Florida
Diagnosed with Hep C in 2005

As I write this, I am on hepatitis C treatment using Harvoni. In the past, I was treated with interferon. It was so awful that I wished I would die. The second time I took it, I only weighed 100 pounds when I began. I lost so much weight in just the first week that I called my doctor and told him that this would be the last time I would attempt hepatitis C treatment using these kinds of drugs.

It surprises me to hear people on the forum who are taking Harvoni say they are having problems tolerating this medication. Maybe it is because I have felt bad for so long that I don’t notice the difference. I also have severe rheumatoid arthritis, so I’m used to having flu-like symptoms. My whole body has always hurt and I’ve had headaches for a long time. When my doctor prescribed Harvoni, he kept making a point of telling me, “You will take all of this medicine.” It scared me. I told him that as long as this treatment didn’t give me the chemo-like reaction that I got from hep C treatment in the past, there would be no problem. I’m hoping for the best, but I now know when to expect the worst.

What three adjectives best describe you?
Caring, tough, thoughtful

What is your greatest achievement?
My son

What is your greatest regret?
Not enjoying the ride of life more

What keeps you up at night?
Worry about losing those that I love

If you could change one thing about living with viral hepatitis, what would it be?
The threat of dying of liver cancer

What is the best advice you ever received?
Try the new Harvoni

What person in the viral hepatitis community do you most admire?
My brother

What drives you to do what you do?
My husband

What is your motto?
God does have a sense of humor; about the time you figure it all out, it’s over.

If you had to evacuate your house immediately, what is the one thing you would grab on the way out?
My cats

If you could be any animal, what would you be? And why?
I would like to be one of my cats because of the care they get and the freedom they have to live how they want, when they want!