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PLEASE
NOTE: This
collection of web pages on
hepatitis C, disease management, and more, are merely a collection of
my opinions
and hep C information that is pertinent to me, Patrick Martin (aka
BigPat)
and my family. And is in no way intended as medical advice or
recommendations.
-
BigPat - 6 September
2003
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Must
be spring time,
or something, we seem to have an overabundance of myths and
misconceptions about how hep C can be transmitted. The normal I
suspect is due to lazy cut-n-paste authors, though it has been alluded
to as well there is a larger effort behind it... For the page I'm
putting together on this, click on Hep C
Transmission Myths. (sorry, no menu button put in place for
this yet)
Pertinent
Hep C Information
(s/b FAQ excerpts)
Chronic
hepatitis
C
virus infection is a serious public health concern affecting
approximately 2.7 million people in the United States. HCV causes
inflammation of the liver, which may lead to fibrosis and cirrhosis,
liver cancer, and ultimately, liver failure. Cirrhosis of the liver
resulting from chronic HCV infection is the leading indication for
liver transplantation in the U.S. Due to the asymptomatic nature of HCV
infection, it often goes undetected for up to 20 years following
initial infection. Worldwide, the disease strikes as many as 185
million people. Each year, 8,000 to10,000 people in the U.S. die from
complications of HCV.
(source:HCV ADVOCATE Weekly
News
Review: Week Ending, September 11, 2004)
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Hepatitis C recurs in all patients after
liver transplantation, but certain factors, such as high viral load and
increased donor age, have been associated with more severe recurrence.
Some studies have also suggested that HCV recurs earlier and more
severely in patients who receive liver transplants from living, as
opposed to deceased, donors.
(source:HCV
ADVOCATE Weekly
News
Review: Week Ending, September 11, 2004)
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How
I
emotionally
work with my hep C disease
My short story: On 1 Aug 2003 I was
deemed a NON RESPONDER by Kaiser
Permanente Gastroenterology to a hepatitis C remedy medication program
- my
liver enzymes (ALT & AST) and PCR Viral Load hadn't dropped to low
enough
numbers by the 24 week mark of a 48 week program (of PegIntron/Rebetol)
- based on blood sample performed 30 Jul 2003.
I once again started to flip into panic mode, though it only lasted for
about
3 minutes... I quickly reminded myself of just how horrible their
prescription medications made me feel for six months! And then I
reminded myself once again that I had already done much research on
herbal
& natural remedy alternatives, and had been using some, to some
degree,
for a while, so it was merely a time to kick back, do some more
research, put
together a scientific and tracked program, and monitor my own progress
properly.
Now...
For
my
hep C related
opinion: I consider Kaiser Permanente deeming me as a NON
RESPONDER to their hep C med
program a
BLESSING IN DISGUISE! Only took me a few minutes to start to see
this.
And shortly after, I saw my approach to all this really steer in a
positive
direction! I had a buddy over from Sweden visiting family last
May/June, we kidnapped him for a couple weekends and made him stay with
us... Good reunion, good times!
Shortly after he returned to Sweden, I received email in state of
panic,
about his wife was diagnosed with hepatitis B/C... BAD for her,
and I
still wish her the best battling this - my heart is with her!!!
* But the email exchange really helped me focus and understand my
emotions on
this disease I have. Thanks again Gun! I now am aware that
as a
creature of habit, I THRIVE for
the
CHALLENGE!
I have demonstrated this several times in AMA Dist. 37
off-road motorcycle competition over the years. I will do this
again
now!!!
The ROOT of a CHALLENGE: Tell me I can't do something, and if I
disagree I'll
quickly do my best to show you just how wrong you are! Been
doing this most my life. At age 51, I have no reason to change my
ways
all of a sudden!
In my dirt
bike
racing days, along with a
go-fast nature most the time, I always did any performance
modifications in a
very engineering R&D fashion! In the work environment, good
performance as a technician (wrench!) quickly lead me to management
opportunities, and on to engineering
opportunities. Thru those employment CHALLENGES I
performed quite outstanding for 19 years 8 months. Though my job
has
changed, my performance, attitude, approach and wrench nature hasn't
changed
whatsoever.
My
approach to this
hepatitis C disease will
be no different! By all means my approach will be done in a
scientific/engineering format. And I'll either REMEDY myself much
better than our medical professional community was able to do, or I'll
go
down giving it one hell of a shot trying!!! Russ and Gun, once
again,
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR HELPING ME REALIZE THIS!!!
Along with my newly understood approach to
this disease, as above, I am here to help others understand the
issues... I really wish I had some guidance and direction right
after I
got my first "...may have hepatitis C" phone call back on July 26,
2002...
But then again, being the 'hands-on' wrench type that I am, perhaps the
process I've been thru is much more meaningful!
I've termed my early hepatitis C learning curve days as INFORMATION
OVERLOAD, and by all means, that was a proper term for me to
use! I have since altered my approach to this disease,
with understanding, but my term still applies!
Sooo, to put all this in dirt
bike racing terms, my hep C remedy program will
go:
- When the green flag drops, the BS stops!
- Rubber-side down!
- WFO!
- Roost all competition!
... and
somewhat different from my dirt
bike racing days, I'll give it my best effort to carry this program to
the
FINISH, as opposed to just a huge lead to the smoke bomb!
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BigPat Hepatitis C
Opinion & info 
