TOPIC:

Hey guys!

Sorry I'm writing it over here, but I really don't know where else I can go. I hope you don't mind.
Lately I've been feeling really anxious work has been really stressful it really feels like I'm not enjoying it anymore, been looking for a new role but had no success. Just feels like I've got a lot of things on my plate Brexit (me being Eu resident in UK) married to an Australian (meaning no right to stay) being HIV and hep c positive which means I've got no chance of migrating to Australia. I really feel insecure, feeling like things are happening in front of me without me having any control. I've started my treatment almost. 8 weeks ago results a amazing negative in 4 weeks. There are though things that make me want to scream and panic. Am I gonna be able to migrate to Australia if I was cured and had history of hep c and being HIV + how my life will look like when my husband would need to go back to Australia ? And many other small things that paralise me and make me short of breath. I guess I wonder how are you guys dealing with these sort of things ? Any tips ? Sorry for bringing it here, but really you guys are the only support I can think of

Hi FHN,

A quick thought that maybe helps you:
- having HCV might means you have a lot of worries or a tendency to have many worries.
- having also HIV may increase this tendency of having worries.
So... why not trying something different?
Getting treated for HCV means you will remove at least one worry from your head, so why not put in a place a dream or wish you might have? Do not replace one worry with another worry.

HCV plays more or less with people's minds, so the good thing is that once HCV will be gone, you will have a better control on your life and mind and better times to think on solutions for all other problems.

Stay positive, you are on the right track. Allow yourself time and do not overstress .

Cheers,
RHF

Good morning from Australia FHCN
I am saddened to read your predicament and was interested by your post as I wasn't clear on the migration laws related to health issues here, as most of what we hear is related to asylum seeking displaced people and their sad fight to be able to stay here. I didn't realise such tight laws applied to HIV. I have quickly looked at the Govt site.
I also found a short article by a law firm for you

On Immigration:

www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa/Heal/overvie...eats-to-publichealth

And for a VISA :

www.visabureau.com/australia/visa-health-requirements.aspx

Note the par here: "....There is nothing in current Australian legislation that automatically excludes HIV infected applicants from being granted a visa under the Skilled Migration route, but DIBP will determine whether the applicant will require the future use of significant medical resources and incur costs on the public health system. If they believe this to be the case then the application will be refused."


www.bdl.com.au/migration-law/can-hiv-pos...cy-in-australia.html

This is also related to the HIV part of your question. The most important par for what you're asking FHCN says "... However, the health requirement may be waived for a HIV positive applicant if it can be demonstrated that the applicant’s medical condition would not result in an undue cost or burden on the Australian Health Care system."

In terms of HCV it seems all okay it is Hep B that seems to get more mention.

Wishing you all the best in your treatments and issues I don't know if I have helped at all really but I send you a hug xxx

Regards from Ariel


PS I am not an immigration lawyer or officer or public servant so if I have made any errors or left anything out forum members please be kind Thankyou

Hi Fixhepcnow,

Speaking as an expat Brit, I can really understand what you're saying about Brexit... meaning what the f*** has just happened in the UK??

I've been on FixHepC since about October last year, and even though I have my own views on how to run the world (put people like me or Dr James in charge ) I have tried very hard to be politics-neutral here. After all, we're all here to fight that little bastard monster called Hepatitis C that cares not for countries or politics or skin colour or ethnic origin or what it might say in your passport...

Anyway, I cannot offer any particular advice for your own situation. The only thing I can say from my own experience is that this bastard virus wears people down. It is not simply a question of what level of fibrosis you are at or what level of AST or ALT your liver might be churning out. I am sure that the eventual fatigue and sense of weakness and powerlessness that comes from years of the virus slowly eating away at your body takes its toll on all of us.

But since you are now virus free, just remember you will get stronger each day, both mentally and physically. And even if the world gets crazier each day, you are getting stronger faster.

And even if it was a bad idea to give old-age pensioners who have never been abroad the right to vote, there are still enough sane people left in this world. And there are lots of Brits living in europe and lots of europeans living in the UK. So I'm pretty sure things will work out OK in the end and nobody will be thrown out of the UK.

And if the worst comes to the worst, you can always move to Scotland or Ireland (only kidding)...

Cheers,

Oor Wullie

Hi FHCN
I think I kinda have a sense of where you are coming from. I completely relate to the added and maybe invisible stress that goes along with any kind of prolonged Tx. Added to this I read that you have the additional complexities of work and belonging. For me at 8 week into Tx there was a sense of heightened tension and anxiety which forced me a leave of absence from work for a time. I think that the only supportive suggestion that I can make is to take things one step at a time. Try not to worry and focus on your health now that you have taken up this amazing opportunity to get well. From my experience I have noticed that things can be a little muddled from time to time however I also can say that the future will be much better without hepc. Decision making will become easier and you will have the strength to follow up. Xx

Pat1 & Rohcvfighter

Thank you to all of you for your reply. I really didn't expect so many of you to write here. Sometime I wish I could turn back time and take a different direction. I was thinking that maybe the medications or the virus it self makes me feel that way or even work as I'm in a very hectic environment which really throws me around a bit like a ping pong especially after Bank of England cut their rates. It makes me worried that it might jepordise my treatment.

Ariel

Unfortuantely I wouldn't be a skilled worker but I'm married to an Australian citizen, here I hope that Australian government would look at it differently and that they would recognise our same sex marriage. I love my husband and can not imagine living anywhere else but by his side.

Vororo

Exactly how I feel. I really feel like I'm part of this nation. Still living in a denial. Hoping I won't be a hostage in hands of Theresa May hehe

Hi and Thankyou for explaining your relationship in terms of the Australian law FHCN
No doubt you both watch the progress here and this latest setback in firming a date for Parliament to finally rule for marriage equality has been in local media yet again

mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-21/pm-off...iscite-delay/7770038

Wishing you continued success in your winning over HCV and wellness and peace going forward. Hopefully rules here will soon change, but this has been a long lobby indeed for many.

Love from Ariel

Hello FHCN,

Our immigration department can be difficult but what should be immediately possible is to get a temporary visa (which does not have a health check requirement) The health check includes mandatory HIV testing for all people over 15 but this, in itself is not an exclusion criteria. The temporary visa is actually required to apply for a permanent one.

Although we are going to have a vote on same sex marriage early next year, with the expectation that it will go through, this is largely irrelevant as our common law views a 1-2 year (ish) relationship more of less the same as being married.

Here is a guide to the process: www.lotl.com/Advice/A-Guide-For-Same-Sex...Permanent-Residency/

Note that you can't register a same sex relationship in the states NT, SA, WA so you should be looking at TAS, VIC, ACT, NSW, QLD as your destination location. That will probably change is the same sex marriage vote goes through, but right now it is still entirely doable.

HTH

Hi FHCN,

Please don't apologise for sharing your thoughts and concerns here. It's great that you feel safe doing it and sometimes just getting those thoughts out of your head and written down can be helpful. You have a lot on your plate and it's understandable that you're feeling overwhelmed. When things seem large and complicated sometimes dividing them into manageable bits can give you some leverage and clarity. Try to find some issues that you can control (you have a great example in taking control over HepC) or the parts of each issue that you can control.

There is no doubt that HepC messes with clarity of thought and I know that in recent years I began to find it much more difficult to make decisions. Another good reason to try to break things down into smaller bites. Your treatment is going really well and I believe that as you feel better you'll be in a much better position to work through things and find solutions. In the meantime don't be too hard on yourself for feeling anxious.

There is some good practical advice here about potential immigration paths. The temporary visa is definitely worth pursuing.

Sometimes that feeling of paralysis and shortness of breath can be helped by some deep breathing techniques. It won't solve your problems but it can help to calm things down just a little.

Finally lean on any support that you have in your life - including this site.

Take care FHCN.

Coral

To FHCN, I wish you well, hang in there. And to my Fixhepc brothers & sisters, each of you showing such kindness & compassion with your responses here, I am so impressed with you. Y'all are really something.

Hey guys thank you for all of your messages guys ! Just wanted to give quick update. After months of pressure and stress at work my regional manager contacted me and offered me a promotion due to my hard work haha, really unexpected:)

Hi FHCN,
Your post just provided me with a wonderful light bulb moment
Thank you.
I also just got a promotion at work (thanks boss). My awesome boss worked on it for a few months. I always get good performance reviews. But I suffer horribly from impostor syndrome and worry chronically that one day he will realise that I am useless and a complete dud and be disappointed at his wasted effort.This is absolutely and ridiculously paralysing
I never attributed this mindset to HCV.
I don't mean to trivialise what you are going through or to hijack your post.
Welcome in advance to Australia if you do come but please don't bring the British weather

I hate it when politics comes in between of living free. I am also trying for Australia myself but first I have to clear the ielts. It's not going to be a problem and I'm already preparing with ielts mohali . Hopefully, everything will work out for you too brother. Good luck!