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.

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ImKramer 07/29/2014

Researchers discover how Hepatitis C virus persists for years.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) lingers in the human body for years, slowly damaging the liver and leading to liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer, which is often fatal. Research conducted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has discovered a mechanism that facilitates the virus achieving this life-long persistence. Chronic HCV infection is the leading cause of liver cancer in the United States.

read more:
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-07-hepatitis-virus-persists-years.html

catmagic 07/29/2014

What a mean bi@ch this virus is! Cunning, stealthy, with a VERY strong will to survive. So grateful for Sovaldi and the new tx's now and coming soon. Hit the bastids hard and fast, that's how to kill 'em forever.

MLTTexas 07/30/2014

It is an terrible virus. I had it for many years before it finally led to early cirrhosis and liver cancer. That led to a transplant, then Hep C again in my new liver. But now, I have been treated with Sovaldi and Olysio and am showing undetected so far. But problems from the Hep c and from the transplant persist. I have a stenosis in the portal vein of my 'new' liver, causing continuous fluid in my abdomen. I'm also anemic, underweight, and my kidneys are showing stress from diuretics and from the anti-rejection med that I'll be on for the rest of my life.

lovefall 07/30/2014

The part that no one gets is you feel okay for sooo long that you feel
invincible or it is remaining dormant, until it decides to rear it's ugly head and then - look out.....

I should add: some can go thru life with no complications - it is a baffling disease.....

ImKramer 07/30/2014

True Lovefall. Had it for 40+ years and when I was finally Dx with HCV in 1992 the specialists comment was as that I had had it for so long with such little damage (at that point in time) it would probably never be a problem for me.
I think it was a rude awakening for everyone when they discovered that's what it sometimes does, sits quiet and then 30 years later becomes very active. I went from 30 years of slightly elevated enzymes to 8 times higher than normal and ended up with cirrhosis in just a few years.

WarriorGal 07/30/2014

I posted this on Facebook with a comment encouraging everyone t get tested. people need to know that they could have this silent killer which is CURABLE if they know they have it! I want to help spread the word.

http://med.ubc.ca/ubc-develops-test-to-ensure-effectiveness-of-new-hep-c-drug/

I likely had it for about 47 years and knew i had the last 11. While I was VERY lucky and did not get serious liver damage I likely got my RA because of it and that has left me permanently crippled.

erniecoolcat 07/31/2014

Yes Chrys she is a mean bitch just like Nellie Oleson and her stigma has just made her meaner.

HCV needs to seriously come out of the closet. Let's all treat her right!

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