On Monday, April 21st, I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. I had suspected for a while that I had it and the tests only confirmed what I already - in my heart - knew. For those who don't know, my husband was diagnosed last fall, in prison.

Wayne knows and feels some guilt - he thinks he "gave" it to me, though I've told him how silly that was and we're learning to deal with this virus we both share.

I am not sure what is going to happen to me or what steps I am going to take from here - I'm still in the shock stage. More doctors and lab tests are to follow and I'm somewhat overwhelmed.

However, I am not asking for sympathy, but I just wanted my "family" to know that, for the moment, I understand first-hand what this virus is. I am no longer participating from the sidelines. It's not a fun place to be.

Having said all of that - I am a fighter and I will fight this. It is by no means the end of me or Wayne and I have no doubt that WE WILL WIN.

Danielle,

You're not asking for sympathy and yet my first thoughts are "I am so sorry..." Please hang in there and know that my thoughts are with both you and Wayne as you keep fighting this....

Deb

I too am so sorry to hear this..but you are right..YOU BOTH WILL BEAT THIS!!! Hang in there!

(((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))


Phil xoxoxoxoxo

Many Hugs to you Danielle!

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers!

please stay strong and positive.

you and wayne will be kept in my prayers.

with much love,
kim

I to am sorry.. I am just lost for words

Rough deal!!! Please, do the treatment. It works! Don't let any doctor talk you out of it. It's one year of not feeling well vs. death. I don't mean to scare you, but it COULD be that way. I have had friends die from it and a sister. I had it and thought it was a death sentence, it's not, if you do the treatment. I have been in remission for going on three years now. If you work and have benefits it'll pay for the prescription. Once you get started, be relentless in your treatment. Be involved with it, if something isn't right talk to your doctor, if you don't like your doctor find another. But be vigilant with your treatment and you will be successful. How long does your husband have to go before release? You might have to fight for him to get treatment. They don't like treating inmates for HCV, it's very expensive. So get into remission by doing the treatment and then fight for your husbands treatment if they are reluctant to treat him. Trust me, you'll be happy in the end. If you have any questions about anything HCV please PM me.

I wish you both the very best Monica... Stay strong dear... You can do it!
Hugs!! CJ

Sorry danielle,

This may not help but I have soooooo many friends who have been diagnosed with this disease, many different stages. Some not sick, some very sick and doing treatment, some needing transplants etc. I wll keep you in my thoughts and please like someone else said, PLEASE opt for treatment. YOu saying you will beat this thing, assures me that you will do what yu can to fight it.

Sunnie

Breathe...... Breathe........

They say knowledge is power. At least you know now... and you can wield all the power.

Breathe....

My heart goes out to the both of you. hang in there. God can get you thru this.

DANIELLE...HANG IN THERE AND STAY STRONG..YOU AND WAYNE WILL WIN THIS TOGETHER AND YOU HAVE ALL OF OUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT

Danielle~ My prayers and thoughts will be with you! Hang in their sweetie!

(((((Danielle and Wayne)))))

Girl, I'm so glad you're of a strong mindset, and are going to fight this disease.....you can do this. We're all here for you!

Prayers to you both,
Susan in Providence

Monica, you are a very strong and resilient woman... keep learning and doing what you have to do... and of course know we are always here to help in any way we can and love and support you.....

Bless you and Wayne and I am thinking of you and will pray for you both. Keep your fighting attitude and PTO will continue to support you in this fight as well all others!

Tamara

Dear Monica ... please, know you two are in my prayers ... I am just sooo thankfull for our family right now ... to be with you and support you ... and also Ken and Menolly who both know so much about this plague ... know you're loved girl and we're here ...

Monica, I am so blessed to know you and Wayne... keep fighting the fight and hang in there, lady. Love & ******{hugs}}}}...

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone - I don't know what I'd do without all of you, and I hope I NEVER find out!

Monica:

I so remember a few months back, when you were PM'ing me about being a "powerless, helpless, voiceless little wife, who could do nothing to help her husband".

And I remember EXACTLY what I said. "No, you are NOT! Get p***ed, and get vocal, and get moving!"

Now, what have you done since then? Well, you helped start this forum... And you got "Dr. Mengele" Bud Henderson fired from Naphcare... And so many other things!

It has been such a PRIVELEGE to watch you grow ever stronger and stronger. I am SO VERY PROUD of your SPIRIT!

Now, you will learn to FIGHT FOR YOURSELF!

And step one, is to simply ACCEPT that all of us love you, babygirl!

Step two will be the practical things, like getting your viral load count done etc.

But for now, just breathe, and KNOW YOUR OWN WORTH to all of us, and to Wayne, and to this very world!

You are such a powerful and MAGNIFICENT WARRIOR woman, Monica. Are you starting to NOTICE that yet? I hope so, for I certainly notice.

All My Love,
Menolly

Oh and as far as STEP TWO goes?

BUY SOME MILK THISTLE TODAY! I won't go into all the epidemiological reasons, except to say the Hep C virus attaches itself to HEALTHY liver cells, tears them open, crawls inside and reproduces in there. All of this happens in the liver.

MILK THISTLE strengthens each individual liver cell's WALLS, so the virus can't attach to them, to tear them open. Kinda like putting on football gear, as it were... Milk thistle won't kill the virus, but it makes it impossible for them to find a host cell.

There are other natural remedies that do the same thing. But you have to watch for side effects, such as licorice root that can cause high blood pressure...

As soon as you get past your shock, Monica, there is stuff you can start doing RIGHT AWAY!

I LOVE YOU!

Menolly,

I miss you! I am grateful for all of the information you have posted in the past - that's where I turned when I wanted to learn more and more. Don't spare any details, because I need to know all that's involved, even if it's not pretty.

I know you already knew of this diagnosis and I thank you for your words, your strength, and your hope. This diagnosis (I still have a hard time actually saying the words) was a hard pill to swallow, but I look at people like you and Gerard and now you and Ken. I see my Wayne and Teb's dad and countless others. I am NEVER alone in this.

So, my dear friend - THANK YOU. It's sort of odd, but when I got the results (I cheated and went to the hospital and got my medical records before I actually went to the doctor, so I already knew), you were one of the first people I thought of. See, my friend, you (for me) have taken the shame out of this virus. You talked about it, lived it, and know it inside and out. So, for that I am grateful. I am sorry it took living with the virus to be so knowledgeable, but I am glad you took this battle to heart and I am included in your warrior family.

STOP BEING A STRANGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And lots of hugs, hugs, and more hugs!!!

P. S. Yes Mom, I'm taking my milk thistle!

SWEET BABYGIRL OF MINE!!!

There is NO SHAME in any illness!

A virus DOES NOT check your passport, or your criminal record, or the number of people someone's slept with, or if they are gay or straight, or how much drugs they do or have done in the past, or if they are Black, White or have Purple tattoos with green polka dots.

1) A virus is a virus! A nasty little critter, looking for a host! Any warm body will do!

2) A sick person is a frightened person! They have a FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT to good quality medical care. AND some human kindness!

And that's all I preach, from my arrogant soapbox!

You know, I recently looked up the definition of "arrogance". It means UNDUE PRIDE!

Well, you know what, Monica? I have been SO PROUDLY taking care of AIDS patients with dignity and fearlessness for 22 years! I could write books about "Shame" and the "leperization processes" we have built into our society, and our medical systems.

You most certainly are NOT alone, sweetpea! I was just telling Ken Connor the other day, that there are about 25 Heppers on this website, who talk to me privately. And the numbers will grow, unfortunatly! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

And I LOVE YOU, Monica! And you send any of that love that you don't need right now, to your husband Wayne!

Oh, and if you need a small jolt of laughter? Since you live in Alabama, whaddya think of us opening up a MILK THISTLE FARM! Anyone with an acreage and a bit of foresight right now, just needs to look at the alarming increase in Hep C numbers, to know they could get RICH, *RICH, I TELLYA!* growing milk thistle!

All My Love,
MOM-olly!

Hugs for Monica an Wayne from this remote site of the world. Sure you will win. You have the strength, and a bunch of friends here, and Menolly at your side.

Un abrazo,
Andrés

danielle,
my husband had more tattoo work done in january 99 and summer of 98 in prison which included my name and his kids names. he then got a harley davidson eagle on his chest. huge tattoo and also more work on his arms which when he came out on a visit i was in shock. he had just the right amount, more than usual now his arms are all covered. as a result he got hep C. i go on my trailers every 3 months and my doctor said i didnt have it as of last year. I dont know if I will get it. its hard...

chrispro - you're right, this is hard. I know I contracted it from my husband from IV drug use, and not sex. Protect yourself because it's your life too.

im so sorry!! can you tell me what are the main symptoms that made you suspect you had it?? im also afraid...

No real symptoms - except maybe tired a lot. I could blame that on stress or whatever. Otherwise, I know I have it because the blood tests tell me I do.

danielle ~ i haven't been around much lately, so i am just seeing this. i'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis! hang in there, honey. just take good care of yourself and follow your doctor's advice! *hugs* ac

Here is a good web site

hepatitischelp@www.msnusers.com

I was diagnoised in the mid 90's. Went thro the combo treatment Inter/Rib. Was real tuff but i'm in longterm remission. There is another treatment but insurance doesn't cover it and it can be expensive. This web page is run by people who have beatin the dragon without going thro the combo. From what I understand you never get rid of the virus but you can keep it from damaging your liver. Milk thistle is one of the nutrieunts I now take. I pray you beat the dragon.

rtee

i just have a question. how bad is it to have the liver biopsy? i already know i have it ( hep c ) but the doctor wants me to have that done. and what kind of doctor do i need to see? please help

Here - at this local hospital - it is done by a radiologist.

It's not painful but there's a lot of pressure on the liver - and (this is going to seem weird) but it feels as though there's a string being pulled through the liver. And you'll be sore for a few days afterwards.

My AA sponsor died of hep C a few months after my husband died. She had finally checked into the hospital for a transplant, but it was too late for her. My husband's best friend also has it. It's got such a long term dormancy sometimes-------up to 10 years or more they say-------so that it's hard to say where a person might have gotten it. It's true that there's treatment and there are also websites online with a lot of good information and some alternative treatments, so educate yourself and hang in there. You're in my prayers.

Even though your husband may not be able to receive treatment in prison, he may still be eligible for a transplant when he gets out if that ever becomes necessary. If he's not getting out, then maybe he can petition to the warden to allow him to use herbal remedies instead, provided he pays for them. Sometimes that's possible. I have a woman friend in Oregon who had a total hysterectomy at a young age who was able to get permission to use herbal estrogen.

My husband's at work release and they allow him to have mik thistle - I take him a couple of bottles to every visit. They don't do labs, so I have no clue how the disease is progressing in him.

I have an appointment today at 4:00pm to have follow-up labs done. :(

Danielle,
I am so sorry to hear this but was afraid that this was going to be the case. You hang in there and fight with all your might. You and Wayne both will be fine. You just have to take one day at a time. Know in your heart my friend that we are all here for you if you need us at all.

Thanks Pam - we're hanging tough. Having you all here - that's meant the world to me! :)

danielle you are so strong!! i will be sending positive energy your way!

Sorry for being a little late (I miss many threads) but we are here for you. Surely you will win.

Un abrazo,
Andrés

danielle,

I am just now seeing this thread. I want you to know that I admire your strength and that you both will be in my prayers. God Bless you both.

Danielle,

I just saw this thread, I am in awe of your strength! Please know that you and Wayne are in our prayers.

(((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))))


Patti & Linda

Wow, so many of us have Hep C, it's unreal. My husband has had a liver transplant and we both have Hep C. I take a supplement called "liver potion" or something. It is in the vitamin section and it has alot of good herbs for the liver but mainly MILK THISTLE!! I was so glad to hear that people are knowledgeable about it because I have had not so good lab results and then after taking MILK THISTLE EVERYDAY for several weeks, my labs were much much better. When you say treatment, are you talking about Interferon? I have heard so many mixed reviews. I would like to know more about it. By the way, my husband is doing really good with his "new" liver. I will try to answer any questions if I can. I don't think even the medical community knows that much about Hep C. I don't really have any symptoms except for I am so so so tired at times. That's the only thing and that may just be that I am getting old. smile. When I went to visit my son in prison, he said he wanted to get some tatoos but he was scared because so many inmates he knows have Hep C. I told him not to get one!!!!!!!! Like he's ever listened to me before. ha. He did seem hesitant though, thank goodness.

Kim - thanks for sharing your story and glad you're husband's doing well! :)

By the way, if anyone is still reading this thread...There are a few docs who will give you something to put you out for the liver biopsy. Just ask and if they say no, call another doctor and ask.

PS The biopsy doesn't hurt at all. I only asked to be knocked out because I am a big chicken.