IMPORTANT INFORMATION EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW..PLEASE READ (REPOST Original 12/05)
Current mood: okay
Category: Life
A while ago my ex's now "wife" was emailing some of my friends and saying some really horrible lies about me (who knows why). One thing she put in writing was partially true, but horribly distorted......this is the truth.......
It is the fact that I have Hepatitis C. I contracted it in 1991 during a surgery. We have determined this was the cause, because I went to the doctor violently ill 12 weeks after the surgery and tested positive (the specific test was brand new), prior to that I had given blood to the Red Cross on a regular basis (donor) and had never had any problems (it was called NonA/NonB before that) and had blood tests before I had surgery, I had never done intervenous drugs, been on kidney dialysis, had a blood tranfusion or been a hemophliac. I had also been married since 1987 and with him since 1985. I was lucky that my doctor knew about the virus and sent me to a specialist who was also up to speed on the virus. I started on experimental treatments as soon as they were available and continued for years.
I have what they call chronic active HCV, which means I have symptoms. I'm lucky in a sense. I found out early. Most people don't know they have it because they don't have any symptoms until in the very late stages of the virus when have symptoms due to other complications.
I've lost a lot of friends and have had a lot judgement passed on me unfairly. If you want to know something ask me. Don't be afraid of me. Don't judge me. I'm not contaigious.
I have started and run support groups over the years, headed up rallies for more awareness, been in the news, gone to the legslature to pass more funding for research, worked with the state prison systems to implement treatment plans to educate within to prevent the spread of HCV, etc.
Long story short......my kids are negative to this day and I have finally gone into remission for the second time....this time it's lasted so far for two years. I have no liver damage. I have been able to prevent it with the medications and knowing how to take care of myself. I've had to change my life style to live with the virus......sometimes I still get angry, but there is a reason I got it.....I do enjoy helping others.....it seems to be my calling.
I do catch everything, because I have no immune system since my body is always fighting a "Virus", but....that is a just something I have learned to live with. Hey....I even caught Typhoid Fever! What are the chances of that!?!?! LOL
People need to be educated (and tested). This is not a sexually transmitted disease, as my ex's "wife" was trying to lead everyone to believe and continues to tell anyone who will listen.
It is a blood to blood transmitted virus.
They found out several years after I contracted the virus that the it could live on unproperly sterilized surface for up to three weeks! It doesn't die as soon as it hits the air like the HIV virus does, but it is harder to contract.
Here are a few Risk Factors....if you fall into any of these, you should get checked immediately!
Drug use
Using injection drugs (even once or a few times many years ago)
Inhaling narcotics
If you have tattoos and body piercings
Were they done outside the United States?
Were they done more than 10 years ago?
Were they done in an unlicensed business?
Are you unsure whether the ink was individually wrapped?
Did you get sick or feel ill in the days or weeks afterwards?
Military service
I have served in the military and was born before 1966.
Workplace
I have worked in a healthcare or emergency medical setting.
I have worked in a public safety field (police, fire, etc).
People
My mother had or may have had hep C when I was born.
I lived with or had a relationship with someone who I knew had hep C or was an IV drug user.
I lived with or had a relationship with someone who may have had hep C or used IV drugs.
Medical conditions
I was notified that I received blood from a donor who later tested positive for hep C.
I was notified by the Red Cross that my blood donation tested positive.
I received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before July 1992.
I have been on long-term dialysis.
I received clotting factor concentrates before 1987.
* This is not intended to be a complete list of risk factors.
Please check out the following links. Educate yourselves. Get checked. Please don't be afraid. If you know, you can do something about it!
And I'm always here to answer any questions.....I know a lot!!!!!!!!
http://www.epidemic.org/index2.html
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/c/
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/c/fact.htm
*http://www.didyouever.net/why_get_tested/patient_videos.asp
