I live in the Khmelnytskyi region, in a small town. I am currently on disability retirement; I have a Group 2 disability. My primary diagnosis is cirrhosis of the liver.
I found out about my diagnosis in August 2018. At the time, I was being treated for cirrhosis, and the doctor noticed something in my test results—specifically, the lack of positive progress in my treatment. She must have suspected something and referred me for testing for viral hepatitis.
I was first admitted to the hospital in March 2017 in a state of acute alcohol intoxication. At that time, I had ascites, and I was immediately diagnosed with alcoholic cirrhosis. No one thought or mentioned that the cirrhosis could have been caused by hepatitis; they immediately attributed it to alcohol consumption.
I didn’t think about hepatitis myself either, because, frankly, I had no idea what it was. It wasn’t until after the diagnosis that I started reading more about it. I told my close circle of friends about my diagnosis, and everyone reacted calmly.
“Once I found out about hepatitis, I remembered that I’d occasionally had a strange taste in my mouth”
But I wasn’t particularly worried, because by that time I already had decompensated cirrhosis; I had read online that people with that diagnosis don’t live long. So why should I worry about hepatitis?
Once I found out about hepatitis C, I remembered that from time to time I had a specific taste in my mouth, which could indicate serious liver problems.
Once I received the results, the doctor told me there was a government program and submitted the paperwork so I could receive treatment.
The infectious disease specialist told me that based on the condition of my liver (I have stage 4 fibrosis), I must have been infected 15–20 years ago. I figured it must have been during my time at university, when I led a certain kind of lifestyle—I might have shared razor blades, for example. For six months, I used drugs intravenously.
I began treatment, which lasted six months, in August 2019.
I wanted to get cured, but I knew I didn’t have the money, so as a Christian, I started praying. Shortly after praying, I came across a video in which a man mentioned Yuriy Voynalovich, the head of the BCD nonprofit organization, which helps patients with viral hepatitis. I found him online and contacted him. Yuriy said that about 150 courses of medication for treating viral hepatitis C had been sent to the Khmelnytskyi region; he told me where to go, and I did just that. I went to the hospital and received the medication for free.
My treatment went smoothly; if there were any side effects, I didn’t even notice them. The test results showed that I was completely cured, and even the polyneuropathy I had previously had went away.
I would advise others not to lose hope, to pray, and to get checked regularly.
