Hi

[sabbath13]

Hi folks..i am new to this forum...i found out i have Hep C about 6 years ago...i have had tests done and levels have been low...i have done some risky behavior since then such as drinking..even though i knew i had it...not a lot (a couple times a month) but i am sure any is too much...i haven't had any alcohol in a few months but i do take some pain medication for other issues that i have due to a serious car accident...

i need to go to a hepatologist and possibly look into treatment...my problem is that i have no health insurance even though i am employed full time...and i don't know how to access resources...are there any for people without heath coverage? can anyone here direct me where to start? i have been able to get tests through the local clinic...but that is all they can offer..

i am also really scared and...well...i haven't told anyone in my family...i cry every time i think about it...they have enough of their own health issues and i have caused them enough grief in the past with my addiction...i try to think of ways to do treatment without anyone knowing...we all live on opposite coasts so i could hide it from them...i shouldn't keep the secret but i do because my mom would drop everything and come to help me and i don't want her to quit her life...
anyway...i think i am at stage where i am reaching out because i have avoided this disease long enough...
i feel isolated...and frightened that i won't be able to manage my life financially if i get sick or find a way to start treatment...
i will willingly accept any advice..
if i find a way to start treatment what should i expect? are there ways to manage working and treatment?

thank you for taking the time to read this..
i know the first thing i need to do is to continue not drinking...and well...i figured this forum might be my second step...

[sabbath13]

again...i want to thank all of you...i am thankful i found this site and so many knowledgeable and supportive people....everything that has been said i have needed to hear...and i have walked with a spring in my step and smile on my face all day because of you...i have made an appointment with the local clinic to see if i can visit someone for a biopsy...i don't know how long i have had hep c.... it could be 8 years or it could be 15 years...
but i am ready to take the steps..
i am sure i will be asking questions of you...especially since 90% of the terminology i read on here makes no sense to me :)
time to educate...the inspiration came from within but was fueled by all your words..

i am still not ready to tell my family..but maybe in time...

all love

[portann]

My mom was my best friend. We talked about everything.

When I was diagnosed with HCV in 1995, no one seemed to know what it meant. Certainly not my doctor, who visibly cringed.

Almost the first person I told was my mom. She took it as a death sentence and I couldn't say otherwise because I didn't know otherwise.

She soon died of cancer, fearing as only a parent can that I'd soon follow in her footsteps because of HCV.

I had time to get over the shock about my diagnosis and went on to live a 'normal' life, living with HCV rather than dying from it. It's only now that I'm treating for the first time.

For myself, I wish I hadn't burdened her with information that scared her so much. Yes, she would have provided me support but from where I sit now, I wish I'd protected her from heartbreak.

[Teufelhunden]

Welcome to the forum first of all. If you need a place to go to during troubled times, this is the place to come to.  First thing you need to do is to find out where you're at with this disease. Personally speaking, I put off treating for three years because I was more interested in my drinking. Not knowing how bad my hepatitis was I figured I might as well kick the bucket with a buzz. When I finally decided to go through treatment I was still naive to the disease but because I commited myself, my drinking ended (still today). I had a local doctor who was almost as naive to this disease as I was. My biopsy showed geno type 1a, grade 1, stage 1 with my viral load at 470,000.  I started my 48 week journey July 14, 2006 and found this forum Jan 2007. Thats when I really started finding out about hepatitis C because,  there is alot of smart people here.  My treatment ended Jun and I relapsed Sept 07. When I went to see a specialist at Duke University in Dec he basically told me not to worry because I'll probably die of old age before the hepatitis gets me and he probably wouldn't have had me treat when I did.  I then had to ask myself, "Did I put myself through 48 weeks of misery for nothing".  Lets see, I quit drinking,  met alot of good folks, learned alot about hepatitis C, learned alot about myself, so I guess the answer is no.  Was I scared? You bet!  Was I worried? Yup!  Did I work through all of that?  For 48 weeks I dragged my butt of of bed.  And unless you're very good at acting, it's going to show, so that's something you will have to accept and deal with. The one thing you need to keep in mind is that you have a terrible disease that if not put in check, will lead to something much more serious, but we're putting the cart before the horse now. Get yourself checked, find out where you are, then decide. You're lucky, you've found out you have hepatitis so the options are open to you. There's a lot of people out there who will never know until it's to late.  If you decide to treat, or not,  at least you've found the best place to go to when there's no other place to turn to. Again, welcome aboard and good luck!
Teuf

[jdwithhcv]

Its your choice to tell or not.  Do whatever you think best.  I never told my mom.  It would have upset her too much and there was nothing she could do about it so I decided to keep it from her.  I'm sure she would have worried constantly.  No point in that, so I kept it quiet.  

[nygirl7]

PS I caused my folks enough trouble with my own addictions too and they also have their own health issues but guess what - they ended up being the most understanding supportive people I could have asked for (I was pretty sure they wouldn't really want to deal with it at all after all the years of trouble I caused them).

Eventually when you do tell them.....as long as they see how serious about it all you are I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the support that you do get.

[nygirl7]

HepC is a very personal issue and you shouldn't feel obligated to tell anyone until you are ready to.  It does get easier to deal with in time, we can all attest to that.  The shock and worry of finding out is very overwhelming but believe me, it will lesson.  The more you learn about the disease and it's treatment the less it will be....or at least it should be.

Most people will not die of hepC - they'll die of something else like old age way before it.  You are doing the right thing investigating and seeing how much liver damage you have aquired. Then you can make an educated decision as if you need to/want to treat right away or not.

Lots of us are prescribed antidepressents before we start treatment (the interferon can cause depression) and it is a viable assistance for you right now if you are really having a hard time dealing with the news. They helped me a lot.

Ask all the questions you have, learn all you can and in the meantime make sure you get copies of all of your test results. Eventually you will see how easy they are to read and that gives you some sense of power over the disease somehow - just going aha I get it is a big help.

I was diagnosed in 2005 and treated for 72 weeks.  I have been cured for over two years.

so you see, it's not the end of the world.  And honestly, if you have to get a serious disease this one isn't so bad to have gotten.  With there being a cure out there and the slow liver damage progression.........it beats a LOT of the other ones.

Good luck.

[sabbath13]

Thank you! I have definitely worried over the deceit of not telling...to hear someone else say it is my choice is amazing...my mom and i have a great relationship...but she is an incessant worrier (understandable) and would quit everything and move across country...and i just don't believe that would be a good thing for her...and she is unstoppable once she has made up her mind!

and thank you for the information on where to start...i will get on it...i have been too scared to delve too deeply..mainly on how to manage my life while undergoing treatment..and the sickness...i have been so busy i just didn't see a way to accommodate the illness...sounds odd..and i have to accommodate the illness from treatment or the illness form not taking care of the disease...i guess that boils down my choice..

again thank you for the encouragement...i really needed it :)

[m_strings]

Hi Sabbath:

Thanks for sharing your story.  You are certainly not alone here.  I'm glad you found this forum.  

Whatever you decide to do regarding who you tell, that is your choice.  There's no right or wrong.  What I do feel strongly about is that you do need support.  I don't know anything about your relationship with your mother.  If she's someone who you'd really like to tell, then I think you should do so.  If she wants to help you, that's her choice.  If it would cause too much stress for you or for your family, then hold off.   As a mother, I would want my child to confide in me, and I'd want to help in any way I could.  But I also understand the need to feel self-reliant and not want to feel like a burden.  Personally, I did end up waiting to tell my family until I understood more about the disease and what my treatment options were. However, I also had other people in my life whom I could trust and who could be there for me.  

Regarding health options: You could start by contacting your county human services dept.  Usually you can find them in the government section of your phone book or google the name of the county you live in and "human services" or "crisis phone services".  They may have some options for medical services for people without insurance.  Some counties have a free medical clinic and may provide other resources.  If you have 2-1-1 Information & Referral services in your area, you could also start there.  You could contact some hepatologists and ask them what resources they have for people who are Hep C positive with no insurance.  Keep asking, someone in your area is bound to lead you in the right direction.  Some people, myself included, have chosen to see if they qualify for drug trials.  I would first contact a hepatologist, however.  Drug trial info can be found at the following link:  http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=hepatitis+c&recr=Open  

There's LOTS of hope for successful treatment out there!  But take it seriously.  This is a serious condition.  I'm glad you decided it's time to get treatment rolling.  Best to you!

[sabbath13]

thank you mar...i really appreciate your kind words and support...the smallest of things helps to put a smile on my face...
take care

[mar148]

I am impressed with your decision to deal with hep c.  I discovered I had it a couple of years ago and successfully treated. I am glad that I opted to go through treatment.

There are many on this site that may have suggestions about how to pay for treatment.  I wouldn't let that dissuade you.

Good luck and you are doing the right thing.  mar