Hi Babette,

Welcome from me as well. You've already had some good advice, so relax and realise that HepC is not a death sentence. Most people can now be cleared of the virus. At your age you won't have much (if any) liver damage and probably can wait for the new 'easy' drugs. Get your Genotype and Viral Load and let us know. We are able to answer any questions you may have, but try to find a good doctor, experienced in HepC treatment. You're among friends. Cheers.

The virus can be treated and you can beat too. I am proof....I did a clinical trial and knock on would still remain UND. It's not a death sentence anymore. There are so many people on this board that will be able to answer your questions. Keep your head up and march on.

Babette, my heart goes out to you after what you went through with your father.  I also lost my husband in much the same way, in 2007, and I know it`s like living through your worst nightmare, day after day.  But do remember that the vast majority of people infected with Hep C don`t die from it.  This virus can be treated, it`s not your fault you`ve got it, and it`s certainly not a punishment.

I went on to do my treatment at the age of 61, cleared the virus, and am now feeling better than I`ve done for years.  And I had been infected for a long time, 35 to 40 years.  Going through treatment has given me my life back, and many others here will have their own success stories to tell.

Give yourself time to adjust to the diagnosis, and you`ll see that it will be fine, and your children will also be fine.  You don`t need to tell anyone except the people who love you and care for you, and your husband is there with your for support.  Get a good night`s sleep tonight and things won`t look so bad in the morning.  Take care. 

Thank you Cinnamon Girl for responding, I am glad to know I'm not alone, I saw my father suffer for years, he finally got a transplant after being on the list for five years, six months after the transplant the doctors told him that(he also developed liver cancer) if they they new what kind of cancer he had they would never gave him a transplant, they gave him three months to live, he died 1 month later, I watched him waste, hallucinate, and die, I never got to say goodbye, because my stepmother did not call me until noon of that day he died at 2:30am.  I just had to tell my husband today he is very positive about the outcome, I am not.  I feel as though Iam being punished for my past.  Although I don't know how I contacted this awful disease, I am very educated about Hep C and I'm not judgmental.  I'm so scared I have young children 10 and 13 and I can't tell them, not yet anyway, I live in a small town, and if their dad were to find out it would be all over town. Like I said my diagnosis was today my Gp's nurse told me.  I thought my Gp would have told me, I thought he cared enough about me that he would call me in his office to tell me. I feel like my world has come undone.

Thanks for responding, I've gotten past the crying, shock not so much, but I am glad I signed into this forum, too many people believe the stigma of this disease, as automatically being a "don't touch them" disease, its not and it can happen to anyone, my father got it from a tattoo 30yrs ago, I was never afraid to hug him or hold his hand, or clean him up, There are only two people that know right now and I trust them. I'm not ready to even tell my best friend yet. I will be getting my orders in the mail the nurse said that my liver enzymes were mildly high, so I do not know the numbers yet or what geno type it is, I know that they had put my dad on Magestoral (SP?) to help him gain weight, I hope they can help me with that so that I can be strong enough to get treatment as soon as possible. I soo appreciate all of you for the inspiration, that maybe I can beat this thing. Love and Prayers Cinnamon girl ,Kelli, luv to ride, and tn99

Hi Babette and welcome 

I remember when I found out in 2002. It was a letter in the mail from the blood bank calling me a bio-hazard and never to darken their doorstep again. How rude!

 I was very scared and shocked like you, at first, but after educating myself on my options and how to take better care of my body, I came to terms somewhat and stayed relativity positive about the whole thing. I agree with Cinnamon Girl, you are in good shape, young and the medical community is on the cusp of some very exciting developments for easy and effective treatments. Hang in there girl and keep us informed. Best to you K

Hi Babette, welcome, you`ve come to the right place for support and reassurance and I`m glad you`ve found us. 

I can understand how shocked and scared you must be feeling about your diagnosis, and I`m so sorry about the loss of your father, but please don`t imagine that you are going to die from Hep C, it won`t happen.  This disease is very treatable nowadays and you are young compared to a lot of us here who have gone through treatment.  You are quite light in weight, but there`s no reason why you shouldn`t be able to cope with treatment as you`ll be monitored by your hepatologist all the way through from start to finish.

You`ve done the right thing by making an appointment to find out about your genotype and treatment options, and once you have more information it will all become clearer to you.

Please don`t cry, you`re with friends here, and we`re here for you.  You`ll get through this and go on to live a healthy and happy life. 

Hi, I was just diagnosed today with Hep C, I am very scared, my father died from this disease in 2009, I feel as though I was just given my death sentence, I'm shocked, crying, and don't want to die with this disease, I only weigh 102 pounds and I am afraid I wont make it through treatment, I don't even know what geno type it is yet, I will be seeing a Hepatolgist at Wash u in St Louis Mo.