HCV article and causes

[layla]

This kind of stuff just annoys the sh!t out of me. This is part of an article on the front page of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper today.

"A key example is the treatment of hepatitis C, which often is contracted through intravenous drug use, tattoos and sexual contact. Until several years ago, there were no effective medications for the liver disease.

About 2,500 Wisconsin inmates - or 14% - have hepatitis C, a rate four times as high as the state's general population. The illness can now be treated with pills and injections, which can cost as much as $14,000 for a 48-week treatment."

Are these the 3 leading causes? Are they so high a proportion of causes that it's insignificant to list other causes such as healthcare workers, contacted at birth, military innoculation lines, blood transfusions etc.?

I've was in miltary innoculation lines in the 70's, got blood i an operation in the 70's, (but also tried drugs as a teen) but I feel this type of article stereotypes the HCV infected persons. This was on the front page and is exactly why I don't share my HCV status except on rare occasions. Great for all of you that do and don't have a problem with this but for me it's a problem for numerous reason. Just wanted to vent and share this.

And I wonder how do they actually know that it's 14% higher rate than the rest of the population. Are they now testing for HCV?  Right! Vent Vent....

I also don't mean to make light of the prison populations problems with HCV so hope not to offend anyone there.
LL

[layla]

True a person could contract it again after SVR from another source. That is precisely why I want to have my surgery while still on my last month of tx. I know it's probably stupid but it will help ease my worries about contracting anything while in the surgery. I never thought of this stuff the last time I had surgery but I can't help it now. I can't wait to be done! LL

[audreywald]

My understanding is that it is usually passed blood to blood. A VERY high percentage of current or former IV drug users have it; and a very LOW percentage of HCV is gotten through sexual contact.

It's a shame some people put sexual contact and drug use in the same catagory, isn't it?

BTW, I am a former drug user but I stopped 18 years ago.

So this is not a put down but an observation.

[cuteus]

your bio looks like mine, same stage and grade, but interestingly enough I had normal enzymes every time they did bloodwork through the years, and my viral load(vl) was measured at 374,000IU/ml.  You will see here all kinds of variables to the hcv presence and the meds from treatment(tx).  Some have no symptoms to the hcv presence others are taking strong pain meds to ease the effects of hcv.
I decided to tx because at 50, time is ticking away and I have no idea how fast or slow MY illness is going to progress, and I have a young daughter that needs me.
  Even though I had a low vl, I did not clear the virus the first 12 weeks, others with millions in their vl, have.  That is why I wish to extend the meds beyond the 48 wk mark, I do not want to relapse and have to do this again, I think I can safely say No one here does. I will give my best shot the first time, if I can only remember to take the pills...
In your work, working with sharp tools, I see no major problems with the meds, but I could be wrong of course.  If you need to concentrate and remember specifics, it may be a problem.  I guess you could forget where you put the tools...but should be able to telll if you turned them off(by the noise?).  Studying for board exams could be a challenge.... so law school can be a tough one...
Brain fog and fatigue have been constant with me, but not too extreme.
Hang in there for other  perspectives, those that chose to wait and those in tx or done with it.  GL

[snook_man]

Damn, I would like to know, how the hell you managed to get pecked by a swan on your *****?? That seems like it should be on another forum, LOL. I have tattoos also, but they say damage to liver, and same genotype as mother would be more likely that I got it at birth. As far as prisoners with hep c, I did a little sentence, when I was 21, and I know why it is so high in the prison system. Inmates give each other tattoos with filed down bed springs, or the spring that holds batteries in a radio straightened out. same needle, no sterilization. Plain common sense.
Still don't know about that swan, though.

[Amerabrit]

I can understand your frustration, Layla. The article does not appear to be well written nor well researched..  I don't agree with a later post though that understanding the means of transmission isn't as important as tx.  Who is to say for sure that those having achieved SVR after completing tx and then six months later test positive, have actually relapsed, couldn't the positive test reflect a "new" infection?  
Are genotypes re-tested in those having, (sadly), "relapsed" ??

[Sam Hall]

The bloody thing was being fed by some do-gooders. I don't no what it took my **** for i was havin' what i considered to be a private *iss behind a tree, round came a **ck*ng great head ,and wop beak full of ****.Believe me they can peck(never stopped to ask about swallowing) jeez it hurt and drew blood.
Moral keep that jap eye open.