Hep C Discussion Forum

I've had another one of those crappy days today, not because anything went wrong or anybody said or did anything to piss me off. But just 'because'.

I've had plenty of those days where plenty has gone wrong in recent months. At times it felt like it was open season for having a 'pop'. Since my first attack and subsequent diagnosis I can honestly say that nearly every part of my life has changed.

Some things I have come to learn; it doesn't matter how much stuff you surround yourself with or how high you build your towers, it can all be blown away in an instant.

Never feel untouchable or above this because one day, it really could be you.

But I'm not writing to lecture you, not today. I just want to 'blood let' for a while and write it down. Because my day really has felt pretty 'crap', So I thought I'd share it with you. Some bloody mate, eh? And it helps somehow, writing it down, somehow I find it helps me to see through the fog. I can concentrate line by line what I feel and eventually, when I raise my head and start to read itt back, I can look at it with some clarity, and say "yeah, that's it" like I'm listening to someone else telling me this 'nightmare-ish' story.

I only recently told my family even though we've known for some time about my HCV and that the only treatment left open to me was a liver transplant. I couldn't see the point of telling them because I didn't want to worry them and I knew there was nothing they could do about it anyway. I also didn't want this kind of questioning getting in the way every time I saw them because it's now more than ever that I just want to enjoy their company.

Mandy was furious that I wouldnt tell them because she said it was their right to worry. I understood where she was coming from but I didn't want to be the object of their pity so reluctantly she agreed to go along with it.

It's only since it was becoming increasingly obvious that something was wrong and I was turning yellow that I decided to 'come clean' so to speak.

However, I try my best to be my 'old self' whenever I go over, like I do whenever I go to any of my friends and families place, or if I bump into someone in the street.

But you can always see as we're talking, the conversation going on behind the eyes. Its the evaluation of when I was my old self; and now. The "oh Christ he looks awful" and the its true then and all the while their mouth goes into 'autopilot' as they ask "so, how are you?" Then the realisation of the enormity of that question!

For my family it is genuine concern but for many it's a "bollocks, bollocks, bollocks, why did I say that" moment. I try and getaway with Yeah, yknow, just plodding along a get out for both of us but some people just dont know when to stop!

But, after a day like yesterday, when I felt really good and like I was getting somewhere.I took the dog out on a good long walk, as I do, and I'm thinking "yeah, I can whup this things arse, no problem.. And then today, as ever Im tired and in pain so I end up spending the day doing very little and staying in bed. The kids will come in periodically and crawl all over you and you feel like screaming at them because their hurting you or keeping you from your sleep. Or you want squeeze them tight to you and get comfort from their innocence and lack of understanding of the situation.

And thats when the emotional roller coaster kicks in. You start to wonder if youll ever get a transplant because God, youre sick of feeling sick. You want to make plans but then you know you cant. The why me? and the why not you, who ever said life was fair? And you start to believe that everything youve ever done could just be about to go down the toilet.

It does make you feel afraid and even cry. You want to hide and under the covers and have a really good blub like you did when you were a kid, hoping your Mum would hear and come and tell you it was just a nasty dream and that everythings alright now, sshhh.

Mandy has been great and so have the kids. They made me realise that all that truly matters in life is the people you surround yourself with. And then you want to blub. But, for now I just have to hang in there. I know theres light at the end of the tunnel, but some days it's just a little obscured.

My life has been punctuated by some massive highs and extreme lows and for the most part I wouldn't change a thing. I know everything is supposed to happen for a reason but for me, on days like today, it just dont  work anymore

Keep well everyone .... Ian