Introduction

[Guest guest]

Welcome, Elin....

Everyone here is just wonderful so you'll feel right at home before you know

it. And we all know what you are going through...it's a very difficult time

when you frist learn that you are sharing your life with Hep C. But you do

learn to live with it.

There are so many different philosophies when determining how you are going

to treat this disease. Some people put themselves in the hands of western

medicine, some in the hands of eastern philosophies, some go completely

natural and some combine all the different paths. But regardless of which

path you follow, no one path has all the answers.

Here is Dr. Cabot's link to her original site:

http://www.whas.com.au/index.html Over the last year+ she has developed a

liver health site and here is the link to that site:

http://www.liverdoctor.com/liverquestionnaire.shtml Her books are great and

when she finally came out with the second book it picked up right where her

first book has left off.

My personal belief is that the way to managing Hep C is with nutrition and

lifestyle. Everything we eat, breathe, absorb needs to be processed by the

liver. I'm in treatment at this time after a year of working with eastern and

herbal treatment plans. I haven't given up those philosophies, but have only

added treatment to my regime. I've had no side effects to the treatment until

recently which I attribute to my diet and lifestyle. However, it seems I'm

starting to deal with the side effect from the rebetron destroying the

neurotransmitters in my brain and am becoming increasingly irritable. But

I'll work through this too.

Glad to have you with us...you'll find a lot of support here.

Tatezi

Elin L Criswell wrote:

> Hi everyone! Thought it was time to introduce myself to the group.

>

> I just signed up with this list a few days ago. My husband, Danny, was

> recently diagnosed with Hep C. It's been a crazy month. First, the

> physical with the results of the blood work coming back, giving us this

> news. Then, our first meeting with a gastro doctor, where he had us

> schedule the liver biopsy. The biopsy was done this past Wednesday.

> Next step is to see the gastro. doctor again on Nov. 9.

>

> So you all know what we are going through, as we start down this road.

>

> During the last few years, I have found myself in different " caregiving "

> roles. I entered into helping with my parents, as my Mom fought uterine

> cancer for 2 1/2 years. She died five years ago this December. My Dad

> (who is now 87 years old) was able to live alone for 2 years, but in

> March, 1998, he fell and broke his leg. Then my husband and our family

> entered in as his caregivers. So that he could continue to live in his

> own home (he didn't want to live with us in town)... we moved in with him

> and we have been here now for 2 1/2 years.

>

> Being a caregiver for an elderly parent .... what can I say? There are

> so many responsibilities. It's like caring for a child, only opposite.

> When your babies are little, you take care of them, doing so much for

> them that they can't do themselves. It's the same thing caring for a

> parent, with the much-added stress of knowing that you never know when

> their time on this earth will end.

>

> But then, Hep C entered our lives and it's a whole different ballgame.

> It's not my parents we're talking about now ........ it's my husband.

>

> To tell you a little more about our family, Danny and I have been married

> for 14 years, and we have three children, Becky, 11, , 9, and

> , 9 months. I've always been a stay-at-home Mom, and we also

> homeschool.

>

> Hope ....yall.... (we live in Central Texas, ya know) don't mind me

> being so wordy. I've spoken from the heart, and I'm " wordy " to begin

> with. Take after my Ma.

>

> I've done alot of research on the web. I've gotten overwhelmed alot over

> the different things I've been reading. Does this apply? Does that

> apply? What? What? What? It's been very confusing at times.

>

> But I guess I'm beginning to adjust. Beginning to accept where we are at

> with this.

>

> What we do know for sure at this point, is that after we met again with

> the gastro. doctor .... if he doesn't meet our definition of a doctor who

> will work with us........ we're dropping him and trying another. Thank

> goodness (and Shalleen w/NHCC, Texas), we have a referral for a doctor

> that does sound promising.

>

> I do have a couple of questions to throw out.

>

> What are the current thoughts on good amounts of Vitamin C & E, to take?

>

> Also, I could look this back up, but you someone save me time by telling

> me the direct website of the lady doctor who has written a couple of

> books on the subject of Hep C and diet.

>

> Elin

> ________________________________________________________________

> YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET!

> Juno now offers FREE Internet Access!

> Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit:

> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Welcome, Elin....

Everyone here is just wonderful so you'll feel right at home before you know

it. And we all know what you are going through...it's a very difficult time

when you frist learn that you are sharing your life with Hep C. But you do

learn to live with it.

There are so many different philosophies when determining how you are going

to treat this disease. Some people put themselves in the hands of western

medicine, some in the hands of eastern philosophies, some go completely

natural and some combine all the different paths. But regardless of which

path you follow, no one path has all the answers.

Here is Dr. Cabot's link to her original site:

http://www.whas.com.au/index.html Over the last year+ she has developed a

liver health site and here is the link to that site:

http://www.liverdoctor.com/liverquestionnaire.shtml Her books are great and

when she finally came out with the second book it picked up right where her

first book has left off.

My personal belief is that the way to managing Hep C is with nutrition and

lifestyle. Everything we eat, breathe, absorb needs to be processed by the

liver. I'm in treatment at this time after a year of working with eastern and

herbal treatment plans. I haven't given up those philosophies, but have only

added treatment to my regime. I've had no side effects to the treatment until

recently which I attribute to my diet and lifestyle. However, it seems I'm

starting to deal with the side effect from the rebetron destroying the

neurotransmitters in my brain and am becoming increasingly irritable. But

I'll work through this too.

Glad to have you with us...you'll find a lot of support here.

Tatezi

Elin L Criswell wrote:

> Hi everyone! Thought it was time to introduce myself to the group.

>

> I just signed up with this list a few days ago. My husband, Danny, was

> recently diagnosed with Hep C. It's been a crazy month. First, the

> physical with the results of the blood work coming back, giving us this

> news. Then, our first meeting with a gastro doctor, where he had us

> schedule the liver biopsy. The biopsy was done this past Wednesday.

> Next step is to see the gastro. doctor again on Nov. 9.

>

> So you all know what we are going through, as we start down this road.

>

> During the last few years, I have found myself in different " caregiving "

> roles. I entered into helping with my parents, as my Mom fought uterine

> cancer for 2 1/2 years. She died five years ago this December. My Dad

> (who is now 87 years old) was able to live alone for 2 years, but in

> March, 1998, he fell and broke his leg. Then my husband and our family

> entered in as his caregivers. So that he could continue to live in his

> own home (he didn't want to live with us in town)... we moved in with him

> and we have been here now for 2 1/2 years.

>

> Being a caregiver for an elderly parent .... what can I say? There are

> so many responsibilities. It's like caring for a child, only opposite.

> When your babies are little, you take care of them, doing so much for

> them that they can't do themselves. It's the same thing caring for a

> parent, with the much-added stress of knowing that you never know when

> their time on this earth will end.

>

> But then, Hep C entered our lives and it's a whole different ballgame.

> It's not my parents we're talking about now ........ it's my husband.

>

> To tell you a little more about our family, Danny and I have been married

> for 14 years, and we have three children, Becky, 11, , 9, and

> , 9 months. I've always been a stay-at-home Mom, and we also

> homeschool.

>

> Hope ....yall.... (we live in Central Texas, ya know) don't mind me

> being so wordy. I've spoken from the heart, and I'm " wordy " to begin

> with. Take after my Ma.

>

> I've done alot of research on the web. I've gotten overwhelmed alot over

> the different things I've been reading. Does this apply? Does that

> apply? What? What? What? It's been very confusing at times.

>

> But I guess I'm beginning to adjust. Beginning to accept where we are at

> with this.

>

> What we do know for sure at this point, is that after we met again with

> the gastro. doctor .... if he doesn't meet our definition of a doctor who

> will work with us........ we're dropping him and trying another. Thank

> goodness (and Shalleen w/NHCC, Texas), we have a referral for a doctor

> that does sound promising.

>

> I do have a couple of questions to throw out.

>

> What are the current thoughts on good amounts of Vitamin C & E, to take?

>

> Also, I could look this back up, but you someone save me time by telling

> me the direct website of the lady doctor who has written a couple of

> books on the subject of Hep C and diet.

>

> Elin

> ________________________________________________________________

> YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET!

> Juno now offers FREE Internet Access!

> Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit:

> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Elin

Welcome to this list you will find it so much help in the journey you are

beginning. Please reach out to us and vent if needed because that is why we

are here to help and sooth each other. My husband is the one with Hep C also

and has been on the Rebetron for 14 months we are waiting to go back to the

doctor on the 13th of November and we are hoping he will be off of it then.

I will be thinking of you on the 9th of this month and hoping you get good

news about the biopsy. this is a great bunch of people!!!!! Try to stay

positive!! You seem to have your hands full already without this latest

development so let us help you through it.

Winne

[Guest guest]

Elin

Welcome to this list you will find it so much help in the journey you are

beginning. Please reach out to us and vent if needed because that is why we

are here to help and sooth each other. My husband is the one with Hep C also

and has been on the Rebetron for 14 months we are waiting to go back to the

doctor on the 13th of November and we are hoping he will be off of it then.

I will be thinking of you on the 9th of this month and hoping you get good

news about the biopsy. this is a great bunch of people!!!!! Try to stay

positive!! You seem to have your hands full already without this latest

development so let us help you through it.

Winne

[Guest guest]

Elin,

Welcome to the group! Sounds like you have your hands full too, Good luck

with your doc and hope he/she meets yours needs and good luck

Suzy

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[Guest guest]

Jill,

Welcome to the group! Sorry to hear you have hep C, but I'm glad you found us

I tell people that the " C " in hep c means " Change " because it changes our

lifestyles and makes us more concious of our health and mortality. We adjust

and adapt thru diet, excercise, rest, and sometimes treatment, as well as in

other ways.

Do you have any symptoms? Where are ya located? What doctor will you see?

I'm in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area of Texas. I'm a wife, grandmother of 3, and

have known about my hep about 10 years.

You're right. Doesn't matter how we got it. What matters is where we go from

here.

Nice to meet you! Ask any questions and we will try to answer.

big hugs,

alley

Grand Prairie, Tx

[Guest guest]

Hi Jill, and welcome to our family. We'll all help you through this...sorta the

ole 'been there,done that " routine <g>

How are you handling this emotionally? I know when I first found out I was in

denial and then I was angry and depressed. Whew, I remember now....it was an

emotional roller coaster. Knowledge is your best friend right now.

Everyone seems to experience different things so it's nice being part of a group

with so many people...there is probably someone who has gone through what you

are experiencing at any given time. Several times when I thought I was losing my

mind and came to the group with what was going on, I'd discover it wasn't me

personally ... it was all part of it.

Until you go through the process of the seeing liver guy and getting additional

testing, honor the emotions you'll experience because it's part of being

diagnosed with something like this.

Make sure you get copies of all medical records from the intial testing on. It's

important to have these in your possession at all times...and it's your right.

If you don't know how to read your records, either ask us or go to the web.

http://www.Hepatitis Caware.org/blood_chemistry.html (you can access the whole

site with the frame on the left side of the page) is pretty good and I'm sure

others will post a bunch of other sites. (BTW everyone, I just went to

http://hepatitis-central.com/ and the site is for sale and will close down

12/2002 without a buyer...did you know about that?)

Don't know what else to say...feel free to ask anything. Get copies of your labs

and stay educated. And don't be afraid to come to us with anything...that's why

we are here. (Every now and then we get a little off topic but that's only

natural.)

Blessings

Tatezi

introduction

Hello.

I wanted to introduce myself. I hope that is okay.

My name is Jill. I am 31 yrs old. I am married and have 3 children.

I found out Wednesday (7/3) that I have Hep C. I want to learn as

much as I can about it. I have been trying to figure out how I could

have contracted it but can only come up with the fact that 3/4 of my

back is tattooed, or maybe it goes back to when I had CMV in 95. I

just don't know. I guess now " how " is not as important as " what do I

do next " . I can't get in to see my Dr. until 7/29 and I don't want

to wait that long for some answers. Maybe you can help.

Anyway,

Thanks,

Jill

Michigan

[Guest guest]

Hi Jill, and welcome to our family. We'll all help you through this...sorta the

ole 'been there,done that " routine <g>

How are you handling this emotionally? I know when I first found out I was in

denial and then I was angry and depressed. Whew, I remember now....it was an

emotional roller coaster. Knowledge is your best friend right now.

Everyone seems to experience different things so it's nice being part of a group

with so many people...there is probably someone who has gone through what you

are experiencing at any given time. Several times when I thought I was losing my

mind and came to the group with what was going on, I'd discover it wasn't me

personally ... it was all part of it.

Until you go through the process of the seeing liver guy and getting additional

testing, honor the emotions you'll experience because it's part of being

diagnosed with something like this.

Make sure you get copies of all medical records from the intial testing on. It's

important to have these in your possession at all times...and it's your right.

If you don't know how to read your records, either ask us or go to the web.

http://www.Hepatitis Caware.org/blood_chemistry.html (you can access the whole

site with the frame on the left side of the page) is pretty good and I'm sure

others will post a bunch of other sites. (BTW everyone, I just went to

http://hepatitis-central.com/ and the site is for sale and will close down

12/2002 without a buyer...did you know about that?)

Don't know what else to say...feel free to ask anything. Get copies of your labs

and stay educated. And don't be afraid to come to us with anything...that's why

we are here. (Every now and then we get a little off topic but that's only

natural.)

Blessings

Tatezi

introduction

Hello.

I wanted to introduce myself. I hope that is okay.

My name is Jill. I am 31 yrs old. I am married and have 3 children.

I found out Wednesday (7/3) that I have Hep C. I want to learn as

much as I can about it. I have been trying to figure out how I could

have contracted it but can only come up with the fact that 3/4 of my

back is tattooed, or maybe it goes back to when I had CMV in 95. I

just don't know. I guess now " how " is not as important as " what do I

do next " . I can't get in to see my Dr. until 7/29 and I don't want

to wait that long for some answers. Maybe you can help.

Anyway,

Thanks,

Jill

Michigan

[Guest guest]

Wecome Jill

You'll find tons of information here....the doc who runs the forum is

travelling now, but he still finds time to check in....Claudine is a

fountain of information. Any questions you have, just ask...and I'm

sure someone will help. And you're right, it doesn't matter how you got

HepC, it only matters what happens from here on.

Carol

jranuci49349 wrote:

> Hello.

> I wanted to introduce myself. I hope that is okay.

> My name is Jill. I am 31 yrs old. I am married and have 3 children.

> I found out Wednesday (7/3) that I have Hep C. I want to learn as

> much as I can about it. I have been trying to figure out how I could

> have contracted it but can only come up with the fact that 3/4 of my

> back is tattooed, or maybe it goes back to when I had CMV in 95. I

> just don't know. I guess now " how " is not as important as " what do I

> do next " . I can't get in to see my Dr. until 7/29 and I don't want

> to wait that long for some answers. Maybe you can help.

> Anyway,

> Thanks,

> Jill

> Michigan

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Wecome Jill

You'll find tons of information here....the doc who runs the forum is

travelling now, but he still finds time to check in....Claudine is a

fountain of information. Any questions you have, just ask...and I'm

sure someone will help. And you're right, it doesn't matter how you got

HepC, it only matters what happens from here on.

Carol

jranuci49349 wrote:

> Hello.

> I wanted to introduce myself. I hope that is okay.

> My name is Jill. I am 31 yrs old. I am married and have 3 children.

> I found out Wednesday (7/3) that I have Hep C. I want to learn as

> much as I can about it. I have been trying to figure out how I could

> have contracted it but can only come up with the fact that 3/4 of my

> back is tattooed, or maybe it goes back to when I had CMV in 95. I

> just don't know. I guess now " how " is not as important as " what do I

> do next " . I can't get in to see my Dr. until 7/29 and I don't want

> to wait that long for some answers. Maybe you can help.

> Anyway,

> Thanks,

> Jill

> Michigan

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

HI Jill.Welcome to this group.I.am a relative new member also and got a lot of

knowledge from it.You can ask any question and for sure you.ll get an

answer,there is a lot of knowledge on this group.You.re young and a

woman,depending on your geno-type,your changes of getting cured with the new

combi treatment hve greatly improved.This group will tell you all about it.Don.t

ask yourself how you.hve got it.There.s nothing you can do about it now

anyway.In a way you.re lucky it was diagnosed so early,it greatly improves your

changes of recovery..

introduction

Hello.

I wanted to introduce myself. I hope that is okay.

My name is Jill. I am 31 yrs old. I am married and have 3 children.

I found out Wednesday (7/3) that I have Hep C. I want to learn as

much as I can about it. I have been trying to figure out how I could

have contracted it but can only come up with the fact that 3/4 of my

back is tattooed, or maybe it goes back to when I had CMV in 95. I

just don't know. I guess now " how " is not as important as " what do I

do next " . I can't get in to see my Dr. until 7/29 and I don't want

to wait that long for some answers. Maybe you can help.

Anyway,

Thanks,

Jill

Michigan

[Guest guest]

Jill, I am so very sorry that you have had to find us. This is a wonderful

group. I have been on this list since I first found out about my HepC too. It

is the only group I have stuck with. I have learned lots. This is a pretty

tight group. They have helped me through some tough times.

I found out I had HepC just over 2 years ago. This group helped me with the

emotional roller coaster that followed. I had no close friends or relatives

near me at the time, so this was my only outlet. I am also married with 2 kids.

I was so worried I had passed this disease to my hubby and kids....but it wasn't

true. Then, I went on treatment....worked out for me (so far anyway).

I found good support here while on treatment, and would of still found good

support here even if I had decided not to try the treatment.

Don't be shy here, ask questions, and ask them over and over again if you don't

understand.

Edie

San , TX

introduction

Hello.

I wanted to introduce myself. I hope that is okay.

My name is Jill. I am 31 yrs old. I am married and have 3 children.

I found out Wednesday (7/3) that I have Hep C. I want to learn as

much as I can about it. I have been trying to figure out how I could

have contracted it but can only come up with the fact that 3/4 of my

back is tattooed, or maybe it goes back to when I had CMV in 95. I

just don't know. I guess now " how " is not as important as " what do I

do next " . I can't get in to see my Dr. until 7/29 and I don't want

to wait that long for some answers. Maybe you can help.

Anyway,

Thanks,

Jill

Michigan

[Guest guest]

Alley,

Do you have any symptoms?

I am not sure what symptoms I have. I wasn' t aware that anything was wrong...

or was I. I would say that from the beginning of January til the middle of April

I had not been sick for about a total of 2 weeks. I also run and walk a lot and

since May my calves have really hurt. Even when I took 3 weeks off they still

ache and I get sharp pains throughout my calves. I am tired a lot. I never

associated it with anything til now. Maybe it's all related, maybe it isn't. I

was a medic in the Army 92-96. (another possible source of the cause).

Where are ya located?

I am located in the small town of White Cloud, Michigan.

What doctor will you see?

I don't have a clue. I just want to get in to see my PCP right now.

Jill

Re: introduction

Jill,

Welcome to the group! Sorry to hear you have hep C, but I'm glad you found us

I tell people that the " C " in hep c means " Change " because it changes our

lifestyles and makes us more concious of our health and mortality. We adjust

and adapt thru diet, excercise, rest, and sometimes treatment, as well as in

other ways.

Do you have any symptoms? Where are ya located? What doctor will you see?

I'm in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area of Texas. I'm a wife, grandmother of 3, and

have known about my hep about 10 years.

You're right. Doesn't matter how we got it. What matters is where we go from

here.

Nice to meet you! Ask any questions and we will try to answer.

big hugs,

alley

Grand Prairie, Tx

[Guest guest]

Jill, I am so very sorry that you have had to find us. This is a wonderful

group. I have been on this list since I first found out about my HepC too. It

is the only group I have stuck with. I have learned lots. This is a pretty

tight group. They have helped me through some tough times.

I found out I had HepC just over 2 years ago. This group helped me with the

emotional roller coaster that followed. I had no close friends or relatives

near me at the time, so this was my only outlet. I am also married with 2 kids.

I was so worried I had passed this disease to my hubby and kids....but it wasn't

true. Then, I went on treatment....worked out for me (so far anyway).

I found good support here while on treatment, and would of still found good

support here even if I had decided not to try the treatment.

Don't be shy here, ask questions, and ask them over and over again if you don't

understand.

Edie

San , TX

introduction

Hello.

I wanted to introduce myself. I hope that is okay.

My name is Jill. I am 31 yrs old. I am married and have 3 children.

I found out Wednesday (7/3) that I have Hep C. I want to learn as

much as I can about it. I have been trying to figure out how I could

have contracted it but can only come up with the fact that 3/4 of my

back is tattooed, or maybe it goes back to when I had CMV in 95. I

just don't know. I guess now " how " is not as important as " what do I

do next " . I can't get in to see my Dr. until 7/29 and I don't want

to wait that long for some answers. Maybe you can help.

Anyway,

Thanks,

Jill

Michigan

[Guest guest]

Alley,

Do you have any symptoms?

I am not sure what symptoms I have. I wasn' t aware that anything was wrong...

or was I. I would say that from the beginning of January til the middle of April

I had not been sick for about a total of 2 weeks. I also run and walk a lot and

since May my calves have really hurt. Even when I took 3 weeks off they still

ache and I get sharp pains throughout my calves. I am tired a lot. I never

associated it with anything til now. Maybe it's all related, maybe it isn't. I

was a medic in the Army 92-96. (another possible source of the cause).

Where are ya located?

I am located in the small town of White Cloud, Michigan.

What doctor will you see?

I don't have a clue. I just want to get in to see my PCP right now.

Jill

Re: introduction

Jill,

Welcome to the group! Sorry to hear you have hep C, but I'm glad you found us

I tell people that the " C " in hep c means " Change " because it changes our

lifestyles and makes us more concious of our health and mortality. We adjust

and adapt thru diet, excercise, rest, and sometimes treatment, as well as in

other ways.

Do you have any symptoms? Where are ya located? What doctor will you see?

I'm in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area of Texas. I'm a wife, grandmother of 3, and

have known about my hep about 10 years.

You're right. Doesn't matter how we got it. What matters is where we go from

here.

Nice to meet you! Ask any questions and we will try to answer.

big hugs,

alley

Grand Prairie, Tx

[Guest guest]

Tatezi,

I am doing fine emotionally right now, I think. When I first heard 2 weeks ago

that the labs thought this is what I had I was very scared, but started reading

up on Hep C on the internet to get a better understanding of what was going on.

When I was officially told (when the 3rd test came back pos also). I felt just

fine. All I wanted to do at that point was get on with finding out how far it

had progressed and also what the next steps were. A friend of mine was unsettled

with how " okay " I was with it. It is just surreal. I look in the mirror and

can't believe it because I can't see it.

Thank you for your support.

Jill

introduction

Hello.

I wanted to introduce myself. I hope that is okay.

My name is Jill. I am 31 yrs old. I am married and have 3 children.

I found out Wednesday (7/3) that I have Hep C. I want to learn as

much as I can about it. I have been trying to figure out how I could

have contracted it but can only come up with the fact that 3/4 of my

back is tattooed, or maybe it goes back to when I had CMV in 95. I

just don't know. I guess now " how " is not as important as " what do I

do next " . I can't get in to see my Dr. until 7/29 and I don't want

to wait that long for some answers. Maybe you can help.

Anyway,

Thanks,

Jill

Michigan

[Guest guest]

Tatezi,

I am doing fine emotionally right now, I think. When I first heard 2 weeks ago

that the labs thought this is what I had I was very scared, but started reading

up on Hep C on the internet to get a better understanding of what was going on.

When I was officially told (when the 3rd test came back pos also). I felt just

fine. All I wanted to do at that point was get on with finding out how far it

had progressed and also what the next steps were. A friend of mine was unsettled

with how " okay " I was with it. It is just surreal. I look in the mirror and

can't believe it because I can't see it.

Thank you for your support.

Jill

introduction

Hello.

I wanted to introduce myself. I hope that is okay.

My name is Jill. I am 31 yrs old. I am married and have 3 children.

I found out Wednesday (7/3) that I have Hep C. I want to learn as

much as I can about it. I have been trying to figure out how I could

have contracted it but can only come up with the fact that 3/4 of my

back is tattooed, or maybe it goes back to when I had CMV in 95. I

just don't know. I guess now " how " is not as important as " what do I

do next " . I can't get in to see my Dr. until 7/29 and I don't want

to wait that long for some answers. Maybe you can help.

Anyway,

Thanks,

Jill

Michigan

[Guest guest]

Hi Jill...

Glad to hear this hasn't thrown you into an emotional tizzy. Makes life a lot

easier. Now for the waiting for the additional tests...that to me was the

hardest part. Of course, I'm not a very patient person and want to know things

right now!

I've heard of White Cloud...isn't it an hour or so north of Grand Rapids? I had

family in Grand Rapids that has died off but as a child we used to go up there

several times a year (I'm in Chicago). Also have family still living in the East

Lansing area. As I recall, it's pretty much small towns all around White

Cloud...am I remembering right?

Let us know when we can help with anything...

Tatezi

introduction

Hello.

I wanted to introduce myself. I hope that is okay.

My name is Jill. I am 31 yrs old. I am married and have 3 children.

I found out Wednesday (7/3) that I have Hep C. I want to learn as

much as I can about it. I have been trying to figure out how I could

have contracted it but can only come up with the fact that 3/4 of my

back is tattooed, or maybe it goes back to when I had CMV in 95. I

just don't know. I guess now " how " is not as important as " what do I

do next " . I can't get in to see my Dr. until 7/29 and I don't want

to wait that long for some answers. Maybe you can help.

Anyway,

Thanks,

Jill

Michigan

[Guest guest]

Hi Jill...

Glad to hear this hasn't thrown you into an emotional tizzy. Makes life a lot

easier. Now for the waiting for the additional tests...that to me was the

hardest part. Of course, I'm not a very patient person and want to know things

right now!

I've heard of White Cloud...isn't it an hour or so north of Grand Rapids? I had

family in Grand Rapids that has died off but as a child we used to go up there

several times a year (I'm in Chicago). Also have family still living in the East

Lansing area. As I recall, it's pretty much small towns all around White

Cloud...am I remembering right?

Let us know when we can help with anything...

Tatezi

introduction

Hello.

I wanted to introduce myself. I hope that is okay.

My name is Jill. I am 31 yrs old. I am married and have 3 children.

I found out Wednesday (7/3) that I have Hep C. I want to learn as

much as I can about it. I have been trying to figure out how I could

have contracted it but can only come up with the fact that 3/4 of my

back is tattooed, or maybe it goes back to when I had CMV in 95. I

just don't know. I guess now " how " is not as important as " what do I

do next " . I can't get in to see my Dr. until 7/29 and I don't want

to wait that long for some answers. Maybe you can help.

Anyway,

Thanks,

Jill

Michigan

[Guest guest]

Hi Jill.

I remember geting my initial diagnosis, then the long wait for a

specialist, that seemed horrible at the time to have to wait so long. The

good news is, HCV progresses very slowly, so while decades matter months

are not a big deal.

You have had a confirming diagnosis by PCR?

There are things you can do immediately in terms of diet and taking

supplements, things your specialist probably won't tell you anyway, so it

is okay to start coping with your condition immediately. While there are

laundry lists of things to do, and you will hear different opinions from

many on what they are, two things I am sure everyone will agree on are to

start taking milk thistle and STOP DRINKING ALCOHOL. The MT is an

antinflammatory with proven liver protecting properties that will slow (not

cure) the progression of fibrosis. Alcohol, on the other hand, is a

liver damaging agent in it's own right and in concert with the HCV they

don't add to each others contribution, they multiply each other so please

please please stop drinking alcohol. If you don't drink, YEAH, don't

start :-)

[Guest guest]

Tatezi

Yes, White Cloud is north of GR. And yes, it is all small towns in Newaygo

County. I like it, but hate being so far away from everything when we want to do

some real shopping... lol

Jill

Re: introduction

[Guest guest]

Tatezi

Yes, White Cloud is north of GR. And yes, it is all small towns in Newaygo

County. I like it, but hate being so far away from everything when we want to do

some real shopping... lol

Jill

Re: introduction

[Guest guest]

Hi Jill and welcome,

My name is Donna and I just started my treatment and am doing very well.

It is good for you to reach out. Finding out you are chronically ill is a

hard pill to swallow. But I myself have learned so much about life, love and

happiness when I finally came to grips with my illness.

You will only grow to be a better person from it I pray.

Sincerely,

Donna

[Guest guest]

Hi Jill and welcome,

My name is Donna and I just started my treatment and am doing very well.

It is good for you to reach out. Finding out you are chronically ill is a

hard pill to swallow. But I myself have learned so much about life, love and

happiness when I finally came to grips with my illness.

You will only grow to be a better person from it I pray.

Sincerely,

Donna

[Guest guest]

Jill,

Imagine before the internet....going to the library and looking at books

copyrighted in 1989....finding old information about non-A, non-B. Wow, this

internet is some wonderful crap. The posters here will keep you well

informed. Get ready to bookmark many, many sites.

To everyone...remember me telling you April 1st that I finally got a

prescription for pegylated interferon and ribavirin from the University of

Nebraska Medical Center via the VA? Well, I've just returned home from

vacation and am hoping it's at the post office where my mail has been held

this past week. Will know tomorrow. It's been three months, so I have my

fingers crossed. I've failed monotherapy twice because of low white blood

count and platelets. The last time I took injections for 9 months. That's

been a few years ago. The nurse had told me, since I work 6 days, that I

should take the injection on Saturday nights, Sunday being my day off. I may

not be able to wait if I come home with the goods tomorrow.

Welcome, Jill. Try to get rest each afternoon, if possible. That will help if

you have fatigue. Eat well. Keep your spirits up and be positive. There are

smart people out there working on better treatments. I think I've had this

since Vietnam, which would be 32 years now. I feel fine when I'm rested

(really cranky if I'm not, though).

Your friend,

Gene