Comments on: Hepatitis C Danger In Your MD's Office?

Outbreaks Of Dangerous Infection Coming From An Unlikely Place

[bugsy1a]

I love you now more than ever Katie. You reported on a very serious problem, Hepatitis C. Here''s a place to find out more about Hep C than you ever imagined existed, www.HCVets.com. More than 60% of American Viet Nam Era Veterans are infected with Hepatitis C. WE were infected with Hep C by the same means as you reported, reuseable Vials which were attached to Air Injection Guns, used by the Military for mass innoculation. Millions of Vets have contracted Hep C in this manner. Please visit www.HCVets.com for an education on this virus and please continue reporting on the subject. At least 3 people die in the United States every hour, EVERY HOUR, from Hepatitis C complications... 2 of those 3 who die each hour have a Military background. Please visit www.HCVets.com and help us all spread the word on this Killer virus. You can save lives of family and friends, as well as untold numbers of citizens by staying on top of this subject and reporting to the public using your media powers. I''ve always respected you, now please show your true American colors by not letting the subject of Hepatitis C fall by the wayside. Hep C isn''t going away, but rather constantly gaining victims. Help spread the word, help our cause and be our friend by reporting and educating. You''ll get to know Tricia Lupole, HCVets moderator and advocate. IDEA... have Trica on a live interview and watch your ratings soar. You two can rock the world and create awareness about the Hepatitis C epidemic. Thank you Katie.

[peachstatepa]

THANK YOU Katie Couric, Dr. Senay, HONOReform and CBS. I hope you continue to cover the many aspects of this *silent killer*.
KNOW YOUR HEPATITIS C STATUS! GET TESTED! IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS!

Hepatitis C requires a blood to blood transmission. It is the most common chronic blood borne virus in the U.S. today. 5 times more prevalent than HIV. It is the leading cause of liver transplants in the U.S. 2/3 of patients will die waiting for a liver transplant because there are not enough organs to go around (please sign your donor cards!)
It is important to know that Doctors do NOT test for Hepatitis C on annual physicals or routine exams. You have to ASK TO BE TESTED! You do not have any symptoms that damage is being done until the latter stages of the disease and that can be from 10 to 40 years! There are treatments for Hepatitis C that are 45-80% successful depending on your genotype.
Unlike HIV, Hep C does not die when it hits the air and can live on surfaces for up to 4 days plus. It is a simple blood test and can be added to your routine tests the next time you see your doctor. Just ask him/her to add it! Take care and be your OWN advocates.

Peace
Pam Langford
www.HEALSoftheSouth.com
www.HEALSoftheSouth.org

[mdhcva]

At LEAST 4 million Americans are infected with Hepatitis C. Eighty percent (80%!) of those infected do not know it.

We desperately need an Awareness Campaign to reach out to the general public, not only to those identified as %u201Chigh risk%u201D, but to all Americans. People are not asking for Hepatitis C testing because they are unaware that they are at risk. We can prevent immeasurable illness and suffering if doctors would add Hepatitis C as part of the annual physical.

Thank you Katie Couric, Dr. Senay and CBS. I hope you continue to cover the many aspects of this silent killer. Millions infected %u2013 irreversible damage being done.

Thank you HONOReform for your hard work and determined mission.

Robin Lord Smith
Maryland Hepatitis C Action

[safetydanh]

I am one of many thousands of Viet Nam and Viet Nam era veterans with Hepatitis C. As a Medic reusing vials and syringes was a common practice. Exposure to other peoples blood was also a common occurence. Universal precautions had not been conceived and would have been near impossible to practice especially in the field. Most of us have been repeatedly denied our claims of service connection for being infected with Hepatitis C while on active duty. Thank you for bringing exposure to this ongoing unsanitary practice. I really believed this only happened in third world countries anymore. Hepatitis C is at epidemic proportions now and only getting worse. Now all of the HCV eradication funding has been hijacked by the HIV activists and their backers. Its not just veterans who are getting stiffed anymore, now its everyone who has been or will be infected with HCV. Its time to stop the madness.

Daniel Hughes
HCVets.com

[evelynm2]

For more information about our patient advocacy foundation - Hepatitis Outbreaks'' National Organization for Reform (HONOReform) visit www.HONOReform.org. We are dedicated to stopping healthcare transmission of Hepatitis C.
Evelyn McKnight

[hepfound]

- If you believe you may have been exposed to viral hepatitis, you can find out by asking for a simple blood test.
- Many people with hepatitis B and C have no symptoms but can stay healthy by changing behaviors (e.g., abstain from alcohol) and getting vaccinated for hepatitis A (and B if needed).
- Your liver is your internal powerplant and hepatitis viruses kill liver cells. The liver doesn''t have a way to let you know it is in trouble so many people don''t find out they have a problem until it is too late.
- Learn more about viral hepatitis, the liver, prevention and view full videos @ www.hepatitisfoundation.org
- Thank you, Katie Couric & staff for featuring viral hepatitis! I hope we can work together. We need more accurate health reporters to raise awareness about this critical epidemic.

Corinna Dan, RN, MPH
Chief Operating Officer
Hepatitis Foundation International

[hepfound]

- If you believe you may have been exposed to viral hepatitis, you can find out by asking for a simple blood test.
- Many people with hepatitis B and C have no symptoms but can stay healthy by changing behaviors (e.g., abstain from alcohol) and getting vaccinated for hepatitis A (and B if needed).
- Your liver is your internal powerplant and hepatitis viruses kill liver cells. The liver doesn''t have a way to let you know it is in trouble so many people don''t find out they have a problem until it is too late.
- Learn more about viral hepatitis, the liver, prevention and view full videos @ www.hepatitisfoundation.org
- Thank you, Katie Couric & staff for featuring viral hepatitis! I hope we can work together. We need more accurate health reporters to raise awareness about this critical epidemic.

Corinna Dan, RN, MPH
Chief Operating Officer
Hepatitis Foundation International

[hepfound]

- If you believe you may have been exposed to viral hepatitis, you can find out by asking for a simple blood test.
- Many people with hepatitis B and C have no symptoms but can stay healthy by changing behaviors (e.g., abstain from alcohol) and getting vaccinated for hepatitis A (and B if needed).
- Your liver is your internal powerplant and hepatitis viruses kill liver cells. The liver doesn''t have a way to let you know it is in trouble so many people don''t find out they have a problem until it is too late.
- Learn more about viral hepatitis, the liver, prevention and view full videos @ www.hepatitisfoundation.org
- Thank you, Katie Couric & staff for featuring viral hepatitis! I hope we can work together. We need more accurate health reporters to raise awareness about this critical epidemic.

Corinna Dan, RN, MPH
Chief Operating Officer
Hepatitis Foundation International

[hepfound]

- If you believe you may have been exposed to viral hepatitis, you can find out by asking for a simple blood test.
- Many people with hepatitis B and C have no symptoms but can stay healthy by changing behaviors (e.g., abstain from alcohol) and getting vaccinated for hepatitis A (and B if needed).
- Your liver is your internal powerplant and hepatitis viruses kill liver cells. The liver doesn''t have a way to let you know it is in trouble so many people don''t find out they have a problem until it is too late.
- Learn more about viral hepatitis, the liver, prevention and view full videos @ www.hepatitisfoundation.org
- Thank you, Katie Couric & staff for featuring viral hepatitis! I hope we can work together. We need more accurate health reporters to raise awareness about this critical epidemic.

Corinna Dan, RN, MPH
Chief Operating Officer
Hepatitis Foundation International

[tricia500-2009]

godofredo29 writes If you get inoculated for Hep B, be sure to ask to be tested for antibodies. Just getting the shots doesn''''t guarantee squat

Godofredo, you are so right, hope folks listen up. More than 50 percent of patients headed to transplant, must be re-vaccinated.

Did you know a huge chunk of the money for hep c prevention funding, if the current legalization is past, will go to those two vaccines. Can you believe that... loc.thomas.gov type in hepatitis c

[tewatts]

When you visit a physician''s office be brave enough to speak up. Question procedure. Anything type of equipment,e.g, syringes, cathteters, needles, etc... that are packaged, make sure the equipment is opened up in your presence. I had a bladder test performed in my physician''s office by an outside contractor. When I entered the room for the procedure, the catheter packaging was already opened. She inserted the cathteter and performed the test. Once the test was over, I thought I smelled a foul odor. When I went to the restroom prior to leaving the building, I had a terrible odor from my peri area. I thought it couldn''t be true. By the next day I had the worse lower flank pain across my back. I called my physician''s office and spoke with his Nurse Practitioner, describing the symptoms. She immediately order an antibiotic by mouth. She initially wanted to put me in the hospital for I.V. threapy due to how serious the condition could have been, but being medical myself, I wanted to try treatment with the antibiotic pills, first. The treatment was effective. I learned a lesson. Outside contractors tend to cut corners for cost reasons. I concluded that the technician used the same catheter on me that she must have used on the person who exited the room prior to my entering...sharing a catheter with another. What she probably did was rinse the catheter off and laid it on the original wrapping as if she had just opened up the pakaging.

[tricia500-2009]

Thanks CBS, for bringing this to the public''s attention. We have fought hard for Hepatitis C legislation to address a general awareness campaign to include the many methods of transmission. This may help us:)

At the peak of the bad blood distributed from the prisons, and during the Vietnam era, millions of Vets got Hep C from reusable needles and vials, plus lack of universal precautions. Gov stats show 1 in 5 Vets from that era have the virus.

Here''s a link to documentation, studies, government stats on many other ways the virus transmits. It will blow your mind. Again, thank you!

Non-Drug Related Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus 2006-2008
hcvets.com/data/transmission_methods/transmission.htm#October_

[godofredo29]

Okay folks, listen up: If you get innoculated for Hep B, be sure to ask to be tested for antibodies. Just getting the shots doesn''t guarentee squat, but they won''t tell you that. I believe the same is true for Hep A.