I got married in 1979, and had emergency surgery for a tubular pregnancy in Dec. 1980. I had been bleeding internally all day and into the night. I thought I had the flu, or was late with my period and having bad cramps. Finally around 2am I told my husband I was dying...the ambulance came. The medics asked if I was normally that pale, my husband said, no, she has a sunburn. I was white, and had blue lips. When I woke up after the surgery, I was still in pain, and sort of mad that I was still alive. I recovered from that experience after about 8 months, and soon after became pregnant again - this time it worked right, and I produced a 9 pound 10 oz 24" baby boy. He's going to turn 14 in April. Well, about 2 years ago I went to my gynecologist complaining of symptoms that I thought must be menopause. I had a big list for him.....achy joints, tired all the time, grouchy, weird periods, weight gain, on and on... He ran extensive blood tests, and told me I wasn't in menopause, but there was something wrong with my blood. He sent me to a specialist who ran more tests, and with a little history of past blood test results, and some questions, like did I ever have a blood transfusion, concluded that I had Hepatitis C. He performed a liver biopsy.....there was some inflammation. He told me there was no cure, and that eventually I may need a liver transplant. He talked to my husband and myself, and explained that if I was his wife, he wouldn't stop kissing, me, but would refrain from the wet long kisses, and laughed. For the past year I have had more complaints, achy joints, tiredness, general ill feeling. I used to have so much energy, I used to dance all night, and work in the yard all day. Now I feel like I'm 80 years old when I climb out of my car. In December 1995 I discovered the Hepatitis C Support Group on the internet. For the first time since I found out I had HCV I accepted it, and realized it was serious business. I found a hepatologist, and he started me on interferon. My ALT & AST level are normal for the first time in over 15 years thanks to Interferon. That means I'm a responder..... Now if I could start feeling better, and get back some of that "old" energy I used to have. I always thought I was lucky in life....... I hope research discovers a cure for this disease......I'd really like to feel good again and be there for my husband and son.
