Hi all,
I'm a 53 Y.O man and apparently have hep-c since about 1972 or 74. In both
years I had acute
hepatitis. Of course back then I was told I had chronic active hep. I'm
pretty sure I contracted it
by experimenting with i.v. drug use, so I make no excuses for my behavior
then. However even
though I have been "a good boy" for many ears I'm paying the price now in
declining health.
Originally when I contracted it I was living in the Boston area. I'm told by
one health care provider that I have
genome #3. By another provider that I have genome #1. In any event, whatever
the genome is I'm considering
anti-viral treatments to try and gain some measure of control over my health
problems.

I'm now living in Honolulu, and have been for about two years now, after
having a 20 year career in electronics
in California's silicon valley. I'm now divorced and living alone now and do
not really have any sort of family
support at all. I find all this a little frightening. When I was younger and
foolish I believed I would live forever.
I never thought I would find myself in my 50's overweight,suffering from
heart disease,(atrial fibrillation),
hip disease,(avascular necrosis), and some other minor issues not worth
mentioning.

In any event, up until recently I had rejected the idea of trying to treat
the hep, because I had so many other
problems to deal with. However my latest health care provider sincerely
believes I should start treatment
soon. They are starting another group of patients in late May or early
June.The doctor believes that many of the
problems I'm suffering from are related to having Hep-C, as it is a chronic
disabling disease.

Some times I check into this news group as a "lurker", and frankly this is
the first time I have "shared".
Much of the terminology and nomenclature eludes me, and i do not know what
the heck folks are talking about
much of the time.I understand there are some issues with taking anti-viral
drugs, however my doctor poo-poos
these problems as being in the minority of patients.They assure me that
within 12 weeks I should know whether
the treatments will benefit me. I do not know exactly what the drugs are but
I'm told that it will consist of
a weekly injection, and two pills a day.If after 12 weeks there is some
improvement, then the treatment should work
for me, and the whole treatment will take 24 weeks, and I will be virus
free.( I hope).
Some times I feel hopeful, and some times I do not. I sure would like to be
able to gain back a measure of fairly
good health so I can more fully appreciate the beauty that surrounds me
here.
In any event, there it is, I finally have spilled my guts, so to speak. I
would certainly appreciate any constructive input
my fellow netizens may have, and I than you for listening.(reading).
Incidentally, is there a faq for this group, if so I have not seen it.
So long for now all.
                  John in Honolulu