Hi Ann, I quit alcohol in 2004, 11 years after diagnosis, and 20+ years after infection. I was in Turkey at the time, where I lived for almost 20 years, and drinking was a big part of expat social life, and sailing. But hangovers were happening too easily (one glass of wine), often followed by anger. After doing a meditation retreat in 2004 I decided to ditch the alcohol and keep the meditation. Twice a day.

My first viral load was taken in 2010 – 740,000. Five years later it’s 91,000 and not sure why. Meditation?

I’m one of the lucky ones, and really feel for everyone who was tortured by interferon and everyone who has relapsed and everyone out there who can’t afford the generics or can’t get a script. Don’t give up hope. These new cures are like miracles.

I’ve been off the drink for 25 years as well and would have been dead years ago if I didn’t, of that I am certain.