Hello everybody , I started to recover from on and off drug abuse 3 months ago. And I'm also diagnosed with hepatitis C , waiting for treatment (could take a while , need to be clean 9 more months). And I'm starting to date girls again , and I feel so good and really convinced that i'm not falling in to another period of abuse !!! For the first time in my life , I feel secure and confident about not taking drugs again. Overall my health is good , i'm working out and eating good. I also started to get online and chat with women... If I start a relationship , how should I approach this in a good way? I really do not want to reveal all my flaws and also not really interested in sharing my drug abuse with everyone the first dates or so. I am 28 years old , male and feel confident enough to say it and while I feel that will come naturally as the dates progresses. However I would really appreciate some advice and tips from anyone. Or stories.. Most people including myself would be a bit scared I guess... But it's my reality. And I really want to start living again , and dating and all that.... // John
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SLR Moderators: Senior Staff
Dating someone , when having Hep-C ?
- Thread starter FakeFlake
- Start date
Ksa
Ex-Bluelighter
This is absurd, why the wait? Are you waiting for new treatment or are they denying you treatment because you've used drugs? It doesn't make sense, if you used drugs your liver might be damaged and you should be the first on the list to get treated.
YIAut2
Greenlighter
John...you're on the right path IMO...same way I would have done it had I not met my soul mate right after I was diagnosed.
She is a wonderful lady
who spent 99.7% of the verbal courtship beaming nothing but positive vibes...so I laid it out...would have crushed me to get further in and then have to tell her about it. So I tossed it out there for consideration...while neither of us had too much in it. I knew she was the one I would pursue...the end. Had to tell her.
It went very well to...she's a smart lady...did her own research and determined that the risks are minimal with regular monogamous relations between us...so we moved into the other phases of the good shit.
As far as the treatment and how you as an individual need to move forward...only your ID Doc can tell you that...with the new stuff almost here...if you have one of the two types it works on...your call. I am choosing to avoid the interferon route all together as the side effects seem a bit to debilitating to me.
But there was much talk of patient warehousing as all the new treatments roll out...because it doesn't effect everyone the same...and some can wait with less risk than others. Still trying to figure it all out myself...along with BarryCare.
That was my experience with it...your mileage may vary
Cheers
She is a wonderful lady
who spent 99.7% of the verbal courtship beaming nothing but positive vibes...so I laid it out...would have crushed me to get further in and then have to tell her about it. So I tossed it out there for consideration...while neither of us had too much in it. I knew she was the one I would pursue...the end. Had to tell her.It went very well to...she's a smart lady...did her own research and determined that the risks are minimal with regular monogamous relations between us...so we moved into the other phases of the good shit.
As far as the treatment and how you as an individual need to move forward...only your ID Doc can tell you that...with the new stuff almost here...if you have one of the two types it works on...your call. I am choosing to avoid the interferon route all together as the side effects seem a bit to debilitating to me.
But there was much talk of patient warehousing as all the new treatments roll out...because it doesn't effect everyone the same...and some can wait with less risk than others. Still trying to figure it all out myself...along with BarryCare.
That was my experience with it...your mileage may vary
Cheers
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Thanks for the answers guys.. Yes I would want to wait for the new treatments if possible. And I did a ultrasound on the liver, it seems pretty undamaged as the disease is not far gone. I would not want the interferon either, so now I'm waiting for next appointment at doc. What does "warehousing" means ? Glad to hear that your relationship is working out for you , I can only imagine the anxiety of telling the news to someone that you're in love with...
YIAut2
Greenlighter
John
(e.g., intentionally delaying treatment)
More less putting it off till they get the new course of treatment available...phase one
I think they will continue it after the release...short term..so it doesn't turn into a midnight madness sale event. The previous articles I had read used the term "stampede".
Cheers
(e.g., intentionally delaying treatment)
More less putting it off till they get the new course of treatment available...phase one
I think they will continue it after the release...short term..so it doesn't turn into a midnight madness sale event. The previous articles I had read used the term "stampede".
Cheers
Gratuitous Grace
Bluelighter
A bit -- sure. But not even the government is that worked up abut it:
Source: http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/products/HCV-education-class-script.asp
pofacedhoe
Bluelight Crew
Hep c is serious business.
cirrhosis is a bad complication. i dont know what to say
i would want someone to tell me if i was in a relationship with them and they had it, but if they did it would put me off. i feel like such a dick for saying that but its my honest reaction
i've just seen the problems it causes- death without a new liver. so harsh
cirrhosis is a bad complication. i dont know what to say
i would want someone to tell me if i was in a relationship with them and they had it, but if they did it would put me off. i feel like such a dick for saying that but its my honest reaction
i've just seen the problems it causes- death without a new liver. so harsh
Foreigner
Bluelighter
Why is there a delay in your treatment? Sooner is better, from what the literature says.
STDs and relationships are tricky business, but if the person really cares about you, and you are open and honest, I think it should be ok. The timing of when you tell them matters though. If you're open about it at the very beginning you could risk ending the relationship before it begins, unless you get the impression that the person is super understanding.
Protected sex will be a must while you're still contagious. Once you get treatment and don't test positive for the virus, that's another story.
STDs and relationships are tricky business, but if the person really cares about you, and you are open and honest, I think it should be ok. The timing of when you tell them matters though. If you're open about it at the very beginning you could risk ending the relationship before it begins, unless you get the impression that the person is super understanding.
Protected sex will be a must while you're still contagious. Once you get treatment and don't test positive for the virus, that's another story.
llama112
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2010
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STDs are something that you need to bring up ASAP into a relationship. And you have to be careful to ALWAYS use protection. Honesty and using protection is the key.
Yes, it may scare away some people if you tell them upfront. But you know what... that is going to happen.... it won't scare away everyone. Those are the people you want to be seeing.
Not everyone is very well educated in STDs or Hep C specifically. I don't know that much about Hep C. If you start seeing someone, even casually, I'd suggest that you put together some information for them regarding Hep C. Just like how it can be transferred, etc ... just so that the person you're seeing has an idea of what she's getting into. You're upfront and honest and giving her proper information so she doesn't just believe any myths out there about it.
Yes, it may scare away some people if you tell them upfront. But you know what... that is going to happen.... it won't scare away everyone. Those are the people you want to be seeing.
Not everyone is very well educated in STDs or Hep C specifically. I don't know that much about Hep C. If you start seeing someone, even casually, I'd suggest that you put together some information for them regarding Hep C. Just like how it can be transferred, etc ... just so that the person you're seeing has an idea of what she's getting into. You're upfront and honest and giving her proper information so she doesn't just believe any myths out there about it.
desertshore
Bluelighter
^ I think that Hep C cannot be transmitted via semen or vaginal fluids, but only through blood. Vaginal intercourse, for instance, should really be a very very low risk. So yes, it also is a STD, but a peculiar one.
OP, you obviously have to tell... and probably you should do it before having any intimate contact - not only because of the risk you might be to them, but because (as llama says) not everyone is very well educated in STD and they might just freak out / accuse you of something / whatever. If I was infected with Hep C I would be probably more preoccupied with possible contagion brought by razor/toothbrush/cuts and abrasions or other accidents than everything else..
OP, you obviously have to tell... and probably you should do it before having any intimate contact - not only because of the risk you might be to them, but because (as llama says) not everyone is very well educated in STD and they might just freak out / accuse you of something / whatever. If I was infected with Hep C I would be probably more preoccupied with possible contagion brought by razor/toothbrush/cuts and abrasions or other accidents than everything else..
Hep C is primarily spread via the blood, so sharing needles, unclean tattoo guns and the use of blood products (although its rare that blood in the West would have Hep C in blood products). Its only a concern if you have very vigorous sex that leads to tears and bleeding in both partners. Lets face it, thats quite rare, so its not a STD in the traditional sense. That said, you should still be open and honest with anyone you are wanting to date. Don't be put off, there are probably lots of women out there who will accept that you have Hep C, as a healthcare pro, I have come across people who have started relationships with people who have Hep C, HIV etc. There are some pretty open minded, and nonjedgemental people out there.
The doctor said that I needed to be away from drugs and alcohol for 12 months before the treatment. And I know how Hep-C transfers, and that sex is really not a concern... And I am going to be honest about it , OF COURSE !!!! I know that this is going to be MY problem , but also if i'm starting a relationship it's not longer MY problem, the only question is when to tell....
Hep c is serious business.
cirrhosis is a bad complication. i dont know what to say
i would want someone to tell me if i was in a relationship with them and they had it, but if they did it would put me off. i feel like such a dick for saying that but its my honest reaction
i've just seen the problems it causes- death without a new liver. so harsh
Is it really your honest opinion , that if someone that you are falling in love with or even in love with tells you that he or she has hep-c, you would would back out?