Viral Load info after treatment

I've been having a conversation with someone about viral load testing. I am four
months post tx..I will wait until month six. I was going tomorrow to have it
done. Then I got this magazine delivered (forgot I ordered it) and I read this
article I attached below along with the link.
My point is you should always CHECK for the facts yourself and not just
believe what anyone says without backing it up yourself. My friends intentions
were good. My doctor was right.
Patients who are undetectable for HCV-RNA at the end of treatment are labeled
end of treatment responders (EOT). If they are HCV-RNA neg six months following
their last interferon infection, they are labeled sustained viral responders
(SVR). Patients with a sustained viral response have about a 99 percent chance
of cure. Cure means that they are HCV-RNA negative one, two,five,ten,years after
completion of treatment. Patients cured of hepatitis C have a much better
survival rate than those whoa are not cured.
www.hepatitismag.com
Oct 2005 Issue
~ Bayla ~
Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art...
It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things
that give value to survival."
C.S.Lewis

Comments

22 Responses to Viral Load info after treatment

  1. felix_1300 on 2006-11-22 14:09:55.780173

    The 20% getting complications was an estimate from some years back.
    Currently those numbers are rising. Its higher than 20% with complications.
    Sally

  2. tracey_1300 on 2006-11-22 12:56:29.467924

    Most of the people (80%) who have Hep C and never get treatment, die of
    something else after living a normal life expectancy. It's the 20% who get
    complications from it, like cirrhosis and liver cancer who would truly benefit
    from treatment. This being said, there are not many studies that look at
    long-term effects, since there has only been a test for Hep C and an
    understanding of it as an infectious agent since the late 80's or early 90's.
    Thus it may be beneficial to treat the disease in non-symptomatic persons
    because we have no way of knowing exactly which of these persons would go on to
    develop complications. My point is that even if you don't clear the virus with
    treatment, if you're otherwise healthy and not developing complications being
    alarmist doesn't help your cause.
    BARB <irisdancinghorse@...
    post, wasnt too tuff:) the svr is
    sustained viral response, and a better chance for survival is; that
    w/a zero viral load longer term we would have a better chance for
    survival from the irreprical damages hcv would put on those whom
    dont attain an svr; simply said better survival chance, but then we
    all could get hit by a mack truck tomarrow huh? one never knows but
    I got the point of the article, it wasnt really that hard to figure
    out. Just think of surviving hcv, if you were post transplant, too,
    because we see many whom are 7 yrs out that are still clear of the
    virus and others whom it came back w/a vengeance. I understand the
    concept clearly; that we may survive and not die of hcv if our svrs
    are down or zero. Not much to figuring that one out.
    and yes I did write that poem on another board as I am asst. manager
    on another board and the letter to healthy people whom most of you
    have prob. read or seen, this was a letter to the people whom have
    hcv and need the healty people to rally for us:) I in my own
    personal opinion believe we would see more hcvers at captital hill
    each yr.I unfortunately heard this last one DR. richard Darling
    emailed me hes a three time post tp recipient/and said unfortunatly
    low turnout:( because I think those stricken w/hcv are either sick,
    poor, low socioeconomic status, and cant either afford to go unless
    the bus was to pick them up free of charge? all over the US) hey now
    thats an adovcate idea:) hummnnnnn got me thinking but the rooms are
    a bit spendy, and food, but who's to say that we couldnt ask and it
    Shall come:) its like believe in a miracle and be one:) hugs to all,
    hope the heat is off a bit, Iam in a bit of a tiff right now w/a
    sick friend, and its hard, when I know she would love to be in
    washington dc each yr. but can barely get outta her house right now:
    ( so lets fight for the cause and look less into the hidden
    meanings in between the lines:) hugs barb:)

  3. ellie140 on 2006-11-23 06:12:31.260844

    Hell Mike, thats why i did 18 months just love pain ,they got a name for that
    dont they masachist. dont know if spelling is correct but im sure you get it
    and i was hoping since riba is genatoxic i was hoping to grow a 3rd and 4th arm
    and mayba 1 other thing to ammuse the girls or should i say 3 other things ,
    but so far all i notice is hair in strange places maybe the other stuff will
    come later . Eric

  4. ellie140 on 2006-11-23 16:12:17.624859

    Mike kinda like agent orange even when uncle is backed into a cornor whats the
    procedure deny ,deny ,deny , Eric

  5. lenore_170 on 2006-11-24 12:14:23.685125

    Hi Barb.
    I appreciate your openess and honesty regarding this 'growing' feeling of
    prejudice.
    Eric, your feelings too.
    My writing is not focused on HEPC and I know it's wrong. to use this forum to
    express myself...but this is just so important to me. I hope you will forgive
    me.
    Open communication is the key to understanding.
    Prejudice, as we all know. is alive and well in America, and the rest of the
    world. We are ALL prejudiced to a degree... and I think it is based on past
    experience and general good 'ol common sense. American Heritage Dictionary~~
    The act or state of holding unreasonable preconceived judgments or
    convictions~~..... lends credibility to my thoughts. The question is..What is
    unreasonable?
    I'm not sure if this is prejudice, please let me know what you think......
    If I enter someones home (invited of course..haha), and a Teacup Chihuahua
    comes runinng up to me I would not be noticeably "on guard" to fend this mongrol
    off.
    However, if a Pit Bull is in the room, salavating and just staring at me, and
    showing traits of 'this is his territory', I would definetly not trust him. I
    may (after quite some time...) be able to relax a little, but there will always
    be a hint of "don't drop your guard Del, remember...HE IS A PIT BULL"!!
    Does this make me prejudiced, or does it merely show some sort of intelligence
    on my part, based on a prejudged opinion/feeling/experience I have formed about
    these killer dogs (not all are killers, mind you, it's up to you to pick the
    ones that aren't.). Has "prejudice" become a nasty word to describe hate and
    ignorance, when it could be thought of as intelligently acting on ones past
    experience? You know...it really is not fair for me to assume he is going to
    attack..All Pit Bulls don't attack...why should I not like this one? It really
    isn't fair, to assume they are ALL ALIKE!!!! Is it? All of them salivate and
    are protective of their territory. Go ahead honey,,, go in the back yard and
    play with Spike...I must show trust and fairness to all pit bulls because it is
    not Spikes fault others like him have maimed and killed.
    Having said that, who amoung us would allow their three year old little girl
    to roll around with sweet SPIKE in the backyard?. He wouldn't hurt a flea!! (no
    pun).
    If anyone would let their child play with 85 lbs. of muscle and teeth, ( lets
    be real..not prejudice, (I think?) or insensitive to something/someone, but you
    don't see too many Pit Bulls herding sheep ,do ya'?).. I don't feel as if I have
    to accept the situation and (1). worry all the time about the child (more than
    normal) or the Pit Bull...(2). feel uncomfortable and nervous (3.) probably
    make a fool of myself if the dog or the child were not in my sight.
    Who is to determine if MY personal experience warrants my fear of this
    situation? Am I acting out of ignorance, scared only because he looks scary? Or
    that his bark is hard to understand? Or did I see news footage of Police having
    to shoot some Pit Bulls because they would not stop attacking the neighbor
    children? Or is there a scar on my leg from being mauled by a Pit Bull. Who is
    going to know these things..other than I ? Will I be deemed PREJUDICE?
    If I picked up a snake and were bit, this would be the result of my ignorance
    and curiousity , the first time.
    If I do it a second time, thinking I owe the serpent population a fair shake,
    and that surely they all don't bite, and I'm bit again, this is an unfortunate
    situation, and I should try to remember what happens when I try to pick up a
    snake.
    I don't hate the snake, I just wish we could get used to being around together
    occasionally.
    The third time.... I look at a snake, (different snake mind you)... I,
    because of my preconceived notion or judgement of another snake, ie: prejudice,
    stay away from the snake...AND I tell my friends to stay away from snakes
    because of my past experience. Now it's like a a grass fire that is getting out
    of control, and more and more people start to HATE Snakes! I realize I've been
    referring to dogs and snakes....but the gap (concerning prejudice) from dogs to
    people is not a great one.
    I hope I am not offending anyone, as I swear with all I have that I don't
    mean to. I am trying to stay on level ground, and speak logically and address
    REAL issues.
    Eric is right, the percentage of health care personnel in America that were
    birthed and raised in places other than America is growing.
    My doctor is from Nigeria. He is the director of the Liver Association of
    Texas, St. Lukes Medical Center, Houston, Tx. His American English (many from
    the U.K.don't aknowledge we speak English) is great! I feel comfortable he
    did not rise to this position because a ' Nigerian Liver Director quota' had to
    be met, or there was no one available from ANYTOWN. USA. It was because he
    deserves it.
    I was just in the hospital for nine days...I had probably 10 Nigerian Nurses,
    one Asian, and one American male. This is just fact.
    Who did I like and feel more comfortable around? The American.
    This really looks bad coming from a person that likes to strive for equality
    and fairness in hiring and wages....BUT...I liked the American white guy.
    WHY?????? Because I'm an American white guy??
    Prejudice? Maybe... I had an extremely hard time understanding the Nigerians,
    (and trust me, I understand not understanding someone's dialect) especially when
    they wake me up and in a somewhat stacatic, forceful diction say I am giving you
    medicine..take this. TAke IT! The American and I spoke in terms that I'm used
    to.. here...in America.
    Again.. I mean absolutely no offense...I just feel this discord growing all
    around the world (my customer's of 22 years were from all over the world,
    Merchant Marine Trading VLCC's) and I need to discuss it, hopefully without
    bias. I believe we all do.
    I am almost done. I know this isn't TOTALLY related to HEPC and Liver
    malfunctions, but if ya' got it... your probably gonna' have to deal with this.
    Many people from the Middle East have very different ideas about health
    issues, especially regarding eating and what we call, "going to the bathroom".
    Between my travels ( I circumnavigated the World in 18 months with a backpack,
    hitchiking mostly and meeting some wonderful people), and my carreer, I became
    prejudice (it now seems) because I refused to shake hands or touch anyone from
    those regions.
    Most...maybe not all..don't use toilet paper...only water and a bare hand to
    clean themselves. It starts in Turkey/Israel and goes to Asia.
    Why would I treat ALL Mid Easterners with prejudice? That's not fair, is it?
    Maybe the Captain did use toilet paper... (they also eat with no
    untensils...bare hand, or a small piece of bread ) but should I... would you....
    shake hands..sit down and share food with people that daily practice these
    EXTREMELY unhealthy methods?
    NOPE! I had to exercise the ability God gave me to do what's right for me. To
    use my brain he graciously gave me to make the best decisions for me. To learn
    from previous experience, to be able to make a judgement, BEFORE (pre) or after
    the situation arises. Even though the ship I'm on today may practice sanitary
    conditions, I don't know that. Because of the 100's of ships from the same
    region previously in the PORT of Houston, I feel obligated to myself to say,
    well....sorry Captain...I will not shake your hand or dine with you. Even if the
    Captain practices sanitary health methods, I don't know if if the Chief
    Engineer, the Deckhands.. oh...don't forget the Chief Steward!! (cook) etc....
    or the rest of his countrymen, or "his kind" as I guess could be said, can be
    trusted.
    Prejudice-- HIS KIND....sounds nasty, doesn't it?
    It can flare up anywhere, anytime. It is ugly, demeaning, hateful, and grows
    fast. One day a grass fire...the next half of the Sierra's.
    No matter how frivolous what I've written may seem, I am sincere in my concern
    about this. I will do my best to best to keep to HEPC related issues in the
    future, but I... like you, Barb, have a hard time leaving some issues alone.
    Please comtinue to state your feelings and viewpoints honestly...If you don't,
    I couldn't know who you are.
    Deliman
    BARB <irisdancinghorse@...
    wELL iAM JUST GONNA JUMP IN AND GO OUT ON A LIMB HERE; LOL. NO
    REALLY; Pam posted earlier if anyone read it that woman have a
    better svr chance of non relapse or whatever, I was speed reading:(
    but.....fact of the matter is whatever neck of the woods you live in
    there are good and bad people, and we need to make this world a
    better place to live and offer hope to all who have hcv is just my
    humble opinion, and as for the slashing of the minorities,; well iam
    not real big into that!!!!there is a name for that called prejudice;
    and I dont think this is the illness nor the site for that/when we
    prejudge people we tend to make ourselves look better? why? we arent
    better we are all sick w/a devastating illness, read these boards
    many people struggling not w/false hopes, just hopes of a new life.
    nothing in my opinion wrong w/that:)I wrote a poem this am, and will
    post it sometime when things simmer down, but my blood gets a bit
    boiled when i hear of harshness said about third world countries, I
    was born in one, work w/ a disperity group, and in no way do I think
    third world countries are stupid, and many fine doctors like my hep
    dr. Coleman smith came from austalia:) hes world reknowned. hes a
    big tp surgeon and hep dr. I would much rather place my trust in
    someone whom is honest forthright than to place it in the hands of
    someone whom doesnt do any good but whine!!!!!!!!!! we are here for
    a purpose and none of us have doctorate degrees to my knowledge we
    are just humans trying to be the best help we can to those whom are
    sick. I have a friend right now ready to go out w/this illness, and
    she is very sick, and wont do another tp.I wont say iam not angry
    because iam afraid to loose her. lets count our blessings each day,
    and try to cheer those on whom have had the opportunity to do tx.
    and get a good readout svr:) live in the solution not the problem is
    my motto:)and Iam one whom cant ever do interferon based tx. and
    suffer all the same symptoms of those whom are on tx too. but I dont
    whine, I would rather be proactive and spend my time going out
    helping others than to stay so dang focused on ME ME ME: ok I said
    my peace, its ok to have a pity party i did this am for a short
    while, but ...........when we wallow in it we become a pain in the a
    tripple s to many. thanks for hearing me out. Iam a strong headed
    woman whom is a strait shooter and the best we can find is a honest
    friend:) Best wishes bayla and I know your come up ok:) to those
    whom dont, we have two choices ,tp's if need be, or tx if poss. but
    for me, I just live w/the now, and how can I help another and make
    this world a better place to live in:) hugs barb ps. alfie I hope
    your ok, and Iam all for anyone whom tells their tx stories in
    here, its the big x whining I cant tolerate, but thats just me, some
    might not mind it? hugs to all of us sticken w/this incidious
    disease, and remember ~That every good friend was once a stranger~
    Loreena Mckinnett from quinlin road:)
    btw; she lost her fiance' to a boating accident in canada, shes a
    singer, and turned something realllllllllll neg. into a pos. by
    endorsing more sonic or solor devices to be used in the big
    boundaries of waters in canada for drowning victims, and is a now
    appointed cleric to Canada:) I honour her:)irisdancinghorse

  6. ellie140 on 2006-11-24 17:06:26.892030

    wish i was that smart Eric

  7. ellie140 on 2006-11-25 00:40:20.204496

    Barb ,i wasnt talking good and bad just people of different orgins being able
    to understand one another in a hospital setting ,pretty critical dont ya think
    ,all speek broken english with thick accents and i know from other medical
    proffesionals who can speek english , they say its a joke and very dangerious .
    Some may want this care but not me and as far as my sub starndard school chums
    who are docs now you want em you got em ,i wouldnt let them take a wart off the
    k9s butt . Dont know if you noticed but the medical system here is a disaster
    ,high script costs medacare people getting cut off in the middle of tx to name
    just 2 ,it goes on and on, sad for supposidly the greast country in the world
    ,wouldnt you say , express your opinion we all got a few kinda like news paper
    to be read and thrown away . Eric

  8. ellie140 on 2006-11-26 03:14:25.264915

    Hay Mike, was up dude , i know the sky and moon, no how ya doing on tx did you
    find those links i sent you . Eric

  9. ellie140 on 2006-11-25 23:18:52.965389

    Mike, you notice you havent seen the real mouths out here ,the ones who didnt
    get past tom dick and jane reading in 1st grade there an inspetation to me as
    our good buddy mike puts it , but i guess he likes the drink too ,you know it
    makes you miss a key now and then but he really should not be drinking his
    little ferry told me its bad for his health. He should know better hes in
    medical services , .Mike medical you posted a question you could have had an
    answer from NIH in 10 mineuts but you want to play kid games i understand i dont
    have hcv so it does not matter to me wish you the best with tx. Eric

  10. ellie140 on 2006-11-26 15:50:35.725882

    Mike their are quite a few getting bad post tx sides too that seem to be for
    good ,eyes ,joints, heart ,memory to name a few . I havent looked for any stats
    on that but i guess im going to have to since i did 18 months and no safty data
    was availble at the time on over 48 weeks and even though its been just under 3
    years svr for me i understand the sids can creap up on you .Not that their is
    anthying i can do about it now but be preped for the worst . What med are you
    taking pegintron pegsays infergen it makes a difference. Eric

  11. tracey_1300 on 2006-11-27 13:36:20.671700

    If you have better numbers, please post them.
    Sally Hines <shines@...
    estimate from some years back.
    Currently those numbers are rising. Its higher than 20% with complications.
    Sally

  12. ellie140 on 2006-11-27 17:04:43.286572

    Del ,also it keeps the board hot and interesting ,heck if we all agreed it would
    be a bore . their only e mails not like a bar room braw , but i will admit at
    times they can cut deep . Eric

  13. ellie140 on 2006-11-28 14:03:42.390664

    Del ,sure we can, but we can disagree too,right .Eric

  14. lenore_170 on 2006-11-28 06:58:27.174772

    In the words of Mr. Rodney King...."Can't we ALL JUST GET ALONG???hahaha!
    couldn't help it..
    Deliman
    eric snyder <1122snyder@...
    could be true but we are not talking about spelling are we Eric

  15. ellie140 on 2006-11-29 16:11:43.580273

    Mike ,but im not a doc in life and death sits . And like i said i dont get on
    this thing without a drink to dull the bordum at least on the bull boards ,part
    of the fun for me . eric.

  16. ellie140 on 2006-11-29 10:26:26.121194

    Oh Mike, next time you need a serious operation come on down to Maryland . Its
    fun im a thrill seaker and love russian roulett . Eric

  17. tracey_1300 on 2006-11-29 18:26:11.746105

    You were talking about effective communication, of which spelling is an
    important part.
    eric snyder <1122snyder@...
    talking about spelling are we Eric

  18. ellie140 on 2006-11-30 11:26:06.079372

    But then im not so sure mike when its time for me to play on this i do it with
    a bottle of moet chandon 68 to dull my sences from the bordum . Eric

  19. ellie140 on 2006-12-01 07:35:15.731711

    could be true but we are not talking about spelling are we Eric

  20. tracey_1300 on 2006-12-01 19:57:40.523417

    Eric, I'll bet most of them can spell better than you can . . .
    eric snyder <1122snyder@...
    a serious procedure and when nurse to doc, or doc to doc ,patient to nurse, or
    patient to doc, communican is poor, to put it mildely , its a bad situation
    ,when so many of the med names sound alike and the chance of a mistake is very
    high anyway and i as an american speaking english and cant understand the doc
    or nurse and know they cant understand each other it worries me ,hay if people
    are comfortable with that so be it , they can have them, not that im pre
    judgeing anyone when they cant speak english or broken english or speak broken
    english through a thick accent its scariy. I would not care in most sits but
    this is much different . Their were enough fatal hosp mistakes before this i was
    just hoping they would kill me and not put me in a nursing home wating for
    someone to change my dyper , you should have seen the obvious commication erros,
    glad i had a little medical experance or they would have
    killed me or put me in a nursing home . eric

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  21. ellie140 on 2006-12-02 00:55:02.683143

    Del, i was recently in the hosp for a serious procedure and when nurse to doc,
    or doc to doc ,patient to nurse, or patient to doc, communican is poor, to put
    it mildely , its a bad situation ,when so many of the med names sound alike and
    the chance of a mistake is very high anyway and i as an american speaking
    english and cant understand the doc or nurse and know they cant understand each
    other it worries me ,hay if people are comfortable with that so be it , they can
    have them, not that im pre judgeing anyone when they cant speak english or
    broken english or speak broken english through a thick accent its scariy. I
    would not care in most sits but this is much different . Their were enough fatal
    hosp mistakes before this i was just hoping they would kill me and not put me in
    a nursing home wating for someone to change my dyper , you should have seen the
    obvious commication erros, glad i had a little medical experance or they would
    have killed me or put me in a nursing home . eric

  22. lenore_170 on 2006-12-02 10:17:10.455933

    Hi Barb.
    I appreciate your openess and honesty regarding this 'growing' feeling of
    prejudice.
    Frioc, your feelings too.
    My writing is not focused on HEPC and I know it's wrong. to use this forum to
    express myself...but this is just so important to me. I hope you will forgive
    me.
    Open communication is the key to understanding.
    Prejudice, as we all know. is alive and well in America, and the rest of the
    world. We are ALL prejudiced to a degree... and I think it is based on past
    experience and general good 'ol common sense. American Heritage Dictionary~~
    The act or state of holding unreasonable preconceived judgments or
    convictions~~..... lends credibility to my thoughts. The question is..What is
    unreasonable?
    I'm not sure if this is prejudice, please let me know what you think......
    If I enter someones home (invited of course..haha), and a Teacup Chihuahua
    comes runinng up to me I would not be noticeably "on guard" to fend this mongrol
    off.
    However, if a Pit Bull is in the room, salavating and just staring at me, and
    showing traits of 'this is his territory', I would definetly not trust him. I
    may (after quite some time...) be able to relax a little, but there will always
    be a hint of "don't drop your guard Del, remember...HE IS A PIT BULL"!!
    Does this make me prejudiced, or does it merely show some sort of intelligence
    on my part, based on a prejudged opinion/feeling/experience I have formed about
    these killer dogs (not all are killers, mind you, it's up to you to pick the
    ones that aren't.). Has "prejudice" become a nasty word to describe hate and
    ignorance, when it could be thought of as intelligently acting on ones past
    experience? You know...it really is not fair for me to assume he is going to
    attack..All Pit Bulls don't attack...why should I not like this one? It really
    isn't fair, to assume they are ALL ALIKE!!!! Is it? All of them salivate and
    are protective of their territory. Go ahead honey,,, go in the back yard and
    play with Spike...I must show trust and fairness to all pit bulls because it is
    not Spikes fault others like him have maimed and killed.
    Having said that, who amoung us would allow their three year old little girl
    to roll around with sweet SPIKE in the backyard?. He wouldn't hurt a flea!! (no
    pun).
    If anyone would let their child play with 85 lbs. of muscle and teeth, ( lets
    be real..not prejudice, (I think?) or insensitive to something/someone, but you
    don't see too many Pit Bulls herding sheep ,do ya'?).. I don't feel as if I have
    to accept the situation and (1). worry all the time about the child (more than
    normal) or the Pit Bull...(2). feel uncomfortable and nervous (3.) probably
    make a fool of myself if the dog or the child were not in my sight.
    Who is to determine if MY personal experience warrants my fear of this
    situation? Am I acting out of ignorance, scared only because he looks scary? Or
    that his bark is hard to understand? Or did I see news footage of Police having
    to shoot some Pit Bulls because they would not stop attacking the neighbor
    children? Or is there a scar on my leg from being mauled by a Pit Bull. Who is
    going to know these things..other than I ? Will I be deemed PREJUDICE?
    If I picked up a snake and were bit, this would be the result of my ignorance
    and curiousity , the first time.
    If I do it a second time, thinking I owe the serpent population a fair shake,
    and that surely they all don't bite, and I'm bit again, this is an unfortunate
    situation, and I should try to remember what happens when I try to pick up a
    snake.
    I don't hate the snake, I just wish we could get used to being around together
    occasionally.
    The third time.... I look at a snake, (different snake mind you)... I,
    because of my preconceived notion or judgement of another snake, ie: prejudice,
    stay away from the snake...AND I tell my friends to stay away from snakes
    because of my past experience. Now it's like a a grass fire that is getting out
    of control, and more and more people start to HATE Snakes!
    I realize I've been referring to dogs and snakes....but the gap (concerning
    prejudice) from dogs to people is not a great one.
    I hope I am not offending anyone, as I swear with all I have that I don't
    mean to. I am trying to stay on level ground, and speak logically and address
    REAL issues.
    Eric is right, the percentage of health care personnel in America that were
    birthed and raised in places other than America is growing.
    My doctor is from Nigeria. He is the director of the Liver Association of
    Texas, St. Lukes Medical Center, Houston, Tx. His American English (many from
    the U.K.don't aknowledge we speak English) is great! I feel comfortable he
    did not rise to this position because a ' Nigerian Liver Director quota' had to
    be met, or there was no one available from ANYTOWN. USA. It was because he
    deserves it.
    I was just in the hospital for nine days...I had probably 10 Nigerian Nurses,
    one Asian, and one American male. This is just fact.
    Who did I like and feel more comfortable around? The American.
    This really looks bad coming from a person that likes to strive for equality
    and fairness in hiring and wages....BUT...I liked the American white guy.
    WHY?????? Because I'm an American white guy??
    Prejudice? Maybe... I had an extremely hard time understanding the Nigerians,
    (and trust me, I understand not understanding someone's dialect) especially when
    they wake me up and in a somewhat stacatic, forceful diction say I am giving you
    medicine..take this. The American and I spoke in terms that I'm used to..
    here...in America.
    Again.. I mean absolutely no offense...I just feel this discord growing all
    around the world (my customer's of 22 years were from all over the world,
    Merchant Marine Trading VLCC's) and I need to discuss it, hopefully without
    bias. I believe we all do.
    I am almost done. I know this isn't TOTALLY related to HEPC and Liver
    malfunctions, but if ya' got it... your probably gonna' have to deal with this.
    Many people from the Middle East have very different ideas about health
    issues, especially regarding eating and what we call, "going to the bathroom".
    Between my travels ( I circumnavigated the World in 18 months with a backpack,
    hitchiking mostly and meeting some wonderful people), and my carreer, I became
    prejudice (it seems) because I refused to shake hands or touch anyone from those
    regions. Most...maybe not all..don't use toilet paper...only water and a bare
    hand to clean themselves. It starts in Turkey/Israel and goes to Asia.
    Why would I treat ALL Mid Easterners with prejudice? That's not fair, is it?
    Maybe the Captain did use toilet paper... (they also eat with no
    untensils...bare hand, or a small piece of bread ) but should I... would you....
    shake hands..sit down and share food with people that daily practice these
    EXTREMELY unhealthy methods?
    NOPE! I had to exercise the ability God gave me to do what's right for me. To
    use my brain to make the best decisions for me. To learn from previous
    experience, to be able to make a judgement, BEFORE (pre) or after the situation
    arises. Even though the ship I'm on today may practice sanitary conditions, I
    don't know that. Because of the 100's of ships from the same region previously
    in the PORT of Houston, I feel obligated to myself to say, well....sorry
    Captain...I will not shake your hand or dine with you. Even if the Captain
    practices sanitary health methods, I don't know if if the Chief Engineer, the
    Deckhands.. oh...don't forget the Chief Steward!! (cook) etc.... or the rest of
    his countrymen, or "his kind" as I guess could be said, can be trusted.
    Prejudice-- HIS KIND....sounds nasty, doesn't it?
    It can flare up anywhere, anytime. It is ugly, demeaning, hateful, and grows
    fast.
    No matter how stupid what I've written may seem, I am sincere in my concern
    about this. I will do my best to best to keep to HEPC related issues in the
    future, but I... like you, Barb, have a hard time leaving some issues alone.
    Deliman
    BARB <irisdancinghorse@...
    wELL iAM JUST GONNA JUMP IN AND GO OUT ON A LIMB HERE; LOL. NO
    REALLY; Pam posted earlier if anyone read it that woman have a
    better svr chance of non relapse or whatever, I was speed reading:(
    but.....fact of the matter is whatever neck of the woods you live in
    there are good and bad people, and we need to make this world a
    better place to live and offer hope to all who have hcv is just my
    humble opinion, and as for the slashing of the minorities,; well iam
    not real big into that!!!!there is a name for that called prejudice;
    and I dont think this is the illness nor the site for that/when we
    prejudge people we tend to make ourselves look better? why? we arent
    better we are all sick w/a devastating illness, read these boards
    many people struggling not w/false hopes, just hopes of a new life.
    nothing in my opinion wrong w/that:)I wrote a poem this am, and will
    post it sometime when things simmer down, but my blood gets a bit
    boiled when i hear of harshness said about third world countries, I
    was born in one, work w/ a disperity group, and in no way do I think
    third world countries are stupid, and many fine doctors like my hep
    dr. Coleman smith came from austalia:) hes world reknowned. hes a
    big tp surgeon and hep dr. I would much rather place my trust in
    someone whom is honest forthright than to place it in the hands of
    someone whom doesnt do any good but whine!!!!!!!!!! we are here for
    a purpose and none of us have doctorate degrees to my knowledge we
    are just humans trying to be the best help we can to those whom are
    sick. I have a friend right now ready to go out w/this illness, and
    she is very sick, and wont do another tp.I wont say iam not angry
    because iam afraid to loose her. lets count our blessings each day,
    and try to cheer those on whom have had the opportunity to do tx.
    and get a good readout svr:) live in the solution not the problem is
    my motto:)and Iam one whom cant ever do interferon based tx. and
    suffer all the same symptoms of those whom are on tx too. but I dont
    whine, I would rather be proactive and spend my time going out
    helping others than to stay so dang focused on ME ME ME: ok I said
    my peace, its ok to have a pity party i did this am for a short
    while, but ...........when we wallow in it we become a pain in the a
    tripple s to many. thanks for hearing me out. Iam a strong headed
    woman whom is a strait shooter and the best we can find is a honest
    friend:) Best wishes bayla and I know your come up ok:) to those
    whom dont, we have two choices ,tp's if need be, or tx if poss. but
    for me, I just live w/the now, and how can I help another and make
    this world a better place to live in:) hugs barb ps. alfie I hope
    your ok, and Iam all for anyone whom tells their tx stories in
    here, its the big x whining I cant tolerate, but thats just me, some
    might not mind it? hugs to all of us sticken w/this incidious
    disease, and remember ~That every good friend was once a stranger~
    Loreena Mckinnett from quinlin road:)
    btw; she lost her fiance' to a boating accident in canada, shes a
    singer, and turned something realllllllllll neg. into a pos. by
    endorsing more sonic or solor devices to be used in the big
    boundaries of waters in canada for drowning victims, and is a now
    appointed cleric to Canada:) I honour her:)irisdancinghorse

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