Personal Stories

Reading about other’s experiences can provide valuable comfort, information and encouragement. Over time people have shared their stories with us, with the following capturing a diverse range of personal experiences:

M's Story

Ok, so I’m on this trial treatment for Hep C. Been on it for about 15 weeks now and to tell you the truth, it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. I’m not sure if I’m receiving the actual “trial” drug or maybe I’m getting the placebo (the sugar pill). Either way, I am definitely taking either Interferon Alpha OR Interferon Lambda AND Ribavirin, so I’m still feeling the effects of treatment, which is what I wanted to write to you about!! CLICK HERE TO READ MORE>>

Ken's Story

I have finished forty eight weeks of combination therapy. Hoorah! Although I am still taking some support medications it has been one week since my last interferon shot. In my mind it’s a momentous achievement to finish treatment for the hepatitis C virus. The treatment journey is a strange process that may have different effects on different individuals. There does however seem to be similar stages of treatment where psychological changes follow a course. From about week forty to the end of treatment I found it difficult to imagine that I had come so far in my treatment. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE>>

Mya's Story

I have been asked to describe my ten years as a volunteer with HepatitisWA. I came to know about HepatitisWA (then called the Hepatitis Council of WA) through very good friends of mine. Ten years ago I was diagnosed with hepatitis C and I did not have a clue what it actually was. The doctor that advised me of my hepatitis C status gave me a leaflet broadly outlining the virus and provided useful referrals on the back. I was too traumatised to even consider contacting anyone, but very good friends of mine (whom I divulged my hep C status to) did contact HepatitisWA on my behalf and obtained their excellent information booklet. When I had absorbed all the information, I felt much relieved that hepatitis C diagnosis was not a death-sentence and that there were things I could do about it. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE>>

Sanjiv's Story: Staying on Top of Hepatitis C & Heart Disease

A wise man once said “Disease is what you have and illness is how you react to it.” 180 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C and over a billion suffer from coronary heart disease. Most patients share their experiences after successful outcomes. I want to share mine as I traverse my journey because I want to offer hope for those of you who are finding it difficult to cope or losing the will to fight. Sharing is therapeutic and I know I will be helping myself as much as you. I turned 50 in March 2010. I do not yet know the outcome of my long, arduous, test of endurance. But I do know that after two heart bypass surgeries, over 5 years of aggressive therapy for HCV comprising over 280 weekly shots of pegylated interferon and thousands of ribavirin capsules and other drugs, I still have the motivation to fight. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE (PDF)>>

Jan's Story: A Shock but No Surprise

The diagnosis came as a shock but no surprise. For the last few years beforehand I’d been feeling pretty crap and putting it down to other things. Mainly hereditary factors and the beginning of menopause (I’m 52 now and was diagnosed at 49 with hep C). My mother previously had a hypothyroid condition, so it wasn’t that fanciful to think that was why I had one too. I’d always carried a bit of weight around my tummy, so likewise it was easy to explain away borderline insulin resistance and tell myself that once I started feeling better I’d start to exercise more and lose the weight. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE>>

Everybody has a story to tell...

Think that you have something you would like to share with our readers? Writing down your thoughts and feelings can be very therapeutic, while benefiting other people affected by hepatitis who are reading your story.

Support the newsletter that supports you by contributing to the CFiles.

Send stories, articles, poems, artwork or anything else you’d like published to the Editor: eto@hepatitiswa.com.au (with “Attn: CFiles Editor” as the email subject) or call (08) 9227 9802.

Links to other sources of personal stories

Hepatitis Australia: Personal Stories

Hepatitis Australia: Treatment, Life, Hep C & Me (PDF): Twelve stories of personal experiences with hepatitis C treatment

Hepatitis NSW: Personal Stories

Hepatitis Central (U.S.): Hepatitis C Survivor Stories

Hepatitis C Advocate (U.S.): Personal Stories

Haemophilia Foundation Australia: Hep C Personal Stories

Note: these sources are for informational use only. HepatitisWA does not guarantee the websites listed.

Page last updated: Thursday 15 December, 2011