Prison's deadliest inmate, hepatitis C, escaping

Prison's deadliest inmate, hepatitis C, escaping
Public-health workers warn of looming epidemic of

[nygirl7]

Eventually, when they are released, medical experts predict they will be a crushing burden on the health care system, perhaps killing as many people as AIDS in years to come. At the same time, they will be carriers, spreading the disease.

killing as many people as AIDS in years to come

killing as many people as AIDS in years to come

killing as many people as AIDS in years to come

killing as many people as AIDS in years to come

[nygirl7]

My favorite part of the article is where they mention "brain fog" I really didn't know it HAD a real technical name - I just thought we all called it that.

I hope this article is a wakeup call. Although it makes it sound like Drug Addicts and Prisoners are the only people who really have it I think...and people other than that who WILL be affected - won't think it applies to them.

A campaign needs to be made public that not ALL HepC victims are prison living drug addicts - it can be a high class actress who went to a nail salon or a President or CEO who went to the dentist.

[LadyY]

Hi nygirl,
I wonder how so many prisoners are contracting Hep C? Most likely I think they probably already had it before going to the clink, right? Yea, that is pretty interesting..you livin' in Westchester. That sure is a pretty area and great commute to the city. I miss NY!

[ladybug52]

Thanks for the info. But again, hep c gets linked to criminals or drug addicts. We do need to raise awareness, I'm biding my time waiting for inspiration on how to do it. Right now I'm in the 'don't ask don't tell' mode, but the number of friends I've told is growing. I just can't tell anyone at work because I don't want to deal with repurcussions. I work in healthcare and no one wants a diseased person working with them. Yes, I know it's fear and ignorance, but I've lost jobs from trying to be ethical and do the right thing in patient care. I've been burnt by the system so I just want to do my job and keep my mouth shut. Anyway, thanks for the article, maybe more people will get involved as it effects more lives. Gosh, I don't wish this on anyone.
Bug

[Upbeat]

Interesting Statistics About Hepatitis C      
Sunday, 04 February 2007  
After the 9/11 blood drives, many major newspapers had articles on the fact that more than 2 times the CDCs estimate of people with Hep C tested positive.

I believe they will find out that far more people have hep c than ever thought.

I remember in the 60's when I was thrown in the clink I was like the 12th guy on the razor.  

                                                                                                       Ron

[willows]

My cousin was a Vietnam vet and he was about the 200th man on the air jet innoculator.  He contracted Hep C and he was sure it was from the army, so your razor thing is so likely to be sooo true.  And in general, the public is so NOT aware.

I want to brag.  There was a very good, GREAT article in U.S. News and World Report last year about Hep C, but parts of it irked me sooo bad that I shot a letter off to the editor.  Some sweet lady called me from the mag and wanted to put it in, but wanted to make sure it was cool with me, having my identity exposed.  Since the letter from me was about the stigma and "Please don't ask me how I got Hep C" or make a judgement, I had to laugh.  The irony of doing to me what I was writing about and they were going to publish it...... sort of made my day.  What really made my day was not telling my mother I was published and letting her read the article the next month with my name signed to it in BIG LETTERS.  She knows I have a bad virus, but didn't quite get it until she read the article and my response.  Even then, the mag cut the good stuff out.

Please, please, if I have any prejudicies equal to the public's about Hep C, just shoot me.  Plant tulips on me.  We may have brain fog, but the public has got blinders.  How sad it is that it will take many more sick people to get the message across.  I've said it before, we are experiencing what was experienced in the beginning of the HIV arc of education.  My personal opinion.....this time in the public education cycle sucks.  I will live to see better, just out of sheer spite.  

Willows wiggy today  

[ladybug52]

I am currently treating, geno 2, shot 15 out of 24 tomorrow. I work in long term care, rehab, as a physical therapist ass't. I haven't really been sick, I gues being on antivirals helps? (the ribavirin)
I have been able to work, some days are extremely hard, but some days are just fine. I was laid off for 8 days and it happened while my hgb was low and it was a blessing. I am using my husband's ins, I had signed up for disability at my job then lost the job. Actually I could have stayed on in a different position but I was disillusioned with the co. I work prn now, but my schedule is full, I have more work than I can accomplish, and I don't have the energy I used to.
Treatment effects everyone differently. I'm blessed that things worked out so I could still work and my hours are more manageable. Tell me more about your geno and stats.
Best of luck
Bug
Willows: I think I was standing in line behind your cousin on the air jet inoculator! Really, I was in the air force and immunized that wasy also.
Bug

[Pdilly]

Its out in CNN too!


http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/conditions/03/15/hepatitis.ap/index.html

[Liv]

I also am in Healthcare and have been advised not to disclose I have this virus.  Have you ever treated or are you currently treating?  My dilemma (one of many) is of course that I have to work for the insurance benefits but my hours are long and the work is extremely physical so although I'd like to tx. at some point, I'm afraid I wouldn't be physically able to do my job also I'd be opening myself up to every pathogen that lives in the hospital.   I know there is disability etc. but then coverage for meds would be drastically reduced and there is no guarantee I'd still have a position when I returned to work.    As far as the weight loss issue, I only weigh 105 lbs. on a soaking wet day and fear any kind of weight loss.   Do you work in patient care?  

[ladybug52]

Thanks, I always feel shallow for not trying to inform the general public about hep c. Maybe someday... I'm grateful for people like you on the forum. Support is so critical to getting through this. Did you get your 12 week pcr yet? Can't keep up with everyone's shot week#. You must be geting close.
Take care
Bug

[sass_blue]

I worked in the adult justice system for some time and from my experience I would say at least 60 % of people that I worked with had hep c.  I have also met many criminals/drug users who went on to become successfully self employed or business/trades people etc, even lawyers!!.  I think its easier for researchers to base studies on 'offenders' because the data is sitting right in front of them either via community corrections or institutions.  I know that when I tell people that when I caught hep c from IV drug use when I was 19 that many think I am still living that lifestyle now, I am 37 and live in a completely different world.  Although I am certainly not ashamed of my past.

[Liv]

I'm genotype 1a, 56 yrs.old and most likely contracted this 30yrs. ago after transfusion with the birth of my daughter.  Bx. shows grade 1, stage 1 but VL is high.  Enzymes normal.  I'm just sick of worrying and waiting for the "magic bullet".  I feel well most of the time.  I'm an RN and work full time, 10 hr. shifts.   We see plenty of patients with Hep C in for other things so I can just imagine how many people who are actually infected and don't know.  Best of luck in your journey.  Thank God for forums such as this.

[willowhorse]

I appreciate the information about your cousin that was a Vietnam vet and he was about the 200th man on the air jet innoculator. He contracted Hep C and he was sure it was from the army.

I was in the Air Force during 1974-1978 and received many shots with the air jet innoculator.  I did not realize that HCV could be contacted in that way. WOW, what a revelation.  I wish we had some recourse against the military.  I had GENO type 1a and took the 48 week treatment of Pegasys/Ribavirin.  I finished treatment on June 2006 and still tested negative for the virus on Jan 2007 six months after I completed treatment.  Prayfully, the virus is GONE!

Thanks for the info Willow!

[chcnme]

I worked for the DOC for many years in close security. Hep C has been in the prison pop because a large majority of those in the can have shot dope in their life.  When they are doing hard time and know they aren't going to see a woman in years, many resort to the alternative.   It's not just every now and then sex - it's a lot of sex with many partners without protection.  Condoms or latex gloves in prison?  Contraband.  If they're caught trying to use protection their butts go to lockup.  They shoot a lot of dope in prison, too, and use needles over and over and over.  Got some great tattoo artists doing hard time, too. There are gangs, too, to contend with who intentionally infect their rivals by slick means - tattoos or syringes used by a known source of HCV or HIV.  I've known kitchen workers who were placed in lock up because they intentionally bled in the food they were responsible for preparing.   What do they have to lose?  Nothing except a few peaceful days in lockup.   If you think the government cares now or is going to care 15 years from now what is going on with Hep C in the prison population, I say - uhh.... might need to think again,  unfortunately.   We might want it to change, we might get out there and holler for it to change,  but - from what I've seen I sure as heck don't think it will change.  Just my two cents.  

[rosebud57]

great article. stupid bureaucats... no question everyone should be tested in the system.

I have heard about people desprite for medical assistance lets say need for heart surgery. that would go out and commit a crime because if they were in prison they would get the medical attention they need.

how could this happen that they don't even test all who enter, and or offer tx.

it would be a great population to study..though compliance with drug alcohol use in prison would be hard.  

[Drugs Sucks]

I came down with Hep c trhough drug use Over 20 yr ago and those that where around me at the time, well all of them  have Hep C too and a few died from it and some went and tryed the Tx and didn't keep it up and there not doing good now and then there those that are still doing drugs and just don't give a f***k anymore!!
I am the Lucky one that Learnned to say NO anymore And No means No More!!  I feel better with myself now and besides I wouldn't be having a computer now or any of the thing I have Now,.... That be all Lost!!

But then again I had some surgery done on my cliff pallent and that was back in the 1979..

So who know how I got this but it really looks more like at the drug use for 10 yrs..
I Thank God I Am Alive Today.!!!

[wyntre9]

Yes, I saw those articles.

Thanks for posting.

How are you?

[wyntre9]

Wow!  What stories!

LB and all those who work in health care, it's amazing, the jobs you guys do.

It makes my blood boil that such an important part of your job is dispensing care to sick people, and yet when you need the same thing, it's withheld.  You're told not to diclose.  If you do, you run the risk of losing your job.

LB, you're right to protect yourself.  But it still stinks.

[Kit-c]

I saw a t.v program,
said Hep-c will be killing more people in 5 to 10 years than
H.I.V,,,,

[chcnme]

Hey everybody!  Hi Wyntre!  Good to see you.  I hope you are doing well!  

To whoever asked about "tell or don't tell",  my advice is -- don't tell anyone at your work place or anywhere else unless they need to know in order to protect themselves against your blood.  If you tell an employer (and if you're in healthcare - or for that matter in ANY job doing ANYTHING) you might be surprised at how fast the ADA does not work.  Besides, who wants to proceed (with a diagnosis of Hep C and on treatment)  down the awful internal / external appeals process because they chose to disclose their status when they didn't have to and faced what THEY and their attorney is now claiming to be "discrimination".   No fun at all!  And very costly emotionally, financially, physically.   So - I'd say get treatment out of the way, or - if you decide not to treat and are doing OK and feeling OK, then live with this virus best you can (now that you know you have it).   My family knows, all my doctors know, my dentist knows. You can't take back what you've told an employer about your health, and so - hush hush is my advice.  

It's been good to drop off and see everyone!   I miss all of you!  I hope to get by more often than I have now that things have calmed down around here some.  Have kind of been in limbo with thoughts and treatment decisions.  hmmmm... I'm thinking... maybe I better decide QUICK LIKE -- like NOW to go ahead and treat NOW before someone in this family announces some major event upcoming - like a 3rd grandchild on the way :)    NO!