My diagnosis came in 1998 as a result of the first full check up I’d had in a decade. I felt good and was interested to see if 7 years since quitting smoking had made a difference. The doctor called the next day to say that everything seemed fine but there were raised liver function levels and he suggested that I see a specialist. I had no other indication that anything was wrong. I felt fine in myself (and still do).

The specialist soon diagnosed HCV which had to be the result of heavy drug use some 20 years before. I was surprised but not shocked (I had gotten off very lightly in the intervening decades). I also made the decision that I wouldn’t deny my HCV status or the mode of infection.

I was fortunate enough to be living in London and accepted into the specialist liver clinic at the Royal Free Hospital under Professor Dusheiko. The support I’ve received from them has been absolutely outstanding.

Unfortunately, my first ultrasound was misinterpreted by a technician as showing clear signs of cirrhosis. Subsequent clinical decisions were based on the and it took a couple years before the doctors ruled it out. However, I feel that they were entirely right to exercise caution and the results helped me make changes that might otherwise have been harder.

The first useful decision I made was to quit alcohol. I’m not good at moderation and I didn’t see any point in skewing the odds. I figured that if there was any lifestyle advice that wasn’t extreme I should be proactive in following it. Thus far it seems to be working. I also decided that I would be open to all treatment options - conventional and not.

My first attempt at HCV eradication was in 2000. I knew that for genotype 1 the odds weren’t good but I thought it worth the risk. I did as much online research as I could and made the surprising and enlightening discovery of the wonderful HCV community out there. I found Hepatitis Neighborhood particularly helpful. The opportunity to read testimonials that chimed with my own experiences was a profound bolster. And my wife Liz was endlessly supportive.

Unfortunately, the combination therapy was a total failure and deeply unpleasant. So much so that I was relieved when I was told to discontinue self-administration after 6 weeks. I was comforted by the thought that I’d probably provided some useful data and that, as a willing guinea pig, I was high on the list for new therapies as, and when, available.

In the meantime I tried an extended period taking co-enzyme Q10 and milk thistle before reluctantly concluding that I was receiving no benefit whatsoever. My doctor was supportive throughout, only expressing his scepticism after I decided to stop. My tests continued to show mild fibrosis and that hasn’t worsened to any significant degree.

The second attempt was early last year with a combination of Ribavirin and Pegylated Interferon. The side-effects were way better. After the previous failure, I was monitored quite closely and Therese, my treatment nurse, began to get very optimistic as the 12 week evaluation approached. Again the online community proved a precious resource. However, once again the results were awful.

I’m reasonably optimistic about the potential of protease inhibitors but not exactly holding my breath. I still don’t seem to experience anything that impinges on my daily life and so I manage to get along without overly troubling myself about the virus. I refuse to to let it dominate my life (easier said when it doesn’t in any real sense, I know).

My main conclusions are that I’ve been lucky to have been spared the terrible experiences of so many others. And, in some ways, I’m grateful to the virus for clarifying my priorities (my wife & children) and showing me the compassionate, generous side of so many other people who carry their burdens so lightly and graciously.