we still have a long ways to go

[doll face]

Hey everyone, Just needed to let off some steam. I had a garage sale this weekend at my house and put out some pamplets that I had gotten from my doctor about hep C and awareness. I could not believe some of the responses that I got from people. Quite a few asked me about this disease and my journey through it. A number of people knew someone that had it. But I was shocked at how a few reacted. One older lady for example asked how I could dare put out clothing or anything else to the public when I knew I had this DRUG disease (I caught it from a blood transfusion) not that how anyone gets it make a difference to me, and another said that she couldn't believe that I would actually TELL anyone I had it. Well of course in my polite lady like way I told them both what I thought. LOL You should have seen thier faces. Priceless!!! Anyways I did end up having a very profitable sale regardless of my unspeakable disease (even though I am now 9 months post clear) and have contributed half to a hep c awareness program.  I was just so damn mad though that it is still such a "hush hush" subject that I thought I would do something new to bring it out in the open. What do you think? Was it a dumb idea?

Have a great day !! Kim

[Forseegood]

Gee Dollface, youre quite a woman!!! I along with everybody else it seems, think that it's wonderful that you did that, not everyone would. As much as I hate the traffic and overpopulation here (in some sections) I do feel lucky to live in W. Hollywood at least in terms of the open-mindedness here. There are so many artists, musicians, actors and such that if I threw a rock out of my window I'd probably hit someone with hep c or HIV. So it's easy for me to be forthcoming about it, but it does take real "gumption"(good word) for any hepper to do what you did. I really applaud you. We don't have enough possitive press about our disease, and it'll be up to us to put it out there it seems. Grassroots or however. Good on you!

Califia: ha ha, you crack me up. I picture someone kinda portly eating out of a bucket of KFC throwing chicken bones at us!  

[scruffy]

You're a queen. An Empress. A true delight of royalty. A kick-ass true American sweetheart! You done good. frank

[nanniegea]

Thanks dollface, you said what I would love to shout from the rooftops. Even if you did catch it from drugs...WHAT difference would it make???? I know everytime my mom mentions that she spoke with someone about this disease she always includes the fact that she didn't tell them about me. One of these days I'm going to tell her, "go ahead and tell whoever, I don't care anymore who knows and who does not".  I applaud what you did....

I wish the best to all of you who are dealing with this.

[cuteus]

I just came back from a pain management intial consult and he started asking reasons for the herniated discs, hello, age?, I guess he gets a lot of worker's comp cases. In any case, I mentioned the hep c and tx, and he asked how I got it? I was taken aback because why would that matter for the medical hx, but I gave two possible causes anyway. He recorded a "letter" to my neurologist while I was there and was very detailed in it, so I guess it is just his manner of gathering the patient's hx, very detailed. It still kind of bothered me.  When he got to the narration of the hep c and said;"patient is hep c active" I stopped him and signal NO, that felt real good.

[v eggie dip]

I have not told anyone I tested postive for Hep C except my children and husband.. (had to so they could be tested)

I know how the other family memebers would react, especially my husband's side, they would immediately think I was a drug user and wouldn't hear any other explanations (very ignorant people) and as far as freinds go, it would probably be okay to tell them but I don't think I am ready to go there...

I was totally ignorant about the virus until I found out I have it...I always thought it was from dirty needles and street drugs, never was told otherwise and never knew anyone that had it...I still have a hard time believing that I got this 38 years ago from a blood transfusion but my doctors assure me that it is so.

I think it is wonderful that people can openly discuss this and like some of you go to a rally and speak out in public but I can't even get my husband to listen to me about it, he thinks it is to be dismissed I guess...So I go it alone!  Oh well, hopefully it will not consume my life like it did for the first month after I tested positive...

Beth

[friole]

It's a tax practice - very conservative clientele.  Might be okay with the employees here (we've mostly worked together over 20 years), but it will be difficult to have to go into with clients.  However, if I start getting unusually tired, I may have no choice.  I will probably discuss it with my partner only soon, and go from there.  I am also president of the local Business & Estate Council for the year (group of lawyers and accountants and other professionals)- a job I took prior to dx but which just started.  Oh well, it may be fish or cut bait time.
Kathy