"GET TESTED; WHO AND WHY!" I WROTE THIS PIECE SHORTLY AFTER JOINING A HEP C SUPPORT FORUM* AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE DISEASE. (PRE- DIAGNOSIS, I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT) I HAVE LEFT IT AS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN, AND JUST ADD THE NOTE THAT I AM NOT INTENDING TO PORTRAY HEP C AS A LIFESTYLE DISEASE. SEE LINK AT BOTTOM OF POST FOR ACCESS TO FURTHER INFO ON HOW HEP C MAY BE CONTRACTED, AND ON GETTING TESTED..

all you wild child, gypsy nomads, party poppers & risk takers (back then in the past or still living it out now, on the edge from time to time or too much but you just can't help yourself) when we were innocent (and younger) we thought we could get away with it all . ........ further down the line we sometimes discover there may be a price to be paid for all that reckless abandon and experimentation! that's life, kiddo. I do NOT agree with people I've read elsewhere saying stuff about "well, it's karma." that's almost like: serves you right for not being a good girl / good boy. some of us broke out and messed around - and got the riches and the journey as well as the possible dangers of that, is all I'm saying..........so if you ever:
*jacked up a few times and ran out of clean spikes and thought just this once, splash it in boiling water, it's only my buddy, we'll be fine (in other words, you shared a needle: once, just once, is all it could take. )
*backpacked off to some exotic destination and got yourself a tattoo from someone who set up a little shack on the beach somewhere, whittled their own bamboo ..... well, you were off your face, and it was a personal slogan written in thai . hindu/ make it up script, whatever ...... maybe it wasn't totally sterile?........
*similarly, you were drunk, everyone was wasted, your mate did a DIY tattoo when you were all hanging out in some club / pub/ squat/ you were so gone you never felt a thing. it did get a bit scabby.. no one meant any harm, it was kinda funny ..... but .... maybe it wasnt sterile etc etc back then we didn't know that the Hep C virus was catching a ride from one mate to another ......
*someone practiced acupuncture on you and they tried but maybe ...... it wasn't sterile? you get the picture ......
* and for those of you who didn't even get to have the fun of all the wild times: you have ever had extensive surgery / dentistry / a blood transfusion especially pre 1991 and sorry - we didn't know; some health workers were unkowing carriers - some blood batches were infected.
* whoops factor 1. you might have accidentally used someone's toothbrush (it happens) who maybe was a carrier. and they / you had bleeding gums and: well, you heard news of them recently - sure, they're fine. but they could be a carrier or not manifesting yet.
*whoops factor number 2. remember that time you cut yourself, your mate had a cut too, you guys were rock climbing or whatever - he helped patch you up ...... wonder if there was any blood to blood contact? remember, this is a blood bourne virus.
none of this is to make you paranoid. just that early diagnosis is of course best. and it's realistic; this is a fast growing world wide epidemic. (google up AM I NUMBER 12?) so don't be anxious, just get tested. and if you know someone who you think may have been at risk - are you able to gently suggest this to them? most especially if you know someone who always seems to be sick and tired - struggling with unexplained symptoms.
much love; carrying on doing your thing and if you're a natural risk taker (some of us are, and I get it) ok, that's your nature; just take a safety / reality check now and then. no blame and don't oversimplify the very subtle concept of karma. karma is just ... your path
much love Eva
written by eva day: Nov 2009.

for further info, access http://www.hepctrust.org.uk/