My vent

I came here as someone with Hep C. I am not a caregiver. Throughout my journey of finding out I had the virus, going through a year of interferon/ribavirin therapy, a cerebral hemorrhage, liver failure following that, waiting five years feeling like hell and then a transplant, I took care of myself. The woman I had lived with for 15 years didn't want to be involved with care taking. She walked away from our relationship. Other than help from medical personnel, I took care of myself. I was fortunate to be able to do so, as many folks can't help themselves.

I realize how difficult it is to take care of others, I helped take care of my sister over the last 3 years of her life. She had ovarian cancer. Watching her go through chemo, several operations and suffering in pain for years, I've seen the worst health problems imaginable.

Having said that, I came here for Hep C information from others and a chance to share my experiences. When I read posts that are essentially the same litany of how mom, dad, wife, husband was nasty, wouldn't stop drinking, etc, etc, I come away depressed, and I never felt depressed in all the years I was suffering from the disease. I come to this forum, less and less, due to some posts here. I can think of several posters, that could take one of their posts and rerun it over and over and I wouldn't notice the (non)difference. Take a look at the posts here. I haven't counted the ratio of non medical posts to the "woe is me posts", but it feels to be 50-50. I now spend time on a transplant forum, which has a Hep C section, with no moaning from the people posting there. I'll still be here, less than before and for me that's a sad thing.

I'm sorry that you think I said I don't like this forum. I never said that. I like the fact that a Caregiver's thread was created. Now, many of the people who wanted a thread like that, are not happy, because they can't post their own individual gripes. Let's stick to the disease on specific items and those folks who'd like to tell us how onerous their situation is, post specifically on those. Maybe, some sort of identification for each type of post would work. I'm not one of the "misery loves company" people. I wake up every day and do whatever it takes to keep going and be happy. I don't have time to wallow in my problems, much less others. You may be sure I'm at peace and I'm keeping it so, by looking at the good things in life, not sinking into sorrow.

Enough already......please It's about support......bottom line........ Posts will not be tolerated if they are not supportive of one another......if you don't have something nice or informative to say........please say nothing at all.

David, your journey and your experiences is indeed a great value to helping others going through the same thing. We all are here to help each other in our own individual way.
I am probably one of those moaners that goes on and on, I did not intend to make anyone depressed by writing down my feelings. I agree now that the caregivers thread had been made us caregivers will have the opportunity to vent when needed and I will post there from now on. You have infact made me take a good look at myself, when I read all my former posts they are all similar and nothing has changed, although I feel I am getting a little stronger and more able to cope. I never realised how much the body could take , I chose not to walk away. My father is an alcoholic with metal health issues, I chose to walk away from him.
I have been trying to deal with my mum as best as I know how, I have struggled and many people have helped me through a difficult time. I have no brothers and sisters and would not dare to put all my troubles on my friends as it gets too personal .
please don't be put off the forum your advice is much needed, now that there is a place to vent, we can vent and go on if we wish without upsetting anyone else.
I suppose we all have our coping mechanisms, but sometimes we struggle, I know I do.
I have had a lot of other things to deal with in my life, as do many others. we just need to find the best way to cope, so please do not be put off.

Post Edited (allie2631) : 10/7/2010 5:55:35 AM (GMT-6)

This website has a big mix of caregivers and people who are sick and I see no reason it cant have a blend of both. Maybe it is because the health and education a caregiver gets also impacts the person they take care of. I have truely felt this was a perfect place to help all people and to get help support understanding compassion and most of all education!! Thank you everyone for that!!
Sue