I was born on New Years Day, 53 years ago. I found out in 1998 after several complaints to the doctor that I had Hepatitis C. My husband has the disease also. Sadly, he continues his lifestyle. My daily torture is watching him slowly commit suicide. I have tried to set the example, but "you can lead the horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink." I can only hope my story can help you.

In 1995, after a couple of years of steadily gaining weight and feeling fatigued ,I joined a weight loss center and they did a blood work on me that came back stating that I had "elevated liver enzymes" and should speak to my doctor. I made an appointment and told him the results and although I couldn't locate the written results the blood work he did came back "normal". He said I must be going through menopause and these are the symptoms. At the time I did not know that it takes a specific blood test for hepatitis. So make sure you ask for one.

For three more years, I would continue to feel tired; gain weight and lack energy to the extent that I felt like I could not stay awake at work. The doctor did more blood work. I got a call from the nurse with the results and it went like this:Ms. K, your cholesterol is fine; sugar is fine; HDL is low and LDL is 90;(silent pause) and you have hepatitis C."

Exactly like that. "What is that?", I asked. "Well, maybe I should let the doctor explain it to you."

After the doctor explained the results to me (on the phone at work), I got on the internet before my first visit to the gastroenterologist. Bottom line there was no cure and I was going to die. I couldn't stop crying. I cried hysterically. I was too young to die!
I had it for three years that I knew of already and did not know how far advanced it was. At that point I did not know that you weren't supposed to drink alcohol or take acetaminophen. I was in a panic.

I don't want to drag this on and on, but after my biopsy I found out I had a genotype of 2b and a fatty liver. I started the ribovarin and interferon and the doctor was concerned about the side effects I was having during the first 3 days and took me off of it. I was not a good candidate for it. I was doomed. He sent me to a world renown liver doctor at Jackson Memorial Teaching Hospital at the Sylvester Center. He advised me to go on a low-fat diet and cut out excess food with iron, stop any kind of alcohol and acetaminophen. I didn't do it all at once. It was tough, but his advice set me out on a personal journey not just for my health but a spiritual journey.

I succumbed to the thought I was going to die and began getting my estate in order. My daughter moved close by and I actually felt like the time was near. Anxiety attacks had taken over my life and each night was fearful that if I went to sleep
I would not wake up. If you have never had anxiety attacks that severe you are blessed.

Then I found Hepatitis Central on the internet and a lady named Vicki Shaw who spoke about how important it was to take Maximum Milk Thistle and posted a web address. It was the opening of the clouds that let a ray of sunshine through. At this point I was desperate enough to try anything. What did I have to lose?

Through Hepatitis Central and the maximum milk thistle, I began to realize that there may be hope. My genotype was 2b with no cirrhosis which was better than 1 or 1b.

I couldn't order the Maximum milk thistle fast enough. I found out through the Mayo clinic and reading other HepC stories that there were other alternatives. Do your research. There's not just one solution. Ask others about their stories and once you gather your information make your own decisions about your life. Doctors do not have all of the answers.

Doctors do not teach about alternative medicine. It's finally coming to the surface again that you cannot get all the vitamins you need from what you eat. Cut the iron out of your food, especially a lot of red meat, that I love. By now you know that alcohol and acetaminophen are toxic to the liver, but my doctor put me on Vicodin instead of a pain medication without it! I am on oxycodone 5mg now for osteoarthritis,only after I demanded something that wouldn't continue to kill me!!

We are all made differently.For example if your weight depends on how much of a dose of interferon you would get, how can they say that one vitamin a day will give a morbidly obese person everything they need. My point is not everything is written in stone. Find out what works for you. Find a doctor that you trust that uses integrative medicine.

It took me a couple of years but I got off the Vicodin with acetaminophen; quit drinking wine or alcohol of any kind and started eating organically especially vegetables and milk. I adhere to Dr. Andrew Weil's wellness advice; I take Dr. Zhaing's liver support vitamins and especially Ultra Maximum Milk Thistle. I have never felt better in years. My liver enzymes have remained stable, but the virus has progressed to where I have stage 2 fibrosis. My liver continues to function normally, but I continue to get the stitches in the side.

During the time up to changing my lifestyle and eating habits, I suffered with illness upon illness.
I would get eye infections that I never had before. My immune system was definitely failing me. I got skin cancer, my first abnormal pap smear that showed cervical cancer cells.

I took a heart burn medicine and ended up turning bright red and itching day and night for 2 days. I thought that this was it. My liver was shutting down, only to find out later that the liver needs bile. I found out what was giving me heartburn..fatty food. So I quit eating anything fried. Your body tells you what not to give it. Listen to it. I drank wine because they said it was great for the heart, but bad for the liver when you have this disease.

It's been 7 years. I went through the phases of a life threatening disease. Shock, Denial, Anger and Acceptance. I turned my life over to God. I haven't felt this good on the inside in my life. The journey has made me see myself for who I am. I have forgiven those who needed to be forgiven and I have forgiven myself.

My days are about continually getting well and more spiritual. Today, I am not angry, depressed or afraid of dying. I have hope that during my lifetime they will find a cure or at least something that will stop the fibrosis.

I stopped spending my time thinking about dying and started living again. I travel all over the United States every chance I get and am working on a life long dream to go to Paris, France.

Do not give up!! I am a survivor , you can be one too!

Let me start this off by saying that I am grateful for Hep. C. You see, contracting it also gave me a beautiful bouncing 9lbs 5oz. baby girl. Jennifer was born over eighteen years ago and it has only been for the last four or five years that I have known about the disease. I am also glad that I did not find out that I had gotten it when I had my daughter. Exactly two years to the day I also delivered a healthy happy 8lbs 10oz boy.

I know it in my heart had I of known I received blood from an infected donor before I conceived Andrew I never would of allowed myself to become with child again. The thought of people who knowingly allow other people to maybe receive such a deadly disease basically just turned my stomach. That is until I found out that after several partners and using IV drugs I unknowingly might of infected countless people. The guilt ate me up, but then again, looking back it was another lesson about myself that God was trying to teach me. I also met my soul mate before I was diagnosed. That just added to my guilt. I not only could of given it to my children but to my best friend also.

I was very sick when I finally found out I had tested positive for Hep. C. It took me several months to recover from that episode. All my energy was used up going to the restroom and sitting up maybe thirty minutes a day during that period. I gradually got stronger and stronger until I eventually could go through a complete day without wanting to just lay down and die. God must of carried me a lot during that time.

Today I have learned to take care of myself better. Eating as right as I can force myself to, remember I still have teenagers in the home. Getting enough sleep and knowing when to take extra time to just rest. Today I have a great relationship with God. I believe with every fiber of my being that God has completely taken the disease from me.

I was watching a popular faith healer on the T.V. and he was praying for viewers. He said that someone out there had a blood disorder and that it was gone, taken away. Immediately my whole body felt warming from the inside out. I feel that I have been healed and since then haven't been sick for one day. I continue to pray for my health.

I am curious to know how my appointment will go next month. I have been on a waiting list for over a year and a half for the clinic that specializes in Hepatitis. More will be revealed about that. My faith has carried me this far and I don’t see why I should think any differently starting now. If it shows up next month it will be alright. Nothing happens by mistake. Good luck to anyone who is affected with this disease.