hey my brother , i have friends and familey that did the same ! then i have friends that did the oppisit !i think they just dont know !you have a friend here Ken

Oh Lance I'm so sorry that some people in this day and age are still so ignorant regarding hep c.
Both Richard and I didn't have many friends but did have this couple we hung out with for years, and when we were diagnosed in 2000, we soon found out what kind of friends they were, they did the dissapearing act on us, lol.
So has you probably know by now, we both went thru the motions, did treatment, after years of being undie, consider ourselves cured, now we met this couple and they want us to come over ect...
but unfortunately they have hurt us to much in 2000, besides they are still partying which we no longer do since diagnosed.
Even after being cured of the disease we never drank alcohol again, and we do not have the taste for it, so in the end the best friends we have are each other and we are happy like that.
I wish I could help you, but please know that you are a good man, and that ignorance is their choice, if they don't want to learn about this disease, they don't deserve your friendship.
Gentle hug coming to you my friend.
Mckenzie

Tell everyone you can!! I have, and I feel so much better. I have a lot of support. No one has turned from me yet. For some reason I feel better having told people, rather than make excuses for why I am not working, am I feeling OK, why people don't see me around any more. I just tell them. It is too stressful keeping it to yourself. They will come around, true friends will. God forbid, but I believe so many more people have it and don't know it...yet. Good luck stay streong and positive! Janie

I have been puzzling with this question myself. At this time I have only told one person in my family. I was just recently diagnosed so want to be as educated as I can before I decide to tell anyone else. There are some in my life that don't need to know as due to the type of relationship have no worries of hep c being transmitted by me. A few need to know do to the work I do. Fortunately the one I work with has worked around a hep c person before and had no problem. I am thinking twice about who I really need to tell. One member mentioned if you do tell be ready for the stigma that will come with it. I was surprised at the ignorance from lack of education on hep c when I just spoke with one of my few girlfriends and she mentioned a friend that just found out she had hep c. It surprised me her lack of education on it for sharing so much of how she new it could be transmitted. The first thing her and friend thought about was who she had sex with. I mentioned what I have learnt here and that sexual transmittal was very rare. I grew up with thinking hepatitis was caused by intravenous needle users. I have come along way in a short time with knowledge on this disease. When I mentioned the main reasons she mentioned the woman did use to share straws in snorting coke. Bingo the more likely reason for the cause. After ranting here my point is before I tell anyone else I want to be well educated to help them understand any risk if they where to be in close contact with me. If they choose not to see me and just chat on the phone I could accept that if they truly understood the major causes of transmitting the disease. Blood transfusions before 1991 (correct me if I have the date wrong), sharing needles and tattoos. If that is their security level I have adjusted to that is their choice nothing against me. I personally could have received hep c many years ago from a tattoo. That is one thing so wonderful about DS. They are here to help. The members understand and would never abandon you.

it is sheer ignorance and the fear that arises from that ignorance why you are abandoned. but, if your friends prefer to disown you rather than to research hepc in the hope of retaining your friendship, then they were never friends. hepc is not something you should be ashamed of! i walk with my head high and tell everyone. i do not try to hide that i am infected, although i have noted some swift retreat from some, who previously called themselves my friends, but that is their loss. i am a good friend and just because i have hepc, that does not make me a different person. i am the same before and after and i am proud of it. hepc is just another hurdle sent to try us. it is one of many in life's cycle and we have to learn to deal with it. be strong my friend. you dont need ignorance around you. you need love and understanding and you need genuine ppl, not insincere, inconsiderate, selfish ppl. move on from them. you are better than that. be proud of who you are cos you are you and you are probably the best person you know:) and if its any consolation, you have lotsa friends on here and we're all genuine ppl. take care you:)

You have a beautiful family!
That is a great source of strength.
Friends will come and go. IT is sad but many times when you fall on hard times because of finances, vices illnesses, your true friends will rise to help see you through. Others vaporize until after you overcome your trial.
You will always have friends and support here.

There is so much ignorance about HCV. Before I had it I never ever thought about it. It was a blur of strange diseases that happened to other people. Hep A, B, C, encephalitis, anything with an "itis" scares the general public.

I told another friend this week. She listened a few minutes and then she just wanted to know, "Is it terminal?"

Tonight I will tell my children. It's past time. By trying not to rock the teenage boat, it leaves them unprotected and uneducated. I take precautions here, but what about their friends?

We have work here to do. First, we support each other in our management of this disease and second, we educate and invest ourselves in the newest members. By comforting and educating the newbies they will be able to help themselves and educate those around them. Each one tell one.

HIV/AIDS had a horrible stigma. It wasn't until there were real all American faces attached, legislation, and research that the general public grew less freightened. It was hard work but having HIV/AIDS doesn't get one tar and feathered and run out of town anymore. We must help our cause by being brave as soon as we are ready. Hope this helps.

I watch who I tell because of the outcome. I just dont want to deal with that emotion. I get most of my support on this site, Thank God for this gift. Its a shame people are so uneducated but there is nothing you can do about that. Just take care of yourself, were here to support you. Peace and love

I had a Pastor tell me I was going to hell because of how I got Hep c, IV drugs in 1975 and that I did not have enough faith to be healed. this guy needs his own show. It is his way or no way. Well so much of what was a pathetic friendship

Ive only told one person, apart from my son and partner,I find if you caught it from drugs people have a different attitude than if you caught it from a blood transfusion, and even though i've been clean for yrs now, so I don't tell anyone, no one talks about it, my son thinks because I look ok I must be ok, I got him a book and put it on his bed, and I found it in the kitchen bin, I also found it very hard telling my family dentist, who we've had for 10yrs, and he was the only person who hasn't treated me any different. I feel ashmed to say I have hep c, where I should be saying, don't do this that or he other as you can get hep c, I avoid the subject, not that it ever comes up. I shouldn't be ashmed I did a few stupid things in my late teens, and I am paying for it now.

You knwo what, my friend and family know and they still love me, but some people you have to educate. The people who don't know me very well, I tend to keep that info to myself. Educate your friends, and if they still treat you like that then they really aren't your friends. But we are :)

consider me a friend.this site alone you will find plenty of sincere friendship.if you ever need an ear i'm here,if you want to listen i'll talk,when everyone left me by the waste side while in the joint ,i made a commitment i was going to choose my friends ,it was no more they choose me.i'm doing tx after a couple of years recovery. everyday it's an up hill climb,however i love myself an i would/nt trade a moment in time. i'm here for you

i tell people if it comes up. i also tell everyone about the fact that i am on tx. even co workers. it keeps them from thinking i am on drugs or an alcoholic. peoples mind start to wander when you come into work most days looking like you have a hangover! but there are some who are just ignorant. we have to tolerate them. this place is a great place to have friends that do really understand, and will not judge you.

I agree w/everyone-HepC is nothing to be ashamed of...all my family/friends know and also that I contracted it 30 yrs ago from IV drugs! Most people are scared due to lack of understanding as everyone here w/tell you...it is a very personal decision who to tell and who not to-only you can decide....I wouldn't give up yet on your friends-maybe if you can send email or letters to them explaining facts then they will be more understanding.

After I had all the facts, tests, bioposy and date of tx start I sent email out to entire family and close friends telling all...to me it was easier than telling them one at a time. If you want you can check out my Journal Entry to see my email. TRUE friends will be there by your side and if not then maybe you don't need the stress they inflict on you....best of luck dear---you have tons of friends here to talk to w/o any judgement just love!

AHH your not alone brother!!! "IT IS WHAT IT IS" If your friends steer away from you it's thier loss my friend. You can always tell when they start steering away. "THE EYES DON'T LIE" . So Just make the best of your life with what ya got, Forget the dumb shit stuff, It may close one door but opens another! I know. Since I came here the doors where closing on me and know I have personally have met dear friends here. WHAT A DOOR OPENING THAT HAS BEEN FOR ME!!!!!!!! Take Care!