Yes, for yrs and yrs I just figured I would die at age 70 yrs,instead of 90 yrs, cuz of my Hep C.
I never imaginesd that a poor person like me would have the kind of medical insurance,that would cover the Hep C Treatment. I am feeling blessed and elated, to have beaten it, by age 50 yrs, and looking forward to living as long as my grandma and great-grandma now, both died in their 90's.
Here in Oakland Ca, we do have an epidemic of Hep C amongst African American males, between the ages of 45 yrs~60 yrs old. It makes me wonder why such a high rate with this population? I know the county jails around here have an out of proportion amount of black men, so I am wondering if they were given Hep C during routine TB screenings, via the jail system, before 1992?
Back when I used to use, we were a diverse group, but I never noticed any disproportionate amount of people using needles, to be black, so I am looking elsewhere, and wondering about this, suspicious of our Govt, par for the course

I've heard it said that everyone wants to live to 98 but nobody wants to be 98! :)

Cheery...I ink I'm already dead.

I did the math the other day and the best i can figure, I have HCV about 45 years... and I'm pushing 70.

I'll just say goodbye now.

that was "I THINK"

Ya' know what really weird? I did one of these online life expectancy things. It asks how your parents died and what the died of...if anyone in your immediate family has had cancer or heart disease and if you smoke, wear seats belts and stuff like that. Asked about your blood pressure...

But the damn thing never asked if you had HCV or HIV!

At the age of 60 and having HCV for 42 years, well every day I'm here is already a bonus day.

More of the same:

http://www.healio.com/infectious-disease/hepatitis-resource-center-2013/hepatitis-took-decades-off-expected-life-span

I think this is why I feel so old. I'm pushing 70. If HCV takes 23 years off my lifespan, then I am near the end of life!

PEG-IFN and RBV are less effective for African Americans and people of African ancestry than people of other races and ethnicities. Recently, researchers have discovered that this is mainlybut not completelydue to an inherited (genetic) factor, the interleukin-28B (IL28B) gene.

http://www.treatmentactiongroup.org/hcv/factsheets/il28b

Well, I was just listening to a local radio show, and it was mentioning that the prison system does NOT supply condoms, clean needles or bleach, to in-mates, most of whom go right back inot their communities, to spread what they have caught, due to these life-saving tools not being available to them while incarcerated~
Within my support-group, I know quite a few black people who have failed Tx's that included Interferon. This is another good reason why the all oral Interferon Free meds need to be approved ASAP/ So many people waiting for an Interferon Free treatment.

And so great to hear you have cleared, ShadowDance :D whew-hooo!!

I really wouldn't even mind having a shorter rather than longer lifespan...it's all the complications that precede death by HCV that I would really like to avoid!

I've got a double whammy cause RA shortens my lifespan by 10 yeas with increased risk of heart disease and lymphoma....63% higher risk of lung cancer...

It's only by the sheer grace of God when we get another day, no matter what we have or our parents had. A few nights ago, with one of my grandchildren in the car, I turned onto a one-way street going the opposite direction - a street I travel all the time. It was cold and rainy. The vehicles coming in every direction gave me room to get out. Angels watching over us? You bet.
I'm convinced that until we have fulfilled God's reason for us to be here, we will be here. And sometimes, He's just giving us a little more time to get things right with Him. I'm now 69 and probably have had Hep C over half of that time. As of 1:22am, God's not through with me yet.