HCV, can we have one united front?

[fretboard]

This question centers around the "stigma" that is attached to the HepC virus and what are we willing to do about it to start a movement which is actually moving forward?  To adequately get to the bare bones facts about this virus we have to look at some variables.  First question is who is contracting this virus?  In comparison to the HIV virus which was proven to be a gay "male" disease.  This virus has more people who are stretched across a wider spectrum or divide, you have one category which is predominately IV drug users, then you have a class on the complete opposite  side of the spectrum like "non risks" individuals.  Also, you have eveyone else caught in the middle who doesn't fit into any of these two catagories, but nonetheless they are infected wih HCV as well.  Anyways for time constraints let's just stick to the most troublesome, "the big divide".  My point is very clear, what are we gonna do to have these two catagories become one united front?  God Bless      

[fretboard]

Sorry I didn't get my point across, I wrote the post around 4:am when I couldn't get to sleep, then I deleted a bunch of it cause I felt it was too long, obviously I didn't edit it very carefully.  Yeah I had originally included that celebs helped out the HIV movement fairly quickly and helped to remove or at least subside, the ugly things that were being said about it.  On the HCV front the only ones who have spoken out were Pamela Anderson who brought nothing, but bad press with her accusation that the bad man, Tommy Lee had given her the dreaded virus.  Naomi Judd brought on a positive light to HCV, but fell short as far as any public awareness.  She announced that she was going to retire b/c she was ill with the HepC virus and that was it.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but those are the only two celebs who have ever shedded any light on our illness, that I remember.  We need some celebs to help in the awareness that regular people get this virus, not just drug addicts.  This forum has the attitude that it doesn't matter how or when you caught it, you're here now and were all in this battle together.  Now that's positive!  I wished more people felt that way, but as you can see that idea is still just a wish.  Oh by the way, I am not saying that nobody has helped the HepC movement b/c there are quite a few bands who play benefits, often.  With that said, why do you think more celebs haven't stepped up to the plate to raise public awareness?  Could it be because of the "big divide", I was speaking of?  I heard that 80% of those infected with HepC are drug addicts, could that be the reason that nobody famous wants to speak up?  Hey if I'm just plain wrong, correct me as I enjoy learning or I wouldn't be here.  
God Bless  

[meki]

Here's a point to ponder...

WHY is the treatment so expensive?

Percocets are created in a labratory... And I can get 30 of them for 7 bucks at the pharmacy... LMAO!

But Interferon - 1400 for 4 shots... Hmmmm something doesn't add up.

And before I even say ANY more...

Ponder this:

If a disease is cured --- it's a ONE TIME shot. One time fee.

But if you treat it --- chronically --- you make a lot more money with multiple shots and treatments.


Interesting - no?

[dointime]

"they sinned let them die and wipe them all out"

I think that that's a mentality put about to hook into people's fear.  I think the stigma was created by this and other propaganda by the people who are holding the purse strings.  It's all about money.  No government wants to find all the people infected with HCV because the treatment is so expensive and long that it would cripple the health services and insurance companies.  

So how to put people off getting tested and doctors off doing the tests?  Well, by defining a few high risk groups.  So anybody not in those groups does not get tested because they believe they are not high risk, and anyway it's all too scary and underclass, not middle class, ha ha.    

So I don't see anything changing until HCV can be cured for the price of a course of antibiotics.

dointime    

[nygirl7]

PS Myown is right in the fact that with both HIV and HCV the logic of "they sinned let them die and wipe them all out - all those sick twisted people(gays, addicts and the like)" logic still applies for some people even today.

Shows who is really sick and twisted doesn't it?

[nygirl7]

I think what he was trying to say was in the american press it was highly touted at first as a disease that gay men got at bath houses and the like.  Politicians didn't seem to care much about HIV at all until it crossed over to the wives and babies and THEN it became something they cared about.

This is 100% the way that I remember it coming about myself when it was first discovered.  I don't think he exagerated at all.  I know here in NY this is how it was seen. Many of my friends got and died from this disease. Almost all of them also had Hep too and I must have gotten it back then from them.  I thank God every day that I didn't get HIV also because back then it was still a death sentence.

But honestly I do know what he is saying because that is how i remember it very very first coming in to being in the press as well.

[Willy50]

" In comparison to the HIV virus which was proven to be a gay "male" disease. "

Ow......  

Yes; it started with a large group of gay men, but rapidly was spread through other means.  I think many people with HIV would bristle at your characterization.  I know quite a few people who got their HCV from tainted blood as a result of a tainted blood.  Don't you remember all the poor unfortunate hemophiliacs who contracted HIV from blood products?  Transmission still occurs in great numbers to innocent wives whose husbands bring it back to them.  I know you can't easily modify your wording here in this thread.  I just want to point out that there are many ways to contract HIV, just as it is also true for HCV.  Yes, misconceptions and mischaracterizations abound with both viruses.

Here is yet another and heart breaking occurrence;

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24034536/

Willy