I really have no story yet. I have just found that I have had Hep-C for over forty years and have been ill for the last five. It was diagnosed only by accident. They are testing me for all the information they say is needed to treat this.
So far all I know is that three doctors have examined me and all three have told us that I contacted the disease in Vietnam during my first tour. I was a medic and did a great deal of work with the inhabitants of the villages we secured. Something they found apparently has shown a connection to Vietnam. I have a great many more questions at this point than answers. I have no idea yet how they can all be so sure. When asked to list my symptoms I wrote a list that was almost identical to what they showed me in a book later. Now at 62 I am preparing to learn how to treat this new illness in my bag of Vn related illnesses. I will find answers but so far have only been given very sketchy answers to my questions.
All the consulting doctors have told me that they do not understand why I was not informed at least 7 years ago when the symptoms became very apparent during my semi-annual exams. I am in a stage so far of trying to learn all I can.
When they told me what they have so far it made me angry that I was not told so that I could have taken steps to insure that I did not accidentally infect any other family members. At present I am having all members of my family tested. So far no one other than myself has shown to be infected.
My children and grandchildren have asked if I ever had used any drugs and of course I have not but I did have transfusions on seven occasions during surgeries before 1992. As I learn I will keep a journal and document my progress and acquisition of information. I have made no secret of my infection because I know that I have indulged in no behavior outside the standards I set for myself that might result in me becoming ill. Many of the people I know do look at me differently though since I began telling of having the hep-C. Hopefully there will come a time when I can tell a story of survival but so far this is all I know. It does seem, however, that things are progressing terribly slowly so far.