Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask you all a question about Hepititas and what you think about people who have it???

38 replies

BarmCakes · 28/01/2011 14:00

Just found out that I most likely have Hep C, will find out for defininate next week but its not looking good.

Suddenly feel like I am carrying this deadly disease and that I am going to infect everyone around me including the DC.

If my kids friends find out their parents will surely stop them from coming to our house in case their kids catch it too.

And although i am a Sahm atm nobody is ever going to employ me in the future once they find out!

I need to know how people feel about Hep C, how would you feel about somebody that had it, would you keep your children away?

if you have it how did you get it? How do you tell people and/or your employers?

Sorry for all the questions but I'm desperately trying to find out as much as I can Sad

OP posts:
ShatnersBassoon · 28/01/2011 14:04

All I would think is 'I wonder how they got it'.

If I had Hepatitis, I don't think I would tell people that didn't need to know, and I'm not sure if you're obliged to tell employers about it.

Original poster
BarmCakes · 28/01/2011 14:09

I don't know how I got it, never used drugs , but did have a blood transfusion a few years ago.

OP posts:
Original poster
BarmCakes · 28/01/2011 14:10

I work with children, alhtough not working atm after having DD. I'd surely have to tell any future employers. It would be unfair to the children I work with.

OP posts:
IAmReallyFabNow · 28/01/2011 14:10

I would only tell people on a need to know basis and that depends on how it is passed on (I don't know).

LittleWhiteWolf · 28/01/2011 14:11

Same here--I would very much keep it to myself, same as I dont broadcast my ibs or my recent mc. Its up to you to divulge your medical history to whomever you choose.

I work in an adult mens prison and we have several inmates with Hep C. Sadly the most common reason for them having it is sharing needles or questionable sexual hygiene.

I hope you turn out not to have it, but if you do have it I wish you well.

iskra · 28/01/2011 14:11

You sound very distressed, understandably, about the possible diagnosis.

There is absolutely no need to tell anybody about your Hep C status, & in fact employers would be contravening the Disability Discrimination Act if they treated you any differently because of it (but you don't need to tell them, unless you need their support in time off work etc).

I would never stop my child from going your house.

The Hep C Trust looks like a good resource for you.

ShatnersBassoon · 28/01/2011 14:12

I'm not sure how it's passed on, to be honest. I would imagine blood or other bodily fluids would need to be exchanged, so perhaps not as much of an issue for your job as you fear.

DooinMeCleanin · 28/01/2011 14:13

I think it is only passed on via blood to blood contact isn't it? So unless you are a nurse or doctor I can't see why you would have to tell your employers?

Personally I wouldn't think anything of it. But a lot of people still do ahve predjucies Sad, so I agree with other posters, unless you are prepared to cope with that, I'd keep it on a need to know basis.

NorthernGobshite · 28/01/2011 14:14

I work with drug users and am used to meeting people with Hep C so I have no judgement. Its not just a disease of drug users, many people with Hep C never know how they got it, its not a death sentence, its your business and no one needs to know unless you want them to.

Its harder to pass on than you think; can only be contracted blood to blood so just be aware of blood spills, not sharing toothbrushes etc. If you are diagnosed you will be referred to specialist and have liver snac, further tests etc and they will answer all your questions.

try here too

LiegeAndLief · 28/01/2011 14:16

I'm sorry, this must be really difficult news for you.

As I understand it, hep c is only transmitted by direct contact with an infected person's blood. I wouldn't have a problem at all with my kids coming round to your house etc as long as you seemed responsible and sensible (although that woudl apply whether you had hep c or not!), I'm not really sure that you need to tell everyone though. I can understand that you would feel obliged to tell employers, but I don't think you need to tell all your children's friends' parents.

If you take precautions with dealing with open cuts etc I think the transmission rate within families is practically zero, so chances of you passing it on to anyone is very very very small.

thirtysomething · 28/01/2011 14:21

I think as other have said just share the info on a need to know basis, and be ready to explain what it entails if necessary.

I have had hepatitis as a reaction to medicine and I remember hospital staff being judgemental until it was shown what caused it. People's attitudes stink sometimes. It always causes raised eyebrows on medical forms too but I am used to that now and it doesn't bother me at all. i think it says more about their prejudices than anything else!

Hope you are not feeling too poorly - I felt terrible with mine but got over it pretty quickly. I have noticed though that I have very little tolerance for alcohol - a glass of wine makes me feel ill, as I guess my liver just isn't the same.

You can live symptom-free though and live a normal life. Please don't worry - there's nothing to feel guilty/ashamed about. Just concentrate on getting well x

MmeLindt · 28/01/2011 14:24

Without knowing too much about the disease, I would be appreciative if you were honest and told me about it, and what measures you had in place to prevent anyone being infected.

I would still, if I felt my questions were honestly answered, be quite happy for my children to go to your house.

Original poster
BarmCakes · 28/01/2011 14:26

Thank you! my head is spinning at the moment. It is so good to know that I wouldn't have to tell employers. I'm gutted, I needed a blood transfusion after having my daughter and it could have given me this!

OP posts:
BringOnTheGoat · 28/01/2011 14:27

My friend had it - blood transfusion - never bothered me Smile

Nagoo · 28/01/2011 14:27

I wouldn't tell people.

although Mmelindt is reasonable, many people may not be, due to lack of understanding.

Original poster
BarmCakes · 28/01/2011 14:28

I don't feel too ill but have been feeling tired and rundown for a long time. I only found out by accident too. just having routine bloods because of some medication I am on.

OP posts:
MmeLindt · 28/01/2011 14:28

I agree, Naggo. It depends on your friends.

Original poster
BarmCakes · 28/01/2011 14:30

Nagoo, thats what I worry about. Sat calmly thinking about it while on the internet is different than being confront with it in every day life.

If your child was going to start a nursery for example and you found out a member of staff had Hep C a lot of people would be put off.

OP posts:
HecateQueenOfWitches · 28/01/2011 14:32

I'd think 'poor them'.

It doesn't really matter what an illness is or how someone got it.

I mean, unless there's an illness you can catch from kicking puppies or something. Then I'd think badly of them Wink

HecateQueenOfWitches · 28/01/2011 14:35

"If your child was going to start a nursery for example and you found out a member of staff had Hep C a lot of people would be put off."

As long as there are adequate procedures in place to cover all communicable diseases, then it's not a problem.

Nagoo · 28/01/2011 14:35

you are not under any obligation to tell anyone. By your day to day life you are not putting anyone at risk.

we are all thinking, 'how did this person get it?... therefore we are acknowledging that transmission of it is not usual, or everyday. Something happens to give you hep.

One you tell people, you are not in charge of who knows. people in general have no business knowing this about you.

and re the nursery worker , i would hav e to research before i made a judgement, but i don't think i'd rush to take my dc out. but other people would maybe panic 1st and think after...

sorry re typing, bfing

DooinMeCleanin · 28/01/2011 14:41

Re the nursery, so long as you were caring for my child adquately (which I am sure you would) then any illness you may or may not have is none of my concern. But again there is no reason for you to tell the nursery or any of dc's friend's parents.

I'm sorry you are having to cope with this. Please do contact some of the organisations linked and get some rl help with processing this.

GoldFrakkincenseAndMyrrh · 28/01/2011 14:47

I think it depends what job you do. As, say, a CM you'd need a note from your doctor saying you're fit to work with children - I don't know whether hep C would bar you from that. As a nanny I've been asked to have a health check, which I've never had a problem with and I'll be asking my future nanny to do the same, not because I want them to be in perfect health (one of my fave candidates at the moment is a diabetic) but because I want to be appraised of any condition which would affect them having sole charge of my child and them to demonstrate that it's under control. If they did happen to have Hep C it wouldn't put me off employing them, but I'd want to know so there were appropriate measures in place to prevent transmission. So maybe you need to tell employers, maybe not. You don't have to make a voluntary disclosure - just be careful not to be in situations where transmssion is a risk.

You acquaintances/the general public don't need to know.

My friend's dad had HIV. He used to be a doctor and he got it from a needlestick injury - incredibly unlucky. I only found out when one day I was round her house, she cut herself and instead of him treating it he directed her brother in what to do. I knew he used to be a doctor so I asked him why her brother was dealing with it (we were about 12 or so and we'd known him for years, knew he used to be a doc and had given up but not why) and he explained. Didn't affect the way I felt about him or his family and it wasn't something I broadcast although he told my mother when she picked me up because he'd had to tell me IYSWIM and she didn't stop me going there. That's just a long winded way of saying it doesn't matter, you won't need to tell people and if the situation does arise they probably won't react the way you think, especially if you've been living with it for a while and it's not been a problem before. Just because they suddenly find out isn't going to change the way they feel (unless they're really stupid bigots).

Schnullerbacke · 28/01/2011 14:58

I'd feel sorry for you but just because I realise that it must be a difficult thing to go through.

It would also not affect my way of dealing with you and of course my children would still socialise with you.

Agree with others, only tell on a need to know basis. Anyone turning away from you, their loss.

Original poster
BarmCakes · 28/01/2011 15:03

You are all amazing, I only hope the people I come across in rl are as understanding and non-judgemental.

Thanks for the links, have just registered on a forum for people with Hep C, will have a proper look later when the kids are all in bed

I am so scared I feel sick to the stomach

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread