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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| United Kingdom | |
| Liver4life Holme Cottage, Croft Road, Neacroft, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 8JS United Kingdom |
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| British Liver Trust 6, Dean Park Crescent, Bournemouth, BH1, 1HL |
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| 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) | |
