for Veterans and the Public

Your first step is to learn about the disease and how it can affect your life. The more you know about hepatitis C, the less confused and anxious you will be about your diagnosis. The more you learn, the better you will be at making decisions about your health.

Here are some ways to start:

• Read through the topics in Understanding the Liver and Hepatitis C Basics.
• Check out government or nonprofit educational organizations that deal with hepatitis C issues. You can find a list of them in the Resources at the end of this section.
• Use your local library. The most current information will be in the library's collection of newspapers and magazines (books about hepatitis C may be out of date by the time they are published).
• Check with your local VA medical center to see if there is an on-site library where you can find patient materials on hepatitis C.
• Talk with others who have been diagnosed with hepatitis C. Ask your doctors if they know of any support groups. Or you can go online, where you can find message boards and chat rooms. Always discuss what you learn from these sources with your doctor. The information may not be accurate, and even if it is, it may not be right for your particular situation.
• See the section on Living with Hepatitis C to learn about special diet and nutrition suggestions, complementary therapies, emotional health, and other topics.