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My life with Hepatitis C
 |
| David Singerman |
IN 1965 David Singerman was knocked
down by a car as he crossed the road. As a
result he was given a blood transfusion.
Thirty-five years later, David, now 63, was
to discover that the life-saving treatment
had in fact led to him contracting hepatitis C.
"In 2000 I went to my doctor because I had a
rash on my groin and I thought I might need
some ointment.While I was there my GP said
I wasn't looking that well and he suggested
that I have some blood tests. That's when they
discovered I had hepatitis C," said David
ahead of World Hepatitis Day onMonday.
David was Professor of Mathematics at
Southampton University and the husband of
a former mayor of
the city, Margaret
Singerman.
As well as being
contracted through
blood transfusions
carried out prior to
1991, hepatitis C is commonly
associated with drug users.
David, of Harefield, Southampton,
explained he had never suffered from any
stigma surrounding the virus, but admitted
his GP had jumped to conclusions when he
was first diagnosed.
"The doctor sort of assumed that because I
had been at university in the 60s I must have
been a drug user, but I assured him I had
never taken drugs in my life."
David has had to come to terms with his
prognosis and the likelihood that he will need
to have a liver transplant at
some point.
There is a treatment for hepatitis C that
works in 50 per cent of cases - sadly, David's
was not one of them. The condition can also
lead to episodes in which the brain stops
working properly and, in David's terms, you
become "totally stupid".
"It's happened to me three times and can
last for days at a time," he said.
David realised these times when he just
could not think clearly were incompatible
with his work at Southampton University
and, reluctantly after 37 years, he decided to
take early retirement.
He is still heavily involved in research and
is a supporter of the world awareness day.
"In previous years I have helped with
raising awareness
in the city on World
Hepatitis Day.
Afterwards someone
came up to me
and thanked me for
doing it - they
explained that as a
result thay had been for a blood test and discovered
they had hepatitis C too."
OnMonday, David and Margaret will be at a
special event in Cornwall when Chrissie
Davis and her partner John, who both have
hepatitis C, will marry.
"I tend to be a very positive person and I
don't dwell too much on what the future may
hold. I don't mind who I tell that I have
hepatitis C. I've never felt descriminated
against and I've never felt the stigma that
some people talk about," he said.
8:24am Sunday 18th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Fred on 8:39am Sun 18 May 08
"Thirty-five years later, David, now 63, was to discover that the life-saving treatment had in fact led to him contracting hepatitis C."
As if that isn't bad enough - imagine if he donated blood in the 70's - long before Hep C was known about and passed it to countless others.
"Thirty-five years later, David, now 63, was to discover that the life-saving treatment had in fact led to him contracting hepatitis C."
As if that isn't bad enough - imagine if he donated blood in the 70's - long before Hep C was known about and passed it to countless others.
Posted by: paul b on 12:57pm Sun 18 May 08
Whats with all the sudden interest in old people and their ilness?
Whats with all the sudden interest in old people and their ilness?
Posted by: hulla, baloo on 1:40pm Sun 18 May 08
[quote][bold]paul b[/bold] wrote:
Whats with all the sudden interest in old people and their ilness?[/quote] Makes a change from an accident on one of Hampshires busiest roads or comparing a cruise ship to the amount of London buses.
paul b wrote:
Whats with all the sudden interest in old people and their ilness?
Makes a change from an accident on one of Hampshires busiest roads or comparing a cruise ship to the amount of London buses.
Posted by: c, soton on 2:16pm Sun 18 May 08
[quote][bold]paul b[/bold] wrote:
Whats with all the sudden interest in old people and their ilness?[/quote] illness, you want to learn to spell if your going to slag off every story.
paul b wrote:
Whats with all the sudden interest in old people and their ilness?
illness, you want to learn to spell if your going to slag off every story.
Posted by: hulla, baloo on 2:31pm Sun 18 May 08
[quote][bold]c[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]paul b[/bold] wrote: Whats with all the sudden interest in old people and their ilness?[/quote] illness, you want to learn to spell if your going to slag off every story.[/quote] Hmm.
You had better check your spelling.
Your should be you are.
c wrote:
paul b wrote: Whats with all the sudden interest in old people and their ilness?
illness, you want to learn to spell if your going to slag off every story.
Hmm.
You had better check your spelling.
Your should be you are.
Posted by: Spelling checker on 4:07pm Sun 18 May 08
[quote][bold]c[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]paul b[/bold] wrote: Whats with all the sudden interest in old people and their ilness?[/quote] illness, you want to learn to spell if your going to slag off every story.[/quote] Mr Pot meet Mr Kettle.
It's you're you numbskull.
c wrote:
paul b wrote: Whats with all the sudden interest in old people and their ilness?
illness, you want to learn to spell if your going to slag off every story.
Mr Pot meet Mr Kettle.
It's you're you numbskull.
Posted by: paul b on 5:02pm Sun 18 May 08
[quote][bold]Spelling checker[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]c[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]paul b[/bold] wrote: Whats with all the sudden interest in old people and their ilness?[/quote] illness, you want to learn to spell if your going to slag off every story.[/quote] Mr Pot meet Mr Kettle.
It's you're you numbskull.[/quote] PHAIL!
Spelling checker wrote:
c wrote:
paul b wrote: Whats with all the sudden interest in old people and their ilness?
illness, you want to learn to spell if your going to slag off every story.
Mr Pot meet Mr Kettle.
It's you're you numbskull.
PHAIL!
Posted by: Chrissy, Cornwall on 7:01pm Wed 21 May 08
David well done on telling your story..Its people like you that we need to raise awareness for this disease...
You keep that positive attitude that rubs off on others..
It was good to see you both here in Cornwall on Monday..
I know we all made a difference to WHAD...
Lots of love Chrissyx
David well done on telling your story..Its people like you that we need to raise awareness for this disease...
You keep that positive attitude that rubs off on others..
It was good to see you both here in Cornwall on Monday..
I know we all made a difference to WHAD...
Lots of love Chrissyx
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