'I've no idea how I caught hepatitis C'

Nick is a university lecturer in Derby...

'I found out I had hepatitis C in August 2004 but I reckon I'd had it for 20-25 years. I'd been in hospital with severe pain on a number of occasions but they'd never diagnosed anything.

'When I first went in in 1987, hepatitis C wasn't known about. I was back in in 1992, 2002 and finally 2004.

'My liver function tests always showed that there was something wrong. But all the time the doctors weren't able to give me good answers, there was the temptation to think the worse — cancer, for example.

'I was tested for ME and for multiple sclerosis. I had suspected appendicitis. They thought it could my back, my kidneys or gallstones. They even thought it could be anorexia because at one point I lost about four stone. (I put it back on again!)

In August 2004 they tested me for the hepatitis C virus antibodies and it came back positive.

'The treatment depends on the type of hepatitis C. It could be 6 to 12 months. In my case, it's a year and I've six months to go. I'm losing weight again but that's normal with the treatment.

'I have to inject myself once a week in the stomach which is easier than it sounds and take daily tablets.

'There are side effects — flu-like symptoms and tiredness. Every 6 to 8 weeks, I get anaemic, but I'm managing to work three and a half days a week.

'I've no idea how I caught it. I've never injected or had a piercing. I did work in a drop-in centre and when I was teaching in schools I sometimes had to do first aid when there was a lot of blood about.

'I was also once a night club cleaner in a bikers' club! Then there's the sort of cut and scratches you get playing football and cricket. It could be any of those, I suppose. The point is that only a very small amount of blood is needed.

'Currently a hepatitis C test is only offered to high-risk groups so you will need to ask your GP to have a test if you think you might have it. Make sure you do though — deaths from heapatitis C are rising.'