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What it’s like to live with HepC: Lisa (48), was diagnosed with hepatitis C at 20 years old

Lisa Carter
48 years

“I was constantly worried my daughter would contract this virus”

Lisa (48), was diagnosed with hepatitis C at 20 years old after experimenting with intravenous drug use in her teens. Two years later, she gave birth to a healthy baby girl. While this was one of the happiest moments of Lisa’s life, it also began over two decades of worry that one day she would accidentally infect her daughter with the hepatitis C virus through everyday activities, such as a small cut from cooking or using the wrong toothbrush.

As her daughter grew up, Lisa started to battle fatigue and “brain fog” caused by the hepatitis C infection. Lisa was also constantly worried about the threat of accidentally infecting her daughter, so items such as toothbrushes, razors and nail clippers were always kept hidden.

She was among the first in Australia to be treated with DAAs in March 2016 and was cleared of the virus shortly after. After decades of living with hepatitis C, Lisa was finally free of the virus and also the worry that had plagued her for years. “I broke down in tears after a small nose bleed in the bathroom. It was the first time in over 25 years that I didn’t have to panic about infecting my daughter,” she says.

Today, Lisa is healthy and her family, including her daughter, is proud of her.

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These are the personal opinions and experiences of the individual. Please note that everyone is not the same and some people with hepatitis C may have different experiences. All medicines have risks and benefits. Please contact your doctor should you have any questions or concerns.

June 2018
AU-MAVI-0157