Spread the Word: Hepatitis C

May 19th is Hepatitis Testing Day http://www.cdc.gov/Hepatitis/TestingDay/

Dedicated to those of my family and friends who have passed away due to complications of Hepatitis C. It is also dedicated to those near and dear to me who have been recently diagnosed with Hepatitis C.

 If you are a child of the sixties, if you were in Vietnam, or engaged in risky behavior, take this time and get tested. Hepatitis C is a chronic illness that is symptomless until liver damage has occurred. Many
people have this silent killer and too few are tested. 

Patient Advocacy

If you have been diagnosed: Get a Patient Advocate.

If you are too frightened to ask questions about Hep C, or to get the treatment needed, get a patient advocate. They work free of charge and will walk you through the process. No one should have to do this alone. If you have Kaiser, contact Member Services. They can get you the help you need.

What is Hepatitis C? 
 
It’s a chronic disease that silently attacks your liver for decades. It is a virus and you can contract the virus by using a shared needle, toothbrush, or razor. Tattoos are also to blame. The Philippines were a hot spot for Hep C. If you were in Vietnam and had leave—odds are you went to the Philippines. Hep C was spread by the use of dirty needles used in tattooing. Vietnam was also a place for risky behavior.  

There are different types of Hepatitis C. The most common in the U.S. is one w/subtype of B. This type is the hardest to treat. 

Symptoms: 

1. Jaundice starts when your bilirubin is too high. Your skin and eyes turn yellow. In some cases, neon
yellow. For loved ones, it’s a scary thing to watch. 

2. Nausea—vomiting: When your liver enzymes and bilirubin get too high, you can experience what some say is like having a bad case of the flu. 

3. Cirrhosis. Tenderness in the belly area. 

4.Or simply, no symptoms at all.


Treatment

Standard treatment today is Incivek, Inteferon, and Ribavirim. In May of 2011, the FDA approved Incivek to the cocktail of drugs used to treat Hep C. 

Hep C, type one, is the hardest to  treat. Treatment is for 48 weeks. Treatment can make you feel like you have the flu. No one I know wants to have the flu for 48 weeks, but as of today, it’s
the only hope.  There is a new drug coming down the pipeline, but most doctors don’t recommend you wait. The liver can turn toxic in a day, a month, or a year. No one knows the prognosis for Hep C because the virus acts differently in each human being. 
 
This virus has devastated my family. I have held the hand of dying loved ones; have encouraged those with liver cancer, eventually having to say good-bye. This disease has taken people from me that will never be replaced. Fathers have had to say good-bye to their children, brother to brother, mother to son, sister to brother, friend to friend.  

Now, at least, there is a fighting chance. But you’ll only get that chance, if you are tested. You need to find out what type you have, what your viral load is, and how those two factors enter into the treatment you decide on. 

If you are a veteran, contact the VA. They will take care of you. If you have Kaiser, see your regular physician. They will refer you for testing. 

My favorite links: 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001329/

http://www.hepatitis-central.com/(Love this site) 

http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/patient/index.asp(another great site)


Help me to pass the word. Encourage your loved ones to be tested. Donate to a cure. Never, ever, forget those who have served our country and now have to face this dreaded disease. 

When we put out a hand, someone is lifted up.  

Join me.

Become a patient advocate.