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

[cquest]

Good for you dollface! I have said it before, I don't care who knows I have HCV...the more the merrier! I took all those pamphlets I got from the march in NYC last Tues and spread them out on the conference room table at work. I told everyone that they can read up and all their questions should be answered. One guy from another dept asked where they came from and I told him...he kept reading and said 'I have no idea what Hep C is...' Another woman asked if she could borrow them to take home and read. At least this way, if anybody is afraid to ask me they can read for themselves and feel a little more relaxed. It's true about the docs though, mine asked where I thought I picked it up and I told him about that damn blood transfusion but I also added 'who knows anyway, maybe when I was a kid playing blood brothers/sisters...who really knows?' The more people I tell, the more stories I hear about their family and friends who have it. Very liberating to know I am not alone and very sad to know what a closet disease this is...
Cin

[doll face]

Thanks everyone for the overwhelming positive responses. I would have done it again even if the response from all of you were negative. I think that I did help a few people realize that this disease can be caught many different ways. I even believe that a few of them will go get tested. If I reached just one person than it was worth it to me.

I am not looking for praise from anyone, and I believe that most of you would do the same thing. I am just one regular person who went through a whole lot with this disease and hope that I can help make it easier for just one more person, who's life that hep C has invaded.  

I am very proud to call you all friends.
Kim

[iceboy]

wow, I thought I was the only one peaking out of the closet with this disease. I find it very tormenting at times. Somehow I imagined you where all very open about it. Im so newly diagnosed and have done so many things wrong in terms of who to tell, what to tell and whom not to tell!!. I

[doll face]

Don't worry you are not the only one who is not very open about it. Sometimes I think that I shouldn't have been ,but then I realize that the majority of the people I do talk (which is anyone who listens LOL) are really surprised at how this disease can be contrated. I have gotten more positive responses from people than negative, but that is just me.

It is not something everyone can do. Your personality, lifestyle, family, friends and job have alot to do with it, my husband is not ashamed but would rather I not publicize it, (he knows I am going to anyways)and my friends were very supportive (more so than family)I did lose one job over having hep c (bar manager, I could have sued to get my job back but why bother) I don't condemn anyone who does not tell people, I for one am just very outspoken.

[doll face]

Yes, isn't it wonderful to say that I HAD hepatitis c, not that I have hep c. When I went to apply for more life insurance I got the 50+ questions about my health. When it came to the" Have you ever had hepatitis question" I was so happy to have said yes, BUT I cleared it. I still have to do the  blood tests, and physical part yet, so I will let you know what they say about it when I get questioned in person.

I hope everyone else here gets the chance to say " I HAD hep c"

[iceboy]

It