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.
You know what I've been thinking lately, seeing so many getting to the end stage, or advance stage without even knowing they have the virus, that is absolutely not ok.
There should be a law into out there, that a person should get checked every 2 years,for this virus.
The government can put a law on having to do a clean air check up on our cars every 2 years, now why can't there be a must test every 2 years on patients of all the Doctors in the world.
There would be a lot less people being told that they have the virus of hepatitis c, and they are too late for treatment.
Hepatitis c, is a Silent Killer, which is why it should be mandate for a patient to be tested every 2 years, for life.
It's a simple blood test, in order to know if a patient as anti bodies of the virus, then action can be taken straight away if this patient is positive.
Look at my husband and I, Richard felt tired all the time, went to the doctor, only to be told he was positive for hep c.
Which didn't surprise me, well it did in a way for a short while, but he had used IV drugs once on a July day in 1987.
So, our Doctor wanted to get both our daughter and I to get checked.
I had no symptoms at all, none, and guess what? I was also positive, but unlike Richard who had no damage at all, grade 0 Stage 0, I had damage, in fact fibrosis scarring, grade and stage 2.
Imagine that!
The only difference I came to conclude was, that I was a drinker (alcohol) and he didn't drink.
So can you imagine my liver today, if we were not told we had hep c in the year 2000.
Nine years later, my liver would probably be in a very serious condition.
All because my hubby was always tired, and he got diagnosed, I was saved from an early death.
Funny how life works out.
So I must emphasize on how important to get some kind of law to pass so that each and everyone on this planet earth, to get tested every 2 years, once at birth, then pass the age of 14 now since our teens are so hooked up on Tattoos, and piercings, so yes 14 would be a good age to start getting tested.
Whats you opinion on that!
There should be a law into out there, that a person should get checked every 2 years,for this virus.
The government can put a law on having to do a clean air check up on our cars every 2 years, now why can't there be a must test every 2 years on patients of all the Doctors in the world.
There would be a lot less people being told that they have the virus of hepatitis c, and they are too late for treatment.
Hepatitis c, is a Silent Killer, which is why it should be mandate for a patient to be tested every 2 years, for life.
It's a simple blood test, in order to know if a patient as anti bodies of the virus, then action can be taken straight away if this patient is positive.
Look at my husband and I, Richard felt tired all the time, went to the doctor, only to be told he was positive for hep c.
Which didn't surprise me, well it did in a way for a short while, but he had used IV drugs once on a July day in 1987.
So, our Doctor wanted to get both our daughter and I to get checked.
I had no symptoms at all, none, and guess what? I was also positive, but unlike Richard who had no damage at all, grade 0 Stage 0, I had damage, in fact fibrosis scarring, grade and stage 2.
Imagine that!
The only difference I came to conclude was, that I was a drinker (alcohol) and he didn't drink.
So can you imagine my liver today, if we were not told we had hep c in the year 2000.
Nine years later, my liver would probably be in a very serious condition.
All because my hubby was always tired, and he got diagnosed, I was saved from an early death.
Funny how life works out.
So I must emphasize on how important to get some kind of law to pass so that each and everyone on this planet earth, to get tested every 2 years, once at birth, then pass the age of 14 now since our teens are so hooked up on Tattoos, and piercings, so yes 14 would be a good age to start getting tested.
Whats you opinion on that!
Info not quite adding up? Not after all I have learned this go around, it's not. But that was in 1980, and from what I understand HepC wasn't "discovered" until later.
I have had 2 kids, and 2 surgeries within the last 10 years, and I always make sure to include hepatitis on my paperwork. Nothing showed up on any of the bloodwork that I had done. It wasn't until I went to see a rheumatologist about 2 yrs ago, that it was finally found. I had had several bloodtests done prior to them finding it, which really confuses me.
I agree that this is something that should be included in common, everyday, run-of-the-mill bloodwork.
In fairness, slightly elev enzymes can be from drinking & tylenol. So - how about if everyone with elev enzymes was screened?
For insurance, you have to have a reason for them to pay for additional testing, understandable. My slightly elev enzymes were blown off. Mine have never been alarming high. I just felt like freakin' crappola, saw elev enzymes & I haven't touched alcohol in years, so demanded investigation.
I was told 30+ years ago I had hepatitis but when I asked the doc what could be done I was told to not worry about it as there was no tx (non A non B back then) he didn't say anything about liver damage or other problems w/it so I totally forgot about it. He didn't even tell me that alcohol or tylenol was bad for me.
In 2007 when my brother-in-law tested positive and took tx and became SVR I requested test. My enzymes had been elevated for years but no one caught that. Even w/alot of friends with this I didn't know anything about it which was very stupid on my part.
I was totally shocked after bx that I only had Stage 1/Grade 1 after 30 years and also drinking. Also blessed to now be SVR. Still can't understand why I am so lucky when so many others aren't.
I'm not one of the ones that can say the didn't get it from drugs - I honestly tell everyone I did use needles for a very brief period during the 70's along w/all my friends. Now I have way too many personal friends with it also. Some have taken tx and are SVR some non-responders and too many I've lost (2 recently)...sadly some of them are in denial and refuse tx and continue to drink and I have to watch them die. Think my sister will be next.
Also it seems that if you don't have insurance or go to VA alot of my friends that have HepC are told 'you are ok for now - your enzyme levels aren't that high' - how wrong is that?
I also agree that all docs should be required to take a course in HepC awareness as part of their degree and later as a annual update.
I now tell everyone I know about HepC even if they aren't at risk cause we all know that even if you never used drugs you can still get it....hell I could have given it to my daughter/son during birth or by sharing a razor/nail clipper - thank god neither kids have it.
I'm now an advocate to everyone I know personally but also write my senators & reps every chance I get...along w/emails to Obama who sends me updates regularly cause I dontated to his campaign.
I hate that this drug is considered a 'needle only junkie stigma' cause it keeps people silent but so what if I made a mistake 30 yrs ago I still had to fight this dragon and watch my friends suffer just like someone w/a blood transfusion. Nothing personal but I sometimes feel that there is a stigma w/in support groups against people that used needles cause they didn't.
We are all warriors in our fight for awareness of this disease and are already doing a great thing by being a part of this support group to help each other.
Thanks McK - you are great!
What does dig out the house deed and big buck medical facilites have in common? Sorry, got lost on this one.
He probably still has me blocked, carries a long grudge, and I don't even know him so someone else may need to explain this to me.
Thanks, curious minds want to know. BW
BW
Makes me sick when I get a 4 to 5 min. appt and they charge my insurance 80 to 100 bucks or more just to write another prescription, that I usually don't even want or need!
It's all tangled up with the pharmeceutical companys somehow. IMHO
And, why is that I wonder? Think about it folks. The DRUG companies promote the awareness because they want to sell there drug. If no drug to sell then no PR.
When and if they ever come up with a cure where you can go into your doctor and get a prescription and just pop a pill to get cured without worrying about serious side effects and relapse then HepC will have more world wide news media coverage than Viagra.
JMHO
BW
So, if no drug rep. is leaving samples then no education for doctor. Clash, was fortunate the Red Cross detected his but the tx was in the beginning stage and is was still a study. We decided he wasn't going to be a guieny pig and waited. Tx has improved from 13 yrs ago, somewhat.
BW
My hubby always says (& excuse language) that doctors, insurance companies & lawyers are a tri-f**k!
My doc can't figure out why I have constant leg pain since tx so gave me pills for restless leg syndrome as a guess (huh - tired of being a drug guinea pig where meds have more sides than the illness)...so ain't taking it!