[tribalwolf]

I may soon be meeting a great deal of support from this group, as I will be starting treatment for my hepatitis C. As some of you may are you know the treatment before hepatitis C is extremely hard on both the body and the mind. Some of the side effects are severe depression, some suicidal ideation, aggression, irritation and the list goes on.

This could be a long story but I'll try to keep it short.

A little over four years ago during one of my manic episodes I contacted hepatitis C from someone I was involved with and like a dumb *** using drugs with her.

In the past four years I have been both on and off of my bipolar medication. The first time I tried treatment for but hepatitis C, I was under psychiatric care and taking lithium and limactil, but I ended up having to stop treatment after four months because I became homeless and had nowhere to store the hepatitis medication.

The second time I tried to start treatment for the hepatitis C was only five months ago, but at that time I was untreated for my bipolar illness. After only four days I had a severe reaction to hepatitis medication and woke up in a panic attack, feeling extremely agitated and aggressive, so after talking to my G.I. Dr. she stopped treatment for the hepatitis until I could see a psychiatrist and get stabilized on psych meds.

Now after about four months of being on my medication my psychiatrist has given the okay for me to start my hepatitis treatments again, yesterday I went to see my G.I. Dr. and she has started the paperwork for my treatments to begin again.

This all bothers me on two different levels first: I didn't come here so that I would be the board basketcase and need to take up a lot of people's time, secondly: I came here because I felt that with my experience and knowledge of this illness I've might be able to help other people. Now with all this happening am not sure how much I'll be able to help anyone.

[Confusedinomicon]

I think the board is good to socialize with and come here when youre about to go through something triggering. Sometimes you shouldn't worry about helping others but focus on your own recovery. Just talking to people can also be enough.

You are going through a lot so you should keep this board active and keep us updated on your progress.

[Victoria'smom]

This is a support board all of us have needed to step back from giving advice and needed the board to lean on don't stress that. If you ever become homeless again a lot of places have nurses hold meds. Hope this time it goes well.

[~Christina]

The place is a give and take, and Noone keeps score.