In January of 2001, I went to the emergency room at a hospital near where I lived because I felt like I was going to die. Quite frankly, I had felt that way for a couple of days. But finally I went to find out if I had pneumonia or not (that was my self-diagnosis). They took x-rays and yes, I had bronchitis badly but they needed to take some more blood for another test. After a while, several doctors came into my little cubby hole in the ER and the doctor who was helping me said that I was in very serious condition and needed to be admitted immediately. Before going to my room, they decided that they had to put this ?tube? down my throat. God, I thought they were killing me. So, after pumping my stomach for 4 days, they told me I had acute hepatitis caused from ?Tylenol poisoning? which I had never heard of.

Several days before I went to the hospital, I had a few beers. I had quit drinking 95% of the time. This day was one of that ?other? 5%. The problem came about because I had been taking pain pills for my back containing Tylenol and that mixed with the alcohol liked to have done me in. Through several more visits to the doctor they also determined that I also had chronic hep C.

So, to make a long story short, I moved to Beaumont (which is where I went to school and where most of my relatives lived) and found out about the hepatitis support group and I went. There I met Cathy & Bill Bailey who were the facilitators. Then about 3 months later I moved permanently to College Station. I got doctors lined up, an apartment and I was looking for a support group. Since no one knew of one in town, I called Dr. Dave Erickson of the Texas Liver Coalition whom I had talked to already in Beaumont. So he explained that not every city had support groups. That was a real letdown. I was counting on this since I now was ready to go on therapy. So, Dr. Dave said I could become the facilitator of a new Texas Liver Coalition support group there, in Bryan/College Station.

So, I did. After taking the therapy for 45 weeks I kicked it. Granted the therapy almost killed me but I killed the virus in the meantime! At my one year post-treatment tests, I am still ?virus-undetectable?. I couldn't believe it. I am going to live and now I can have another chance at life after hep c. I feel better now than I have in years and I know it was worth the effort. Go for it!

I also could not have made it without my good friends in the support group. Sometimes there were hardly any people there and that made it more personal. When we keep in contact one way or another, this is the most valuable thing you will get.