Re: RE: Depressed- Shirley

[Guest guest]

Dear Shirley,

I am glad you wrote back and will look forward to your email in my private

email. I just want to quickly tell you that my situation is more like yours than

you think. I have had hep c since 1975 from a blood transfusion. I will never be

rid of it, either, unless some miracle happens. And, like your problem, Hep C

can lead to cirrhosis and/or liver cancer and death. I know quite a few that

unfortunately died from Hepatitis C. That's why I always get the ultrasound and

the AFP. I, unlike your friend, am VERY symptomatic. I will talk more with you

about that at another time.

We can " talk " about it, privately, since it's not a pancreatitis thing. It just

complicates things.

Looking forward to hearing from you. Be well.

Jill

Re: RE: Depressed

In a message dated 5/5/02 1:38:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

jgecker@... writes:

>

> Dear Shirley,

>

> I am so very sorry for what you've had to endure. Pancreatitis is enough of

> a disheartening disease without the trauma of the Hepatitis B. I totally

> understand because I have both Pancreatitis and Hepatitis C. I know that

> hep B and hep C are not exactly the same but a great deal of the

> symptomatology is. I, too, suffer daily from chronic fatigue, nausea, total

> body aches, headaches, and the list goes on. This is just from the hep C.

> It doesn't have anything to do with the pain, etc. from the pancreatitis.

> Have you had any treatment for it (hep ? I've been on interferon and the

> newer Rebetol (it was experimental when I tried it). Nothing worked for me.

> I still have a very hight viral load.I'm waiting now for newer and better

> treatments but that could be years down the road. I, too, go for annual

> ultrasounds and AFP (liver cancer tumor marker).

>

> Shirley, if you need to " talk " I'm available. Just email me, if you want

> to. I might not get back to you right away because some days I just can't

> seem to sit at the computer to do emails. But, I promise you that I will

> get back to you at some point.

>

> Also, you have every right to get another opinion. Any doctor should be

> open to that. No doctor should treat you the way you were treated.

>

> As for the depression. You are right, it is always good to put things into

> perspective and realize that you have blessings and that others have it

> worse. BUT, That DOESN'T take away from what is going on with you and what

> you are feeling. That, too, is IMPORTANT and worthy of talking about.

>

> Take care, Shirley

> Love,

> Jill

>

>

Dear Jill, thank you so very much for the consoling words. I really

appreciate you responding to me. I know that with you having hepatitis C you

really know what I live with. I am sorry that the drugs that you took were

not effective for you. My problem is different from yours since I have had

hep B since 1974 and have never build antibodies and doctors tell me that I

will never have antibodies. They tell me that I will have this my entire

life. They also tell me that I could get cancer of the liver from having

chronic hep B. As the years pass the disease get so much worse.

I know someone who has hep C and he took meds to cure him. He told me that

taking the meds are far worse than anything he has experienced with hep C.

Did you find that to be the same case with you?

I am relieved that I can write to you about hepatitis. I will be getting in

touch with you privately soon. Don't give it a thought that you might not be

able to respond to me right away. I understand. Thanks again, Shirley