I received blood during an operation back in 1987. In 1992, my doctor ran some tests and told me I had Hep C. I had a biopsy done, then I went through the Interferon treatment back then (3 shots a week) for six months. Another biopsy showed no improvement whatsoever. The doctor said there was nothing else to do but wait until it was bad enough to get on the transplant list. I never drank much alcohol anyway, but I quit completely. I made it a point to eat healthier and made water my main drink. I practically forgot about it and lived just fine.

Jack J.

I started on an experimental treatment August 2008 which included peginteron, ribavirin, and teleprevir (still a trial drug). The first week of treatment seemed to be going well but after that it all went to hell. I think I got every side effect possible, vision problems, severe depression, fatigue, low blood counts with multiple blood transfusions. My skin turned into scales, lost more than half of my hair, no energy, nausea and vomiting, constipation. My brain had deserted me, I could not think, didn't want to talk to anyone. I was off work for 5 1/2 months, couldn't drive. Frankly I wanted to die. But I made it with help from family and came off the drug at 6 months and found out that time I had been viral free since 4 weeks into the treatment. I guess I can say it was worth it but am still having some long term mental effects. My doctors say they will eventually go away and it usually takes at least 6 months after treatment has been stopped. Well I am hanging in there because I don't know what else to do. I do feel better each day. My advice is to hang in there, but have a good support system before you start treatment. The alternative is liver failure and that is a nasty way to go.

Stephanie W.

I have Hep-C for 16 years. I was told not to drink, but I didn't listen. This is when my life went upside down. I started when I left work one night. I started throwing up blood. I went to the hospital and stayed there for a few days. I keep drinking and was in the Hospital 5 times in 4 years. They had to put a shunt in my body to help the flow to my liver. Six years ago I fell down in my house. I was rushed to the Hospital. I was in a coma. I had my last rites. Two weeks later I got out of the coma. I could not talk, walk or remember my Family's faces. Now I am doing better. I have no ambition to drink. My Doctors saved my life. I thought I was like superman, and anything would happen to me. I was wrong I hope this will help others. Alan

Alan M.

I was diagnosed with Chronic Hep C in May 2007. I must have received the virus through numerous blood transfusions I had due to surgeries before l992.

Linda G.

I have been on the treatments for hep. c for 6 months. My thyroid took a hit, and now I take 1 mil. of thyroid med, but recently found out my enzymes are back to a normal level. 4 more shots and then wait for 6 months and check my blood again. My Dr. says it looks good.

Pastor Donald S.

I am currently on tx for hep c, at week 9. I was ud and wk 12 still ud. I am geno 1a, tx has been really easy for me so far, just did shot 15 out of 48, side effects are not to bad to deal with. I walk 30 mins a day and live a healthy lifestyle thats about all one can do.

teri s

My name is Brenda. I received 2 pints of blood in 1984 after 20 years 2004 is when I found out I have Hep-c type 1 stage 3. I did the treatment shots and 6 pills a day. It worked but only when I was taking it. I went back to the Doctor 3 months later and I still had it. I go to U.N.C. in N.C. for my treatment or should I say M.R.I. and blood work every 6 months. I am now at stage 4 and I now have cirrhosis of the liver .The Doctors are watching a spot on my liver. I go back in oct. 2009 to U.N.C. I am 50 years old I lost my father in an auto accident when I was 11 years old. Then 10 months later I lost my mom, 2 sisters age 3 and 9, my aunt, her 2 kids age 9 and 12 and a friend killed in an auto accident dec.12,1971, then I lost my oldest daughter in an auto accident on sept.6, 2001. She was 26 years old and left behind 3 little girls that was 5 days before 9-11-2001. I thought the world was coming to an end. Then the next Sept.13, 2002 I lost my sister to heart failure at the age of 48. Then I find out I have hep.c now cirrhosis of the liver. Can you believe this life I have lived? I know everyone has their own story to tell so I am thankful for God, Jesus, and his holy spirit because without him I would have never made it this far I can see where I have been when I turn around but then when I look ahead I can see the finish line and I am no quitter. I did not go though everything that I have for no reason there is always a reason for the things we go though in Life. My life has made me realize that I can do nothing without the Lord in my life. But with the Lord I have crossed creeks, rivers, oceans, hills, mountains, valleys, stepped in quit a few holes, been though the woods but through it all I still can see the finish line and believe me I am going forward. I am not giving-up. I am not turning around because by the Grace of God I will wear a shining crown some day. Thank you for taking the time to read my life. God Bless you all Brenda

Brenda P

Seven months into treatment, and I am still looking for answers. Anyone who is on this treatment can only feel for me and how I must feel. I'm too tired right now to tell about it in detail, I just wanted to touch base and let people know that there are people out there doing treatment every day and going to work and taking care of daily chores.

I can not believe that it is seven months and I still have my wits and more determination than ever. You need to have a goal to push you, as well as a very strong support from family and friends. My support comes from My Mom and my girlfriend. They don't bother me about my tired look or push food down my throat. They welcome any time that I have enough energy to go out with them and make us all laugh.

My side effects are greater than what I was hopping for.

I've already been to the hospital because of a serious rash. I got through it while on a one week vacation riding my motorcycle around the North in ontario. I could only ride a few hours a day but my girlfriend didn't say anything negative, she just enjoyed her time with her man. Waiting for the day when he will have all that energy back and than look out. I have a lot to do as say, when well and not sick like this I am so active I have no choice but to go go go. I usually don't sit down for long before i have an idea and I'm back at it.

Since my treatment I can not do much and i take so many stabs at it to complete any task its disheartening. I'm going to eat now since its noon time and I must eat on time to keep my energy up so I can go out on my bike and at least enjoy an hour of the week end.

Take care and think positive.

Ronnie M

I was diagnosed with Hep C in 1998. I am a nurse and I received a needlestick from another nurse accidentally from a Hep C positive pt. Bad Luck!!!! I have Genotype 1a. The most difficult to treat. I have undergone 2 separate 48 week therapies (Combination and Pegylated Interferon) treatments. Both of which were unsuccessful... I am feeling fine but hoping a new and more effective treatment may be on the way. I take care of patients daily who are dying from chronic Hep C complications. It is a miserable end to a horrible disease!

karyn m

I had hepc for about 5 years before i started treatment. I was a 1 on the cirrhosis scale which was a little scarring. I started interferon injections with the Ribavirin pills. I did have a little bit of depression i think was associated with the treatment. I waited for the nausea and flu symptoms but they never came and what did come was very light. The Virus was undetectable after 3 months and has remained so far undetectable. It will be 5 months god willing in a few days. Other than a small relapse with my addiction, i will be drug free for a year and a half. I am not taking my second chance for granted and am determined to be drug free for the rest of my life. The interferon and Ribavirin along with a dedicated Dr. and nurse team has so far changed my life. It is great feeling hungry again and not waking up feeling sick everyday. I thank god and the combination therapy.

Bradley s

I was infected with Hep C from a blood transfusion 31 years ago. I was never much of a drinker and did not know I had the disease until I had a total knee replacement done. I am against the Ribavirin and Interferon. I am also 70 years old now. I take Milk Thistle, Alpha Lipoic Acid, lots of Vit C, Echinacea, and a multiple vitamin. I stay away from liquor entirely. I am still asymptomatic, and was never sick with it. My viral load started at 14.9 million, and is down to 6.92 million. I have faith in G-d, and I totally trust in my faith, staying away from liquor, and a healthy diet.

Regina B

I caught it from my adult children. I'm terribly upset as you can imagine. I was raised around druggies and I left home at 15 and changed my life completely away from the emotional drug alcohol abuse I endured as a child. My hub and I worked hard and did all the right things for our 2 kids they are 28 and 22 now I didn't know they were abusing drugs prescription drugs. My daughter tells me she has it because she shared the water cup her and her bro shared when shooting up roxicontins and oxycontins Ii started to cry. I wonder how 2 educated kids could do this to themselves and myself and their dad now I have it. I guess my son was using my razor I didn't realize it I cut my self with it and have been feeling awful now for about six months, gonna lose my business I own a tattoo shop I'm so disgusted my son also works there we can’t do that kind of business with hepC... I never lived a high risk lifestyle and now forever my life will change I have other health problems which will complicate things I'm afraid and feel alone...

deb s

I am 30 years old and have Genotype 3 HCV. I had been a drug addict since I was 13, originally speed, then ecstasy, cocaine, marijuana and alcohol and in addition very high dose doctor prescribed benzodiazepines (valium) for my mental health issues (IE severe self harm), I was first prescribed valium at 11 and addicted by the time I was 14. This has been a dependence I have not been able to kick as yet, but I use doctor prescribed doses and never more (now). By 14 I could not attend school without a line a speed my mental health problems were such I felt I could not connect with others or function in the social context of normal life. I was expelled when I was 15 for taking my work experience in a chemist and stealing a large quantity of Temazepam.

In a lot of trouble I stuck to a curfew set by my parents, but my speed habit meant I could not sleep. I would stay up all night and study and managed to get 9 GCSE at A-C, despite not being at school for the last year. I was suffering from speed related psychosis by then and having schizophrenic episodes where I was not able to distinguish between my own delusions and the truth. Then at 16 my then boyfriend off 1 year died of a drug related overdose, instead of using this as a time to take stock, I went on overdrive. I was only a 16 year old girl but I took anything i could get my hands on and although I had been recruited to work on a magazine project in Brighton, this was also where i found heroin and the relief I had been looking for.

I met my partner and we moved together and quickly got a mortgage. He was kind caring and dare i say it, a little gullible. When he found out I was smoking heroin I persuaded him to try it, rather than berating me. He did and it sealed our fate. Now with a mortgage, a car and a £100 a day each for heroin and £50 for crack to find, it was only a matter of months before I was injecting. My ex worked to keep our outwardly normal life going, he paid our mortgage but we were to get into further trouble with £15,000 of unsecured debt and credit cards. It was then I decided that my low paying jobs a petty crime were not going to suffice to cover our habits and I decided to work as a high class escort and earn £500 an hour with the intention of covering the debts as well as our habits.

I did earn £500 pound and hour and I did that at least once a day often several, but instead of paying off debts our drug use escalated and soon our house was being reposed and I was being forced into rehab after being sectioned twice, for mental health problems and suicidal episodes. (I was diagnosed at the time with Bi-polar which runs in my family; as does alcoholism, drug addiction and general ill mental health).

Upon leaving rehab, things were at their worst, the flat was in the process of being sold to pay back the building society and our flat was more like a crack/smack den than a home. I had to visit more and more scary places to score drugs and on more than one occasion I was scared for my life and indeed kidnapped, punched in the face and thrown from a moving car.

We moved away when the flat was sold with the idea of getting clean, we never managed this but we held down respectable jobs, kept our use to about £40 a day each and I went to college to do A levels and on to university to do a degree in International Relations and Politics.

Had it not been for my deteriorating mental and psychical health, you probably would not have guessed I was a drug addict, I worked as the co-editor on a music magazine in digital format and as an insurance underwriter to bring in a little extra. I bathed and dressed well; we had an Audi and thousands of pounds of stereo equipment, to service my hobby of dj'ing. Despite this was the low level using and high level Methadone dependency - 130 mg with approximately a gram of heroin a day on top and a fast increasing Benzo addiction. My doctors provided me with ample amounts but I brought thousands of pills of the net making me erratic, have blackouts and eventually lead me to become once again sectioned.

My partner left me at this point no longer able to cope with my behaviour and deteriorating health; I had slept with my daughter's father behind his back and I didn't even know I had done it. I was in total blackout from the pills, had several infections, including two abscesses in my groin which was my injection site, I weighed 6 stone and the pills worsened my mental health as well. After he left I was homeless and began a career of petty crime while living in the local bail hostel, after 51 counts of shoplifting, handling and stealing from an employer the courts had had enough of me and sentenced me with a DTTO.

I was given a Drug Treatment and Testing Order (DTTO) this would later unbeknown to me be one of the factors that saved my life; as it would provide not just punishment but also help in the crisis points of my life, such as my poly addictions and proper care by the mental health team. Plus joined up multi agency help; that was to include health services and the police and probation, as well as rigorous drug testing, counselling and group therapy. This punishment was to serve much more useful to me than the many maintenance and detox programs I had been on, in patient rehab centres and In Patient mental health care.

In addition only months later came the point of change in my life being as I had clearly been at rock bottom for several years, to my salvation (and I honestly believe I would be dead now otherwise) I found out I was pregnant. This was despite not having a period for many years and having been told my changes of conception were unlikely, I was still in this homeless shelter, and even my family could no longer help and had many years previously turned away from me. The night I did the pregnancy test I threw my last gram of heroin down the toilet, unfortunately graces dad did not do the same and continued to use.

He had by this time (I was 3 months pregnant) got himself a Benzo habit too, I was no longer using illicit drugs and he was. He did an armed robbery on a chemist for pills and I was there but not involved, however we were both arrested for armed robbery and in the cells that night all I could think about was my unborn daughter. Next day the CPS downgraded my charges to handling and my DTTO was increased in length and time. Graces dad went to prison for 4 years and I slowly but surely turned my life around. Alone.

As part of the DTTO I had to give drugs tests (mouth swab DNA ones) 3 times a week, I never gave a positive one and adhered to the sentence to the letter knowing it was the only way I would keep my baby. And indeed the court quashed the order early due to complete compliance and recommendations from all the agencies involved in my care that pregnancy had changed me un-recognisably.

Before she was born I was adamant she would not be treated with drugs following her birth to ensure she did not suffer from withdrawal symptoms unless absolutely necessary. I researched and printed off American studies that showed babies need not be treated with morphine even if the mother is addicted to opiates if they are breastfed and the supply of breast milk is gradually reduced, much like a substitute withdrawal program. In my 'safe' second trimester I reduced from 130mg methadone to 30mg and got down to 30 mg of Valium with no illicit use at all.

My daughter was born a month premature, but had been very closely monitored, the doctors agreed to my breast milk reduction as I did want my daughter to start her first few hours in life high. It worked, she was not treated with drugs and we were allowed home after 6 weeks with no harm to baby or mother or any discernable signs of natal withdrawal. I then slowly reduced the breast milk she received until she was entirely formula fed at 6 months old still free from withdrawal symptoms.

When she was 6 months old, my parents who had retuned to my life now the drugs were absent, looked after her while I went cold turkey from the last of my methadone, and social services, not only kept Grace off the at risk register, they decided their involvement was not necessary. Since then I have been an excellent single mum to an intelligent, bright and happy young girl who is now 3.

So when did I find out I had hepatitis C. well last September following a year of unexplained health problems and terrible joint pain. I contracted two bouts of shingles, two hospitalizations for illnesses normally dealt with by anti-biotics in the community, then graces father called, informed me that he had been tested and was positive and he must have caught it from me, as he had often used my equipment after I had. I requested the test from a locum Doctor as mine was on holiday and 3 weeks later came the shock news that I was in fact positive and had a high viral load.

I know when i got the virus and that was a very desperate day, when I ripped open sharps bins and cooked up other peoples congealed blood as I was in withdrawal 10 years before, this would have been 1999. Being as I had been in the system I believe there were man occasions when an LFT or HCV test would have been a normal useful diagnostic tool of the health professionals treating me. My doctors were aware I was a practising injector of heroin and crack, i was involved in the drug services, I was hospitalised for abscesses in both sides of the groin the hospital could have tested but it took for me to request that test to finally find out I had the virus

I have genotype 3 and am nearly finished 6 months of combination treatment. My GP has been badly informed about the virus and treatment, and unwilling to deal with anything at all related to side effects or treatment and has been nervous about prescribing for secondary infection or non related illness as he is naive about drug interactions of HCV treatment and has on many occasions left me in pain and in unnecessary illness. My team are unhappy to prescribe for anything but treatment drugs; so in the case of low blood counts and WBC's and immunity against infection I have had little support. On one occasion I had a chest infection, the GP would not prescribe anti biotics despite my near dangerous Neutrophill levels and the hospital team were telling me to go back to my Primary Doctor. I ended up taking anti biotics prescribed for someone else, which cleared my infection.

I have certainly struggled with side effects of treatment; fatigue, hair loss, sickness, headaches, migraines on a weekly basis, rashes, secondary infections and fungal type infections and quite serious anaemia (which has reached the cut off level for rescue drugs, 0.75 however I have never been offered them, and critical anaemia along with bringing up a 3 yr old alone on treatment are not conducive to an easy treatment.. I have asked for print outs of all my blood work not having much faith in the health profession anymore, and I have used organisations like The British Liver Trust for practical advice and for social support internet groups such as hepcnomads.co.uk . As there are no support groups in my area, something I intend to rectify upon finishing and detoxing from the Interferon/Ribavirin cocktail.

Despite the crippling side effects, I have been campaigning for more awareness, increased testing, more information and support for the family's and careers of HCV patients, and am using my story to hopefully get others to relate and get tested, thus I am due to be featured in a major daily newspaper and my testimonial is printed on many sites. This is only the start I am writing an autobiography which I hope to get into the publishing process next year and intend to do more press/radio work.

I don't know yet if my 3-year-old daughter has HCV but i will have her tested as soon as the hospital can arrange it. This has been another source of frustration as I have now requested this test from 3 different health professionals on several occasions. It is things like this that make me lose faith in the health professionals desire to decrease anxiety, in what is a very anxiety producing disease. All the info and support I have needed has come from outside the NHS and my family have had no support at all. I know transmission from parent to child is low risk but both her parents were HCV positive when she was conceived and there is a possibility. In addition social services have not helped me as a single mum who is sick for at least 3 days a week and anaemic, tired, insomniac and with underlying mental health issues.

HCV is a time bomb for the NHS and it needs to act now before its money and resources are treating end stage liver disease and cancers of the many thousands of unknown infected. Hopefully this Strategy will be the start of some necessary change in the NHS in terms of awareness, testing, support and treatment. I am glad to have been able to offer my opinions on the matter and hope you have found them useful.

Kerry T

I was diagnosed with hepc 2 yrs ago. Got it from transfusion at age 13. I was suppose to start treatment but was put off due to my moms cancer dr says not good time to start I am 46 yrs old. not sure when I will start treatment

dawn l

I found out that I had Hep C before it was given a name. I was told I had some form of hepatitis and was told it was Non-A or Non-C.

I drank a lot and was asked not to drink for a month and my test results were still high.

I was seeing a Highly Recommended doctor for keeping tabs on a possible Heart disease. I have 3 brothers and 2 sisters who have all had to have surgery. So I saw this Doctor as a expiation to be the next with a heart attack. I was told I showed no heart illness, but he did find I had Hepatitis.

I did not follow up on this and continued to drink. Over 15 years I saw 2 close friends die with Hep C and one had two liver transports.

I lived as if I had no knowledge of my illness. I became very ill after losing all that I worked for in a disaster and I guess drank my hurt away.

Next thing I know I am at LSU Medical Center and being told I was on an emergency liver transport list.

When told this I chose not to have the transplant or the treatment that just came out of trial with about a 50 % rate of success. I was told without some actions taken soon I was given 7 months to live.

I chose to check my self out and gave up drinking. I did all the research I could and treated myself with herbs and diet.

It has been over 7 years since then. Symptoms seem to be getting worse and I expected this to happen.

My question is does anyone have experience with natural herbs or vitamins that may help me.

William B

I had a blood transfusion in 1978 and contracted 'non a - non b' hepatitis. Thirty years later, I have routine blood work and my liver enzymes are elevated. I am not a drinker so I was referred to a specialist.

I started interferon/ribavirin treatment on March 27th for a 48 weeks therapy. I am genotype 1b. By my 12 week blood work, I was virus free after starting at 3 million viral load.

I have lost weight due to nausea/diarrhea/no taste for food and I have lost some hair. Fortunately, I had thick hair to begin with. I am anemic and consequently, I am tired. I am retired so I can monitor this at home but it is frustrating since I live alone to not be able to always do things for myself......or, I am very slow.

The worse part of it is that my 3 year boyfriend deserted me via email in late July........he still won't speak to me for some reason. He went to the doctor with me, encouraged me to start the treatment and said he would support me throughout the treatment.

Guess what........I am doing this on my own and what miserable symptoms there are seem worse after this.

Debby D

Hello.. I have geno2 hepc in week 10 right now. The side effects aren't the best (how many choices do we have?) I have anemia from the treatment and hospitalized 2 times in 2 wks for dehydration. My doc put me on epigon, my dose was reduced. I found new hope to follow through w/treatment after reading your stories. Thank You All

carolyn r

Hello, my new family,

Today I found out I am positive for Hep c along with my oldest Son. Now I am worried about the rest of the family, due to various health reasons. It seems so overwhelming. I do know that I have lived thru the "crack wars" of the 90's and all that so I know God and my Angels will be here to help me through..

Suzan M

I contracted hep c in 1976. So I've had it a very long time eating away at my liver. I was diagnosed in 2000. Went thru the treatment twice with no success. It was only last year 2009 that I've started experiencing problems. I've got cirrhosis, portal hypertension, esophageal varices, enlarged spleen. But all in all I still feel fine. Just some fatigue, need to sleep a lot. I've just had my esophageal varices operated on and now that is under control. My liver looks so bad from the cirrhosis as seen in MRI and CT scans. I wish there were some true herbal remedies or clinics that specialized in this area.

G D

I was given a blood transfusion when having a commisurotomy. I was diagnosed with Hep C after bout 30 yrs. I have been to counseling, meetings of people who had Hep c. Been through all treatments possible. When I Last saw my Infectious disease dr. was told no new treatments were available. My geno type is or was at last visit 1-B . Was told would have an early death at that time. BUT my faith and wanting to survive had kept me going. Feel talkin bout this and not giving but being a fighter & keep a positive attitude has helped me out alot. My viral count was over 50,000,000 Unfortunately back then they did not know bout it. I do have many health issues but still keep going. Have faith and also knowledge is the best help. I am now 59. Had this since about age 25.

Elisabeth A