I too have had Hep-c since the late 70's due to IV drugs. I got sober in 1981 from the drugs and alcohol (thank God). I got good news after a liver biopsy in 2010 which my doctor suggested. The biopsy showed minimum damage to the liver. I do get tired, fatigued and confused after long hours of work. Maybe age related but I find that a little taking care of myself, with rest, proper eating and a little exercise I seem to do well. Also a yearly blood work to keep a handle on what my liver is doing.

I was diagnosed almost two years ago with hepatitis C. I have no idea how long I have had it and it seems to be getting progressively worse. I don't drink and take only prescribed meds. I don't have medical insurance so this has been the biggest obstacle to my getting treatment. I also have a fatty liver, large hiatal hernia, and a ventral hernia below that. Add to that hypoglycemia and hypothyroidism.

I am on week 8 of my treatment up for my very important lab test that will give doctor an indication of how long I will need treatment. I am hopeful for the short treatment but I feel very blessed that the side effects have not been that bad and if I go the long treatment I know I can do it. I have not missed one day of work thanks to my wonderful husband that allows me to rest while he keeps up with the house and kids. I will beat this!

I was diagnosed with hepatitis C in the late 90s. I knew nothing about treatment. I didn't know much about hepatitis C period. I thought my doctor would have given me better options and more explanations. All I was told my numbers were not bad and treatment is not necessary at this time. Well now my viral load is a little over a million my platelets are at 37,000 and fluid is building in my abdomen. I have the meds to start treatment but am being told to wait to see if I can get this other drug that helps raise the platelet count. I'm so scared this fluid in my stomach came out of nowhere I mean I have been retaining water but nothing like this.

In 2008 I discovered I had Hep C, and after all testing was done my viral load was in the 7+ million range. When the biopsy was being performed I remembered that in 1983 I had surgery to remove my gall bladder and that doctor had done a biopsy on my liver, but never said what the results were and at that time I had never heard of Hep C. So I realized that I had probably been positive for almost 30 years, but really had not felt any true side effects! I had the most wonderful doctor (didn't hurt that he looked like Patrick Dempsey either!) and went through the 48-week treatment. You definitely need a GREAT doctor who is very supportivr. It was the most intense thing I have ever experienced: exhaustion, nausea and vomiting; hair, eyelashes, eyebrows and nails fell out; sensitivity to light and to touch; falling levels of immune system resulting in weekly Procrit shots for six months; massive bruising at the injection site that lasts for weeks, so you have to pick a new spot each week. I would take the treatment on Friday night about 9PM and then go to sleep. I would wake up around three with nausea resulting in profuse vomiting, and it would last about four days. I tested clean after just 8 weeks of treatment, and was ready to quit after the six months of treatment, but my doctor was so supportive that I decided since I was already this far into it, I may as well "suck it up" and finish the next five months. I worked full-time during this time, and was especially moved by the fellow employees who donated sick and annual leave to allow me to take time off with pay. I feel I was blessed to have this treatment.

My symptoms for hepatitis C are nausea, fatigue, confusion, weakness and pain on my right side.

I was diagnosed in late 2009. I have no idea how I contracted hepatitis C. I completed my 48-week treatment six months ago. I'm waiting on the results of my six-month labs. My viral load was undetectable after six weeks of treatment. I participated in a study program with peginterferon, ribavirin and the newly approved FDA drug boceprevir. This was the hardest thing I've ever went through. I've never been sick or unhealthy, but I stuck it out. The side effects of treatment are horrendous, I won't lie to you. But with a history of liver disease in my family, I felt it was the only choice I had. If you are dealing with this, I hope treatment goes well for you.