I was terrified when I started this process. I had no idea of my Hep C until a routine blood test found it. Lack of knowledge made me extremely fearful, and I thought it was a death sentence at first. With knowledge came awareness that there could be a cure, and after almost 3 years now since that first diagnosis, I am almost 12 months SVR. You are doing the right things by using the resources of this forum, there's some good info to be had here, but never forget this is a public forum and should never be taken as gospel truth. One person's reality should not always be taken as yours. It is up to you to find the resources that are most valuable to you, and use them. Good luck on your process, there is a lot of support and love out here to help if you need it!

Just be honest with him. He might want to put you on the wonderful treatments they have now that can cure you and you wont have that Hep C virus in you anymore. It is nothing to be afraid of he will only try to help you and those drs do not look down on you because you have Hep C. The others in my view forget I wouldn't tell them anything after the way I have gotten treated. You will be ok and it is nothing to be scare of. Be honest .............

Your first visit should be a request for a series of bloodwork.

I had to have a liver biopsy and an ultrasound, but I am not sure if they are still doing biopsies. I have had this a long time, over 25 years.

Once they figure out your genotype, then they decide on what treatment will work for you.

You are very fortunate to start when they now have drugs that really work!!! Consider yourself blessed in this respect.

I am one year post treatment and I am cured!!

Good luck and don't be scared, they are really nice and used to it.

Thanks lovefall I needed to hear that this dragon have held me capture to long my hold life changed when I found out I just went in for a checked up i was feeling fine as could be know health issues so i decided just to take a HIV aid test that was negative but the hep c test came back positive I didn't know what it was never had heard of it soon after I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and down hill from there I never told anyone not even my family

@Growngirl: At this time, I would keep quiet about your status and who you share it with. Only you know the ones you can really count on.
I also kept my status to just my Hubby and then to my adult kids. I have been dealing with this Hep C since they only had the name:
Non A/Non B Chronic Hepatitis with no real treatment available.

Your liver should be in decent shape yet. If you aren't having side effects from your liver - that is fantastic news!!
I did the "HIV test" myself (through the mail), but in the long run, I had to tell them my name and stuff as how could I get the test sent to me? I was blessed NOT to have HIV also.

You will be fine...I know how it changes your life from "the sun is shining and everything is good and suddenly the floor falls out from under you. Stay with this support group and any other groups you are comfortable with. It helps so much.

I am not sure if I could have made it without getting support and not being judged. It helps a great deal..

God Bless.

Yes it really help me Im glad I can at least get it out somewhere I have been bottling it in for so long tnanks to Ds i was able to go to the dr. And talk freely about it with my doctor

This is the best time ever to be diagnosed HCV+. The new treatments are shorter & easier, & more effective.
They'll need to determine your geno type & order tests to assess level of liver damage.
It's all a slow process. It's a slow moving disease so don't worry, don't be impatient.
Be kind to your liver. No alcohol. Alcohol detecting in your blood could postpone treatment.
Look up liver friendly diets to get ideas on what changes you can make.
Get all the rest you can.

Hi growngirl. As others have said this is the time to be diagnosed with this virus. Many of us had to do the 48 week triple treatment. It was pure HELL! It did work for me but there are sides that I am still dealing with that you won't be. That being said I am grateful for what we had. I did not realize how much I was debilitated by HCV. I now ride a bunch of miles on bicycles and do a lot more physical activities. You don't realize how much it has done because it is a real slow moving virus.

Don't be afraid. Just do what you need to do and fight it. Stay here with folks going through the same thing as yourself, it makes it easier.

Good luck and hang in there.
Prayers!
Bill

Thanks to everyone for yall feedback I went to see my gi doctor today he is getting the ball rolling I got all my blood work ordered and scheduled for a ultrasound and fibro scan its like now I'm more excited than scared thanks to u all

So glad everything is coming together for you.

Growngirl, you are in great company here. And I am one who was also very freaked out when I was diagnosed..sometime in the late 90's. Which was soon after they HAD a test for it. though i am sure I contracted it in the mid 80's or sooner.
I really only agreed to be tested, b/c they were giving out gift bags to people who agreed to do it, which was movie tickets, McDonald's free coupons, etc. Mine was done by mail , anonymously. When I called for result i was floored. Had not thought it would be positive. The lab gave me the name & number of the American Liver Foundation , who I called and got much helpful info and also calmed me slightly. I know my first question was about how I sometimes cut my fingers , while preparing dinner for my stepson......(my mind was racing, thinking of all the possible ways I may have infected him & others) They assured me, even if my blood got in the food before cooking, the virus would not live in the human digestive tract. I went back to where I got the test kit and talked them in to giving me 2 more, for my hubby and son. Son was negative, husband was positive.
Ten years , is nothing as far as liver damage with this virus. If you are not drinking and other bad habits. You should not drink alcohol and certainly nobody with or without HepC, should ever take tylenol and drink , together.
tylenol is often still prescribed to me, btw, It is ok when taken as directed but talk to the doctor. I apologize for how long my message is but I want to hug you and tell you , you will be ok. It is good you are going t finally face your fears and get rid of it. You are blessed that you are doing it now, with the miracle drugs they have now.
It depends on your genotype (which version of the virus you have) and possibly, your ethnicity, as it does affect tx. If there is a best time to have this disease, it is now. :) I agree with whoever said to just think about who you share this with, beyond your doctor. There is a stigma and a lack of knowledge about it......though it is better than in the past. Just like the early days of HIV/AIDS awareness when children were kept from going to school because community did not know the facts. And , you do not owe anyone any personal info you do not feel comfortable sharing. Except your doctor and whichever close people you feel you can trust. I mean, I have had random nurses in non related visits to hospitals etc ask me "how did you get that ?" and sometimes I lied, sometimes I shrug and don't answer. I am now , at this moment clear of it. I just finished my treatment recently (Sovaldi and Ribavirin) And it is true , when you've had it a long time , you don't realize how many aches and pains , etc, might be from it.
I am starting to feel younger ....kind of strange , to be chronologically older , but mentally feeling younger. I better shut up now. Stay strong! There is nothing to fear, but fear itself. If you don't understand something the doctor tells you, ask. and , you can always ask us.

@thistoo I went for my ultrasound today and my fibro scan in a week thank u for ur testimony it make thing easier for me I live in a community where it is a lot of people infected and hiding this awful dragon my wish is to be able to cum to the light and let these people know they no longer have to live in fear some live in fear BC they have no knowledge and scared to go to the doctor I think this is my purpose God doing it for me so I can be a blessing to someone else who going through I just have no idea how to go by doing it

you'll have to find the strength and build a wall and manage the dragon or it manages you, good luck