Hi my name is sandy I was diagnosed with hep c in 1995 when I was 25 years old. I was still in my prime drinking and drugging was told I needed to quit but I didn't quit so my liver got worse and I didn't know about until later.

So I will start my story at 18 years old when I started sharing needles with my girlfriend I finally stopped using the needles when I was 21 but still doing the drugs & the drinking. In 95 I started feeling sick alot really weak ,just not feeling good at all and wasn't sure why I am also a bi-polar and have been since I was 17. So I went to the hospital because this was lasting longer than having the flu or something.So my doctor did a blood test and when the results came he told me I needed to come in and see him. When I went to see him he told me I have hep c I was in shock.He sent me to a specialist and he told me everything about my illness I went into a deep depression still drinking and drugging I just didn't care anymore.

That went on until 2000 when I decided I want to live and I was so in love with the woman I had been with since 96. I went into drug and alcohol treatment on May 12th 2000. I learned alot I want to live and that I need to take care of myself and I can,t do that drunk or high. I am now in recovery and have been clean since 5-12-00. I'm taking my medicine for my mental illness I feel like a brand new person.

In 12-01 my doctor wanted me to have a liver biopsy so I did a few weeks later he called me into his office and he told me I have cirrhosis.That really shocked me because I thought I was doing so much better off drugs and alcohol I can't say it doesn't hurt or depress me because it does very much. I felt like at 31 years old my whole world was over. I talked to friends and family about it that helped some what.

I start on the medicine in feb-02 . With the help from god, my girlfriend, my sister-in-law, my family, my family in narcotics anonymous, I will get through this, I have faith that I will make through this with all the help I have.

Anyone that reads this if you have hep c and a drug and alcohol problem there is help out there if you want it just ask. You can't do it alone don't be ashamed ask before you make things worse the way I did. I'm 31 years old and I wish that I could take everything back and have a different life, but I can't so I've got to keep pushing for what's right and not give up because God's got something planned for me, I just got to hang on and live life to the fullest.

Thank you for reading my story and I hope it helps you,

Sandy L. nasteppin2@aol.com

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