This is Hepatitis

Particularly during Hepatitis Awareness Week we would invite people to use the forum to tell their story. Your experience could help others. Living with hepatitis C is often isolating. Reading about others in similar situations can reduce that isolation.

Aaron’s story

Diagnosis

It was in March 2007 whilst in the “St Johns Rehabilitation Unit” that I was diagnosed with the Hepatitis C virus. Whilst undergoing detoxification and rehabilitation for my drug use. Through the prescriber there was a well worn path of referrals, which I immediately put into action. Initially I was referred to the liver clinic at the Royal Hobart Hospital, which ironically changed location twice and name once before I was started on treatment.  At least I was on the waiting list.

Before too long, I was called into discuss the medication types and what would be the best combination for ones own genotype. Finally something had started to turn right for me for a change (a small positive) for me.

My genotype was 3a. Luckily one of the hepatitis strains that are easier to treat compared to the other strains.

My treatment regime was to be 48 weeks long which would have to be better than a full year of treatment. No doubt about it. And I applaud those who are required to do a full year combination therapy and stay on it for 12 months.

Side effects

Side effects in my experience were HORRIFIC particularly to do with my anxiety and depression. These experiences are very different person to person, and therefore it is very hard to apply the daily experiences of one patient to that of another patient, as it is with any two patients on the same medication. I had all the night sweats and “bone chill” as I called it, no appetite, little sex life and chronic chronic fatigue, major depression and Anxiety which left me a miserable mess most of the time. And as I was already on a fairly strong anxiety and sleep medication it became a very difficult situation to contend with. And of course there are a lot more side effects and symptoms than listed above.

Outcome

My outcome after my initial 48 week combination treatment showed a massive drop in my viral load. As had all my previous test outcomes. I wasn’t being told by my Gastroenterologist I had cleared hepatitis C just yet but there were positive (no pun intended) rumblings in the liver clinic that they yet again asked for all the tests to be redone which they took immediately & showed me for the first time my Hepatitis C negative status. I asked for a copy for myself but alas it was not to be. I love telling people that I did clear hepatitis C and that it can be done as I think people need to know the good stories amongst the bad ones which seem all too prevalent in the community/media today.

If Aaron’s story has interested you maybe you could tell your story in the forum section of this site.

This is Hepatitis...

Particularly during Hepatitis Awareness Week we would invite people to use the forum to tell their story. Your experience could help others. Living with hepatitis C is often isolating. Reading about others in similar situations can reduce that isolation.

Here is Emma’s story

Emma is in her 30’s and lives in Tasmania. Her current priorities are her young family and her career. Emma recently travelled overseas and was inspired by her experiences. She would very much like to travel again, perhaps while volunteering.

 Emma has been living with hepatitis C for over a year. She knew about hepatitis C from an older person she shared a house with. She was aware of the risks when she began injecting drugs, something she no longer does. At the time, Emma trusted the person she was using with. She trusted that they knew what they were doing and would keep her safe. That was not the case. 

Many of Emma’s’ family members work in community services and she says that their non judgmental attitudes have meant that she is comfortable with their support. She has experienced some discrimination and is careful who she discloses to. Emma has said that even though she “tries not to live with any fear” she is aware that her professional reputation may be harmed by people’s assumptions, if they knew she was living with hepatitis C.

Emma is currently waiting to start treatment. She says that she “would like to move away from that part of my life” but that “You can’t just shut the door on Hep C, something from the past will follow you into the future.”

National Hepatitis Awareness Week 2010: May 17 - May 23

National Hepatitis Awareness Week is an iniative of Hepatitis Australia. The week is coordinated nationally by Hepatitis Australia with the support of state and territory organisations like TasCAHRD, and other national partners and their state and territory members.

Watch this space for further Hep Awareness Week info - regular updates to come!