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!
because this question borderlines on National healthcare.
Some people think anybody that isn't for Socialism or at least national healthcare is a heartless soul. But I do not think so whatsoever.
I mean morally we should be responsible for everyone else , but nobody actually is willing to do it, and if they were, we would actually be worse off unfortunately!
For instance , when you go buy a new pair of shoes that cost a hundred bucks, do you really need them or could you spend that money on something wiser, or to help somebody?
Do you really need a new car , or is the old one still good, and you could donate that money to the poor.
Do you need to buy the name brand cereal, or could you buy the generic and use that money for somebody else that is in need?
You can break it down even farther, do you need everything you eat today, or could you take some of it and give it to somebody that is without food in another country?
Do you need to take a vacation every year, or could you take that money and give it to somebody else that is about to lose their house?
So you see its all relative, and some feel like somewhere you have to draw the line but where? I mean until everybody has exactly the same, nobody should really be talking about what others have, because somebody always has less, or is in worse shape.
and again it isn't because of morals or that you don't want the right thing to happen, just that you know that we would be worse off if we decided that nobody should have more than another.
that isn't morally right, but it has been proven too many times not to work , and it all comes down to human nature unfortunately.
As soon as a lot of people figure out that they can do less than others and receive the same thing......they will inevitably do less unfortunately.
Now, I am for every single person having the same quality and access to healthcare. trust me i have crappy healthcare since I was laid off, and I wish i had better. But the problem with just making it available to all without any guidelines is very dangerous and easily could make overall healthcare worse for all.
Because you can't just have some paying for it, and others not because people will decide that the not makes more sense. And their needs to be some accountability......or you will have people running to the ER every time they have a sniffle or a head ache. No way in this world we could pay for that.....impossible. Unless everybody is willing not to have anything other than healthcare. And that means anything.
Ok, now you may be wondering how can i be for everybody having health care but against national health care.
Easy........I believe the Government should give everybody a chance to have affordable health care. It would be a simple as giving everybody a tax credit that covers their health cost.
And that could depend on how much they make. ..........You make less, you pay less.....but you have "make" or to do something to get it.
And of course those that can't work can have it just like they do now, and those with families get credits for their kids.
But this ensures that the Government stays out of what we do with the rest of our money and doesn't tell us how to live our lives as far as health wise, and that we are not paying for somebody that decides to do nothing or live recklessly unless WE WANT TO!
Put simply, let the Government force us to spend money on healthcare indivisually. Got no problem with that. That needs to be already happening. Everybody should be paying for healthcare every month whether you are sick or not. That is the only way this thing will work.
It will not work if the Government decides to completely take it over and decide when you need to tx what. Because what if a person decided to treat a disease early like HCV........do they not deserve it? Do you want the government telling you to wait or what disease is more important ? Because if money gets short , that is what happens in NH.
And all they have to do is have a commision that sets fair prices for all things medical, kinda like a mechanic looks in a book to see what the labor hours are for a job. Or at least for basic services. And if you do not use any services......you get money back!
And as long as the Government doesn't let lobbyist influence the prices they make......all will be well. but that is a big if , and I am not sure about because I do not trust the government.
And if you decide you want to go to this Doctor or that Doctor ......that is your choice...........one might charge less if he wants , but he can't charge more. Everything remains your choice, and the Doctors still have incentives to be Doctors, and we don't get ripped off.
Now, this may not work either........but it is a way better ides than Nationalized healthcare, because the problems with that are ridiculous!
And i agree it is a tough topic, but because of human nature, something like this must be done.
Just my opinion, and I welcome yours.......
And if it makes you feel any better you are not alone. i see the elephant in the room! lol And it is big!
And with my solution, it disappears.
Bye- bye insurance companies. The Government ( actually you)becomes the insurance company,
But , and that is a big but,
we still decide what is good for us. And we do not pay for anybody but ourselves unlike now. Even today, if everybody gets sick......your costs go up!
But if it is individually tailored........it will not!
Kinda like the Doctor in New York that wants to deal directly with his patients , and cut out the insurance companies.........but the government wouldn't let him. Did you know there is a law against a Doctor doing that now?
he can not give you a yearly rate. He is forced to charge you for your services each time if he isn't part of a provider. he can't give you a flat- rate legally, and he can not give you any free services!
I guess what I am getting at is if everybody began to start paying for health care it would become a reality tommrow,
Just like medicare system, except we start paying it at the age we begin to work.
Welcome back Tattman22! You are the one that should know as you are actually out there on the front line fighting the Legislators for all our benefit in advocacy for awareness and change and I respect and thank you...
To everyone else...I love a good debate & great issues brought up. I just can't respond to it all cause too complicated for me....had to take a break and do something simple like make some candles!
Great post Mck - gottem all involved in a positive issue!
really close though.
I am not saying I don't trust the Government to help run health care........or some part of it......just not all of it!
And certainly not if it means my service becomes worse than it already is.
Sure you don't wait 5 minutes now...........How many people go to the VA?
I'm not sure.....but i do know if you dumped another 100 million into the equation.....things might begin to slow down a bit.
I am not saying leave it to the Doctors......just not to the government.
Or actually a combo of both.
Let them come together and decide a fair price.....not have one imposed on them.
Wouldn't want somebody coming along and telling me what i can and can't charge in my business. just don't think it is the governments place.
And like i said, sadly.......health care is a business. but that is ok, it might have some neg's but it has got post's too.
Ii goes the other way......you got nothing but negs. Docs don't make money......they stop being Docs!
less care for us, and the they will be able to hold out for even more money because of the law of supply and demand.
More Doctors.........less they charge.......
Less Doctors.......more they charge
Once, HMO's came on the seen in the 80's quality medicare went down the crapper.
But, at the same time there were a load of crooked physicans filing false charges to medicare, medicaid and to private ins. companys. Well, guess what they fought back. And, who is paying now. We are!
"Managed Care" tried to have it where women stay barely 24 hrs after having a baby. Well, that didn't work b/c it back fired on these women's husbands who happened to be doctor's and God forbid they couldn't have that. So, now a woman is allowed a longer period of time when she has a baby instead of delivering the baby in the Outpatient facility of the hospital. It became personal, to close to the home front for them to make that happen.
I have heard from friends that they get very good care at VA hospitals. If I'm not mistaken in Bush's admin. they cracked down on them and they improved there facilities and care. I've even seen quality care in large military hospitals that far surpass what we have today in private hospitals.
Hospitals began training from within. They would accept just about anyone..for ex: someone who worked in the cafeteria or janitorial. Turned them into CNA's (certified nursing assistants) and two of those would replace a better trained health care professional who they would have had to pay more money. They turned to 12 hr shifts to save money and cut back on RN's and gave them more patients to care for in there shift. Why so the top dogs would have more profit at the end of the year.
Everything we are talking about has to do with National Health Care Reform for those with insurance and those without. The quality of inpatient care today sucks.
I am very passionate about this subject b/c of how my dad was treated 3 years ago when he was a patient at a local medical facility hospital in Macon who posts billboards and has commercials bragging they are the leading Heart Specialists in Georgia. What a load of crap. They are only as good as there staff and the doctor's who work there.
And, I will never have another rag head doctor come near me or my family with a ten foot pole. Hell, you think we have a war going on where are troops are, people we have one right hear infiltrated in the USA and they get the red carpet and are welcomed with open arms b/c they are doctor's!
My father had a colonectomy w/o a proper workup from the physician who was from Kuwait. The night of the surgery he had a major heart attack. Why b/c he had artherocheloris. If the idiot dr. would have looked he would have seen in his hospital inpatient records that six months prior he had stents put in his thighs.
Then he undergoes a cardiac cath. to find out he is 90% blocked so on to a Quadruple bypass. He made it through 2 major operations and a major heart attack. To be tossed out of CVICU onto the ward where there was 1 RN for 7 pts with a crappy CNA who didn't give him proper care. They removed his catheder the day they put him on the unit and he was laying there literally dying of congestive heart failure. It didn't matter to this ass Dr. Ackbar also from the Middle East that his legs and ankles were swollen. He "told" my mother he was discharging him after 4 days on the unit to a nursing home for "rehab". The following day he was taken by ambulance only dressed in his gown, nothing underneath. And, left there where no doctor was on staff to look at his medical records or give him a exam. He died that night. He was found on the floor trying to make his way to the bathroom. The results came back that his bladder was completely full to the max. He did not loose his fluids when he died because he was blocked and one kidney shut down which made the lungs collapse and his heart stopped. This folks is what happens to a 20 year Vietnam War Veteran who served his country honorably. This rag head doctor was assigned to him by the hospital. He actually said these words to my mother "he couldn't justify keeping my father any longer as an impatient" that he needed rehab. for at least 2 weeks. My mother didn't know her rights and could have refused this to bring in another doctor. She trusted these people. My father had not even used up the days allowed by Medicare and had Tricare as his other insurance.
Hospitals make there money on the front end. When the crisis happens. The insurance comp. pays out the most when the pt. is in ICU. Goes down once they hit the unit as does quality of care. Then once in a nursing home its even less.
The moral of the story. Managed care sucks. And, never leave your loved ones alone in a hospital. Don't even bother hireing sitters. They are worthless. They aren't qualified nurses. This all happened within a 30 day time period and the exhaustion from driving back and forth and staying with him had us tired but never did I expect to be blindsided like we were. And, if anyone wonders. That is why I drive Clash 5.5 hrs to Mayo Clinic.
Have no idea how much I wrote but I have a feeling its long. Will just click the button and send. I actually could tell this story without tears. Has taken 3 years and 3 months to get this far. I hope my story helps save at least one person out there. Get educated folks. Fewer people come out than go in. Look at the statistics.
BW
Only thing I might point out is that Obama has voted against care for our Veterans as well.
but that is beside the point.......
You're right on with your post and I am glad nobody mistook what I was saying.
Health care reform! Not Nationilzed healthcare!
Problems happen in all forms of health care systems. Like the tragic HCV and HBV infections of those soldiers at the VA not long ago. I no doubt think that could be blammed on somebody being in a hurry. But it could have just been some lazy or unqualified person.
or people having to wait until a disease progresses before they can treat it like in Europe. But if we are going to start from scratch......let's come up with our own model that works for all!
Maybe something like this:
33%Doctors
33%People
33% Government
( I will let you decide where to put the 1 %)
Now if it is all in favor of the Doctors the People get screwed.
If it is all in favor of the People, they screw themselves........because Doctors make no money and there will be no Doctors. Or really unqualified ones. Who is going to go to school and sacrifice as hard as Doctors do for peanuts?
And it certainly can't be left up to the Government, because they can't tie their shoe laces and will use it for politics! lol!
Any way it goes, i hope they are able to make some good changes, without lowering the quality of care.
Does no good to go to the Doctor if he is looking everything up on the internet as he goes along lol!
health care reform is needed.
But I think it needs to be done with a scaple and not a hatchet.