Living with the disease

Living with Chronic Liver Disease :

Learning to live with a chronic disease is always difficult.  Finding balance between your everyday activities and managing a chronic condition can require support of family, physicians, and friends.

The shock

To learn that we are suffering from a chronic disease, possibly for life, is very disturbing and generate a strong emotional reaction. Therefore, the shock is the first stage to get through.

The anger

After the shock, we can experience a feeling of revolt: “Why me?” “For which reason?” This anger can allow you to position yourself towards your disease and this anger has to be externalized.

The denial

It is a conscious refusal to accept the reality of the disease. It is a normal mechanism of defense that will allow you to adapt yourself to the existence of the sickness you suffer. This stage can be difficult to understand for your close relations because it is extremely paradoxical.

Asking for professionals’ help

Understanding your disease is key to accepting it. Therefore, it is important to receive the necessary information from your doctor. Living with a chronic disease may require changes to your daily routine.

Be aware of stigma! Do not hesitate to gather all the elements and information you might have seen in magazines or online that might worry you and write down your questions. The doctor is here to answer.

 

 

 

Where to find help?

 

France
SOS Hépatites
Tour Gallieni 2,
36, avenue du Général de Gaulle,
93170 Bagnolet
AMFE
27 rue Edgar Quinet
92240 Malakoff
ALBI
3 rue Louis Le Vau
78000 Versailles
AMVF
Hôpital Beaujon Service d’Hépatologie
100 boulevard du Général Leclerc
92118 Clichy cedex
AA
29 rue de Campo Formio
75013 PARIS
Association Vie Libre
8 rue René CASSIN
51430 BEZANNES
Association Croix Bleue
189 rue Belliard
75018 Paris
Association Alcool Assistance
10 rue des messageries
75010 Paris
Hépatites Info Service
0 800 845 800, or if you are outside France : 00 33 1 41 83 42 78
Belgium
ELPA
F. De Renesselaan,
57 B – 3800 Sint-Truiden
C.H.A.C.
Poisson-Moulin,
3 B 6640 Vaux-sur-Sûre
Germany
Leberhilfe
Krieler Str. 100
50935 Köln
China
The Hong Kong Liver Transplant Patients’ Association
Room 224-226, Wah Ching House, Wah Fu Estate, Aberdeen, Hong Kong
Hong Kong Liver Foundation
Unit 11A, Gold Swan Commercial Building, 438-444 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
The Paediatric Liver Transplantation Support Group of Hong Kong
c/o Flat D, 4/F, Block 7, Belair Monte, Fanling, New Territories
Taiwan
Chang Gung Medical Foundation
No.199, Tunghwa Rd., Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C
Taichung Society of Liver Disease
Malaisia
Malaysian Liver Foundation
Jalan PJU 1a/3, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaisie
Liver Cirrhosis Support Group Malays
Singapore
Singapore Liver Cancer Support Group
Thailand
Liver Foundation & Liver Society
1575/1 Chai-Saghuan Building, Floor 4, New Petchburi Rd., Makkasan,, Ratchatawee, Bangkok 10400
United Kingdom
Liver4life
Holme Cottage, Croft Road, Neacroft, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 8JS United Kingdom
British Liver Trust
6, Dean Park Crescent, Bournemouth, BH1, 1HL
Spain
Hepatomur Plataforma de Afectados por Hepatitis C
C/ Santa Felicidad 24, Local 6, 28017 MADRID
Organizacion Nacional de Afectados por Hepatitis Virales
Gran Via de les Les Corts Catalanes 509 1º1ª – 08015 Barcelona
Plataforma de Afectados por Hepatitis C Aragon
Associacio Catalana de Malalts d’Hepatitis
“Hotel d’Entitats La Pau” Pere Vergés, 1. piso 8. Despacho 808020- Barcelona
ASOCIACIÓN ESPAÑOLA DE AYUDA A NIÑOS CON ENFERMEDADES HEPÁTICAS Y TRASPLANTADOS HEPÁTICOS
Asociación Española para el Estudio del Hígado FNETH (Federación Nacional de Enfermos y Trasplantados Hepáticos)
C/ Santiago de Compostela, nº 38-7ºB 28034 Madrid
Associació de Nens i Nenes Amb Trasplantament Hepàtic
Mexico
Fundación Mexicana para la Salud Hepática (FundHepa)