Untreated for 38 years and scared to death !

[v eggie dip]

I am 54 years old and last week was told I tested positive for Hep C antibodies.......I was not a drug user but did have a blood transfusion 38 years ago.......I am terrified !  I haven't slept, or been productive since...I have been doing research on the net and feel confident I have the virus but I am not able to get any answers about the time involved...My gut feel tells me it's pretty serious that I have had this for so long and it went un noticed and un treated...Can anyone tell me what their thoughts are on the level of the virus going this long without being treated and how long can a person live with this going untreated....

Any input would be much appreciated...

[Bliss68]

I hope it wasnt me that gave you the visual image of my sister dying of HVC.  If it was Im sorry.  I saw her die two years ago. I have just been told I have the hvc antibody, so you can imagine how i felt kicked in the guts..I would like to comfort you by saying she did not see a doctor for anything for the last 20 years, she distanced her self from her family including me because she was gay, why i dont know. she drank heavily. two years before she died she was celebrating christmas with my mother, we both saw that she had a  gray skin color and the yellowish tint in her eyes.  my mother told her she needed to see a doctor,  at which time she became angry and stormed out..she avoided us until she died.  she waited too late..you and i and many others have the good fortune of knowing. at first I like you feel like i was handed a death sentence.Its been 2 weeks since i found out i had it..after my sister's death, i thought I was dead.. i have found out otherwise. we are the blessed ones i can promise you that. try not to worry as much. whatever fate has in store cannot be changed.  it has helped me accept things if i expect the worst and hope for the best.

[v eggie dip]

it's the waiting game that's driving me crazy!!  If I had it my way I would be in the Hospital as we speak having a liver biopsy but they tell me I have to wait till Aug (maybe longer) to even see a GI (I'm not good at waiting)....and you know the mind works in funny ways, I have had myself dead and buried from this already  LOL...someone posted yesterday the mental image of a person dying of cirrhosis and I can't get that out of my mind....this is very very scary stuff...two weeks ago if someone asked me what Hepatitis is I honestly could not answer, I would probably say "oh isn't that the virus you get from IVDU", and had no idea the seriousness of it all....this forum has been extremely informative, thank you all............

[sunspot]

v eggie dip. In answer to your question about

[v eggie dip]

Hello everyone :)

I have been told that you need an eye exam prior to starting treatment...Does this mean if you wear glasses you cannot be considered for treatment?

[v eggie dip]

ooops I posted my last message wrong, sorry :)

[hepcgetlost]

Veg, in answer to your question, I decided to treat when my liver enzymes suddenly went crazy and I realized that I was having muscle and joint aches, and very depressed for a while. Had a biopsy and was grade one stage 1. Understood that my chances for a good outcome would be better the younger I was, and I was already 55. So I treated and am so glad I did. It was hard, but definitely worth it. Like you I was scared to death, but as time went on and particularly because of the support and wonderful people I found here, my fears dissipated. Have a wonderful vacation and deal with this when you get back. Keep us all posted because we really care. Judi :-)