Just Diagnosed ?

Scared ? 
Confused ? 
Feel alone and lonely ? 
Don't know what to expect ? 
Don't know what to do ?

You probably answered "yes" to most of the above questions.

Before anything else you must always remember that you are not alone. There are millions out there who, like you, were infected with Hepatitis C. Some of them are happy to share with you their knowledge and help you understand what is going on with you, and to give you moral support if you need it. You just need to find them. And since you are here, I am happy to tell you that you just did. Simply go to The HEPC-List web site, read a bit about how the list works (the help section is worth reading, as it givers technical support for far more than just subscribing to the list - like how to set up your Outlook Express, Netscape Communicator or Eudora, how to filter your mail into separate folders at the time you download it etc), and then subscribe. You will find there other fellow sufferers or their relatives trying to help each other in any way they can.

Second, if you don't know how you got the Hepatitis C, just forget about finding out. There's no point in digging in your past just to find reasons to blame yourself for one thing or another. Stop blaming yourself for getting ill !!!    What's done is done, and ultimately you are just an ill person who needs treatment. How you got the illness is not relevant.

Thirdly... Cool down !!!
As you will see if you join the mailing list or read enough up-to-date literature, you will be able to carry on with your life just as before, especially if you are among the lucky ones who have no (or very little) symptoms. 

And finally, always keep in mind that you are NOT contagious, you are NOT a public danger, and if you take some basic precautions you are NOT jeopardising your family's heath in any way.