Hepatitis C Support Group

I don't know about a print-out, but I just was diagnosed this week and I sent an email out to my family (none of them live close) with a link to the WebMD site for information, although I've found the CDC site to be very helpful, too. Good luck :)

To Whom it may concern:

Most people don't understand hepatitis C and cannot imagine what living with a chronic illness means. With the hope that there are some who wish to understand, these are some of the things I'd like you to know about us.
Please understand that being sick doesn't mean we are not still human with all the same emotions that healthy people experience. Some of us must spend our time carefully so that we conserve what little energy we possess. If you visit we may not be much fun, but we still love and appreciate company. Some of us worry about our jobs, schooling and families. Most of the time we'd like to hear what is going on in your life as well as sharing our lives.
Please understand that one can be happy but not healthy. When you have the flu you feel fairly miserable, but we've been ill for years. We can't be miserable all the time, in fact most of us work hard at not being miserable. So when you speak with us and we sound happy, it means we are happy. That's all. It doesn't mean we are not sick, in pain and extremely fatigued, or that a miracle cure has been found and we are all healthy once again. Please don't say, "Oh you're sounding better!" We are not sounding better, we are sounding happy. Feel free to remark about our happiness. Just don't assume that it means we are better.
Please understand that being able to stand up and participate in an activity for 15 or 20 minutes, doesn't necessarily mean that we can participate for 30 minutes or an hour. It's quite likely that doing that 15 minutes has exhausted our resources and we may need time to recover. Remember the last time you played a swift game of tennis or softball. You couldn't repeat that feat over and over again. This applies to every thing we do.
Please understand that chronic illness is variable. It's quite possible that one day we are able to walk to the park, or shop in the mall, while the next day we may have no energy at all. Please don't say, "But you did it yesterday." If you want us to do something, just ask and we will tell you if we are able. If it is necessary to cancel an appointment with you at the last moment , please don't take it personally. There are days when we feel great and all of a sudden that changes and the fatigue is overwhelming.
Please don't ask us how we got this disease. There are many ways to acquire hepatitis C. Some of us made a foolish choice to experiment with IV drugs when we were young and invincible. Some of us were born with hemophilia and need to use blood products to stay alive. Some of us were given blood transfusions before 1992. Some of us are veterans who fought proudly for our country and some of us are kidney dialysis patients as well. Many of us have no risk factors at all and do not know where we got hepatitis C. If we wish to share our medical history with you, we will. Please don't be afraid to hug us, kiss us or hold us. You cannot "catch" hepatitis C from us unless there was a mixing of our blood with yours.
Please understand if we tell you that we have to sit down, lie down or take our meds, that we have to do it now. Chronic illness doesn't wait for a convenient time. It does not feel good to have to stop what we are doing to tend to our health. Remember that we didn't ask for this. We mourn for our lives before illness, when we were free to pursue all our dreams and hopes. We hope you understand.
from:hepcfoundation

PRINT AND SHARE WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS, WE DID!

That was under the printouts also www.hcvadvocate.org is a great website they have alot of information that is very important! Hope that helps!

thanks guys :)

I just made one up too from info I took from the CDC

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What is hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease that ranges in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness that attacks the liver. It results from infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is spread primarily through contact with the blood of an infected person. Hepatitis C virus infection can last a lifetime and lead to serious liver problems, including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or liver cancer.
An estimated 3.2 million persons in the United States have chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Most people do not know they are infected because they don’t look or feel sick.
Hepatitis C is spread when blood from a person infected with the hepatitis C virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. Today, most people become infected with the hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs. Before 1992, when widespread screening of the blood supply began in the United States, hepatitis C was also commonly spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants.
People can become infected with the hepatitis C virus during such activities as
• Sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment to inject drugs
• Needlestick injuries in healthcare settings
• Being born to a mother who has hepatitis C
Less commonly, a person can also get hepatitis C virus infection through
• Sharing personal care items that may have come in contact with another person’s blood, such as razors or toothbrushes
• Having sexual contact with a person infected with the hepatitis C virus but the risk of transmission from sexual contact is believed to be low.
• By getting a tattoo or piercing when poor infection-control practices are used.
• Hepatitis C virus is NOT spread by sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing. It is also not spread through food or water.
CDC’s recommendation for prevention and control of the hepatitis C virus infection state that people should not be excluded from work, school, play, child care, or other settings because they have hepatitis C. There is no evidence that people can get hepatitis C from food handlers, teachers, or other service providers without blood-to-blood contact.
The hepatitis C virus can survive outside the body at room temperature, on environmental surfaces, for at least 16 hours but no longer than 4 days. Any blood spills — including dried blood, which can still be infectious — should be cleaned using a dilution of one part household bleach to 10 parts water. Gloves should be worn when cleaning up blood spills.

ds is the best resource ive found. real people who really care about each other. i visited medhelp during one tx and they censored us like we were gradeschoolers or something. i can say hell, damn, fart on here and no-one cares. i just done it, how cool is that?? :)>

it looks better on the actual printed copy :)

Yes, hcvadvote is an excellent site.

Thanks for posting that AndNIcole!

good old american capitalism spread this virus also. lots of blood used to be " donated" by prisoners. i believe as late as the 1980,s the us government began blood screening requirements. to avoid this added expense the same inmate blood was taken to canada for processing, then returned to us blood banks. ill tell ya americans are without conviction where profit is concerned. the good news is we have corruption in america but there is justice as well. look at all the shady bankers going to jail. nice...

Its like a catch 52 cap. I would have died without a blood transfusion in 86, but now I have hepc from it, which overall compared to other things I can deal with.Tainted blood/aftermath and lack of knowledge of the disease is still prevelant today.