Hello, my name is Rachie and I live in Cleveland, OH. I donated blood about six years ago and received a letter from the blood bank explaining that I tested positive for hepatitis c antibodies. I called my family doctor, had bloodwork done, had the diagnosis confirmed and now I'm fighting it.....

After a liver biopsy showing minor scarring, I spent one year on the infergen treatment and responded quite well. Six months after the treatment.......I received the news that I didn't respond as well as expected or thought. Well, it was upsetting news, but being a fairly upbeat person I have to say that I still live a full life; I have too! My husband and son deserve it!

I found a really terrific psychiatrist about 16 months ago who prescribed Celexa (10mg daily), and I feel really fine emotionally. I have a prescription for Ambien for those nights I spend rolling around. No sleep is really my enemy!

I begin the combo treatment yesterday @ 1:30pm. Hmmmmm, 1 injection of peg, 3 pills, 1 amantadine and 2 tylenol. About 7:30 I started to feel very tired and weak. By 8:00, I was shaking a bit and the aches and paines started. I took two more tylenol, jumped in the shower, climbed into bed. I rested 1/2 hour and took 1 ambien. Just before I dozed off to sleep I had the strangest sensation of a hand on my head (the hand of GOD, I'm sure), as the hand moved down my body I could feel the discomfort disappear. I slept like a baby and seemed to have missed most of the sides. I still took the day off work because I was a bit tired this morning & didn't know what to expect.

Well, it's day 2 & am feeling tired & now diarrhea. Well, if thats the worst of it....I guess I'm lucky, but I know there's more looming ahead. Somehow or another this thing will be BEAT! I'm just going to try and try again. The world is such a wonderful place I just can't give up. Forty years of life just isn't enough!

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