 | | The Hepatitis C Trust is delighted to announce the opening of its Scottish office in Edinburgh and the appointment of the first member of our Scottish staff, Petra Wright. Petra will work with patients, journalists and all stakeholders involved in delivering the Hepatitis C Action Plan for Scotland to raise awareness about the virus and help improve services for patients. |
Petra Wright - Scottish Officer
Petra is (of course!) a hepatitis C patient. She has been involved with The Trust for a number of years, being one of the intrepid party that went trekking in the Himalayas for us in 2006. More recently she set up an HCV Support Network in Forth Valley.
“I am delighted to be representing The Hepatitis C Trust and all Scottish patients. I was diagnosed hepatitis C (HCV) antibody positive around 1991. At that time the virus had only recently been named but not much was known about it. I was reassured by the GUM consultant that very few people seem to be troubled by it.
Late in 2003, I had gynecological and bladder problems. Various tests revealed nothing and my liver function was fine. My concentration was shot to pieces and I found learning new tasks at work very difficult. I became increasingly frustrated and was finally referred to a hospital where my diagnosis of chronic HCV infection was confirmed. Being genotype 3, I began 24 weeks of treatment in the summer of 2004. Unfortunately I relapsed after treatment but I shall still try to rid myself of the virus again when the time is right. Since then I have done my best to raise awareness of hepatitis C within my local community and also nationally by having my case study highlighted in the Scottish media. Working with The Hepatitis C Trust has allowed me to rebuild my self-respect;
my life is not over, just different.
