Meet the staff.

[evil_moderator]

?

[willy]

OK.......I'll go first.     Hi all...... I go by Willy.  It's a very old nickname from the 70's that old friends call me; so why not here?

I'm 52 at this writing.  I'm a divorced single parent of 3 kids ages 16, 18, 21, and step daughter 30.  Right now I'm raising 2 kids by myself; the 2 youngest.  I'm self employed, underemployed, and that seems to be largely all that I have time for except for some time here.   

I've been separated and then divorced about 5 years ago.  That was a bad time for all of us, but one good thing that came of it was that I had to go buy life insurance as part of the terms of the divorce decree.  Long story short, I got the insurance but some elevated liver enzymes also came back with my approval.  I got checked out and never heard anything of it.  About 7 months later the CDC called me up with my bad news; the doctor never did.  When you first get that news.......it's just about the worst thing that you can imagine happening.  The great thing is that I discovered this board.  This board was in place to help me.  There was information, humor, and a number of role models to help me out (there are many of them still here).  What I found was that the board and it's members helped me through one of my toughest times that I hope I'll ever face.  What I also found was that I was also somehow able to help others as they had helped me.  It isn't really that hard.  When you help another that is at their absolute lowest......it ends up lifting you as well........and believe me.......I needed and still need some lifting.   

Having HCV is a pain........ but it is nowhere as bad as I first imagined.  I'm a genotype 1a.  I'm not and have not tried TX (yes I am niave).  I'm relatively asymptomatic and I'm waiting to see how the new treatments work out.  I have a lot of hope.  I also have many things about HCV that I am grateful for.  I no longer take many things for granted.  I take better care of myself than ever before and I am constantly exposed to great ideas and people at this board.  Rather than a life ending experience Hep C has brought me a whole new life that I still manage to enjoy immensely.  I hope the board helps you too and that you are also able to find some bright spots in your life with us.

Willy

[OZ]

Hi, I go by OZ, a nickname given to me by friends, like Wizard of OZ. 
My office is referred to as Emerald City, and I even have a green curtain on my office door.  I am 53 years old, married, one daughter age 30.  I have two wonderful grandsons, ages 7 and 2.  My husband is disabled from diabetes complications. 
I was diagnosed at age 49.  Yes, years and years after a brief, wild youth.  I had many physical symptoms.  I know now that I experience some of the unpleasant extrahepatic symptoms of HCV.  Arthritis pain and always being fatigued.  I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome.  Lived on antiinflammatories for years and still felt crappy.  Finally, I was sick and tired of the way I was feeling and decided to change docs.  He referred me to the rheumatologist who diagnosed me with HCV.
At first I was in shock. . . . I read every book on the subject and spent hours doing research on the web. 
And yes, I did treatment.  It was the news that my daughter was pregnant with my 2nd grandchild that drove me. I am genotype 4A and required 48 weeks of treatment.  For me it was horrendous.  I had most every side effect imaginable.  Vertigo, hemolytic anemia. constant nausea.  The anemia was the worse for me.  I was on procrit for most of treatment, had 3 transfusions, and required a dose reduction of ribavirin.  I do not know how but I did it.  I have been undetectable since week 12 of treatment.
After I finished, my symptoms took long to improve.  My arthritis has not improved.  Fatigue and depression took 1 1/2 years to resolve.  I would not have survived without this site, both during and after treatment. 
I feel pretty good most days now. I do not feel that I am "cured" but am in remission.  I try to the best of my ability to practice positive health practices, such as eating right, avoiding toxins that will stress my liver and my immune system. 
I also have MGUS -- it is a blood disorder that is an elevation of one of the immune globulins.  Many people with HCV have this.  I have no symptoms.  Someday . . . who knows. 
I am grateful to have found this place.
OZ

[linda]

willy and oz....thanks for sharing.  you both said how important this site is to you.  i know it's definitely made a difference in mine.  i have said before that our moderators  are doing a great job.  i appreciate ALL that you do for us!!! 

[countrygirl]

Hello everybody, Countrygirl here….I’m 52, married and mother of two (a son - 24 and a daughter, 22) grandmother of three with one more on the way!!. I work full-time at a funeral home, hubby is legally blind and disabled since 2003.

I was in the holiday spirit prior to Xmas 2003 and decided to give in an alternative way by donating blood. Just after the first of the year, I received a letter in the mail from the Blood Bank and fully expected it to be a thank you for my donation.

And, indeed the letter started out just that way, “Thank you for your recent blood donation.” But by the second paragraph, words like “However” and further testing” started cropping up. After wading through the names of tests I couldn’t understand, they were implicit in saying it was important to contact my health care provider and that my blood donation was, in fact, rejected.

I don’t know how long I stood there trying to digest all I had just read, until my husband finally asked what was wrong, and I looked at him and stated, “I think I’m sick.” No drama, no theatrics, just a hollow feeling inside.

As I awaited my first doctor’s visit, I began to do a little research of my own. At first I felt comforted by the fact that I wasn’t alone with this diagnosis, millions had it – but as my eyes skimmed the statistics, they invariably fell upon the latter of the list, the mortality percentages, and those overshadowed anything else I had read. Those were the first things I thought about as I began my day and the last before I closed my eyes. Then to make matters worse, they began rearing their head in the middle of the night. I was consumed with the thought that I was dying from a disease I knew little about. " I never felt so alone.

Finding this site was a blessing for me, helping me to decipher all the initial tests, (I’m a 1a ), deciding whether or not to treat (not treating at present) finding support and encouragement from others with HCV, realizing that not only am I NOT alone, I’m in GREAT company here.

Peace, Pam

[maura]

You guys are truly the best ..BUT WHERE ARE THE PICTURES !!!!

I'll do it if you do it

[willy]

Maybe if we can scrape some money together we can take a group photo. 

.....be careful what you wish for Maura......   

[Jackie]

I’m Jackie. I am 44 and I came here in June of 2003 looking for answers. I like many found out by giving blood at the Red Cross and got a letter saying “Thank you but”……..

I was freaked to say the least. Here I was trying to do a good thing by giving blood only to find out I was gonna die! I went through several years of denial and then I got angry. I did not have a heavy recreational life in my younger years and can not understand how this could happen. I was told you get it by intravenous drug use. I never did that. Since I came here I realize that is not the case. So many can have it and not even know that they have it let alone how they got it.

I am 1b and went through Peg/Riba treatment for 48 weeks. It was tough but I beat the dragon. I had to do Procrit and Neupogen for the sides. I had to find a doctor that felt as strongly as I did on fighting this and after a lot of struggling and juggling on my own I did. But we won. I am still clear.

While on treatment I was going to school to finish my AA degree in Accounting. I finished that in December and plan to take the walk with my loved ones there to watch me in May.

I want to be here for anyone that needs someone that’s been there. This site saved me and I want to give back even if it’s to say hi, I’m here if you want to talk.

Know that at the end of each day it means there is a tomorrow. We are a family here. You are not alone.

[Helen]

Hi,
 Im Helen and Im 49 years old. Married for 30 years with 2 sons almost 18 and 20 ( Yikes! werent they just 5 and 7  )
 Im a 1a/b diagnosed March 1st. 2004, but was sure I had it before dx. unlike alot of people Im positive of where I contracted it, risky behavior at 15, everyone who was involved that Im still in contact with also has it, and one of the people in that group was diagnosed with "B" during that period but supposedly cleared, what did we know back then, or even the Dr's for that matter? we now believe it was "C" all along so its been approx. 34 years. My biopsy came back a 1/0 and I feel pretty good so am not treating at this time. I do have some health issues such as aches and pains,not bad enough to interfere with my daily life but arthiritis does run in my family so.... also have had digestive problems so have to take prilosec daily, but cant say if thats from the hep either. My Husband and sons all tested negative so I thank God for that everyday.

 I went to alot of sites and did alot of research when first diagnosed  as most of us do and ended up finding one of my internet homes here,everyone here was always so helpful to me and made me feel comfortable and helped me understand alot about this disease. So here I am and thats who I am. I just hope I can help ease the fears of others who are just diagnosed and scared to death and thats why Im here, along with the fact that I made some great friends and keep meeting more, this is a wonderful place for support and I think all who visit here will feel the same way. 

[hcvanon]

? am I   http://www.glencaulkins.com/autobiography.html

Founder HCV and HIV Anonymous -- I do not have HCV or HIV -- GBC

[Joni]

Whew, that's quite the picture to follow

Hi,  I'm Joni and late to respond here.  I was diagnosed about 6-7 years ago as genotype 1a/b, high viral load, but fairly healthy liver (stage 2).  I decided to go through tx before my liver got worse.  I did the 48 week cycle of Pegasys and have been "undectectable" since week 12.  It was tough, but doable, especially with the support of this site.  I had many sides, the worse being anemic.  Food tasted lousy, no energy, rashes, and I was a wee bit grumpy at times!  I went on Procrit about 6 months into tx and that helped considerably with my energy.  I worked about 30 hours a week.  I'm a teacher in a alternative education program for young males in treatment for substance abuse.  Given the nature of our program, we are very familiar with HCV and HIV, so I also had tremendous support form my boss and coworkers. 

If I can offer anything, it is to use us, and this site for support.  Coming here made the all difference for me in wanting to complete tx.  When i was ready to quit, I got the sukpport I needed to push through.  Whether people were on tx or not, they helped, because they understood.  I was able to laugh, cry, and whine to my hearts content and just be heard.  We are here for you!

Joni

Congrats Jackie for finishing that AA degree.  Know that many of will be there at your graduation in spirit!

[linda]

   hi everyone! i'm linda. i live in PA. i am geno 1 with cirrhosis. i was on tx briefly, but it was discontinued due to severe sides.  so i'm waiting for the new treatments. i have a great husband who is totally supportive. i have 3 adult kids and 5 grandchildren in indiana and 3 stepkids here in pa with 6 grandkids.  i probably contacted hep in the 70's due to drug use. i am a survivor of many things....and i'm here today to be able to help others.  i want to use my negative experiences and turn them into positive.  i'm glad to be here.   ~~linda~~

[Hank's mom]

Thank all of you for being here. You have helped so many of us heppers with your support and understanding.
momxfive

[Ella]

Hi Everyone,

I was diagnosed in 2004, I'm thinking from partaking in a group ear-piercing many years ago, and I also have a (really tiny) tatoo.  Although I've never shared a needle, in the past I've indulged in my share of various substances.  The most difficult of them all to give up was cigarettes for me.

Although my LFT's are pretty bad, I haven't had a biopsy and haven't yet undergone treatment.  Waiting in the hope of something better than the current treatment to emerge, and trying to keep my head above water with natural therapies until then.  I have a wonderful, patient husband, and two great big spoiled dogs.

This site has been a lifeline of support and information for me these last two years.  The people here are great.  Hoping I can do for someone what these people have done for me.

[DougV]

As of this writing I’m the new one on the block.  I’m a professional 29 year old with 22 years experience.  Like many I found out when donating blood.  I was bored and saw a blood bank mobile so decided to wander in and donate.  They wouldn’t take my blood and told me to call in to find out what the deal was.  It turned out that five years earlier when I had donated blood for surgery on myself, that I never had anyway, they had detected hep.  Guess they thought it was really important for me to know, the never notified me at all but instead sent the letter to the surgeon who by then had retired and who I never saw again. 

When I found out I freaked and then went searching for info.  Turns out I’ve had the alphabet soup, show exposure to A, B, and C, although only C is chronic.  I would imagine I’ve had it since 73 or so but could be sooner.  A and B probably in late 60’s when I lived overseas.  I completed 48 weeks of pegintron/Riba, finished in Jan. 06.  Relapsed 12 weeks post, geno 1a, high viral load, liver 3/3.  I was and am for the most part totally symptom free, treatment while not fun wasn’t hard for me.  Can’t say I did treatment symptom free, I was anemic, had two transfusions, reduced RIBA and took 60,000 IU Procrit weekly, but I never felt bad in any way, just looked paler then Casper.  As of this writing I feel fine and will start infergen/Riba in a couple months. 

I’ve been married for 21 years and have an 18 year old son who will be going to college in June.  Also two dogs and two cats.  I’m retired, or am as long as I don’t get too bored not working.

Doug