
Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
IMNSHO and it is just my opinion and not backed up by any medical fact, the jury is still out as to sexual transmission of this bug.
If you note how many of us of this generation seem to have this disease (I am two years older than your age span reference) and how many of us seem not to have gotten it from the usual ways of transmission, I'd say we have to start looking at sexual means of transmission.
Many of did the 'make love, not war' thing back in the 60's and 70's and many 'me' gen people did a lot of running around back then, too.
And one reason OUR age group is showing up so much is simply that HEPC takes many years, even and generation plus, to show symptoms.
And how many people get tested for HEPC as the result of standard, routine physicals? I'd say not many.
I had a routine physical with all the standard blood work in 2005, but not HEP tests. My liver enzymes were a tiny bit high back then (as well as now) but the doc just said it was probably because I had had my gallblladder removed.
Had she tested for HEP, I could have started tx under the umbrella of very good state health benefits. Oh, well...
HepC and the 40 - 60 Age Group
If you go back to that topic and read through you will see quite the variety of thoughts.
Back in the younger years of those who are in that age range now, there were more issues with blood products not being screened and a general unconcerned attitude.
Why? Because nobody knew much about it. Standards were low when it came to protection in so many areas.
Just think about the vaccination issue discussed in the above - I have heard some articles about just such a source.
Even to this day, we have issues in dentistry as a current source. I really am doubtful as to sexual transmission being in the picture much because there are tons and tons of people who have the virus yet none of their partners do, and after decades together and active.
Our bodies get tired, we get aches and pains, and then we go to our drs for explanations. Eventually, after ruling out several other causes, they get around to testing for this hep virus. Why it's not part of the group of regular tests, I have no idea! Actually, I shudder at the thought of how many others would be shown to have the virus. It's called the silent killer for a reason.
I really don't know exactly what symptoms are truly related to the virus. After much thought, I think that maybe the fatigue and joint pains are pretty good signs.. I can't even include changes in bloodwork as an indicator because mine showed no rises. My ALT/AST were in the low end of normal range, even into tx.
I don't know; I just don't know. I wish the test would be part of all routine annual checkups so that we can catch it all earlier with people, way before there are any kinds of symptoms, and then we would be able to show how extreme this issue really is. Then we may wake up the world to the fact that this virus is a main stresser of our medical systems.
You remind me of Jethro from the Beverly Hillbillies.
With respect to the post regarding age, I'm a 30 year old stuck in a 50 yr. old body.
In other terms, I think it called LOSER!
Neutron and Cap you guys are hilarious.
Oh, this was fun but Cinderella has to go to sleep now. By tomorrow all this will be deleted but it was fun when it lasted.
DID NOT.