[guinnessjim]

Originally Posted by Puddy4LyF

You sound overly concerned for the safety of yourself in the presence of "these people." Saying you're on a witch hunt is overstated, yes, but you seem awfully paranoid, which is unusual considering you weren't the one who's entire life is now affected, nor will you be...

I've seen children in Indiana, Ohio, and Florida with HIV have their lives ruined, their houses burned down because neighbors didn't want them in the neighborhood.

If I can caution people not to overreact out of fear, I will certainly do so.




No, that still doesn't affect you. lol An HCV patient must be very cautious not to get Hep. A -- because if they do, it causes unbelievably strain on the chronic disease of the liver.

Hep. B really isn't an issue anymore, and hasn't been for well over a decade so I'm not sure how that came up.

I'm unaware how any of this affects you. As long as you're not laced with sexually transmitted diseases with open sores when you have sexual relations with someone with HCV, you don't play "blood brothers" with them, and you don't currently have Hep. A in which to infect THEM, how are THEY affecting you? Answer: They're not. You're simply letting fear of the unknown get the best of you.

I'm not trying to be mean or curt, but I work in this field and have seen alot of social ills, unnecessarily based on fear.

See: Ricky Ray

P.S. I realize alot of those with Hep. C don't know they have it, by the way, but for the one's that do, they're all on strict yearly tighters for Hep. A. (Again, B isn't even in the discussion anymore). If you're ever concerned someone may have it, or you're worried because you don't know who has it who doesn't, the safe thing to do is practice safe sex and awareness with EVERYONE.

- Josh

your point is well taken, josh, and important to note.

however i didn't take Mom's comment as concern for how this affected her so much as a statement that other effects may be still to come (i.e. Hep C sufferers being more at risk of infection). since many w/ HepC don't know they are infected, they may not be as careful re: the risk to themselves that they should be.

could be wrong, but IMO it didn't seem to me she was afraid for herself, but more disturbed about the ramifications for others.

[MomMom]

Originally Posted by guinnessjim

your point is well taken, josh, and important to note.

however i didn't take Mom's comment as concern for how this affected her so much as a statement that other effects may be still to come (i.e. Hep C sufferers being more at risk of infection). since many w/ HepC don't know they are infected, they may not be as careful re: the risk to themselves that they should be.

could be wrong, but IMO it didn't seem to me she was afraid for herself, but more disturbed about the ramifications for others.

Thanks guinness...I think puddy is trying to prove a point and it is well taken. However, I have a very dear friend who was just tested positive for Hep C...and yes, he was a patient at the endoscopy center (yet to be proven if contracted there) and is gay...so puddy is way off base if he thinks this Hepatitis thing didn't affect me personally....

So, onward and upward to the friend's regular doctor and the attorney (maybe)...

Maybe puddy just needs to spread the word....

[guinnessjim]

Originally Posted by MomMom

Thanks guinness...I think puddy is trying to prove a point and it is well taken. However, I have a very dear friend who was just tested positive for Hep C...and yes, he was a patient at the endoscopy center (yet to be proven if contracted there) and is gay...so puddy is way off base if he thinks this Hepatitis thing didn't affect me personally....

So, onward and upward to the friend's regular doctor and the attorney (maybe)...

Maybe puddy just needs to spread the word....

yuck best of luck to your friend

[Puddy4LyF]

I didn't mean for it to sound as if it doesn't affect you emotionally. Anyone who knows someone with a virulent disease would be affected emotionally, but I took your original comment to mean you were nervous that there were now people on the loose with Hep. C lol Obviously, one can see why I would respond the way I did -- and I can now see why you responded the way you did -- we just didn't quite know what the other one was referring to.

I apologize for the misunderstanding...

If your friend needs any help or assistance or advice (especially when it comes to Interferon, you can feel free to PM me)

I'm not at all connected to the recent LV outbreak but moreso regarding the outbreak within the hemophilia community in the 1980's (thanks Ronald Reagan and John Roberts!)

Anyway, wish your friend good luck. Emotionally, it's a tough disease to take, but if you think optimistically, he may never have an ill effect from it (hopefully not)