I am knew here, thank you for the invite

[Guest guest]

I am recently recovering from a major illness. I

had been told I only had a short time to live when I

was diagnosed in 95 with Hepatitis C. I was with out

insurance after being forced into early retirement.

<br><br>I had a couple of years in hopeless depression, and

finally realized I did not have to accept this diagnosis

at the one and only truth. It was just someones

opinion and I began to fight for my life. I was told I

was not a good canidate for treatment because of my

depression. The side effects of the interferon have led many

to suicide while under treatment. My doctors thought

I was far too advanced with the disease to survive

the treatment, I was already bleeding internally and

close to death when treatment finally began. I told

them to let me be responsible for how I dealt with the

side effects.<br><br>I was very sick, lived alone, and

found my self most days unable to care for myself. The

interferon was painful and the nausea and vertigo kept me

from being able to do much but sleep 18 hours a day,

had to use a walker or cane to move around. Did not

leave my home with out assistance.<br><br>Faced a lot

of discrimination from health care providers and

neighbors about what my disease could mean if they had any

contact with me. Even Family members were afraid to come

and help me out.<br><br>It was just me and the Light

that came to me in visions and hallucinations while I

prayed and accepted that what ever was going to be would

be. I reached a point when I realized the treatment

was becoming to toxic and if it had worked or not, I

had to stop taking it anymore. I had to change

doctors at that point, mine was angry because I stopped

treatment Against medical Advice. I had ceased to trust

this Doctor, since when I was feeling desperately ill

he was always too busy to return my calls. It was my

faith in the light and prayer that brought me thru the

darkest of days.<br><br>I have been in remission for 4

months now, and I continue the lifestyle changes that I

adopted to fight this terrifying disease and seem to have

a good chance of living another 50 years or so.

<br><br>Now it is time to expand my knowledge and hopefully

beable to reach others going thru the same type of life

changing experiences and give them the same hope I feel

now.