RE: GENERAL WARNINGS FOR PEOPLE WITH HEPATITIS C - virus or disease?

[Guest guest]

Hi Don.

I'm looking at this from the perspective that we see in HIV.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There is HIV.

Then there is AIDS.

Not everyone with HIV has AIDS.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So there is HCV, the virus.

Then there is Hepatitis. Maybe we could call it HCV Disease. Right now they call it Viral Hepatitis, but that refers to all kinds of virus, including HBV and HAV.

We need a separate name for the disease people get from the virus. Then we need to clarify what we are talking about: the virus or the disease.

Not everyone carrying the virus has the disease.

[Guest guest]

Hi Kat

Usually whenever I refer to HIV, HCV, or co-infection, Im speaking about the chronic kind.

I dont seperate HIV and AIDS.

To me they are one and the same. I have limited knowledge about either.

I am the same way with HCV and the virus. You have either, youve got trouble.

HBV and HAV I rarely refer to, but I am watching.

Im trying to put all my focus on Chronic HCV, which is what I have, and most people here have. [i am a 1B]

I have included some links to HAV, HBV, and HIV/AIDS in the links, along with STD's.

Occasionally I post a news item or article that I find about something other than Chronic HCV, if it seems related to me.

I do kinda keep an eye on the viral research that is going on in all fields, because a gain in any viral research opens doors to all other types of viruses.

For example, I posted a news item about a possible AIDS vaccine, and I was very excited, and said as much.

Six weeks later out comes a news article about a possible HCV vaccine.

I take the HBV and HAV vaccines in stride, as they are already out there being used.

Same with the H1N1 or Flu vaccines.

I have seen some stuff about the Herpes virus, and have been watching that one pretty close too.

It seems that it is another co-infection. [i also have it.]

Ive only known about HCV for 18 or so months, since being DX'd.

Prior to that I had never heard of it.

HIV/AIDS Ive heard about forever, but since I didnt have it, paid no notice.

It was a GAY disease, and I wasnt GAY.

Viruses is a huge field of study.

Since Scarlet made me a mod here in March, I have been doing deep research about HCV, and I am getting a college education, but my knowledge is still limited.

Give me another year, and I will be that much more educated.

Im starting to see the connection between all viruses, and understanding how they work, and their differences.

I have you, Scarlet, PSPam, and everybody to thank for helping me know what I know at this point.

My head is about to explode.

I know just enough to be dangerous, lol , and to learn how to better care about my own health.

Im trying to pass on everything to others as I progress.

Sometimes I get it wrong, but I will learn, or someone will kick my butt.

love

don in ks

From: Kat <m6a3k9@...>Subject: RE: [ ] GENERAL WARNINGS FOR PEOPLE WITH HEPATITIS C - virus or disease? Date: Saturday, December 5, 2009, 7:00 PM

Hi Don.

I'm looking at this from the perspective that we see in HIV.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There is HIV.

Then there is AIDS.

Not everyone with HIV has AIDS.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So there is HCV, the virus.

Then there is Hepatitis. Maybe we could call it HCV Disease. Right now they call it Viral Hepatitis, but that refers to all kinds of virus, including HBV and HAV.

We need a separate name for the disease people get from the virus. Then we need to clarify what we are talking about: the virus or the disease.

Not everyone carrying the virus has the disease.

[Guest guest]

Bingo, Kat!!I have the chronic disease because my body was unable to evict the virus in it's infancy.I firmly believe that when a blood test is initially done showing the "antibodies" for Hep C, certainly does not mean that one has the disease. Of course, the person should have blood work done every 3 months or so, in order to keep an eye on the ALT's, AST's and whatever else. Probably the next leg of the journey is to have a PCR and see if there is a viral load!! Then, if one does have a viral load that is very elevated at all, the next step should be having a liver biopsy so they can determine how much damage the disease has caused, firstly to the liver.When I went through that walk in 2004, I had absolutely no idea that I would have to face 2 treatments to

battle the dragon. It was a great shock to learn that summer, that my liver had already been so damaged that I was Stage 3 (full bridging fibrosis). In fact, I had put off having the PCR in the spring because my mother and I decided to drive down to Central California. To this day, I am so grateful that I didn't put off that trip and having a great mother/daughter vacation. We were finally old enough to spend over 17 days with each other - 24/7.Gloria

Hi Don.

I'm looking at this from the perspective that we see in HIV.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~

There is HIV.

Then there is AIDS.

Not everyone with HIV has AIDS.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~

So there is HCV, the virus.

Then there is Hepatitis. Maybe we could call it HCV Disease. Right now they call it Viral Hepatitis, but that refers to all kinds of virus, including HBV and HAV.

We need a separate name for the disease people get from the virus. Then we need to clarify what we are talking about: the virus or the disease.

Not everyone carrying the virus has the disease.

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