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Hep C Discussion Forum -> General Discussion -> Do You Cover Up?
Post Info TOPIC: Do You Cover Up?
Daook


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RE: Do You Cover Up?
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Rich wrote:

i have told several people that i have hep c. and have never had a negative response. It has more been a response of "how did you get that?" My response is "remember the 70s? Well to me its a blur."
The hardest person to tell was my 27 year old daughter. But i told her to not worry. Its very very slim chance that i passed it on to her. I think somewhere along the line she will get tested though.

I tell the people who are getting on my nerves and I want to get rid of that I have HCV and they go away. It's like telling them you only bathe once a week. Works pretty good.

hahaha!!

:)



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Geno 1a, second time around, stable viral load since 1973, timing is right for new therapy
Rich


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i have told several people that i have hep c. and have never had a negative response. It has more been a response of "how did you get that?" My response is "remember the 70s? Well to me its a blur."
The hardest person to tell was my 27 year old daughter. But i told her to not worry. Its very very slim chance that i passed it on to her. I think somewhere along the line she will get tested though.


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goggsmackay


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Anyone who mattered in my life knew I was positive HCV anyway so the only people I told about treatment was my boss at the time of starting. I knew I had to tell him cos of the amount of hospital appts I had etc and also I was worried I may need to take some time off etc.

Actually I managed to work more than I thought I would and I could not ask for a better boss. No drama was made if I could not come in and actually a few times I came to work only to be sent home for falling asleep in the lunch room! (I mean in a good way, 'gordon you look really tired so just go home...') - winner!

Funnily enough I was amazed when I told any girlfriend (or even a possible) I had HCV I thought some would run a mile etc but not one of them did. I've had HCV for about 17 years or more and probably slept with 8 women in that time. Not one of them had a problem and I think that was due to the fact that I am only attracted to thoughtful intelligent women who can think things over themselves. I was upfront and honest every single time I thought things might go to a relationship and most people are fine with the honesty. To try and hide it, even if the risk was minimal, I think is just unacceptable. I just could not be with a girl and not tell her the truth from day 1.

So basically my experience of telling friends, family and work (don't advertise but keep your boss in the loop, it helps) is that I had zero problems. I would only have had problems trying to hide it all. Of course I cannot speak for anyone else and maybe I have been lucky.

gordon

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BeccaJune


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Yes, I have had the experience of telling someone and you see them start to take a couple of steps backwards!



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Diagnosed Dec. 2008. Genotype 1b, enlarged liver.  Started triple tx with Incivek on August 12, 2011.
mikey


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I told my immediate family (of course), close friends, co-worker and boss.  I am a telecom tech contracted to one customer (13 yrs) so I told several of them so they would understand my possibly calling in sick during TX from time to time.  Everybody has been very supportive and non-judgemental.

Funny story... I was sitting next to my elderly aunt when I told her, and she jumped out of her chair, backed up about 10 feet, clutched her chest and said "Oh my God!  Isn't that contagious ?!?!?"  I thought she was going to have a heart attack.  Told her that unless we started sharing syringes or decide to become 'blood brothers' she was pretty safe. :)

 

Mikey



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John William


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I agree that it should be a personal choice.

I was reluctant at first and felt embarrassed but as time progressed I began to think that maybe if I were open about it and explained it it might get easier for others after me.

I tell most people now and if I hear someone badmouthing or talking about Hep C and they obviously have no clue I'm quick (and try to be tactful)  to help them understand what I know as fact.

I haven't noticed anyone treating me any different yet but then again maybe that's a sx!

If they think less of me than so be it, it gives me peace of mind and I don't have to worry about remebering who I told and who I didn't. Mind you I never was much of a politician either! LOL biggrinbiggrin



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deny_zoo29


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Since I contracted Hep C through a blood transfusion in the days after birth, I personally feel no stigma (it was not a bad choice in my life, it saved my life).

 I've told anybody and everybody. All my family, my friends, co-workers, etc. At work I started with just my immediate supervisor & my assistant manager. I have since opened up to pretty much everyone at work. I am hoping this will help them understand when I'm not my "normal" self, when I just feel like crap, or am just so tired. I have gotten lots of support from everyone around me and it really helps me thru the rough times!



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Denyel- Genotype 1a -Triple Therapy Txt began Sept 29, 2011 - Ready to KICK this thing! - UND since Week 4!!

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BeccaJune


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I haven't told anyone at work.   Most of my personal friends and all my family know, but not my "work friends". 

They know I am on a medical treatment for a serious condition, but if they ask for specifics, I just tell them that I don't like to talk about it.



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Diagnosed Dec. 2008. Genotype 1b, enlarged liver.  Started triple tx with Incivek on August 12, 2011.
hrsetrdr


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I was very reluctant at first to divulge my 'dirty' little secret; eventually I told my immediate supervisor @work. Turns out- his daughter has Hep C, so he's not shocked or being judgmental. Most of my immediate co-workers know now, but nobody's really much affected, like telling them that I have a cold.

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"hrsetrdr"=Tim

Treatment halted on Aug.8,2012 due to vision problem.  6 month post tx labs

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Be strong when you are weak, brave when you are scared, and humble when you are victorious.
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Iris Dragonfly


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I have never run into anyone who treated me differently when they found out, and i'm going on 37 years with it. The one thing I do find troublesome is some people wish you to work like a regular person. I'm sorry, but I really have to push myself through every day, and sometimes I just feel like crap, and I need to sit. I had a boss that made me work too soon after my gall bladder was removed and I ended up in the E-room.

 I think disclosure is totally a personal choice, but if more folks are aware that this problem is much bigger than AIDS, maybe more research and funding for it would happen. BB, Iris



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60 years on planet, Female, diagnosed 1978 as non-a non-b, VL 8mill+, Fibro f-1f-2, Genotype 1a, treatment naïve....UNTIL 7-01-18  !!!! started Harvoni 12 weeks. :)

4 weeks=UND, 8 weeks=UND, 12 weeks=UND (EOT= 09-23-2018)
cntryboyar


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I just found out i had hep c 6 months ago, and i told everyone that i'm close to and everyone at work. No one has treated me any different at all, aside from mom asking me every single day, "How are you feeling?" Gets annoying, but shes my mother so shes allowed!smile I'm in the healthcare field so in my opinion it needed to be disclosed. That, and i've got great friends and great coworkers, so i really didn't think they would treat me different anyway.



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Started tx 10/28/11, Geno3a, week 4, week 8, week 12 und.

SVR 10/31/12
andrzej


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I found out I have hep  6 yrs ago, started treatmnet back then. There is a stigma associated with hep c and as a result I told no one but my wife. Started treatment again do to Invivek, still not advertising, but have told a few more folks.  Just wondering what others are doing and if you've been open, what responses you've experienced?



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