Newly Diagnosed - Scared to Death

[Tallblonde]

I hope someone here can calm the terror in my heart.  I'm a 44 year old professional woman.  I learned on Monday that I've tested posted for the Hepatitis C virus though the results of a routine blood test (required by an insurance company in order to increase my coverage).  At first I assumed it was a mistake, because I knew I that my fertility clinic had done the same test back in March and it was negative.  I immediately called the fertility clinic to re-confirm this.  They assured me that I had taken the test and it was negative.  Whew!

My world changed forever the following day when the fertility clinic called back and said "Upon closer inspection of your lab results, we've come to realize that we somehow missed the fact that you did indeed test positive for HCV."  SIX MONTHS AGO!!!

My liver enzymes are slightly elevated: AST-77; ALT-87 and GGT-49.  I'm waiting for the results of the blood test I had on Friday that will tell me my viral load.  I'm also waiting until October 21 for my first appointment with a specialist at the Cleveland Clinic. I have had a number of symptoms which until this week, I didn't realize were associated with Hep C.  I've had tingling and numbness in my extremties for nearly three years; I've had joint and muscle pain for at least a year; and I've had this persistent itching for about three months.

Not that it matters at this point, but I have NO idea how I've contracted this.  No drug use, no piercings/tattos, no transfusions, no promiscuity, etc.  Can anyone give me ANY hope for my future?  Do I even have a future?

[newgirl]

I am so sorry that you are here, but rest assured that you have found a wonderful group who will surely help you through this.  Right now, try your very hardest to look forward, not backwards, and understand this is a part of your life that you can take control of.  Good luck to you, I will say many prayers that all of you newbies sail through this with ease.

As for everyone else, I apologize for my absence lately...I have been having a hard time and needed to take some time to indulge my mind in other things other than hep c.  I took a leave of absence from work as of last week, hoping that the overwhelming stress that I was feeling will start to dissapate and I can finally feel as if I am taking care of myself.  So, for the next three months I am going to rest and enjoy my life.  I hope this was the right decision!  

I think about all of you everyday, and to Galen... congratulations, you are an inspiration to us all.

[MajNeni]

Hi,
Sorry you're dealing with Hepatitis C, but welcome.
Relax, this is a slow moving disease, and there's a lot you can do. Make sure you have a good doctor (preferably a gastro-enterologist or hepatologist) to work with you. You're going to need this doc for a while, so make sure you have good communications. Good luck, and come back here with your questions and comments.
Here are a great bunch of web sites where you can get informed.
Don't go crazy: the information on these web sites should be the same, so read just enough.

Get the basics on the FAQ's of these general HCV sites:
http://www.liverfoundation.org/ (American Liver Foundation)
http://www.natap.org
http://www.hepnet.com/hepc.html
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/c/fact.htm
http://www.carbonbased.com/cbcblood.htm
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/chrnhepc/chrnhepc.htm
http://www.battlinghepc.com./
http://www.hepcassoc.org/links.html (many links)

http://www.themedicineprogram.com/info.html (helps pay for meds if you can

[ral]

Great job Galen.

Tallblonde just take it one step at a time we are all scared no matter what are backround

ral

[mycoldfeet]

hey, join the club on being scared, we all here in the forum started with that dx of having hep c, But we are all in this boat together. I have Hep C geno 1 the hardest to get rid of but have been clear of the virus since before halfway through the 48 wks. Im on pegasys/rib tx and even though its not a bed of roses ive only missed one day of work ( paramedic) which is where i contracted it. Please use this forum for any questions u might have. Ive learned so much and the people are great, as far as the type of Hep C u have some are easier to cure and the tx not so long. As far as the biopsy goes they give u a choice of drugs or no drugs HA GIVE ME THE DRUGS, i woke up and was out in 3 hours. Left a little red dot and was sore a couple of days dont worry about it, and for goodness sake dont let the drug information sheet scare you, listen to the forum and know the real deal, they tell u on that sheet every crappy thing in the world that can happen to cover their butts but in the small print it says this and that happened in a percentage equal to being hit by a train. Talk to your Dr. and I hope to hear from u  when u know more. bye

[layla]

I am also a 44 year old female professional. I was dx with HCV last year. My story is similar to your on the symptoms. I have now been on tx (treatment) for 8 months. I still work but I do have sx (sides from tx). Some weeks are more difficult than others but I get by. Tx is different for everyone. I feel for me tx will be easier while younger and I am not too sick. I also hate being contagious. The mental part of that for me alone is worth getting rid fo this. Don't beat yourself up to bad on this. You may never know how you got it. Educating yourself will help you a lot. I've just been on this MB for a short time but there is really a lot of good advice here. I also find trying to be positive a big plus. I hope your viral load is low. LL

[coyote81053]

well,i was diagnosed with hepatitis when i was sixteen.i did not heed the doctors warnings. i drank and abused drugs ,as i got older and some what wiser the drug use stoped .but i still drank.now thirty four years later.my liver is revolting,im now sixteen weeks in to my 26 week inter feron, rebtrol treatment  ,so im here to let you know that there is life after
your diagnosed hep c.stop all alcohol in take, how ever small.
my alt was 187 ,ast was 85.my blood test now show no signs of hep.