~HEP-C-A SIDE SEEN THRU A HUSBAND'S EYES~

I dedicate this page to my lovely wife, Teri, whom I love very much.

And this is to those who have just discovered that you or a loved one has the dreaded Hepatitis "C". It's hard to fully understand and comprehend what a family is going thru & enduring. The changes are so suttle that you don't realize what is happening.

Depression is the strongest emotion that you'll have to deal with, b/c they get into low self-esteem, pity, unwanted, unloved, and so on & so on from there, and it's difficult for the person with Hep "C" to see the changes that are impacting their lives.

Below you will see only some of what we have been through. I wish now that I would have kept a diary of what all has happened, b/c it takes awhile to see the pattern that emerges from the behavioral changes..

Hopefully, by reading this others will be able to see & understand these symptoms of Hepatitis C & what radical changes he/she & their families must endure of this disease. There is only one treatment, interferon, which has many severe side-effects, and in my wife's case, dr's are unable to put her on it, due to her medical history of depression caused by a "chemical imbalance" she has...People have been known to commit suicide on this treatment as the side effects can be more severe on the symptoms of the disease.
Alot of times you'll get discouraged & hurt by your loved one with Hep-C, but the best thing to do is try to "always" show love, support & encouragement, as with any disease. Because no one could ever imagine what Hep-C can do to someone's self-esteem, self-assurredness & the heartbreak of feeling inadequate all the time and always sick..until you see it yourself.

Above all, never refuse to talk about it with him/her and never act like "it'll be ok"..Because that only makes him/her feel even worse. After all, they know it will get worse as it is a killing disease.. All the symptoms of this disease add more stress to him/her, which in turns makes the symptoms worse. So the "less stress" environment you can create, the better for him/her. Always be gentle, loving & understanding. I know this sounds like a tall order with all the stress you're having to go thru, too, but always remember--what you have to endure is nothing compared to what the victim of this disease is...especially if him/her has always been so independent & out-going. And you can always walk away from it from time to time. The victim never can..

I truly hope this helps someone, others, going thru this or a loved one.

~HOW MY WIFE'S HEP-"C" HAS CHANGED & AFFECTED OUR LIVES~

1.SOCIALLY--We use to visit friends & relatives and participate in church and church activities on a regular basis, but over time of the past year or so it has come down to attending church services sometimes, when my wife can. She did not not even feel well enough to go out to eat on our anniversary. She use to enjoy going out shopping, now she does not even go grocery shopping very often. We use to go to flea markets and garage sales, now she does not, & most of the time is not able, to even leave the house. She doesn't even visit her mom & dad & the children anymore.

2.ECONOMICALLY--Having to take a medical leave at her doctor's insistance, has caused a loss of income of $17,966.00 + overtime, that my wife had been working normally. The loss of my time & income the past year has amounted to approximately 128 hours loss of work and overtime. This does not count the hospital, doctors, and perscriptions paid out over the period of time.

3.PHYSICALLY--The draining energy of all of this because of Hepatitis C, is the worst aspect of this disease. I have seen Teri's sleeping, eating, timing and coordination, and strength go down hill dramatically.
a- Her sleeping habit has had a big change. An hour of work, such as making beds, doing dishes, or laundry, or just general housecleaning, and she will have to sleep 3 to 5 hours to get her strength back.
b- Eating has changed big time for Teri, too. She has been living primarily on liquids the last several months, drinking water, milk, & pepsi, and slim fast. The eating of solid foods is minimal, and yet she has gained considerable weight, because of retaining fluid in her body.
c- Timing and coordination has been affected also,this shows in her driving the car, typing on the keyboard, or even in fixing a meal for me.
Strength has greatly gone down hill in what she is able to lift, carry or perform. She tires very easily at simple tasks, such as housework as I mentioned above. She is losing muscle tone & her figure due to bloating and swelling of the liver and spleen.

4.MENTAL EFFECTS--This aspect of it is up and down. I notice a notable difference in her ability to stay focused on different projects, and gets very frustrated easily because of this, which affects her follow-thru on different projects that she attempts. Something as simple as making dinner, writing letters, or projects at church. I notice a big difference in Teri's ability to remember things--such as going to a doctor's appt in Morristown, Tenn. and not realizing where she was going until she was in Canton, N.C.-(the opposite direction),working on something and forgetting where her glasses are, or her purse, wallet, pen, important papers, books, etc. She can forget things from one moment to another.

5.EMOTIONAL--The emotional stress has been debilitating for her. It has caused stress, anger, unsure of herself, arguments, mistrust of doctor's and others, doubt, moody situations, and accusations. Such as waiting 4 1/2 hours for a scheduled appointment, doctor's not performing the tests that she was sent there to be taken (appt. 3 times for a liver biopsy-doctor checked & tooked out polyps instead). Not being told of other alternatives to liver biopsys like liver scans, liver & spleen ultrasounds, and the doctor's "insensitive" attitudes & "uncaring" words regarding her health, such as "there is nothing we can do, and no cure... you'll just have to go home & deal with it."
Emotional stress has greatly affected our marriage-the feelings my wife has that I don't understand her, I don't love her & etc. pop up sometimes just right out of the blue.

I hurt inside as I watch my wife get nauseous & sick sometimes after taking one of the many perscription drugs that the doctor's keep trying her on, due to the inability of her liver to break substances down or the excruciating pain of head-aches that nothing will relieve. The sometimes disorientation, the feeling of loss affection, the dependence one moment and independence the next.

These are all changes that I have observed in the the last year or so that as had its toll on our marriage and our lives.

Anyone who says that Hepatitis "C" is not a dibilitating disease has never lived with anyone who has had it. It not only affects the one who has it, but also the spouse and other loved ones. Just the knowledge that there is no known cure for Hepatitis "C" is enough to change anyone's life, that has this disease.

Terry J. Witt

It is my--our--faith, trust & love, in the Lord that gives us strength and courage to sustain us day by day. I am believing for a healing. What is a miracle for me, is a simple task for God...My God is able and my God is good..It is Satan that comes to "steal", "kill", and "destroy".
God's Word will heal. It is full of God's power and carries the authority of God who spoke it.
God's Word will not return to Him void, but will produce what He sent it to do.
God's medicine works by taking His Word into your being. You do that by listening to the Word, reading the Word, and speaking the Word.
Teri Witt

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beCALM'D

Although the above product does not specifically pertain to the condition of Hep C--,I have been taking it for some of the symptoms associated with Hep C- such as depression, for strength & energy. It has made a remarkable difference in my life. This is a wonderful product....... so great, that not only am I still taking it but have become a distributer of it..And it's great for a number of other ailments, such as alcoholism, ADD/ADHD, and more. Please, check it out..

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Norma--thank-you!