HCMSG - Hepatitis C Mentor & Support Group, Inc.
Search
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Board of Directors
    • Medical Advisors
  • Resources
    • Corona Virus
    • Hep C Facts & Stats
    • Medications and Treatments >
      • Patient Assistance Programs
    • Reading
    • Links
  • Programs/Training
    • The Circle Model >
      • THE CIRCLE Registration
      • Group and Facilitator Guide
    • Hepatitis C Online Training
    • The Hepatitis C Education and Support Group Assistance Program
    • Healthcare Provider Training
  • Newsletter
  • Blog
  • Support Us
    • Holiday 2020
  • Contact Us

THE BENEFITS OF HCV SUPPORT GROUPS

7/24/2014

8 Comments

 
     Ronni Marks-HCMSG                                                 

When diagnosed with Hepatitis C, people often feel alone and stigmatized. They have many questions and need accurate information about Hepatitis C, possible disease outcomes and treatment options.

Support groups show that members are not dealing with HCV alone. They offer positive encouragement, companionship and provide the education and support to members that their medical providers may not have the time to discuss in detail. These meetings provide patients with the opportunity to discuss issues and concerns among their peers. Well run support groups reinforce compliance with members’ medical care and treatment plans. They encourage a positive lifestyle.

While treatment for Hepatitis C has become more tolerable, there are still patients who do not understand the disease and have concerns and questions.

Well facilitated Hepatitis C support groups allow patients to manage the disease with knowledge, strength and fellowship.

Patient support groups have been shown to be an important adjunct to medical care. They can reduce overall healthcare costs and improve medical outcomes. Support groups can improve the quality of life of individual patients.

A revolution in the treatment of Hepatitis C is underway. New generation (DAA’s) direct-acting antivirals have recently become available and an even more promising new class of drugs is in development and testing. These drugs promise a cure. Now that these drugs are becoming available, medical providers are experiencing an overwhelming demand for treatment. This has put a strain on medical resources, leaving medical providers little time to provide all the education and support patients require. Well facilitated support groups will help manage increased patient demand by providing an important peer support and mentoring component of care.

Support groups are an essential part of the unfolding revolution in the treatment of Hepatitis C.

 

 

 

 

8 Comments

  Do Interferon-Free Hep C Treatments Have Side Effects?

7/17/2014

1 Comment

 

http://www.hepmag.com/images/hep-logo.gif



July 16, 2014


Do Interferon-Free Hep C Treatments Have Side Effects?


by Benjamin Ryan


With interferon quickly becoming a thing of the past, what kind of side effects still remain in the new hepatitis C regimens—and how do you remedy them?


Interferon, long a mainstay of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment, is currently singing its swan song. As the loathed weekly injectable drug finally makes an exit, it will take along with it a host of flu-like side effects that have made attempts to cure hep C a misery and kept droves of people who are living with the virus from even trying.

But what about side effects that still remain in interferon-free hep C therapies? No drug is without its risks and “potential adverse events,” to borrow the term used in medical journals. 

Kris Kowdley, MD, a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle, who has been involved with much of the research of the forthcoming crop of drugs and who has treated a host of patients with the current therapies, says that the outlook is quite rosy for those considering the two currently available interferon-free therapies as well as the combination regimens likely to be approved at the end of the year.

“Essentially the side effects, when you compare them to the first-generation protease inhibitors—boceprevir [Victrelis], telaprevir [Incivek]—the side effects are negligible with any of these new treatments,” Kowdley says.

The main adverse event culprit, according to Kowdley, is ribavirin, a drug that may not be required for some of the upcoming regimens. But even the effects of ribavirin aren’t so much of a problem for people undergoing treatment and are pretty easily managed. And overall the crop of drugs waiting in the wings has proved quite tolerable—to wit, relatively few participants in clinical trials for the new drugs wound up dropping out because of side effects.

While even a short list of potential side effects for a particular hep C therapy might give one pause, Andrew Muir, MD, chief of gastroenterology at Duke University, stresses that in the case of interferon-free regimens, “Everything we’re talking about is generally mild and well tolerated.”

Treatment Options That Don’t Include Interferon

Right now, there are two options for treatment that nix interferon. For those with genotype 1 of the virus who are interferon intolerant (which many clinicians argue includes those who simply do not want to take the drug) or who are not eligible to take interferon for various reasons, theAmerican Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) recommends the analog polymerase inhibitor Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) and the NS3/4A protease inhibitor Olysio (simeprevir) plus ribavirin for 12 weeks, or Sovaldi plus ribavirin for 24 weeks as an alternative. People with genotype 2 can opt for 12 weeks of Sovaldi and ribavirin, and those with genotype 3 can take this combination for 24 weeks. Genotypes 4 through 6, which are rarer in the United States, should see more options become available between October and December, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is slated to decide on three new crops of drugs, all of which are slated for use without interferon.

For those taking Sovaldi and ribavirin, fatigue and headache are the most common side effects, occurring in more than 20 percent of cases, according to the drug’s prescribing information.

In the COSMOS study of Sovaldi and Olysio plus ribavirin, the most common side effects were fatigue, headache, nausea, anemia, itching, dizziness, rash and photosensitivity (sensitivity to sunlight, or a tendency to burn more easily). 

For his patients taking this regimen, Kowdley says, “We recommend them to avoid direct sunlight, and we certainly recommend that they use high efficacy sunblock. But part of it is we live in Seattle, so it’s not a big problem, but it doesn’t seem to be a very serious issue.”

Gilead Sciences’ fixed-dose, once-a-day combination tablet of Sovaldi and the investigatory NS5A inhibitor ledipasvir is considered the next big thing. With an approval date set for October 10, the combination could bring 12-week, or possibly even eight-week dosing that doesn’t require interferon, and which might be able to sidestep ribavirin as well. Gilead’s FDA application is for those with genotype 1, who make up 75 percent of the U.S. hep C population, but physicians may be able to prescribe the combo pill off-label to those with other genotypes. Side effects in various trials of the pill were fatigue, headache, insomnia and nausea, which tended to be more common when the combination was used with ribavirin.

AbbVie is the other major player, with a decision on the company’s “3D regimen” expected in December. The combination therapy consists of a fixed-dose combination of the protease inhibitor ABT-450 and ritonavir co-formulated with the NS5A inhibitor ombitasvir (ABT-267), as well as the non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitor dasabuvir (ABT-333), with or without ribavirin. Fatigue and headache were the most commonly reported in a large Phase III trial.

Lastly, there’s Bristol-Myers Squibb’s NS5A replication complex inhibitor daclatasvir and the NS3 protease inhibitor asunaprevir. The company expects a decision from the FDA by the end of the year on that combination’s use in those with genotype 1b. The most common side effects in the HALLMARK-DUAL study were headache, fatigue, diarrhea and nausea. (BMS has also filed for approval of daclatasvir’s use with other hep C drugs to treat multiple genotypes of the virus.)

Treating Side Effects

Kowdley says that additional therapies to counteract other side effects of interferon-free hep C regimens are rarely needed, and if so the remedies are typically over-the-counter and fairly simple. 

For anemia, the primary adverse effect of ribavirin, Kowdley has found that today’s short treatment lengths mean that any effects that ribavirin has on the blood are almost never significant enough to warrant interventions along the lines of adjusting the dose of the drug, giving a blood transfusion or prescribing the hormone erythropoietin.

This doesn’t mean, however, that ribavirin is without side effects. In fact, side effects are more common in ribavirin-containing hep C regimens than in those without. However, the difference in side effects in terms of number and severity is not that great. 

“In my opinion,” Kowdley says, “the added benefit with regard to a potential [cure] easily overcomes the potential limitation of those regimens that contain ribavirin.”

Cough and rash are also common ribavirin side effects. Cough can be treated with Robitussin or some other anti-cough medicine. For rash, Kowdley will in very rare occasions advise hydrocortisone, but otherwise he says that moisturizing with an emollient cream—Eucerin is an example of a brand name—should do just fine. David Bernstein, MD, chief of the division of hepatology at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York, says he sometimes will advise using an antihistamine such as Benadryl for rash.

In the event of nausea resulting from hep C regimens, Bernstein says, “We usually recommend that patients take the medication with food. It tends to occur on an empty stomach. But it’s generally not severe.”

If Bernstein’s patients have trouble with insomnia, he may prescribe a sleeping aid. For headache, he says that typical over-the-counter drugs like Tylenol or Advil should do the trick.

All this said, Kowdley stresses that there is still one last profound potential side effect to consider, a potentially life-altering effect that he has seen in numerous patients in his vast clinical experience.

As he puts it: “We’re seeing all kinds of reports of euphoria, increased energy, almost insomnia because of having so much more energy than ever before.”


Search: Interferon-free, side effects, hepatitis C, Kris Kowdley, Victrelis,boceprevir, Incivek, telaprevir, ribavirin, Andrew Muir, Sovaldi, sofosbuvir,Olysio, simeprevir, ledipasvir, Gilead Sciences, AbbVie, 3D, ABT-450, ABT-267,ABT-333, ombitasvir, dasabuvir, Bristol-Myers Squibb, daclatasvir, asunaprevir,David Bernstein.


 





1 Comment

African American leaders sound the alarm on the rise of Hepatitis C

7/16/2014

6 Comments

 
Health1:17 pm     Tue July 15, 2014By Chris Caya Healthcare professionals and community leaders in Buffalo are helping to raise awareness about the impact of Hepatitis C in the African American community.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 3.5 million Americans have the disease, but most don't know they're infected. The state health department reported 15,000 chronic cases in Erie County in 2010. 

Dr. Raul Vazquez and local African Americans leaders talk about the spread of Hepatitis C in the black community. Credit Chris Caya/WBFO News

Dr. Raul Vazquez says he thinks the numbers are underreported. Hepatitis C is spread through contaminated blood and Vazquez says more people are getting infected because of an increase in heroin use and dirty tattoo needles.

"Tattoos that are being put on by individuals that are not following sterile procedure is what I worry most about, in addition to the IV drug use," Vazquez said Tuesday.

Speakers highlighted the need for greater testing, particularly among Baby Boomers. Rev. Frank Bostic, Affiliate Chair with The National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, Inc. of Buffalo says nationally, the rise of Hepatitis C-related deaths in African American born between 1945 and 1965 is outpacing AIDS-related deaths in the same demographic. 

If untreated, Hepatitis C can cause chronic liver disease and cancer.

National African American Hepatitis C Action Day will be held on July 25. Officials say they hope to increase public awareness of the issue in the coming weeks.

6 Comments

Looking Forward in Hepatitis C Treatment, With Trepidation

7/8/2014

1 Comment

 
An Interview With Tracy Swan

By Terri Wilder

From TheBodyPRO.com

March 31, 2014

Each year at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), a unique panel convenes on the first day of the meeting. This event -- the Martin Delaney Panel -- highlights a critical issue that lies at the intersection between HIV clinical research and HIV advocacy. At CROI 2014, the theme of the panel was "Hepatitis C: From Trials and Tribulations to Triumph." One of the panelists was Tracy Swan, Hepatitis/HIV Project Director at Treatment Action Group and a longtime, outspoken patient advocate on issues related to HIV/hepatitis C coinfection. Our correspondent Terri Wilder spoke with Swan shortly after the panel.

It feels like this year, 2014, is shaping up to be the year of hepatitis C. What are your thoughts about developments that are coming down the pipe, and what do you think about the challenges that are going to come with these new hepatitis C drugs?

It's funny. You keep seeing these trials with cure rates of 95% and 100%. And it's wonderful -- don't get me wrong -- but it's almost mind-numbing after a little while. You just think: How do you distinguish? Everything is well tolerated. What is going to be the best way to get things out there to people?

I think we really need screening programs. We need to identify more infected people. And we really need an infrastructure. So, as excited as I am about the drugs, and as grateful as I am to not have to keep talking to people about drugs that give them a lot of side effects and won't work very well ... Think about it: If the number of people with HIV quadrupled overnight and all the things we take for granted were stripped away -- the infrastructure, the funding, the programs, the case management, the services, and even the community; when so many people are undiagnosed, it's kind of hard to form a community -- if you strip that all away, you've got hepatitis C, on the downside.

Then, on the upside of things, you've got a cure.

I think 2014 is the year we bring those two together. But we have to figure out how to bring the cure to the people. And the drug prices are going to be a horrendous problem.

 

 

Let's talk about screening. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] came out with its recommended age cohort screening. The New York State Department of Health implemented a rule, effective Jan. 1, that folks in a certain cohort be screened for hep C. It feels like people are trying to roll these rules out, maybe in reaction to these new drugs.

How effective do you think these kind of cohort-based screening programs are going to be?

They can't be less effective than what we had before. I think some of these are really beginning to pick people up. What concerns me is, there are so many people newly entering care because of the Affordable Care Act. They may be getting slammed with multiple diagnoses all at once, because they haven't been in health care and don't know why they're feeling so crummy.

There might be providers that now feel that they need to screen, but then don't know what to do with people once they have a positive antibody test. I still think it's much better to screen as a critical public health step.

But there are a few things. It should be tied to surveillance programs, so you could collect the data while you're providing services to people, or nested within them, somehow. Also, yes, the baby boomer cohort is an important group, but you keep seeing all these reports of high infection rates among young people who are injecting drugs. If you're telling doctors who are already feeling pretty overloaded to do one more thing, they're not going to step out of that and start saying, "Hmm. I wonder who else I should be looking at now?" if they're trying to squeeze five people into an hour.

The cohort that we're talking about is people born between 1945 and 1965. I would assume that data drove that decision. But your point is that we're still missing people.

Well, the data we have are limited. It's from the NHANES survey -- incarcerated and homeless people -- and other very high-prevalence populations were not included. So, (1) we have an underestimate for the whole population; and (2) I don't quite understand how the incidence went from 300,000 cases a year down to about 16,000 cases over a decade and a half.

There are some reasons. Crack: People stopped injecting and started smoking more. But I think nobody was really counting, and we never developed the health care infrastructure that we needed to really characterize and then begin to address this epidemic. We have a lot of assumptions. There could be way more people of every age out there with hepatitis C.

Earlier, you mentioned the Affordable Care Act [ACA]. What do you think is going to complicate ACA implementation and getting folks who have hep C on treatment and into care?

I'm a big fan of single-payer health care. I would have much rather seen a system like that. I think we have a collapsing health care system with people entering it who don't even know how to use it.

No one's saying, "Look: People probably aren't going to be that nice to you. They're going to demand all this information from you. You're going to have five minutes with the doctor. You might hear something scary." You're not having anyone say, "What's on your mind?" How do you ask these questions? "How can we make the most of this appointment?"

I think we really need some health care literacy training for people so they feel comfortable going to a medical doctor. And when they get a diagnosis, whatever it is, they feel more like they have some control over what their next steps are. Hepatitis C has last-on-the-list syndrome. It doesn't progress quickly. "I don't have to deal with it right away." Treatment's too yucky. Treatment's too expensive.

Hopefully, the new drugs will really push the envelope, and people who need to be treated and cured will be. But it's not really clear how that's going to play out.

Let's talk about the new treatments for hep C. What is the reality? What are we looking at, in terms of people being cured?

I think we're really looking at something: 90% and over. It might be a little lower for people with cirrhosis. It might be a little lower for people who have more advanced liver disease.

The one group of people I'm worried about the most are the people that have late-stage or decompensated cirrhosis. There's very little known about what will be safe and effective. We don't want people to have to get a transplant, and even if they wind up there, there are insurance issues; there's organ scarcity. That's not the outcome we want to see.

And if they get a transplant, we want to be able to treat their hep C if it comes back afterwards -- because it almost always does.

Is this for both monoinfected and coinfected folks with HIV? Is the cure rate about the same, or is there a difference?

Today, we heard it's better in people with HIV. There was a moment when people were stunned, because we're all so used to hearing it's not. I thought it must be due to adherence. The presenter said, "Yeah. I think people really are used to taking pills. They know how to do it." To get in a trial, they had to have an undetectable viral load. They're taking their pills, and if they take their pills, their pills are working. It's always nice when that happens.

 

Let's talk about the cost of the new hep C drugs. It is a very sore spot for a lot of community activists who care about this issue. I think the worry is that if you don't have the right health insurance coverage, you're not going to be able to get access. What's happening out in the community? What are you hearing?

One of the things that we've thought about is how to get access for people who need treatment the most right away, with what's available now, whether it's off-label or not. I've done some work with the National Viral Hepatitis Coalition and [various doctors and advocates]. There's a "Dear Payor" letter explaining why this off-label expensive combination is good.

But, quite frankly, it's a very distasteful position to be put in, to [have to say], "Let me sell your totally overpriced drugs, just for people who need them." Something's got to give. The pharmaceutical industry should profit. We need to support innovation. But there is a point where you really have to ask: How much does a company really need to make?

We've seen data that say it costs less than $150 to make 12 weeks of sofosbuvir [Sovaldi]. That's Andrew Hill's study. It's based on a few million treatment courses.

I realize there are acquisition costs; there are development costs. But maybe when everybody starts shutting down the tap, that's when Gilead will be ready to come to the table and say, "We're going to have to make this affordable."

We're having this conversation in March 2014. What do you think the conversation is going to be like in March 2015, when we're all back at CROI? Do you have any guesses as to what the next year is going to look like?

I think a lot of people will start entering treatment. More people will get screened. More people will get cured. But the floodgates are open [in regards to] paying for things right now. As soon as there are more drugs and uptake surges, I think they're going to start shutting down. What I'd hate to see is [health care providers] putting people on a regimen that's a lot harder for them to get through, and possibly less effective; and then saying, "OK. That didn't work. Now you get this stuff."

Do we think that there's going to be something in the future that's better than the Gilead drug? Is there anything else that's coming?

We need another good pan-genotypic drug to pair with it. There is one, an NS5A inhibitor called daclatasvir, from a different company, BMS, that will be out later this year. That's going to be a good combination. When you look from a global standpoint, you'll need less testing, less monitoring. It's a very good combination.

But affordability is going to be such a huge issue, particularly for people in middle-income countries, let alone people in the U.S.

Can we talk about acute hep C? We don't have fourth-generation HIV testing rolled out to help with identifying acute HIV. Can you talk about how folks typically screen for acute hep C?

I think those infections get picked up in the context of routine HIV monitoring when people have really high liver enzyme levels. A lot of savvy clinicians have said, "Hey, what's going on? Could these be an acute infection?" And word has gotten out.

That's really how they're being picked up. I don't know any other way that they are.

Is it a challenge?

It's asymptomatic. If someone's been at risk, they might have been at risk multiple times. They might not feel sick. Someone else might not share the information: "Hey, I just found out I have hep C. And we were all at the same sex party." I think it's a failure of public health that there are no messages about how it's transmitted for HIV-positive men who are having sex with men.

Any closing thoughts? Messages that you would want to give medical providers, in light of all these changes that are happening in hep C?

Get ready for two things: fighting with a lot of reimbursement systems; and the great pleasure you're going to have when you get to cure somebody in two or three months, and see them return to health.

Great. Thank you very much.

This transcript has been edited for clarity.

 

Copyright © 2014 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

1 Comment

Patients First: The Right to Be Treated and Cured

7/2/2014

0 Comments

 
by Alan Franciscus
Very soon there will be treatments that will cure almost everyone of hepatitis C. These new treatments will have:



  • Minimal side effects, especially compared to the therapies that came before them

  • Cure rates that will be approaching up to 100%

  • Treatment periods that will be limited to  12 weeks—at least for some treatments

    Hurray!  Good news for everyone with hepatitis C. 

    But of course there is a downside – the price of the new medications.  We don’t know yet what the price for the next generation of interferon-free medications will be, but generally once a price has been set there is little chance that medications that come along later will be priced lower—I really, really hope that I am wrong.  But even if they are somewhat lower they are still going to be expensive.  

    The problem of the high cost of current medications is already impeding access to treatment.  Insurance companies, government payers (Medicare, Veterans Healthcare, etc.) are trying to come to terms with the expense of the medications when the great number of people who need to be treated is factored into the equation.  There have already been denials of coverage because people are not deemed ‘sick enough’ to qualify for treatment.   Plain and simple: It is unethical to deny people a medication because they are deemed to be ‘not sick enough.’  Another sore point—being ‘sick enough’ is being narrowly defined as having severe liver scarring without any consideration for other (extrahepatic) symptoms and side effects that many people with hepatitis C experience.   

    Everyone with hepatitis C should have access to these life-saving medications.  In response the HCV Advocate will be publishing a series of articles, fact sheets and tools to help patients navigate through the medical care maze and help them to self-advocate.  

    Topics will include:



  • Medical appointments: 

    • How to maximize your medical appointments, questions to ask, reporting symptoms, how to dress, being respectful and respected, what to do if you disagree, working with the gatekeeper (the nurse), and many more strategies to make the transition from a passive to an assertive patient.   How to talk to your doctor about treatment.

  • Medical insurance – what, when and how.  How to fight rejection letters.  Open enrollment and what that means for your drug coverage.  Questions you should ask yourself about your coverage.

  • Patient Assistance Programs – getting started before you start treatment.  Knowing your options, and what services are offered. 

  • Finances – what to expect if you are on treatment. 

  • Getting support

    We are going to be adding more educational tools as we hear more from people about some of the obstacles they are facing.  But please check out our fact sheets and guides—we already have many resources that can help people access services and treatment.  

    Symptoms of Hepatitis C
    As I mentioned before, some insurance companies are basing approval of the medications on the degree of liver damage.  People living with chronic hepatitis C have many other symptoms and conditions that are not necessarily related to the scarring of the liver.  This is why it is so important to make sure that all of the conditions and symptoms of hepatitis C are recorded in your medical records. It is also important to record how the symptoms and conditions affect your daily activities.  

    The symptoms of hepatitis C range from mild to moderate to severe.  Personally, I believe that everyone with hepatitis C has symptoms, but they come on so gradually and over such a long period of time that most people don’t notice them or believe that they are part of the aging process.  The list below contains some of the more common symptoms reported by people with hepatitis C, but the list is not all inclusive.  If you have symptoms that are not listed here be sure to mention them to your medical provider. 



  • Fatigue is the most common symptom reported by people with hepatitis C.  It can range from mild to moderate to severe.  Again, some people may not even realize how fatigued they are if the fatigue falls somewhere within the mild to moderate range.  A good way of measuring it is to talk with friends who are healthy to find out what their fatigue level is. Another good way is to talk to others with hepatitis C and try to gauge how your fatigue measures up with their fatigue.  Finally, try to figure out how fatigue affects your daily life.  How does the fatigue affect your work, recreation and interaction with family and friends. 

  • “Brain Fog” is a common symptom of hepatitis C which is usually defined as low-level cognitive impairment.  Typical symptoms include fuzzy thinking, memory problems, and lack of concentration.

  • Muscle and Joint Pain  – low level aches and pains throughout the body.

  • Insomnia – inability to sleep or sleep that is not restful.

  • Headaches – pain or pressure on one or both sides of the head.

  • Fevers and Night Sweats – generally light fevers and waking up with clothes and/or bedding wet.

  • Depression and anxiety – feeling down and nervous.

  • Loss of Appetite or weight loss.

  • Nausea and vomiting  - feeling sick to your stomach or vomiting.

  • Abdominal Pain or pain in the general area of the stomach and intestines.

  • Liver Pain in the upper right side, right behind the rib cage.

    In addition, ask your medical provider to test you for extrahepatic manifestations—these are conditions outside of the liver.  There are many conditions that are either directly caused by hepatitis C or that are more commonly seen in people with hepatitis C.  See our fact sheet on extrahepatic manifestations.  Ask to see a specialist who understands and can diagnose extrahepatic manifestations.  

    Symptoms of Cirrhosis
    Cirrhosis is a potentially life-threatening condition.  There are two types of cirrhosis—compensated and decompensated.  Compensated cirrhosis is defined as a liver that is heavily scarred but can still perform most of the important chemical functions that keep the body running smoothly.  When the liver is decompensated this means that the liver is severely scarred and damaged and normal function is impaired.  In addition to the symptoms listed above, other symptoms that need to be diagnosed by a medical provider are:  



  • Fluid retention and swelling in the legs and hands

  • Frequent urination

  • Bleeding and excessive bruising

  • Pruritus – excessive itching

  • Jaundice – yellowing of the skin and eyes

  • Menstrual irregularities

  • Nail changes

    There are other symptoms that need to be diagnosed and managed by a medical provider including:



  • Encephalopathy – mental confusion, changes in sleep patterns, loss of memory, coma

  • Varices – stretched and bleeding blood vessels of the esophagus and stomach

  • Malnutrition – this happens when the liver isn’t able to process nutrients

  • Portal hypertension – the liver is so scarred that blood can’t get through it

  • Ascites – fluid retention in the abdominal region

    Measuring Symptoms
    A good way to measure the symptoms is by the 1 to 10 method with 10 being the worst. For example, if you could not get out of bed one day because you were so tired, rate that fatigue as a 10.  If you were tired so that you decided that you would just watch TV that night it might be a 4 or 5.  It might be a good idea to start a symptom log or journal.  A copy could be inserted into your medical chart.
    Don’t be afraid to tell your doctor or nurse what symptoms you are having—most doctors and nurses welcome patient involvement in their medical care. 

    Remember everyone has the right to be treated and cured.



    Get Tested. Get Treated. Get Cured.

     

    Source: HCV Advocate Newsletter - July 2014 

     

    http://hcvadvocate.blogspot.com/2014/07/patients-first-right-to-be-treated-and.html?spref=fb

     

0 Comments

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Privacy Policy