My name is Joan. I'm a professional orchestra musician and teacher. I'm married, and have two grown children, also musicians. I was born in the States, but in 1967 I moved to Mexico, where I lived for almost 20 years. In 1986 my husband got a job in Canada, so that's where we live now. In 1991, I decided that the stomach problems that had been plaguing me since Mexico should have disappeared by that time, and that I should be taking advantage of my health insurance, so I went to the doctor and asked if anything could be done. She sent me for a bunch of tests, and called me back, personally, a couple of days later, "Well, your liver enzymes are a tiny bit on the high side, but everything else looks fine. See you later." I asked, before she could hang up, "What can cause the liver enzymes to be high?" "Oh, a lot of things, but you probably just had some alcohol the night before the test, or something," she replied. "Doctor, I don't drink." "Oh. Well, maybe we should redo the tests." I went in to repeat the blood tests, and a couple of days later, I got a call back from the doctor, "You're liver enzymes are just slightly over normal, but it's nothing to worry about." "Doctor, what could cause them to be high?" "Oh, you've probably been drinking a bit too much." "Doctor, it's not that I don't drink much. I don't drink AT ALL. I think the last time I had a drink might have been a year ago, if not more." Thus, more complete tests were done, and I came back positive for Hepatitis C, which was confirmed, reconfirmed, and re-reconfirmed a couple of times after that. We decided I probably got it from a blood transfusion I received in 1971, when I had an ectopic pregnancy. I remember at the time having to sign a release, and I believe the possibility of hepatitis non-A, non-B was mentioned -- whatever that was. My doctor sent me to a gastroenterologist. He told me not to worry, that Hepatitis C was the best kind to have, because there was a "cure", in the form of Interferon, if I got sick enough. In the meantime, my enzyme levels were so low, we would just keep checking them every 6 to 12 months. He said that when people were really sick with hepatitis, their enzymes would go up into the thousands range. I went along with that for about 3 years, since I couldn't find anything about it in the medical encyclopedias. Just over a year ago, a local support group started up, and I attended a meeting. They had a big, thick book, where someone had collected articles about Hepatitis C from all sorts of medical journals. I borrowed it, and literally got sick from reading the information I found there. I never realized it was so serious. I have been reading everything I can get my hands on, since then. Last summer, I got a couple of second opinions, and both opinions were that I should have a biopsy and start on Interferon as soon as possible. My gastroenterologist didn't like the idea, but agreed to try, so I started Interferon in September of 1995. A week later, he called me back., saying that my neutrophil count had gone way down, and that I had to stop the treatment. I did as he said, of course, but I also contacted some of the members of my group, and they recommended that I go to a specialist in Vancouver who was doing clinical trials with Interferon. I got my gastroenterologist to refer me and I had my first appointment on December 12, 1995. I had a biopsy on December 1, 1995. By that time, I had found the "PlanetMaggie" support group, and was able to count on all sorts of support for the biopsy, and all sorts of information. I walked out of the Vancouver doctor's office with a new prescription for Interferon. I am now on my 11th week of treatment, and I have new blood tests coming up soon. So far, I have "spiked" -- my enzymes are higher than ever. The nurse says that's fairly common in responders. I hope so. My biopsy report showed grade II out of a possible IV (IV being the worst) of fibrosis, with no cirrhosis. If the Interferon and all it's variations doesn't work, I will increase my efforts in the field of alternative medicine. My family is being much more supportive than I ever imagined throughout all the treatment. I'm still working. Luckily, my side-effects aren't too uncomfortable. I have declared war on this disease. The good part is that I've made a lot of friends during the battles.
