Hello again. It has been a few days since my last blog. In that one I let you all know a little bit about me. I just wanted to give a few more details that may help people know me better and my situation.
First, I know I mentioned in my first blog that I was diagnosed one year ago. I also mentioned that I am very, very healthy and have no symptoms of Hep C. Some people may wonder how I was diagnosed. As mentioned, I am very healthy and very proud of it. I am a long distance runner, I work out and I eat healthy. I am 57 years old and I wanted to confirm how healthy I am. I went to my doctor to get a full check-up. My doctor sent me for a bunch of blood tests, as I wanted to know my cholesterol levels, etc. My doctor called me at home about a week later to give me the results. She said everything looked good except for one thing: she said I have antibodies for Hep C. At that time I had no idea what Hep C was and how serious it is. She said I would need to go see a blood specialist and have more tests. Well.....I had more tests and it was confirmed that I have chronic Hep C. I can tell you that I cried in the office when it was told to me. I just couldn't believe I had this. Here I was, thinking I was so healthy and doing everything right and they tell me this. It was devastating. It took a while for me to "get my head around it". I read everything I could about it and looked up so much on the internet. I learned that it is quite serious and that my liver could be damaged. I don't know how long I have had this.....probably more than 15 years. I don't know how I got it.....I can think of a few things that happened to me over the years, but I can't pinpoint exactly how I contracted this. My husband has been tested and he does not have it. Anyway, it really doesn't matter how I got it, I just want to get rid of it!!!!! I will be starting my treatment in October (next month.....yipes!!!). As my name suggests.....I believe I will be cured.
Another thing I want to let you all know is that I am very lucky to be retired. I worked for 35 years and was able to retire early at 55 years old. My daughter was having her son and my first grandchild at that time. I wanted to be able to help and to be with my grandson more. This makes my time that I will be on treatment easier for me. I won't have to worry about going to work every day and perhaps not feeling very well. I do count my blessings, of which there are plenty in my life.
Well, I am getting in my vacation mode. I only have three more sleeps and then off to Italy!!! I know what is waiting for me when I return, and so I have decided to not think about Hep C, nausea, drugs, sickness, etc., etc., for those two weeks. I will deal with all of that when I return. I will update you all on how my vacation went when I return. Right now I am busy trying to decide what clothes to pack (always too much) how much money to bring (never enough) and making sure I don't forget anything important (I always do).
I hope everyone enjoys these next two weeks and I will write my blog when I get home.
Ciao!
