Hi everyone, I thought I would introduce myself properly.
I was diagnosed in Sept 15, after a very old friend came to tell me ex husband (who was 20yrs older than me) had died of liver cancer due to HepC. He urged me to go and get tested even though it had been all that time ago, and I was fit and healthy. He wouldn't leave until I agreed to go get tested.
My doctor told me it was highly unlikely but he would do the tests. I was tested for HIV, HepA, HepB, HepC. Hep C was positive! To this date, apart form the medical people involved, this friend is the only person who knows. I was devastated!
I have had high liver test results for years alts and P3NP, I was on Methotrexate(MTX) for my skin for 8 years. Known side effects are raised liver results. You have to be monitored monthly while on this medication. My levels in the last few years started to creep up and up each time. I was sent for a liver biopsy in May 2015 (before dx) and told there was slight fatty tissues consistent with MTX use. I was taken off MTX. Now in hindsight I realised these raised levels could have had as much to do with the Hep C as anything.
My hepatologist did not want to put me on any treatment as I was so well and the available treatment would worsen my psoriasis. Said there was better treatments round the corner come back in 6months. Same said in that meeting in April 16. Prior to my next six monthly appt on 22/09/16 I re-read the Liver Trust website and looked in to funding my own treatment, got all the details had a chat with someone there and went to my next appt with all the info. To my delight my specialist was just as enthusiastic about me doing it as I was. I expected him to try and discourage me. My own GP has been just as helpful. They have agreed to do all my monitoring. My GP gave me his email address so I could get in touch with him at any time. He even phoned me last Saturday to see how I was getting on as I had not been in touch. The person I spoke to in Australia at FixHepC (Jan), the person at Monkmed (Tim) and Dr Debasis in India have all been so very helpful.
I had my appt on the 22nd Sept and the new drugs were in my hand on the 6th Oct !!!