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229344 tn?1189755837

Told My Co-workers today

well i told my 7 co-workers that I will be treating for hepc at x-mas time. I had the courage to do so today. I couldnt say I was going thru kemo and not say anything else-that wouldnt fly around here-
had to tell truth-since we are such a small company--------I think it went well. They said they felt very bad with regard to what i will have to endure. Also I work with An Egyptiam guy and he said many of his friends have hepc and would NEVER consider tx no matter what. I replied we all have to do what is right for us. Choooooo........glad thats over with.
Now I pray their insurance premiums dont go up when I treat ..and get fired.
Ya never know. Always expect the unexpected.
What a day!
26 Responses
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229344 tn?1189755837
Hi! thanks for your post_Good Luck on #32! you did it. I like your pic!! You look great!!
hope this will be a memory for you soon.
Good Luck in yout tx.
Helpful - 0
12773 tn?1328913186
Thanks.. that was sweet.. Of course you have to know that was before starting treatment. need to reinstall my web cam software so I can take a more recent picture.. Now I look like Einstein.. LOL  lost so much weight and loss of hair.. what a difference.
Yes back in 93 they didn;t know enough about HepC , I did 3 million units of Interferon a week.  ( 1 shot 3 times a week )  6 mos treatment, but he said I was a slow responder and pulled me off treatment, then I was UND for about 9 - 12 ? months ?  And I thought I was done..      They wanted to send me to Shands in Gainesville for a trial , but I said I was not sick till you gave me these meds,  I will take my chances.    I later became diabetic and got way overweight..    But now its gone again, and I feel good about my weight, and do not want to gain any of it back.    Finally get to go shopping for new clothes.. LOL     But afraid the excess skin has got to go.. LOL   but that will have to wait till I am post treatment a while..  make sure I don't gain it back.   I know chances are I will.
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Avatar universal
I really like your story, almost makes you believe in karma.
CS
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179856 tn?1333547362
Thank you Mike that was so kind of you to say it just made my day.


Not only was the exboss a creep he was a complete and total perv who says/does things to the women you wouldn't even believe in a million years.  I have no idea how he's gotten away with it all for so long - intimidation probably - but man what he deserves...well you know what I mean.

The best part now is him having to see me all of the time sitting up here I just smile huge and wave and say HI KEN!  hahahaha.
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Avatar universal
I loved your story. Occasionally justice does prevail and in this instance it couldn't have happened to a nicer or more deserving person. Of course, I don't work with you so I have to take your word about your work ethic - but, I do take your word for it. Mike
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Avatar universal
The Egyptian HCV rate is high because of dodgy vaccinations.
You know reusing needles. The following link discusses HCV in Egypt. Excerpt below http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hcsp/articles/Egypt_06.html

In Egypt, the major route of exposure appears to be due to injection therapy and inadequate infection control practices. In addition to blood transfusions prior to 1994, the major risk factor associated with HCV infection is a history of antischistosomal injection treatment before 1986. Schistosomiasis used to be a common parasitic disease in Egypt acquired through swimming or wading in contaminated irrigation channels or standing water.

Further, with such a high background prevalence rate, transmission of hepatitis C through other non medical routes has become more significant. For example, tattooing, circumcision or other medical procedures performed by non-medical personnel are more frequent routes of infection in Egypt than elsewhere. In addition, household transmission, vertical transmission and sexual transmission are routes that are also under investigation.

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/hepatitis_C.asp
Contains a link to the link above and another called

An Australian HCV Snapshot
Australia is years ahead of any other country in combating HCV. This short fact sheet gives you a brief glimpse of the state of HCV in Australia and what is being done.

All I've got to say about that, is the rest of you must be doing a lousy job if we are years ahead.
Its from 2001 but we havent improved much.
CS
Helpful - 0
179856 tn?1333547362
You are right.  Even though there are laws to prevent the bigots from getting rid of you - they still can do it if they want to bad enough.  

Alot of people in here will remember that my previous boss at this company actually tried to start a paper trail of all my bad work (and never had I done ANY of the things that he would write to me yelling at me about, of course he blind copied HR).  He just plain out made stuff up.  Everybody could see what he was doing but nobody wanted to go against him and say "hey, he's lying".  Each for his own.

When it got very close to me being fired he realized he might get caught and so he had me changed to another job where I did NOTHING all day. THAT job would have been the one they would have later eliminated easily.  He told me "you'd better not say anything bad about me...after all you DO need your insurance don't you?"

Fortunately it all backfired on him.  The owners son of this huge huge worldwide company I work at needed a new person and asked if I would help out while they looked to hire someone.  We just CLICKED big time and now he says I'm the best employee he's EVER had to the HR department all the time trying to undo all the damage done to my rep by the idiot. I LOVE working for him and he loves having me here.

Oh yeah, that idiot...works UNDER my boss now.  As I sit in the swank executive offices upstairs...he is downstairs in the basement.

Life - has a way of working out if you just hang in there.
Helpful - 0
208237 tn?1190185605
    Gongrats to you too!!    this time you gonna kick this things butt !   Guess it's a guy thing, but when the picture profiles started It was great, but I remember seeing yours and then Stang' shellys and thinking that this should not mess with nice ladys like you.  Then  I realized that we will all kick this suckers butt someday,, sometime.     So now I know I gotta hang tough when I start in a few months and follow you all.   Btw ,,the pics. have you smilin away and you look happy , shellys was nice too, But Made me want to reach out to give ya all hugs .   Thxs for help.
                         Alohas!    
                                       R.              
Helpful - 0
12773 tn?1328913186
Good for you, telling your co workers..    I told my boss and a few of my close friends at work, and then when I started feeling bad again after returning from leave, I moved to a less populated area, so don't have sick people around me.   Everyone knows now.  but some think or understand it to be Chemo.     14 years ago, when first dx and treated, I worked in a small office, and most didn't understand or know of the disease either..    Neither did the doctors really..   But one coworker asked me to get a note that I was not a threat to others around me.... I was appauled.   I told her to do her own research and learn about the disease.      Actually I told my boss that , and she set her straight..  I have like 17 weeks to go and I am done.. currently doing shot 32/48  tonight .
Helpful - 0
208237 tn?1190185605
    Congrats !!   I hope you hang out with us next year when its our turn !  I will love your advice thru it.
                                      mahalo,    R.
                                    
Helpful - 0
208237 tn?1190185605
This is getting strange Tulips,..     I had to explain to  HR.   and,  the company nurse today, That I had hep C .  I was like gramm and am very vocal about hep. / biop. testing.   Be prepared for the stupid gossipers.  My company has no problem with it but they heard I had hep B !!   When I told nurse, it was C ,  right away she said 'then  no problem get back to work ! (darn it) lol'    Like you, only stress part was me having to talk about my personal life to strangers.  I am vocal about hep c in the hope others do not have these problems in future.  As a military Vet. I like to state to the uninformed that ,1 in 10 Vets. have hep c ,  but many are not tested. That quiets  a lot of people down. that stated,,, I  walked out of there a little bummed, but very proud !      We will do fine tx.ing together In '08 !
                                       Aloha,       R.
Helpful - 0
229344 tn?1189755837
Hi Meki. I could care less what they do. If something happens to offfend me I will deal with it.
I have told them some stuff to educate them. For instance blood to blood contact only.....etc.
They all seemed cool about it so we shall see..time will tell.
I told them about tx-that they had no idea about-but when they see me everyday------I imagine they will get the gist of what tx is like. I will be living example!!!!
Thanks Meki
Helpful - 0
217229 tn?1192762404
Don't take offense to what they may say or do --- like not eating your food that you've brought.. or if you see antiseptic items placed around...

For me --- I took one look at my coworkers and said: Thank you sooo very much you guys! I know you can't get my disease in any way --- even if we all decided to do the Watushi shuffle together--- but thanks for thinking of me so I won't get any of your colds or germs! You guys ROCK!  You're saving me money!

I had a few of them blush ---- but I think I educated them in that moment. LOL!

Educate them --- a little at a time --- make it fun... Do things like Trivia:  Did you know that.... Etc. Etc.

Ask them to watch over you - to make sure you don't get too overwhelmed...

Etc.

Hugs --- I think information and education will be the only way we eradicate this evil virus!

Meki


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186606 tn?1263510190
I never had _____ relations with that mummy.
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167203 tn?1280692080
maybe the egyptian variant has to do with that mummy they found ....just a thought...LOL...

glad you were able to tell your employers...i told my boss too, he was fine, and actually offered to pray for me....
Helpful - 0
229344 tn?1189755837
nah............it wasnt that bad at all. Just a pain in the----who wants strangers to know your business-had to do it though..
thanks
Helpful - 0
181564 tn?1189755824
Sorry to hear you have been through such an emotional day.  Hope things work out with you and your workplace.  I also work in a small group and didn't feel like I had the option to tell part of the story.  Besides I am a blabbermouth about everything else so telling them about my diagnosis seemed normal.   I told all my coworkers and HR about my Hep C when I was diagnosed and they were supportive throughout treatment.  I just found out today that my post treatment blood test showed I was UND for Hep C.  The treatment works and it is worth it.
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186606 tn?1263510190
Dr. Gish calls it the Egyptian variant.  not at all common in the US...less than one percent i think. And mind is a wild type meaning it hasn't been treated.

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229344 tn?1189755837
thank you! Im aware there are laws however, if you boss wakes up one morning and decides hey, he wants you eliminated all he has to say is job position was eliminated. Out the door you go!!

I've seen it happen before unfortunately.
There are no guarantees with life .

Just alot of hope.
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229344 tn?1189755837
Thanks so much. Its appreciated. Really.
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229344 tn?1189755837
I know ...thanks.   However my office knew what HepC is due to the Egyptians I work with. They said more people have HepC in Egypt than anywhere else.

Anyway thats done..........
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86075 tn?1238115091
best of luck to you, you do realize there are laws that cover us when we have to treat illnesses in the workplace, etc...it's always wise to cover your proverbial a$$, but it seems you work with nice people anyway, though it's good to know how you are covered...
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229344 tn?1189755837
I dont know but like I was told today. Nobody there treats the disease. Different society and lifestyle.
Hope your feeling and doing well.
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Avatar universal
I wonder why so many Egyptians have hep c?  Interesting.
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