just found out for sure

[bryanf87]

So I finally got clean off heroin after 7 Yeats and one month into my clean time I find out i could have hep c. Well iI do and I feel like I'm losing my mind and body is breaking down. I'm constantly in pain and stiff. Have many times where I get up and talk to people after waking up but have no memory of this stuff. I'm so tired all the time. I don't know whereto even start iI'm so depressed someone please help me

[kate0b1]

@bryanf87, first take a breath and real it in, let me start with congrats on being clean, thats a tough road to hoe. you should be proud of being there. I know it sounds like the world is falling in with this diagnosis, but remember they are coming out with new meds and treatments so fast. You need to find a doctor you trust and maybe someone to talk to about your other feelings, then when you are healthy enough (in mind and body) you will be in a place to beat this also.

stay clean and start looking for a great doctor you can trust with all of your fears and worries
kate

[lporterrn]

You are starting in the right place Bryan. It is overwhelming at first, but that gets better.

A couple of things that helped me was to know that the liver is incredibly resilient, and although hep C feels awful, it generally takes a long, long time to do any permanent damage - decades.

Also it helped to know that hep C is curable. (I am cured after 25 years of having it)

Read solid info, such as http://www.hepmag.com/articles/2619_18763.shtml

Stay close, ask questions, and as Kate said - stay clean and get a good doctor.
 

[Mike]

Hi Bryan,

I remember when I was diagnosed with Hep-C. I was numb, scared and thought I had one foot in the grave.

I contracted my infection through the needle and spoon in the late 70's. I sobered up in the early 80's, and 20 years later, that mistake (shooting dope) clawed me back to a chapter of my life I thought was closed 2 decades prior.

That was 15 years ago.

Please don't beat yourself up over this and understand that the emotions you're feeling happened to all of us.

Also understand, that Hep-C can be cured and the treatment is short, well tolerated and effective.

Spend some time educating yourself on Hep-C - this is a great forum for that, full of wisdom, experience and knowledge.

If you have questions ask! There are no dumb or stupid questions!

Best wishes, Mike

[bryanf87]

Thanks guys I'm at work but I'll reply again later just wanted to say thank you

[Red Hen]

Hi, Bryan. Congratulations for staying clean! I hope you have found a doctor you can trust. I most likely got Hep C in the late '60's early '70's from playing around with injectable drugs in High School. Guess it was a "high school", so to speak. Anyway, you can survive this! Just read yesterday that costs for new meds are going down and drug companies are now trying to make their products more available for more people. You don't have to be a rock star to treat HCV anymore. People on this forum will help you and see you through.