Introduction

[Guest guest]

Jill,

Imagine before the internet....going to the library and looking at books

copyrighted in 1989....finding old information about non-A, non-B. Wow, this

internet is some wonderful crap. The posters here will keep you well

informed. Get ready to bookmark many, many sites.

To everyone...remember me telling you April 1st that I finally got a

prescription for pegylated interferon and ribavirin from the University of

Nebraska Medical Center via the VA? Well, I've just returned home from

vacation and am hoping it's at the post office where my mail has been held

this past week. Will know tomorrow. It's been three months, so I have my

fingers crossed. I've failed monotherapy twice because of low white blood

count and platelets. The last time I took injections for 9 months. That's

been a few years ago. The nurse had told me, since I work 6 days, that I

should take the injection on Saturday nights, Sunday being my day off. I may

not be able to wait if I come home with the goods tomorrow.

Welcome, Jill. Try to get rest each afternoon, if possible. That will help if

you have fatigue. Eat well. Keep your spirits up and be positive. There are

smart people out there working on better treatments. I think I've had this

since Vietnam, which would be 32 years now. I feel fine when I'm rested

(really cranky if I'm not, though).

Your friend,

Gene

[Guest guest]

Jill,

Imagine before the internet....going to the library and looking at books

copyrighted in 1989....finding old information about non-A, non-B. Wow, this

internet is some wonderful crap. The posters here will keep you well

informed. Get ready to bookmark many, many sites.

To everyone...remember me telling you April 1st that I finally got a

prescription for pegylated interferon and ribavirin from the University of

Nebraska Medical Center via the VA? Well, I've just returned home from

vacation and am hoping it's at the post office where my mail has been held

this past week. Will know tomorrow. It's been three months, so I have my

fingers crossed. I've failed monotherapy twice because of low white blood

count and platelets. The last time I took injections for 9 months. That's

been a few years ago. The nurse had told me, since I work 6 days, that I

should take the injection on Saturday nights, Sunday being my day off. I may

not be able to wait if I come home with the goods tomorrow.

Welcome, Jill. Try to get rest each afternoon, if possible. That will help if

you have fatigue. Eat well. Keep your spirits up and be positive. There are

smart people out there working on better treatments. I think I've had this

since Vietnam, which would be 32 years now. I feel fine when I'm rested

(really cranky if I'm not, though).

Your friend,

Gene

[Guest guest]

Jill,

Imagine before the internet....going to the library and looking at books

copyrighted in 1989....finding old information about non-A, non-B. Wow, this

internet is some wonderful crap. The posters here will keep you well

informed. Get ready to bookmark many, many sites.

To everyone...remember me telling you April 1st that I finally got a

prescription for pegylated interferon and ribavirin from the University of

Nebraska Medical Center via the VA? Well, I've just returned home from

vacation and am hoping it's at the post office where my mail has been held

this past week. Will know tomorrow. It's been three months, so I have my

fingers crossed. I've failed monotherapy twice because of low white blood

count and platelets. The last time I took injections for 9 months. That's

been a few years ago. The nurse had told me, since I work 6 days, that I

should take the injection on Saturday nights, Sunday being my day off. I may

not be able to wait if I come home with the goods tomorrow.

Welcome, Jill. Try to get rest each afternoon, if possible. That will help if

you have fatigue. Eat well. Keep your spirits up and be positive. There are

smart people out there working on better treatments. I think I've had this

since Vietnam, which would be 32 years now. I feel fine when I'm rested

(really cranky if I'm not, though).

Your friend,

Gene

[Guest guest]

Hi Jill,

I think you have already found the best place on the web, not

just for info, but for the wonderful people you will meet here. I'm

glad you found us!

I'm sure if you just found out you must still be in shock. I

know it took me quite a while before it all really sunk into my head.

Luckily, this is usually a slowly progressing disease, so you have

plenty of time to learn all you can, and you really should do that.

Knowledge is you best tool against this disease.

Here are some links to sites that may be helpful to

you. Learn all you can, but be cautious about some of what you read -

if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! And don't let

yourself be drug down by some people's negativity. Most people with

HCV will NOT die from it, and many people are able to get rid of this

disease with the newest treatments. Things are greatly improved over

what was available just a few years ago. Ask anything, there are no

dumb questions. Again, welcome to the group!

Claudine

http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/4259

LeighAnn's Hepatitis C Home

http://www.hepcprimer.com/ #1 Hepatitis C

Primer -

Information about the Hepatitis C Virus

http://hepatitis-central.com (Hepatitis-Central)

http://hepcnet.net HepCnet - a very upbeat, positive site, lots of

info, and a very active bulletin board.

http://www.hepatitisneighborhood.com/ Hepatitis

Neighborhood (This is a Priority Health Care site,

fairly new and still under construction, but they have

some very good moderated chats with various hepatitis

specialists.)

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/ (An 'on-line' monthly HCV

magazine. Great articles every month.)

http://www.carbonbased.com/cbcblood.htm (Basic info on basic blood

test results, normal and abnormal.)

http://www.hepatitisdoctor.com/ Hepatitis Doctor

http://liverdisease.com/diet.html (Dr. Palmer's site.)

http://www.rxlist.com/ RX Drug info (a very good site

to look up information on any prescription or

non-prescription drug. Even some info on herbs can be

found.)

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Jill,

I think you have already found the best place on the web, not

just for info, but for the wonderful people you will meet here. I'm

glad you found us!

I'm sure if you just found out you must still be in shock. I

know it took me quite a while before it all really sunk into my head.

Luckily, this is usually a slowly progressing disease, so you have

plenty of time to learn all you can, and you really should do that.

Knowledge is you best tool against this disease.

Here are some links to sites that may be helpful to

you. Learn all you can, but be cautious about some of what you read -

if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! And don't let

yourself be drug down by some people's negativity. Most people with

HCV will NOT die from it, and many people are able to get rid of this

disease with the newest treatments. Things are greatly improved over

what was available just a few years ago. Ask anything, there are no

dumb questions. Again, welcome to the group!

Claudine

http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/4259

LeighAnn's Hepatitis C Home

http://www.hepcprimer.com/ #1 Hepatitis C

Primer -

Information about the Hepatitis C Virus

http://hepatitis-central.com (Hepatitis-Central)

http://hepcnet.net HepCnet - a very upbeat, positive site, lots of

info, and a very active bulletin board.

http://www.hepatitisneighborhood.com/ Hepatitis

Neighborhood (This is a Priority Health Care site,

fairly new and still under construction, but they have

some very good moderated chats with various hepatitis

specialists.)

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/ (An 'on-line' monthly HCV

magazine. Great articles every month.)

http://www.carbonbased.com/cbcblood.htm (Basic info on basic blood

test results, normal and abnormal.)

http://www.hepatitisdoctor.com/ Hepatitis Doctor

http://liverdisease.com/diet.html (Dr. Palmer's site.)

http://www.rxlist.com/ RX Drug info (a very good site

to look up information on any prescription or

non-prescription drug. Even some info on herbs can be

found.)

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Jill,

I think you have already found the best place on the web, not

just for info, but for the wonderful people you will meet here. I'm

glad you found us!

I'm sure if you just found out you must still be in shock. I

know it took me quite a while before it all really sunk into my head.

Luckily, this is usually a slowly progressing disease, so you have

plenty of time to learn all you can, and you really should do that.

Knowledge is you best tool against this disease.

Here are some links to sites that may be helpful to

you. Learn all you can, but be cautious about some of what you read -

if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! And don't let

yourself be drug down by some people's negativity. Most people with

HCV will NOT die from it, and many people are able to get rid of this

disease with the newest treatments. Things are greatly improved over

what was available just a few years ago. Ask anything, there are no

dumb questions. Again, welcome to the group!

Claudine

http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/4259

LeighAnn's Hepatitis C Home

http://www.hepcprimer.com/ #1 Hepatitis C

Primer -

Information about the Hepatitis C Virus

http://hepatitis-central.com (Hepatitis-Central)

http://hepcnet.net HepCnet - a very upbeat, positive site, lots of

info, and a very active bulletin board.

http://www.hepatitisneighborhood.com/ Hepatitis

Neighborhood (This is a Priority Health Care site,

fairly new and still under construction, but they have

some very good moderated chats with various hepatitis

specialists.)

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/ (An 'on-line' monthly HCV

magazine. Great articles every month.)

http://www.carbonbased.com/cbcblood.htm (Basic info on basic blood

test results, normal and abnormal.)

http://www.hepatitisdoctor.com/ Hepatitis Doctor

http://liverdisease.com/diet.html (Dr. Palmer's site.)

http://www.rxlist.com/ RX Drug info (a very good site

to look up information on any prescription or

non-prescription drug. Even some info on herbs can be

found.)

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Jill,

I think you have already found the best place on the web, not

just for info, but for the wonderful people you will meet here. I'm

glad you found us!

I'm sure if you just found out you must still be in shock. I

know it took me quite a while before it all really sunk into my head.

Luckily, this is usually a slowly progressing disease, so you have

plenty of time to learn all you can, and you really should do that.

Knowledge is you best tool against this disease.

Here are some links to sites that may be helpful to

you. Learn all you can, but be cautious about some of what you read -

if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! And don't let

yourself be drug down by some people's negativity. Most people with

HCV will NOT die from it, and many people are able to get rid of this

disease with the newest treatments. Things are greatly improved over

what was available just a few years ago. Ask anything, there are no

dumb questions. Again, welcome to the group!

Claudine

http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/4259

LeighAnn's Hepatitis C Home

http://www.hepcprimer.com/ #1 Hepatitis C

Primer -

Information about the Hepatitis C Virus

http://hepatitis-central.com (Hepatitis-Central)

http://hepcnet.net HepCnet - a very upbeat, positive site, lots of

info, and a very active bulletin board.

http://www.hepatitisneighborhood.com/ Hepatitis

Neighborhood (This is a Priority Health Care site,

fairly new and still under construction, but they have

some very good moderated chats with various hepatitis

specialists.)

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/ (An 'on-line' monthly HCV

magazine. Great articles every month.)

http://www.carbonbased.com/cbcblood.htm (Basic info on basic blood

test results, normal and abnormal.)

http://www.hepatitisdoctor.com/ Hepatitis Doctor

http://liverdisease.com/diet.html (Dr. Palmer's site.)

http://www.rxlist.com/ RX Drug info (a very good site

to look up information on any prescription or

non-prescription drug. Even some info on herbs can be

found.)

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I hear ya. When I was diagnosed with Hep C back in 1990, I wouldn't have said I

had symptoms but I did and didn't realize it. I'd be covering them up for a

long time by eating aspirin.

My hep symptoms vary. They aren't always the same. If I get overtired, I get

diarhea (so I keep lots of books in the bathroom . Fatigue of course, it

comes and goes. Sometimes achey joints, kind of a random thing - this week the

shoulder, next week the pelvis, etc. Unable to get good stage 4 sleep, so I take

Elavil at nite, sometimes I need a sleeping pill but not often. When I was

working and on my feet all the time my legs and feet used to hurt so much I'd

cry at nite. I started taking a potassium, zinc, magnesium combination and that

helped some. But still sometimes it felt like I'd been beat all over. Heat and

sun intolerance.

I'm in Grand Praire, Tx, between Dallas and Ft. Worth.

I would suggest you find a good hep doctor. I found mine by going to local

support groups and listening to the docs who would speak at them and asking

people who they liked.

I think in the HIV scare, when I found out I had hep b and hep c antibodies I

was relieved it wasn't HIV or syphilis or something like that. Weird how we

prioritize our fears, but somehow I understood even then that things could be

much worse than what I had.

Ok here's my opinion... Every hepper needs the antibody test of course, then a

viral load (how much virus in your blood), a genotype, then a liver biopsy. If

you don't have all that info, you can't make an informed decision on whether to

treat the hep or let is slide. Usually, if the liver is in good shape, it's

best to wait. Treatment isn't fun and some of the sides of treatment can be

permanent, not often, but it happens.

Good luck and let us know what happens!!

alley

[Guest guest]

I hear ya. When I was diagnosed with Hep C back in 1990, I wouldn't have said I

had symptoms but I did and didn't realize it. I'd be covering them up for a

long time by eating aspirin.

My hep symptoms vary. They aren't always the same. If I get overtired, I get

diarhea (so I keep lots of books in the bathroom . Fatigue of course, it

comes and goes. Sometimes achey joints, kind of a random thing - this week the

shoulder, next week the pelvis, etc. Unable to get good stage 4 sleep, so I take

Elavil at nite, sometimes I need a sleeping pill but not often. When I was

working and on my feet all the time my legs and feet used to hurt so much I'd

cry at nite. I started taking a potassium, zinc, magnesium combination and that

helped some. But still sometimes it felt like I'd been beat all over. Heat and

sun intolerance.

I'm in Grand Praire, Tx, between Dallas and Ft. Worth.

I would suggest you find a good hep doctor. I found mine by going to local

support groups and listening to the docs who would speak at them and asking

people who they liked.

I think in the HIV scare, when I found out I had hep b and hep c antibodies I

was relieved it wasn't HIV or syphilis or something like that. Weird how we

prioritize our fears, but somehow I understood even then that things could be

much worse than what I had.

Ok here's my opinion... Every hepper needs the antibody test of course, then a

viral load (how much virus in your blood), a genotype, then a liver biopsy. If

you don't have all that info, you can't make an informed decision on whether to

treat the hep or let is slide. Usually, if the liver is in good shape, it's

best to wait. Treatment isn't fun and some of the sides of treatment can be

permanent, not often, but it happens.

Good luck and let us know what happens!!

alley

[Guest guest]

I hear ya. When I was diagnosed with Hep C back in 1990, I wouldn't have said I

had symptoms but I did and didn't realize it. I'd be covering them up for a

long time by eating aspirin.

My hep symptoms vary. They aren't always the same. If I get overtired, I get

diarhea (so I keep lots of books in the bathroom . Fatigue of course, it

comes and goes. Sometimes achey joints, kind of a random thing - this week the

shoulder, next week the pelvis, etc. Unable to get good stage 4 sleep, so I take

Elavil at nite, sometimes I need a sleeping pill but not often. When I was

working and on my feet all the time my legs and feet used to hurt so much I'd

cry at nite. I started taking a potassium, zinc, magnesium combination and that

helped some. But still sometimes it felt like I'd been beat all over. Heat and

sun intolerance.

I'm in Grand Praire, Tx, between Dallas and Ft. Worth.

I would suggest you find a good hep doctor. I found mine by going to local

support groups and listening to the docs who would speak at them and asking

people who they liked.

I think in the HIV scare, when I found out I had hep b and hep c antibodies I

was relieved it wasn't HIV or syphilis or something like that. Weird how we

prioritize our fears, but somehow I understood even then that things could be

much worse than what I had.

Ok here's my opinion... Every hepper needs the antibody test of course, then a

viral load (how much virus in your blood), a genotype, then a liver biopsy. If

you don't have all that info, you can't make an informed decision on whether to

treat the hep or let is slide. Usually, if the liver is in good shape, it's

best to wait. Treatment isn't fun and some of the sides of treatment can be

permanent, not often, but it happens.

Good luck and let us know what happens!!

alley

[Guest guest]

I hear ya. When I was diagnosed with Hep C back in 1990, I wouldn't have said I

had symptoms but I did and didn't realize it. I'd be covering them up for a

long time by eating aspirin.

My hep symptoms vary. They aren't always the same. If I get overtired, I get

diarhea (so I keep lots of books in the bathroom . Fatigue of course, it

comes and goes. Sometimes achey joints, kind of a random thing - this week the

shoulder, next week the pelvis, etc. Unable to get good stage 4 sleep, so I take

Elavil at nite, sometimes I need a sleeping pill but not often. When I was

working and on my feet all the time my legs and feet used to hurt so much I'd

cry at nite. I started taking a potassium, zinc, magnesium combination and that

helped some. But still sometimes it felt like I'd been beat all over. Heat and

sun intolerance.

I'm in Grand Praire, Tx, between Dallas and Ft. Worth.

I would suggest you find a good hep doctor. I found mine by going to local

support groups and listening to the docs who would speak at them and asking

people who they liked.

I think in the HIV scare, when I found out I had hep b and hep c antibodies I

was relieved it wasn't HIV or syphilis or something like that. Weird how we

prioritize our fears, but somehow I understood even then that things could be

much worse than what I had.

Ok here's my opinion... Every hepper needs the antibody test of course, then a

viral load (how much virus in your blood), a genotype, then a liver biopsy. If

you don't have all that info, you can't make an informed decision on whether to

treat the hep or let is slide. Usually, if the liver is in good shape, it's

best to wait. Treatment isn't fun and some of the sides of treatment can be

permanent, not often, but it happens.

Good luck and let us know what happens!!

alley

[Guest guest]

Thank you Donna.

Yes, finding out that you have something chronically wrong takes the wind out of

your sails. Especially when you don't feel like there is anything wrong....

Jill

Re: introduction

Hi Jill and welcome,

My name is Donna and I just started my treatment and am doing very well.

It is good for you to reach out. Finding out you are chronically ill is a

hard pill to swallow. But I myself have learned so much about life, love and

happiness when I finally came to grips with my illness.

You will only grow to be a better person from it I pray.

Sincerely,

Donna

[Guest guest]

Thank you Donna.

Yes, finding out that you have something chronically wrong takes the wind out of

your sails. Especially when you don't feel like there is anything wrong....

Jill

Re: introduction

Hi Jill and welcome,

My name is Donna and I just started my treatment and am doing very well.

It is good for you to reach out. Finding out you are chronically ill is a

hard pill to swallow. But I myself have learned so much about life, love and

happiness when I finally came to grips with my illness.

You will only grow to be a better person from it I pray.

Sincerely,

Donna

[Guest guest]

Thank you Donna.

Yes, finding out that you have something chronically wrong takes the wind out of

your sails. Especially when you don't feel like there is anything wrong....

Jill

Re: introduction

Hi Jill and welcome,

My name is Donna and I just started my treatment and am doing very well.

It is good for you to reach out. Finding out you are chronically ill is a

hard pill to swallow. But I myself have learned so much about life, love and

happiness when I finally came to grips with my illness.

You will only grow to be a better person from it I pray.

Sincerely,

Donna

[Guest guest]

Thank you Donna.

Yes, finding out that you have something chronically wrong takes the wind out of

your sails. Especially when you don't feel like there is anything wrong....

Jill

Re: introduction

Hi Jill and welcome,

My name is Donna and I just started my treatment and am doing very well.

It is good for you to reach out. Finding out you are chronically ill is a

hard pill to swallow. But I myself have learned so much about life, love and

happiness when I finally came to grips with my illness.

You will only grow to be a better person from it I pray.

Sincerely,

Donna

[Guest guest]

Welcome, sort of-if you get my drift-I am sorry to see new people here, but

here is a good place to be for heppers. Oh yeah, to your Army vacs as a

possible source-I would suspect them over the tattoos. But-let me stay off

that subject. You will probably go through several rounds of testing to

determine whether or not you should consider treatment. Your symptoms sound

fairly typical to HCV. It is NOT necessarily an indication of liver damage.

For many of us HCV is not a life-threatening illness, but rather a lousy

disease that we learn to deal with. Many of us use 'alternative' (herbal,

vitamin/mineral, chinese herbs, acupuncture, etc) to deal with it-not to

cure it. Anyway, welcome again. Get ready to start reading!

gail

From: " Anuci " <anuci@...>

Reply-Hepatitis C

Date: Sun, 7 Jul 2002 10:48:48 -0400

<Hepatitis C >

Subject: Re: introduction

Alley,

Do you have any symptoms?

I am not sure what symptoms I have. I wasn' t aware that anything was

wrong... or was I. I would say that from the beginning of January til the

middle of April I had not been sick for about a total of 2 weeks. I also run

and walk a lot and since May my calves have really hurt. Even when I took 3

weeks off they still ache and I get sharp pains throughout my calves. I am

tired a lot. I never associated it with anything til now. Maybe it's all

related, maybe it isn't. I was a medic in the Army 92-96. (another possible

source of the cause).

Where are ya located?

I am located in the small town of White Cloud, Michigan.

What doctor will you see?

I don't have a clue. I just want to get in to see my PCP right now.

Jill

Re: introduction

Jill,

Welcome to the group! Sorry to hear you have hep C, but I'm glad you found

us

I tell people that the " C " in hep c means " Change " because it changes our

lifestyles and makes us more concious of our health and mortality. We

adjust and adapt thru diet, excercise, rest, and sometimes treatment, as

well as in other ways.

Do you have any symptoms? Where are ya located? What doctor will you see?

I'm in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area of Texas. I'm a wife, grandmother of 3,

and have known about my hep about 10 years.

You're right. Doesn't matter how we got it. What matters is where we go

from here.

Nice to meet you! Ask any questions and we will try to answer.

big hugs,

alley

Grand Prairie, Tx

[Guest guest]

Thanks Gail!

I have often wondered about the vaccines they gave us in Basic. They were in

those guns and we were shuffeled through these lines and given one shot right

after another. Do those things use the same needles or does it rotate a new one

in every time? Does anyone know? Just curious.

Anyway, thank you again. I am actually anxious to get to the Dr. on Monday to

see what he has to say. I am hoping I don't have to wait another month to get

results from the tests they will do then.

Jill

Re: introduction

Jill,

Welcome to the group! Sorry to hear you have hep C, but I'm glad you found

us

I tell people that the " C " in hep c means " Change " because it changes our

lifestyles and makes us more concious of our health and mortality. We

adjust and adapt thru diet, excercise, rest, and sometimes treatment, as

well as in other ways.

Do you have any symptoms? Where are ya located? What doctor will you see?

I'm in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area of Texas. I'm a wife, grandmother of 3,

and have known about my hep about 10 years.

You're right. Doesn't matter how we got it. What matters is where we go

from here.

Nice to meet you! Ask any questions and we will try to answer.

big hugs,

alley

Grand Prairie, Tx

[Guest guest]

My first husband went into the military right after we married. They used

airguns. He got deathly ill in basic, they hospitalized him for 5 weeks and

then sent him home to recoup for another 5. They had no idea what he had, they

called it " non a non b " hepatitis.

I was pregnant at the time with our first. I had a c section and rho gam shots

from the same military hospital on the base.

I just can't help but think that infected blood was spread around there. X

won't go get tested now. He says he is fine.

Just my history and some thots to share.

alley

[Guest guest]

Thanks Alley.

Jill

Re: introduction

My first husband went into the military right after we married. They used

airguns. He got deathly ill in basic, they hospitalized him for 5 weeks and

then sent him home to recoup for another 5. They had no idea what he had, they

called it " non a non b " hepatitis.

I was pregnant at the time with our first. I had a c section and rho gam

shots from the same military hospital on the base.

I just can't help but think that infected blood was spread around there. X

won't go get tested now. He says he is fine.

Just my history and some thots to share.

alley

[Guest guest]

Thanks Alley.

Jill

Re: introduction

My first husband went into the military right after we married. They used

airguns. He got deathly ill in basic, they hospitalized him for 5 weeks and

then sent him home to recoup for another 5. They had no idea what he had, they

called it " non a non b " hepatitis.

I was pregnant at the time with our first. I had a c section and rho gam

shots from the same military hospital on the base.

I just can't help but think that infected blood was spread around there. X

won't go get tested now. He says he is fine.

Just my history and some thots to share.

alley

[Guest guest]

Thanks Alley.

Jill

Re: introduction

My first husband went into the military right after we married. They used

airguns. He got deathly ill in basic, they hospitalized him for 5 weeks and

then sent him home to recoup for another 5. They had no idea what he had, they

called it " non a non b " hepatitis.

I was pregnant at the time with our first. I had a c section and rho gam

shots from the same military hospital on the base.

I just can't help but think that infected blood was spread around there. X

won't go get tested now. He says he is fine.

Just my history and some thots to share.

alley

[Guest guest]

Thanks Alley.

Jill

Re: introduction

My first husband went into the military right after we married. They used

airguns. He got deathly ill in basic, they hospitalized him for 5 weeks and

then sent him home to recoup for another 5. They had no idea what he had, they

called it " non a non b " hepatitis.

I was pregnant at the time with our first. I had a c section and rho gam

shots from the same military hospital on the base.

I just can't help but think that infected blood was spread around there. X

won't go get tested now. He says he is fine.

Just my history and some thots to share.

alley

[Guest guest]

Dear Jill, welcome. Sorry you have to be here, but glad you found the site.

There is a wealth of information here and at other sites(i.e.

Hepatitis-Central) I understand how you are feeling. I remember it well.

That was 6 yrs ago for me. Having completed 13 months of standard combo

therapy(interferon & ribavirin), I am now undectable, which means the virus

is at a lower level than the tests can see. This is good news. I am 9

months post treatment. Try and keep peaceful. Although this is incredibly

frightening, we ARE living with Hepatitis C. Yes, this is a dangerous

disease, no doubt about it, but we are survivors and you can be one too.

Learn all you can. Ask Ask Ask....as much as you want, as many times as you

need. Get copies of all your lab tests, proceedures etc. Keep a folder of

your medical stuff and bring it with you to your appointments. Don't let a

doc give you a 'bum's rush' appointment or 'pooh-pooh' your symptoms. You

feel what you feel. And one more thing...you are not crazy or a

hypochondriac. Hep C has symptoms. We are all here to help in any way we

can. God bless you as you begin this path. There are lots of us to walk it

with you. Love, mzgee

[Guest guest]

Dear Jill, welcome. Sorry you have to be here, but glad you found the site.

There is a wealth of information here and at other sites(i.e.

Hepatitis-Central) I understand how you are feeling. I remember it well.

That was 6 yrs ago for me. Having completed 13 months of standard combo

therapy(interferon & ribavirin), I am now undectable, which means the virus

is at a lower level than the tests can see. This is good news. I am 9

months post treatment. Try and keep peaceful. Although this is incredibly

frightening, we ARE living with Hepatitis C. Yes, this is a dangerous

disease, no doubt about it, but we are survivors and you can be one too.

Learn all you can. Ask Ask Ask....as much as you want, as many times as you

need. Get copies of all your lab tests, proceedures etc. Keep a folder of

your medical stuff and bring it with you to your appointments. Don't let a

doc give you a 'bum's rush' appointment or 'pooh-pooh' your symptoms. You

feel what you feel. And one more thing...you are not crazy or a

hypochondriac. Hep C has symptoms. We are all here to help in any way we

can. God bless you as you begin this path. There are lots of us to walk it

with you. Love, mzgee

[Guest guest]

Dear Jill, welcome. Sorry you have to be here, but glad you found the site.

There is a wealth of information here and at other sites(i.e.

Hepatitis-Central) I understand how you are feeling. I remember it well.

That was 6 yrs ago for me. Having completed 13 months of standard combo

therapy(interferon & ribavirin), I am now undectable, which means the virus

is at a lower level than the tests can see. This is good news. I am 9

months post treatment. Try and keep peaceful. Although this is incredibly

frightening, we ARE living with Hepatitis C. Yes, this is a dangerous

disease, no doubt about it, but we are survivors and you can be one too.

Learn all you can. Ask Ask Ask....as much as you want, as many times as you

need. Get copies of all your lab tests, proceedures etc. Keep a folder of

your medical stuff and bring it with you to your appointments. Don't let a

doc give you a 'bum's rush' appointment or 'pooh-pooh' your symptoms. You

feel what you feel. And one more thing...you are not crazy or a

hypochondriac. Hep C has symptoms. We are all here to help in any way we

can. God bless you as you begin this path. There are lots of us to walk it

with you. Love, mzgee