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Posted 11/12/2007 10:49 PM (GMT 0)

I was just reading one of the replies regarding the transmission of Hep C.  This is transmitted by blood to blood.  You don't just have to use needles.  I don't want to alarm some people, but if you are doing drugs, you can spread Hep C, by sharing a straw and a dollar bill, while inhaling susbstances.

Also, sharing razors, innocently, Hep C lives three weeks out of the body. 

Menstral blood should be suspect.  Sharing a toothbrush (yuck gums bleed) Getting tatto's, body piercings, even getting a mancure.  Do not be ashamed to tell you have Hep C.  Knowledge is power.

It does not matter how you got this diesease it's how you live with it.  This does not have to be death sentence.  Be liver friendly, change your lifestyles, this means diet, etc.

I hope some of this info helped someone.

Posted 11/13/2007 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
Tambo, Welcome to HealingWell. Don't give up on Social Security Disability. My husband was only 44 and he got approved on his appeal without a lawyer. He only received 1 $200 check as I made too much money for the welfare side and he did have enough quarters in. We waited too long after he got sick to file. I wasn't worried back then as I made enough for the both of us. Didn't realize that all the costs for medical needs even with good insurance was going to put us in the poor house. Thank you for all info. I am sure it will be useful to others. Another way to contract hep C is sharing towels/wash cloths. I really didn't think of that one but was so glad that I didn't share towels with my husband. But it is a personal thing I never shared towels even with my kids when they were little. When people find out that someone has any of the hepatitis diseases they panic out of ignorance. If they would just get educated, they would know that it really isn't that easy to contract any longer unless you are living a high risk life. And with so many people afflicted with it .......it is amazing that our government isn't doing more to help. Let a few key lawmakers or their kids get it and I bet that government money starts flowing in for it. Take care Tambo and keep coming back. We need all the education we can get on this horrendous disease.
Posted 11/29/2007 1:51 AM (GMT 0)

  The ignorance of people still amazes me. I had a doctor once say to me when I told him I had Hep c, "I'm surprised, you don't look the type". I asked him "Why because I don't have a needle sticking out of my arm?" I am usually not so rude but it made me so mad and that was not my first incident. I told my boss when I was diagnosed and she said she would need a letter from my doctor assuring her I was not a danger to the other employees. Needless to say I don't share my condition with many people.

Sorry, guess that hit a nerve and I am venting. All the luck in the world to you and thank you for letting me vent.

Posted 11/29/2007 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hello pase_1 and welcome to HealingWell. You can come here and vent anytime. That's what we are here for to listen and be supportive. I try to educate people about the disease whenever it comes up. Unless people have family or a close friend with the disease....most don't have a clue. They just know it is contagious but not how it's transmitted. Before I married my husband boy did I hear some stupid stuff from my family. Even his family were ignorant about it. I am so glad that I didn't listen to people. I would have missed out on the best years of my life.

By the way your old doc reminds me of mine. He treated my husband until he started getting sick then he fired us. Said my husband needed a different PC doc. After my husband died he asked me if how was my husband and was he still in jail? (Mind you he put me off work for stress 3 weeks before my husband died.) Talk about stupid. Needless to say I haven't been back to him. Getting a new PC in January.

Take care.......
Posted 11/30/2007 1:33 AM (GMT 0)

Hello Pink Grandma,

I have to confess that I have been ready this forum for months and have never replied until yesterday. Many times I have wanted to write to you but have not been able to do so. So many things I want to say so I guess I will start at the beginning. It may take a few times for me to get it all out.

I was diagnosed 5 years ago. My husband who was 45 died suddenly from pancreatitis and they found he had Hepc and told me to get tested. Needless to say 2 weeks after their Daddy died I had to tell my son's that I was sick to. I had the biopsy and I was excellent canidate for the pegus and co pegus. The only insurance I ahd was through the state. about 4 months into the treatments they cut off my insurance. Starting about 2 years ago I began to have terrible pain and thought it was part of the disease so I figured I would just have to live with it. Which I did until this past April. My family found me on the floor and took me to the hospital. The doctors told me that my gallbladder was "dead" and probabvly had been for some time. It is so nice to be able to sleep on my stomach again. As you may have guessed I am not under any doctors care for the HepC. No insurance. When I was in the hospital they said I needed to be on a transplant list. I don't think I can do that. I have a rare antibody and I think they would have a hard time matching me. OK to be honest I am not ready to think about it. I guess I don't have a very good outlook on things but I am trying. Without insurance there is not much I can do anyway.

Please forgive me. I am having a down day. I will write more later if you care to read it. I don't know if this makes much since but sometimes I tend to ramble. Thank you so much. I would love to email back and forth if that would be OK?

Take care and again thank you,

pasey_1

Posted 11/30/2007 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
Oh pasey_1 I am so sorry that you are going through this. And yes you can email me anytime. It's in my profile. I lurked too for a long time. After my first post I felt so much better just posting and then when they started replying to my posts I cried. Actually tears of joy. Because finally I had someone to talk to who actually knew about the disease and what I was going through. This forum and all its marvelous members literally saved my sanity. Now I try to help others as I was helped.
Some of the things that you can do without the insurance is eat healthy, exercise moderately and get enough rest.
Take care ..........Thoughts and prayers...........
Posted 11/30/2007 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
hi pasey, one thing you may want to check into is state disability medicaid. It can take a few months to get approved, and a few calls to your state representative helps, but it will help you be able to get the care you need. One thing I have found out, is that if you dont ask the right people in the system, you will fall through the cracks. Do NOT let that happen to you, your son needs you :hugs: sorry youve been through all that you have.
Posted Today 7:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Pasey, and welcome. If you live in an area where there is a teaching hospital, you might be able to get treatment there at no cost if you qualify financially. A transplant is a last resort.
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