\u201cWhen I was first diagnosed my drug use was around 25 years in the past. I had a good job in Financial services, a mortgage and life was good. Nobody in my new life knew anything about that part of my life. I moved on and that was it. It was a huge shock to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although I was feeling unwell with many \u2018easy to ignore\u2019 symptoms, like forgetfulness, digestive issues, joint aches and pains, I was reluctant to make my GP aware of my earlier dalliance with drugs. Eventually I told her and was referred to the hospital clinic. I self-stigmatized but the strange thing was that the stigma I felt wasn\u2019t about having Hepatitis C Virus but more around how I had got it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the time treatment consisted of 6 months of weekly injections of interferon and daily anti-viral pills. Lots of side effects made it impossible to continue working or carrying on with life as usual. The efficacy was around 75%, I finished the course but, but the virus came back after a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I found the Hep C trust website. They had a helpline in London. Using the helpline, I could phone a stranger who had experienced the same as me. I agreed to do some press work to raise awareness about Hepatitis C. (HCV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first interview I did was for the local Bo\u2019ness Journal, it was front page. I went to Tesco that day and a few people were coming up to me whispering \u2018see that, I\u2019ve got that\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I suppose that alerted me as to how many people were affected and didn\u2019t talk about it openly. That\u2019s when I realised that by speaking out, I could help other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I eventually secured a job with The Hepatitis C Trust as the Scottish Officer. I\u2019ve been cured for about five\/six years after my second round of treatment. I\u2019ve not looked back since. I\u2019ve been working with the Trust for ten years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The big message is this is a medical condition, it could happen to anybody, people should stop thinking it\u2019s only a drug user\u2019s disease. The treatment now is a pill a day with 97% success rate and little or no side-effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My goal is to eliminate Hepatitis from Scotland, just face up to it, get tested. Nobody need ever know, the treatment\u2019s so good these days.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"