lecture in class today was infectious diseases - im a bit frustrated!!

[goldenrule]

So today at class we were covering HIV, HBV, HCV and so forth.. Well the instructor says that "support" medicine is available for acute hep, and of course antiviral meds are available for chronic. I asked out of curiosity of what she would say, if a patient had taken the antiviral medicine if they would no longer be contagious to others and she said no. She said that they will always be a chronic carrier who  can spread the virus... So from what I have learned from going through TX and from on this forum, this is not true... Right??? I am just upset because I want more than anything to graduate.. This is a dream of mine since being a little girl.. If my instructor finds out that I HAD HCV, and she feels like i am not cured, I know they cant discrimniate against me, but they can make sure I dont get hired upon graduating.. Im sorry if my posts seem repetitive, Im just scared of failing, scared of rejection, scared of letting my kids and family down!!! I want to put TX behind me but it just seems like when I get a grip something like this happens.. I mean she is a trained professional and should know the antivirals do indeed cure Hepc, Right?? And if she dont know this, then whom else will not know this when I begin doing rotations in the hospital in which I was diagnosed at??? GRRR VERY FRUSTRATED!!

[goldenrule]

huh, patience.... whats that?? LOL! Ur right, I am going to let this go and remember what my short term goal is here, to graduate!! However, my new long term goal is to inform the ignorant!!! I am tired of being ashamed and having a stigma placed on my head!  I have fought my way through TX, and have now prepared myself to fight, if needed, my way through school... Thanks Isobela for your words of encouragement.. Its so nice to know someone experiencing the same things as me... I also really like the idea of sending the teacher a letter when done, I am not one to let stones go unturned... Just needing to stay focused and remember the prize at the "near" end...
Well, I am sure I will be back to vent between now and graduation!! Thanks all for being such a great support, and God Bless

[R Glass]

Set the fight aside for a day when you can be totally victorious. The day will come. Be patient

[FlGuy]

A Pyrrhic Victory is a win, at a great loss.  You may be right and the instructor wrong but is the point worth proving?

[Isobella]

Time to get a grip on what you know and realize that the information being taught in schools is not always accurate.  One of my pharm professors actually went so far as to tll the class that ALL people with HIV will be homeless at some point because their meds cost about $20,000 a year. Some serious ignorance going on here....gee-zoo, we all wish tx was only $20, 000-, HIV, HCV or otherwise.  HIV and HBV get all the attention, HCV is pretty much a non issue in the scheme of things, sadly. If it is mentioned, it's basically misinformation in class and it's always no big deal at the hospital.  Heck, hepatitis D got more attention than C in class and on our test.  I do notice that the term chronic carrier is used to discribe those of us with low viral loads.  Drives me nuts.

No use arguing with the teacher.  The way I have handled it so far is to use what I know to educate.  Everytime I have a teaching project or drug to talk about...I auto-go to HCV.  So far, I've given 2 presentations and my classmates have said..."but I thought we learned blah, blah, blah?"  My response is always that they have learned wrong.

Have confidence in your SVR.

We're always gonna have some good instructors and we look up to them and respect them....but some of them just suck and sounds like you have one of those.  They don't know everything about everything.  In this case, you know better than her.  "Trained professionals" doesn't translate to hepatologist. I argued with my med/surg prof about giving certain drugs to liver patients all last semester.  I won (at least I think so)

Don't worry about doing rotations at the hospital you tx'd.  I volunteer in my tx hospital and will be doing rotation there soon-I hope.   HIPPA dictates our behavior in the hospital and out.  Hold your head high and go kick butt....get your degree and be a GREAT nurse that understands HCV and it's treatment (cuz there's not alot of us out here)

All the best,
Isobella

[spectda]

When you are svr you are no longer a carrier and you are unable to pass the disease to anyone. You will always have antibodies which will not infect anyone. Just leave it alone with the teacher, get your degree, and send the teacher a letter after your done.