of sympathy, or understanding, for this disease. Doesnt matter how you get it, there is a stereotype that exists, and most cannot get past that.
Think of when AIDs first hit the scene. Even if you contracted it from your cheating spouse, nobody heard that, they only hear that you have AIDs. Its sad.
I regret I ever told my job "why" I was treating. Their "look" always made me feel ashamed. I will not do that again.
Now I live in another state, and it will stay a family secret.

[orphanedhawk]

I'll tell anyone except my mother who at 89 can't remember things and doesn't need to worry about one more thing she doesn't remember.
    I have yet to tell anyone here who hasn't responded by telling me about someone they know who has or had it. But in Thailand my dentist looked at me like I was speaking Martian. Honestly Asia is a time bomb of HCV waiting to explode.
   I took care of a friend with AIDS back in the 80's and people would tell me not to eat from the same plates! I was appalled. This was my best friend!
    LB nobody is judging you just because they chose to do things differently. We all do what is best for us, indivisually. Don't be so sensitive, sweetie:)

[northstar]

Yeah, Im still kinda yellow. The stomach pains are gone though. So, I guess Im not gonna worry about it
My hubby told me he noticed it a long time ago (months)
I guess I didnt notice until standing next to them in a mirror. Oh well, as long as Im not having any other symptoms, I am not gonna worry about it.
How have you been doing lately?

[ladybug52]

How are you feeling? Are you still yellow? You had me really worried.
I have switched jobs 3 time since deciding to tx, and I never told anyone the truth. I am usually too trusting but this involves too much trust. I would never want it to fall back on my kids shoulders. Does that make sense? Mykids know I'm treating but I don't want them to have any repurcussions from me having hep c.
Take care

[bobbyullc]

amen deb. i never could understant shame from hcv? 4 million have it in the usa. most all will run into someone today who is infected. why would anyone want a friend who judges them on it?

[ladybug52]

Judge me all you want but I live in a small town and don't want my family to be drug into small town mentality/judgement.

[jmjm530]

I suffered no shame because I hardly told anyone I had it :) Disclosing your status is really an individual decision, no right or wrong here.

[brown_eyed_grl]

It's not that I feel shame, It's more like...'Why the heck did I do that horrible thing to myself ONE TIME' I beat myself up b/c I was stupid and now I have to finally deal w/it after 33 yrs. I know 24 weeks isn't a long time, but the unknown is worse then anything.

[pigeonca]

I disclose my status to everybody, and I tell them that I never had a transfusion or shot drugs, and that they should be tested too, because anybody can get hcv.  I don't tell them about the other drugs I took (smoked or swallowed) because that doesn't pertain.  And for those here who did inject, how do they know they got the virus from a needle?  Maybe it came from the manicurist.  

[Harry Potter]

I still haven't told the majority of my family, and will definitely not tell anyone at work.  I don't know how I got it, but because I'm gay, the consensus seems to be that I must've gotten it sexually (even from my doctor).  To complicate matters, I don't have "intercourse," and the CDC says that transmission through oral sex is not documented.  But, no matter how I got it, I still think many would say, "Well, you're gay, so there you go."

[shastri20032003]

Down here in Indonesia there is a lack of awareness about hep c, though seven million people have contracted this disease. I presume this applies to the rest of Asia

So when I inform anyone I have hep c I get a "duh" and then I spend 15 minutes explaining about it!

surprised and sad to know that there is a stigma attached to hep c since there are any number of ways you could get it

[Cindy10]

I have only told a my best freinds and they were pretty cool about it. But thats it no one else.
I would not tell my family, they could not handle it.
I am the only non-alcoholic sibling and they for years have said drinking relaxes you and helps you live longer and therefore because I did not drink I would probably die from some weird disease, can you just imagine how they would respond to this? No thanks, I hope I get rid of this and no one will ever know.
  

[nygirl7]

Unfortunately - for some, there is shame.

This disease is predominantely known as a drug addict disease. Many people who have never in their lives done ANY drugs get it and feel horror that others might think they have.

Many addicts are recovering and are worried that someone might find out their "secret" from their "past".

I don't think it's the DISEASE itself that people are ashamed of...I think it's the reputation OF the disease.

The public needs to have AWARENESS and be educated about HepC before this can change unfortunately.

I do understand WHY people are feeling like they do. It's just an unfortunate thing.

[dointime]

Thank you Cindy for making me laugh today.  I know that your story is not really funny but it just appealed to my sense of the absurd.  

For what it's worth, I am in hiding and haven't told a soul either.
Dointime.    

[bobbyullc]

I LIVE IN A SEMI SMALL TOWN. I HOPE PEOPLE IN A SMALL TOWN ARE AS NICE, Caring and understanding as a big town. i am not judjing anyone i just do not understand?
hcv is a disease from blood and many other causes. i got it from heroin and still do not care. i read an article a year ago talking how many judges,doctors,business men and prominent people just found they have it from a choice made when they were 18 yo. wwjd?

[mikesimon]

I really don't care who has HCV (celebrities and the like) or how anyone got it. If people care about how I got it that is their problem. I do not think it is helpful for any of us to indulge in self recrimination about any ill advised behavior which resulted in HCV infection. Self recrimination should stop once we have made a commitment never to repeat any unhealthy behavior like that again. Once that's done we can expend all of our energy and intellect to get well and to help others make the right choices about life, HCV and treatment. I know a guy who is ashamed to have diabetes. He'll eat a donut if offered just to maintain the charade. I know a guy who would go to parties after he was diagnosed with HCV and accept a drink because he always had and he didn't want people to know he had HCV or that anything was different. He did treat and early in treatment he did accept a couple of drinks on a couple of occasions in order to maintain his secret. I think he's SVR now but that's extraneous to the point I am struggling to make. We live and we learn and it seems that most of the truly valuable lessons come from hardship and struggle. I am not suggesting that I'm proud to have or to have had HCV but I have learned a lot about myself and life and disease because of it and I cannot take the time or energy to entertain any shame or remorse. It's done and I cannot turn back the clock - if I could I'd be a doctor who got HCV. Good luck to all of you and I respect all of you who are fighting to get well regardless of how you contracted this disease. It just doesn't make any difference at all to me. Mike

[Cindy10]

dointime - It is ironically funny!


Mike - You've got a great attitude, I admire it!

[GrandOak]

I pretty much agree with Mike.  The past is done and can not be undone.  What can be changed is the present.  What could be changed is the future.

I have been forgiven by the One who really matters, am accepted by and cared for as best possible by those who matter most to me (wife and children), do not need to be concerned with what anyone else thinks as they are accountable for themselves, and need only be concerned with learning what I can from what I am afflicted with and how I can be a better person in spite of it.

[ladybug52]

You make me laugh! I am getting to the point where I have said something to a few people and now I wonder if I'm imagining it or they don't like me anymore! You know me pretty good, I do feel sensitive that I lack the courage to be honest about this. But, here's another excuse, (I have many)don't you think that having an infectious disease and working in health care could be a conflict of interest to some? I keep thinking that when this is all behind me I'm going to be a hep c activist and have the hep c awareness walks for life. (But instead of a 3 day, mine will be a 3 minute relay and pass the stick to the next person with hcv, till we gewt to Washington!) So, are you with me??:)
Bug

[ladybug52]

Glad you're doing better. No other symptoms fron the yellow skin? That's kind of symptom in itself, hope everything's ok.
Bug

[ladybug52]

Congratulations! Two days after St. Paddy's day, I'll try to remember that. That's a long time, lots of committment, you did well for a little martian guy!

[wyntre9]

Ya gonna celebrate on Uranus?

[orphanedhawk]

Bug: Somehow I got lost on this one. Brain fog. I'm glad I made you laugh.  
Martain: I think its great you aren't blaming anyone on anything. Can you slip some of that in the drinking water?