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We created Hepatitis C
Choices with
several purposes in mind: Making Informed Decisions Potentially life-changing decisions are one aspect of having a serious illness such as chronic hepatitis C. Each of us is unique in how we make such decisions. Some people want to know everything they possibly can about their disease. They want to make all their own treatment decisions. Other people prefer to have health care providers make treatment decisions based on their knowledge and expertise. Some prefer to have a friend or family member seek out and sort through information. Many use a combination of approaches. Each person with chronic hepatitis C has his or her own treatment goals. Some consider reducing the virus to an undetectable level to be the most important goal. Others consider enjoying the best quality of life possible to be the top priority. Many have a list of goals with some being more important than others are. Many people make lifestyle changes, while others know this is not the right choice for them. We urge you to identify your personal strengths and limitations. Decide what makes up an acceptable quality of life for you. Knowing these things will help you make health care decisions that best suit your personality. We hope this book will help you understand your disease and some of the health care options available to you. Knowledge empowers you to ask the necessary questions to become your own best advocate. When your questions have been asked and answered, you and your health care providers will be in the best possible situation to determine the best treatment approach for you. Knowing Your Options You have the right to advocate for yourself in order to receive the best possible treatment regardless of the source of payment for your care. Over the years, many people with chronic hepatitis C found they had few treatment options and little opportunity to participate in their own health care decisions. Increasingly, health care providers and the public are interested in changing this legacy. Being an informed consumer and knowing your rights are particularly important when you are looking for health care that is not only of good quality, but also fits your personal needs. These rights are even more important if you intend to combine or integrate several medical disciplines in your treatment plan. For additional information on your rights as a health care consumer, see Appendix I, Patients' Rights. Regaining Control The day before your hepatitis C diagnosis, you were probably able to say what you hoped to be doing in the near future. The day after your diagnosis, you may have felt that something else had suddenly taken control of your life. The process of regaining control begins with learning about your disease and your treatment options. Many people newly diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C are relieved to find that it might not be necessary to make an immediate decision about treatment. If your hepatitis C has not progressed significantly and you stop drinking alcohol, you may never have to make a decision about aggressive therapy. However, regardless of your current disease status, drinking and hepatitis C infection are a dangerous mix. You should not drink alcohol in any form. Some people with chronic hepatitis C stay healthy by making lifestyle changes in addition to not drinking alcohol. For some, lifestyle changes such as eating a healthier diet, taking vitamins and/or supplements, and exercising regularly have a profound effect on their health and well-being. Others choose homeopathy, naturopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, and/or other CAM disciplines to maintain their general health and keep the virus in check. How you go about maintaining your health, and whomever you decide to consult for your health care is up to you. However, we urge you to gather information about the different treatment options you are considering. This will help you make informed decisions about what options are best suited to your treatment goals and personality. Some Additional Thoughts The decision to begin any treatment is a big step. Only you know if you are ready to take that step. Our purpose in creating this book was not to advocate for one treatment approach over another, but to encourage you to carefully look at all of your options. Chronic hepatitis C is often a progressive disease, so your options might change over time. The health care provider you choose to see is not nearly as important as having a systematic approach to follow your disease. It is important to realize that unless your blood and liver are examined periodically, you cannot know if your disease is progressing. We encourage you to decide on your treatment goals and discuss all your options and concerns with your health care providers. It is often helpful to get a second opinion, or even a third. Choosing health care providers you are comfortable speaking with will help you work together as a team. Making decisions that are right for you will make your choices easier to incorporate into your life. Whatever you decide to do, it is very important to inform each of your health care providers about all of the treatment approaches you are using. This is particularly important if you choose an integrated medicine approach that involves health care providers or treatments from several different medical disciplines. We created this book to help you become the best possible advocate for your own health care. We hope it provides useful information to help you make treatment and lifestyle choices that are right for you. However, this book is
only a guide, a collection of reference materials. We strongly encourage you to
continue to explore your treatment and lifestyle options, and to gather as
much information as you need. Doing so can help you make the best possible
decisions for your health care and your life. |
to provide information about chronic hepatitis C that might help you make decisions about your treatment and lifestyle