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Treatment first then dating, or dating first then treatment.
Two problems - first - I have beed dx with hep C, and second - I like someone and want to start the relationship. Is any one was in the same dilemma - to be treated for hep C before starting to date, or to start dating before treatment but tell the partner you have hep C in order he could protect himself and could not blame on you if he gets hep C from you incidentally. I concern about the moral and legal aspects on this matter, not saying about how tough it is to say to someone you like you have hep C - you never know the reaction. I think, the answer would be -get treated first. I really afraid to start treatment - afraid mostly of the side effects that can affect my ability to work.
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I wish I could be upbeat about this. When I was diagnosed I was given to understand that hepc was less friendly with men than with women and that men converted to liver disease faster and at greater numbers than women. In addition, there was a lot of suspicion about hepc being a sexually transmitted disease even though the liklihood of transmission is small. These notions and the public knowledge as well as men of my generation often being into women's bodies more than anything else about them have influenced my relationships dramatically. I have found over and over and over that men are not interested in a female partner who is infected with hepc either as a companion or romantic partner and it is very often a deal breaker. If you are interested in relationship, your opportunities will almost certainly narrow unless the men you meet are singularly uneducated. Knowing what I know now, I would suggest that you treat soon especially if you can still bear children. Sure, wait a year or two to see what develops but, unless you are already in a relationship when you find out, you may need to prepare yourself for some big hurts when you inform potential partners that you thought were into you. On the other hand, you are not me and you could get lucky.
Hep C is not considered an STD. It's a "communicable disease" but not listed as an STD. People who don't know any better think it's an STD but it's not.
I never knew that Hep C was considered a 'true' STD, because the chances were minimal. But the more I read here, the more I learn. I told a guy I had just started seeing, because if was shortly after I found out and I did not know it was a "no-no" to do so. He was supportive and did not back away, but everyone is different. I agree with Trish, in that the mood swings may/will be difficult for partners to handle. Wishing you the best in tx and in your dating decisions. Here is a link I found for you:
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/15788/Help--How-to-talk-to-your-partner-about-STDs
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/15788/Help--How-to-talk-to-your-partner-about-STDs
I agree that it's not easy dating and finding a guy who will accept a Hep C status. I finally decided to stop dating for a time and decided to go for treatment not long after that. I wouldn't bother dating if you're going to do treatment, it can be challenging enough for you and you aren't really yourself while you're going through treatment, you'll likely have fatigue and mood changes from mild to extreme so it's not a great time to be starting a relationship. I put my dating life on hold until treatment was done and frankly it was easier to simply take dating off the table for awhile and put all my energies into treatment, holding down my job and managing my life for that duration.
Thank you ALL of you for your input - it is very supportive, really, and it will definitely help me to make a right decision. Unfortunately, it seems not too much options, but either to go through interferon tx as soon as possible or freese my private live for a while. Darn!!! Thank you guys.
Ann.
Ann.
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