When I got back in 2006 I soon realized the total disinformation everywhere at that time. Everybody around me was repeating and repeating that many people have it, but that they also live happily and healthy and I am hypochondriac reading those sites on the internet about interferon, treatment, cirosis and so on. Than from the hospital in my home town told me i am "cured", so i forgot it for about 6 months, believing i am clear from the virus.
But the doctors were wrong, so were the tests. I was still positive.
One beautiful spring day I decided to check my status and go to a doctor in Sofia. After a week my first PCR was done– I had 4 million copies and zero idea of what to do next.
That’s how I found hepatitis forum. It was created by a former patient, luckily clean hepatitis C who didn’t forget what it is like to treat yourself In country like Bulgaria - no organization, no one follows the patient during his treatment, no explanation for the side effects, just NOTHING.Total Blackout!
Take your pills/injections from the drugstore and visit your doctor after 5 months for your PCR. Maybe he will recognize you, if not, you will be just one of the many Jane Dow's.
If you treat yourself in Bulgaria and have low leukocytes / High ALAT/ Pain in eyes/ bleeding gums/ difficult breathing you should go on the web and find some forum. There is no other way. You can not call your doctor and explain the situations- probably he will not answer the phone, but if he did, he will not be able to remember who you are. Simply because they are overhelmed- usually one doctor is responsible for hundreds of patients. Or he will explain, jelling.
So if you are brand new, freshly diagnosed, just type hepatitis-bg.com, and you will find us -1200 members and hundreds of translated materials about hepatitis B, C, D . You will get answer to every question you have, you can read our real stories and understand more about us and our patient association we have created a year ago- it's non-profit, no one works for money, just for the warm feeling that we are helpful to others like you.
And now some facts:
Population in Bulgaria: 8 million
People with hepatitis B and C: 500 000 ( nearly)
Hospitals, specialized for hepatitis treatment: 5 (all located in Sofia)
Doctors, for whom “hepatitis” is not unknown territory: around 7
People treated every year from hepatitis B and C: 150- 200 ( in total)