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HepC in Prison
I was watching a TV show about prison life and just about every felon had tattoos. I would venture to guess many of these are done while in prison with unsterile items. I wonder if anyone knew the stats of what the percentage of people in prison who have HepC is? Do they even test inmates for HepC? It's just that I don't think they know what it can can do to them. Is HepC treatment readily available to them?
I would recommend him getting another biopsy and moving ahead on decision making after the results. Treatment might not be the best option and you sound very educated around the subject, so you know why that might be the case. That's only my opinion based on my experiences. I was a pharmacist who worked in a jail, then I was an addict, then I started working in a harm reduction clinic (I'm still there and I see a lot of Hep C), then I relapsed and then I found out I have Hep C.
As for the part about being reluctant to post because your dad's in a correctional facility, I would venture to say that anyone who would deny another human being medical care based solely on the fact that they are incarcerated is someone whose opinion is irrelevant. Aas well as being calloous, heartless and just...well...ignorant. Your father is lucky to have you!
Keep on pressing the education to the medical staff. In my experience, from both sides of the prison bars (I've made some less than stellar decisions) is that medical personnel in that setting are as compassionate a group of human beings as you could ever find. However, for the same reasons you were reluctant to post, they aren't as up to date as they could be on some subjects. Hep C is EPIDEMIC amoung the population I see at work - IV drug users - and medical personnel in jails and prisons need to be educated, immediately, as many people incarcerated have drug use in their pasts.
My dad has Hep C, too, blood transfusion in 83, so I know a little bit how you feel. Keep your head up. Again, your dad is a lucky man to have you!
As for the part about being reluctant to post because your dad's in a correctional facility, I would venture to say that anyone who would deny another human being medical care based solely on the fact that they are incarcerated is someone whose opinion is irrelevant. Aas well as being calloous, heartless and just...well...ignorant. Your father is lucky to have you!
Keep on pressing the education to the medical staff. In my experience, from both sides of the prison bars (I've made some less than stellar decisions) is that medical personnel in that setting are as compassionate a group of human beings as you could ever find. However, for the same reasons you were reluctant to post, they aren't as up to date as they could be on some subjects. Hep C is EPIDEMIC amoung the population I see at work - IV drug users - and medical personnel in jails and prisons need to be educated, immediately, as many people incarcerated have drug use in their pasts.
My dad has Hep C, too, blood transfusion in 83, so I know a little bit how you feel. Keep your head up. Again, your dad is a lucky man to have you!
Hi mb,
Thanks for your input. I really wonder whether or not it would be a good idea to treat. Like I have said, he enjoys pretty good health. But I just wonder if the Tx would be worse for him. I am not sure if it is worth the risk for him. He will be 67 this year. I remember now he said he was at about 50% cirrhosis, from about a biopsy 5 years ago.
Things don't move to fast in there, and like I said earlier, his nurse is using some of the info I sent to him to educate herself. But they do watch him well.
He is Geno 1 on top of everything else.
Vicky
Thanks for your input. I really wonder whether or not it would be a good idea to treat. Like I have said, he enjoys pretty good health. But I just wonder if the Tx would be worse for him. I am not sure if it is worth the risk for him. He will be 67 this year. I remember now he said he was at about 50% cirrhosis, from about a biopsy 5 years ago.
Things don't move to fast in there, and like I said earlier, his nurse is using some of the info I sent to him to educate herself. But they do watch him well.
He is Geno 1 on top of everything else.
Vicky
My brother was in federal prision for 2 years, it probably saved his life in the long run. He had tattoos when he went in. They test for everything in there, and bro is negative (thank goodness as he is my baby bro + we lost our sister so we are very close)
He is doing great in his life 10 years later. Owns 85 acres with a nice little hunting cabin which he made into his home. Has a union job and makes more money than we do LOL.
I know this is off topic from the original post but not everyone in prison fits that mold.
Denise
He is doing great in his life 10 years later. Owns 85 acres with a nice little hunting cabin which he made into his home. Has a union job and makes more money than we do LOL.
I know this is off topic from the original post but not everyone in prison fits that mold.
Denise
your dad might want to think long and hard about treating.
for 1 thing that age group has more difficulty and less success treating in general.
add to that 1 kidney only and tx cn become more dangerous than the disease.
If he is stage 3/4 he could live another 10-15 years before ESLD kicks in...he wouldn't gain that many more years treating in all likelihood.
The strain on the body is significant, and he will also need monitoring via MRI's to make sure he doesn't get liver cancer...with one kidney this is more risky, try to get contrast agents that are not gandolinium based. Some docs may think one is not at more risk with only one kidney, but since both the ribavirin and the screening dyes can cause issues I think one needs to weigh the benefits vs. the risks long and hard.
Sorry about your dad Vic.
mb
for 1 thing that age group has more difficulty and less success treating in general.
add to that 1 kidney only and tx cn become more dangerous than the disease.
If he is stage 3/4 he could live another 10-15 years before ESLD kicks in...he wouldn't gain that many more years treating in all likelihood.
The strain on the body is significant, and he will also need monitoring via MRI's to make sure he doesn't get liver cancer...with one kidney this is more risky, try to get contrast agents that are not gandolinium based. Some docs may think one is not at more risk with only one kidney, but since both the ribavirin and the screening dyes can cause issues I think one needs to weigh the benefits vs. the risks long and hard.
Sorry about your dad Vic.
mb
Wow! Lots of info! I didn't even know there was a National HCV Prison Coalition. I'll look into all of this and see.
What of the reasons I wonder about treatment is his age, 67 this year, and he has only the one kidney.
Other than that he is in pretty good shape. He doesn't have any issues with anything and doesn't take other meds.
It is possible for him to be paroled.
Thanks for all the help.
V
What of the reasons I wonder about treatment is his age, 67 this year, and he has only the one kidney.
Other than that he is in pretty good shape. He doesn't have any issues with anything and doesn't take other meds.
It is possible for him to be paroled.
Thanks for all the help.
V
Vicky, I'm glad your Dad gets monitored for his health. It's great he has you to send him info like you do. I'm sorry he is in prison and has HepC also.
Trish,thanks for the link.
I found a link that answers my own question AND it has some very interesting info on gaging how fast a persons liver damage may progress. Here is the link.
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hcsp/articles/cassidy-1.html
Trish,thanks for the link.
I found a link that answers my own question AND it has some very interesting info on gaging how fast a persons liver damage may progress. Here is the link.
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hcsp/articles/cassidy-1.html
Here's a link to the National HCV Prison Coalition and I see Dr. Ben Cecil on the homepage.
http://www.hcvinprison.org/cms/index.php
http://www.hcvinprison.org/cms/index.php
Thanks for the info Copyman,
I 'll send his name to my Dad with his contact info.
I have already printed out info I found from this site and sent to him so he himself can be informed. He mostly gets advice from a nurse, who admits she isn't very knowledgeable.
Thanks again.
V
I 'll send his name to my Dad with his contact info.
I have already printed out info I found from this site and sent to him so he himself can be informed. He mostly gets advice from a nurse, who admits she isn't very knowledgeable.
Thanks again.
V
there is a very good hepatologist who is an advocate for prisoners with HCV. I know at one time he was helping families of prisoners with letters, etc to go to court with to get their loved ones treatment while in prison. His name is bennett cecil. Google his name.
Best of luck to your dad
Best of luck to your dad
My Dad has Hcv and has been in prison for about 25 years. He gets regular check ups, lab work etc... His current nurse is looking into/discussing Tx with him. He consults with me a lot. He is a senior now. His last biopsy a few years ago was I think stage 3 with some cirrohsis. He was a life long heavy drinker/drug abuser but has been sober for many years(decades). He also has prison tattoos from years ago.
For his age and situation he is in pretty good health. He exercises daily, still runs and lifts for an old man. I wonder about tx or not, it's a hard call.
He has had a kidney removed and some old prostate issues.
He knows a few guys in with him treated and they are really suffering.
I ,ve thought about posting about this before, but I don't quite what to say.
A lot of people get miffed about the fact that they receive health care in prison.
It's my dad though, and I think about it probably a little differently.
Vicky
For his age and situation he is in pretty good health. He exercises daily, still runs and lifts for an old man. I wonder about tx or not, it's a hard call.
He has had a kidney removed and some old prostate issues.
He knows a few guys in with him treated and they are really suffering.
I ,ve thought about posting about this before, but I don't quite what to say.
A lot of people get miffed about the fact that they receive health care in prison.
It's my dad though, and I think about it probably a little differently.
Vicky
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