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.
I want to first apologize to all of you for my disappearance. To say that Inteferon and Riba kicked my butt would be an understatement. I walked away from all Social Media and almost all human contact. It was rough. I'll explain more in a different post.
In my time on here I have noticed that different doctors have different protocols, especially when it comes to when to do a VL. My doc only does liver function tests throughout treatment. He does VL @ 30 days post treatment and again at 7 months post treatment.
I got the call yesterday and @ the 30 day post treatment mark I am UNDETECTABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now for other happenings in my life. the weekend after I finished treatment my wife had her 35 year class reunion. As many of you know I am very open about having Hep C, I don't hide it from anybody. It is part of my coping mechanism and my desire to educate.
My wife was telling one of her classmates that I had finished. She said, "did you know that my sister in law had Hep C"? We did not. They introduced me to her and her husband. We shared our war stories. It felt so good to talk face to face with someone that has chewed the same dirt. That for me was one of the hardest things since my diagnosis. The nearest Hep C support group was 3 hours away in Memphis or Nashville. When I learned that, was when I searched and found all of you outlaws, inlaws, and hooligans. I love you all and thank you all for all the support and education.
Anyway, through talking with this couple he determined that I knew what I had dealt with and he then properly introduced himself beginning with Doctor......U.S. Military Retired.
He now heads up a faith based clinic in the town I live in. They only provide medical care to people who are employed and uninsured. It is a free clinic. He told me that he knew of a lot of residents that had Hep C whether they were able to treat or not. He then asked if I would like to help start up a Hep C support group and I jumped at the chance.
Tonight is our first meeting.
I had one particular lady call about the meeting. She flat out stated that the worse part for her was not having anyone to talk to. She said that nobody, family, friends, not even the doctors want to talk. She was so excited when she learned there was a support group starting up.
I have lined up a nurse with a Specialty Pharmacy, a representative with Walgreens, a drug rep with Abbvie, and the Nurse in the Kentucky State Department of Health. Some will come and speak while others will help locate guest speakers and others are providing material for us to post and pass out. I am super excited.
So for now, I'm back and living large!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In my time on here I have noticed that different doctors have different protocols, especially when it comes to when to do a VL. My doc only does liver function tests throughout treatment. He does VL @ 30 days post treatment and again at 7 months post treatment.
I got the call yesterday and @ the 30 day post treatment mark I am UNDETECTABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now for other happenings in my life. the weekend after I finished treatment my wife had her 35 year class reunion. As many of you know I am very open about having Hep C, I don't hide it from anybody. It is part of my coping mechanism and my desire to educate.
My wife was telling one of her classmates that I had finished. She said, "did you know that my sister in law had Hep C"? We did not. They introduced me to her and her husband. We shared our war stories. It felt so good to talk face to face with someone that has chewed the same dirt. That for me was one of the hardest things since my diagnosis. The nearest Hep C support group was 3 hours away in Memphis or Nashville. When I learned that, was when I searched and found all of you outlaws, inlaws, and hooligans. I love you all and thank you all for all the support and education.
Anyway, through talking with this couple he determined that I knew what I had dealt with and he then properly introduced himself beginning with Doctor......U.S. Military Retired.
He now heads up a faith based clinic in the town I live in. They only provide medical care to people who are employed and uninsured. It is a free clinic. He told me that he knew of a lot of residents that had Hep C whether they were able to treat or not. He then asked if I would like to help start up a Hep C support group and I jumped at the chance.
Tonight is our first meeting.
I had one particular lady call about the meeting. She flat out stated that the worse part for her was not having anyone to talk to. She said that nobody, family, friends, not even the doctors want to talk. She was so excited when she learned there was a support group starting up.
I have lined up a nurse with a Specialty Pharmacy, a representative with Walgreens, a drug rep with Abbvie, and the Nurse in the Kentucky State Department of Health. Some will come and speak while others will help locate guest speakers and others are providing material for us to post and pass out. I am super excited.
So for now, I'm back and living large!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for sharing about your adventures. Glad you've hooked up with some good support, Clay, and are giving back xoxo
Undetected!! BRAVO!!
And that is great news about starting a support group. I also had looked fro an in-person support in my area and drew a blank. I think that is spectacular that you want to give back like that!! KUDOS to you.
Those drugs kicked my butt big time too and I am two weeks post tx and recovering very slowly.....EOT PCR was yesterday and will get the results in a week or two. I expect I am still undie too!
Great on the support group that helps you!
Welcome back!
HYDRON: There was a lot of wondering and speculation of how much of a hangover people would experience post treatment from Sovaldi/INF/RIBA. I know those before us that went 12 months, some are still not right two years later. For me, I am virtually over all sides and back to normal. Not even any real fatigue to speak of. My energy level is still low, but that is just needing to rebuild some, I was less active during treatment. All my friends and coworkers could tell when my sense of humor came back...yes, I have a smart ass sense of humor and people missed it when it was gone. LOL
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!