Hepatitis Online Support Group

This group is for ALL PEOPLE AFFECTED BY HEPATITIS C (HCV), who spend time researching the web for info on Hep C. We are "Web Warriors". We fight the "dragon" with a vengeance. Knowledge is vital to surviving or defeating Hepatitis C. HepCWebWarriors is is a valuable resource for the latest HCV news, published papers, treatment and new drug trials.

Our challenge to members is to seek out sites that provide exceptional information, services, resources about HEP C. Popular sites are great, but we go a bit further to uncover the "jewels" that may be buried under the massive amounts of information. When we discover sites that fit this criteria we alert the rest of the people in the group so the information can be shared.

Online Hepatitis C Support Group
Everyone is welcome.
Latest news on Hepatitis C Treatment posted daily.
Ask questions and give support.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/HepCWebWarriors/
please join us!

Up to 11,000 U.S. Veterans Mistakenly Infected with hepatitis C and HIV

Up to 11,000 U.S. Veterans Mistakenly Infected with hepatitis C and HIV





11,000 veterans who had colonoscopies at U.S. Veterans Affairs hospitals may have been exposed to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

The veterans were advised equipment used during their treatment was not sterilized. Of those so far that responded by having follow-up blood checks, 8 have tested positive for HIV. Twelve of the veterans have tested positive for hepatitis B, and 37 have tested positive for hepatitis C.

This week it was learned a 55-year-old North Miami man, Juan Rivera, a thirteen-year Army veteran with a wife and 5 children, filed notice last month that he will sue the Federal Government claiming he was infected with HIV during a colonoscopy at the Miami Veterans Administration hospital. He had a colonoscopy at the hospital in May last year. Rivera is suing the government for $20 million.

On March 28, the VA department wrote to more than 3,000 veterans who had colonoscopies at the Miami VA hospital advising them that improperly cleaned equipment might have exposed them to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. VA officials say endoscopy equipment was rinsed instead of being sterilizing as was required by the manufacturer's directions.

Similar problems were uncovered at VA hospitals in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Augusta, Ga. The total number of veterans subsequently blew out to more than 11,000.

Following congressional inquiries, Miami VA hospital director Mary Berrocal disciplined up to 10 employees.

Hepatitis C Treatment

Hepatitis C Organizations programs are peer-directed, providing support, skill-development, resources, sexual health and harm reduction information to youth and youth communities.
The AYHRP delivers HEPATITIS C and Harm Reduction workshops to youth throughout the lower mainland and province. This creative and engaging project educates youths through arts-based workshops and cultural activities.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Receive on-site HEPATITIS C /AIDS, harm reduction and facilitation training
- Champion the project within HEPATITIS C communities
- Promote and facilitate Youth harm reduction Curriculum to community-based organizations working specifically with youth
- Mentor, supervise and collaborate with AYHRP educator
- Work within and contribute to the Hepatitis C Organizations education team
- Provide flexible programming in response to youth feedback
- Provide project evaluation and reporting requirements
- Update community partners and stakeholders as necessary
- Plan Steering Committee meetings





SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
- Excellent organization, coordination and time-management a must
- Eager learner and able to incorporate new teachings
- Ability to work with colleagues and peers demonstrating a high level of professionalism
- Interested in and experience in artistic expression (ex. Painting, drumming, writing, hip hop, graffiti art)
- Personal lived experience in an community
- Minimum two years experience working with youth
- Established skills in group facilitation
- Familiarity with issues related to sexual health, drug use and HEPATITIS C /Hepatitis C within communities
- Culturally comfortable and competent working with groups/organizations/communities
- Experience with planning and organising
- Leadership skills and the ability to take initiative

Hepatitis C Treatement

Non-Drug Approaches to Hepatitis C Ignored by "Awareness" Campaign
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/11/19/hepatitis-c-part-one.aspx
Its all about money over anything.

A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is examining documents uncovered by The Washington Post, which reported that drug maker Schering-Plough was waging an aggressive campaign to raise awareness of hepatitis in an effort to boost sales of the company's drug, Rebetron. The company's actions may violate FDA regulations.

The drug is considered to be the "gold standard" for treating Hepatitis C, and may violate FDA rules, the Post said. Rebetron treatment costs $18,000 a year.

While regulators encourage companies to support educational campaigns, FDA officials want to know the extent of Schering-Plough's influence and control over information provided by coalitions that were billed as grass-roots organizations, the Washington Post said.

They also report that FDA officials are looking into whether the Madison, NJ - based company may have violated federal advertising rules by billing a marketing campaign as an educational effort.

The Newspaper reported that Schering-Plough paid public relations executives to recruit volunteers, package educational materials and lobby state legislatures to spend more money to treat hepatitis C and raise awareness.

Dr. Mercola's Comments:
No surprise that drug companies would pursue self-serving interests. The only thing that seems to change is that the drugs just keep getting more and more expensive. $18,000 per year is no small piece of change.

What the drug companies will not tell you is that the same amount of money ($18,000) would likely treat far more than 50 people if they used nutritional supplements as an alternative. What would you rather spend $300 in one year or $18,000?

Well, what are the supplements? Lipoic acid at 200 mg three times a day and selenium 200-600 mcg per day seem to be the nearly magic duo. One can also use silmaryin or other herbal products that seem to help the liver.

I first became aware of this regimen by Dr. Burt Berkson. He is an internist and during his training was given several patients who were expected to die from hepatitis C. His job was to merely baby sit them in the ICU and watch them die. He did not do that, but rather called his associate at the National Institutes of Health and used the lipoic acid and these two patients with hepatitis C who were not expected to live more than a few weeks, completely recovered. Dr. Berkson has been lecturing all over the world on this topic since that time. He published a study on this last year.

Hepatitis C Condom Prevention

Always carry 2 condoms with you, keep them in a safe and dry place.

Want to learn how effective condoms are? Read Condom Effectivness!

You cannot tell whether someone has HIV or hepatitis C by looking at them. People can have these diseases but look healthy and they themselves might not even know that they are infected. A person must believe that anyone he or she associates with could have HIV or hepatitis C. This is difficult because no one ever thinks that anyone they know would have these diseases. Or, a person might think that they are safe because they live in a particular community or region of the country – they might think that there is no HIV or hepatitis C in their community therefore, they are not at risk.

Hepatitis C Clinical Trial

Have you, or someone you know, been diagnosed with Hepatitis C Infection? if you are between 18 and 55, you may be eligible to take part in a research study looking at the ability of an investigational drug to treat Hepatitis C Infection. In addition to receiving this investigational drug, you will also receive 2 other drugs currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of Hepatitis C infection. If you qualify for this study, all study related exams, laboratory tests and medications will be provided at no cost. Participation in a research study is completely voluntary and you can leave the study at any time. Please call 832-355-8966 Advanced Liver Therapies at St. Luke's/Baylor Clinic to find out if you qualify to take part in this research study looking at the ability of an investigational drug to treat Hepatitis C infection.

Video on Hepatitis C, Hep C.

Here is a great video on what to do when you discover you have Hepatitis C. If you have Hep C, watch this video to learn more.