Welcome Jaz and all the best on your journey.

I also used, however many years ago now and stopped when I was around your age. Your prospects for a long, happy and healthy life are high. It was not even possible to diagnose Hep C when I got it!

Warm regards

Ari

Good for you Jaz. I got clean/sober at 26 so I relate. Welcome. You will find much support, suggestions and knowledge here. Keep on with pursuing another doc and treatment options. You are not alone!

wendy

Hi again Jaz,

Once you get settled in here you can use the search button (center of top bar) and ask questions as you learn more and you'll find out more about your treatment options. The good news is there are many options, one as has been pointed out is to wait for a while and manage your HCV.

Since you are young, you likely don't have a great deal of liver damage yet, the virus tends to take it's time in doing damage, many of us have had HCV for 40 or more years. It IS important to not drink alcohol once you have HCV. It can speed up the damage so we all just don't drink any more.

One step at a time and as you already know one day at a time. We'll help ya navigate your way, there's a lot of very great information and resources on this site, ask and we'll help point you in the right direction so you can find the tools you'll need along the way.

So again, welcome ... glad you are here.

Dave

Hi Jaz,

Welcome to the forum and you have found the right place. Only friends with helpful words. Glad you found it.

Have a great weekend.

Greetings Jaz,

2 Years 2 Months is properly placed before all else. Before your age, your gender or the fact that along the way you came in contact with The Dragon.

Taking the clean aspect out of the equation, the rest is certain doom be it by Dragon, Gun Shot, Overdose or perhaps seclusion in a cell for life. Many a Dope Fiend have been given a last meal.

Step one is simply that and I am telling you staying clean is 1st, and the rest is secondary.

Put the needle down 32 years ago and I only weigh that based on the age of my firstborn. Counting the moments is far behind me and I refuse to consider what may have been. I am alive I am clean and well... I am alive!

Never lose sight, never go back and always look forward.

You are young and likely not currently in grave danger. Certainly not as much as that night... you remember. That one unspoken of as yet but you were there and stand amazed you made it. Keep that night in your heart and never ever put yourself again in such a place.

Stay here with your new Family. Watch listen and learn. Ask and you will have the support you seek. Not always the answers you may want but always the right ones.

I am certain you have quite a bit of time to make the proper choices and treatment options are falling like leaves from the trees.

This is a place of no judgement. Not one here qualified to cast the first stone nor one here that would.

Welcome Jaz. It only gets better trust me.

JimmyK

Hi JM. Welcome from me too. Congrats on being over 2 years clean! As Tig mentioned there are many of us here that are also recovering from addiction, including me, so you are not alone. Medicaid does usually initially deny treatment based on your fibrosis stage so I'm assuming your gastro doctor did have a fibrosis test done. Do you know what that test result was? Medicaid even denied treatment initially for me when my fibrosis test showed cirrhosis but approved me after appeal so don't give up. Hopefully you new doctor will be more help for you too. Check out the assistance links given in Tig signature and keep trying. In many cases the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
 Have a look around the forum and ask any questions you have. If you need a definition for any of the abbreviations used around here then you can find a help list here. We're glad you found us and hope you get approved for treatment soon. Let us know what you find out when you see your new doctor. Wishing you well! 

Hi JM,

Welcome from me too! I'm glad you introduced yourself and invite you to add some additional information to your profile. We like to add our treatment, genotype, etc to our signature line. You'll see that stuff listed at the bottom of our posts/replies. You can find instructions on how to do that HERE. I know you're not on treatment yet, but anything you'd like to share is welcome info!

Congrats on getting and staying clean. That's the most important part of this equation, staying clean and sober. We've got a lot of people here that have been where you're at and we can all provide you with some pointers, should you need them. You have found a great bunch of caring individuals and we aren't judgemental in any way. You won't get preached at negatively, so if you have something you'd like to get off your chest, let it fly. You're among friends and we're here to help you through this.

Now depending on a few things, you may be eligible for treatment through one of the programs, either private or through the manufacturers. You will notice in my signature line, there is a link to various payment assistance programs that may be able to help you obtain treatment. If something like that interests you, I can help you weed your way through some of it. There are a few of them that depending on your income (or not) and your level of fibrosis (disease), that have provided access to care for some of our members. 

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. We're here for you, don't forget that....          

Hi Jaz,

Welcome to the forum, you came to the right forum, I'm sure plenty of ideas and information will flood in here and give you a warm welcome.

Hang tight, others will soon be posting here.

Dave

Hi! I am a recovering heroin addict, been clean 2 years and 2 months. Was diagnosed with hepc 2 years ago. I am a 25 year old female thats generally healthy so medicaid has denied medication. My first gastro doc hasn't helped me with anything, will be seeing someone else soon and I really hope they have some ideas for me to get treatment.