I am tired and frightened... (sleeping, cost, effects, negative)

[RamenAddict]

Originally Posted by jazzcat22

So sorry about all this. Hopefully it won't get to the point where you will have to fight your insurance company for the testing/treatment (don't see how they can refuse, but insurance companies work in mysterious ways), but I'm sure you will prevail.


That's crazy that you had a TIA in your 50s with normal to low BP!

Unfortunately, Hep C treatments are insanely expensive- like $1000 per pill. I believe some cheaper alternatives may be out now, but they are still only slightly less expensive. I think that there are copay programs if you get approved so it is not expensive for the patient, but insurance companies don’t want to pay $50-80K for the treatment. It is unfortunate and hopefully Sheena will get approved.

FWIW, my mom had a small stroke in her 30s and is 72 now and is fine. These things happen to relatively young and healthy people. She was going through some stuff at the time (also had Graves‘ disease). She hasn’t had any recurrent strokes or TIAs, although the Graves came back in her 50s.

[SimplySagacious]

Originally Posted by RamenAddict

Unfortunately, Hep C treatments are insanely expensive- like $1000 per pill.

Highway robbery.

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

She could ask the doctor about milk thistle, which helps the liver cleanse itself. That might be a good idea.

It could possibly help to improve symptoms at the very least. Most Hep C patients are low on zinc and vit. D too, so increasing them might improve symptoms as well. Preferably from food sources for better absorption and utilization.

[matisse12]

Originally Posted by jazzcat22

That's crazy that you had a TIA in your 50s with normal to low BP!

Strokes and TIA's are not caused just by high blood pressure. High blood pressure is one of the contributing causes. Atrial fibrillation (interrupted heart rhythm) can also be a cause and also the causes below.

Causes

"A transient ischemic attack (TIA) has the same origins as that of an ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke. In an ischemic stroke, a clot blocks the blood supply to part of your brain. In a transient ischemic attack, unlike a stroke, the blockage is brief, and there is usually no permanent damage.

The underlying cause of a TIA often is a buildup of cholesterol-containing fatty deposits called plaques (atherosclerosis) in an artery or one of its branches that supplies oxygen and nutrients to your brain.

Plaques can decrease the blood flow through an artery or lead to the development of a clot. A blood clot moving to an artery that supplies your brain from another part of your body, most commonly from your heart, also may cause a TIA."
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-...s/syc-20355679


"A stroke, or "brain attack," occurs when blood circulation to the brain fails. Brain cells can die from decreased blood flow and the resulting lack of oxygen.

There are two broad categories of stroke: those caused by a blockage of blood flow and those caused by bleeding into the brain.

A blockage of a blood vessel in the brain or neck, called an ischemic stroke, is the most frequent cause of stroke and is responsible for about 80 percent of strokes. These blockages stem from three conditions: the formation of a clot within a blood vessel of the brain or neck, called thrombosis; the movement of a clot from another part of the body such as the heart to the brain, called embolism; or a severe narrowing of an artery in or leading to the brain, called stenosis.

Bleeding into the brain or the spaces surrounding the brain causes the second type of stroke, called hemorrhagic stroke."
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/...venting-Stroke

[coschristi]

Originally Posted by sheena12

Yes. I am freaking out. I don't know how this could have happened. The only thing I know, is that as a student nurse, while doing a rotation at a County run nursing home in a borough of NYC, I inadvertently stuck myself with a used needle.
That was in the 1980s. Their main fear was AIDS (and a law suit) I was given a course of gammaglobulin.

I am terrified.

Oh, I’m sorry, you poor thing! I knew it sounded like your immune system was in overdrive; I’m so glad the doctor ran that test.

You know, I’ve known a lot of people who had to get treated for HepC & not one of them had any problems with it. I’m not just saying that to make you feel better, it’s the truth.

Many of them, I know for a fact did not use IV drugs & the way they could have caught it remains a mystery. I think we have a lot yet to learn about this HepC.

[suzy_q2010]

Originally Posted by sheena12

I haven't even been called by the liver specialist. There is no testing or treatment without my insurance company's approval. They have said "no" before.

For those without insurance there is a patient assistance program.

https://www.pparx.org/prescription_a...th_for_sovaldi

[charmed hour]

Originally Posted by coschristi

Oh, I’m sorry, you poor thing! I knew it sounded like your immune system was in overdrive; I’m so glad the doctor ran that test.

You know, I’ve known a lot of people who had to get treated for HepC & not one of them had any problems with it. I’m not just saying that to make you feel better, it’s the truth.

Many of them, I know for a fact did not use IV drugs & the way they could have caught it remains a mystery. I think we have a lot yet to learn about this HepC.

It’s reported that 75% of baby boomers are HepC positive and were likely infected in the 70s & 80s. It’s unclear of the whys for higher rates, as many self report they were not IV drug users, other than HepC was more prevalent than and universal precautions weren’t yet stringent. The CDC is calling HepC among Boomers the “silent epidemic “ because they have unlikely been infected for many years unknowingly. The suggestion is all Boomers get tested.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by charmed hour

It’s reported that 75% of baby boomers are HepC positive and were likely infected in the 70s & 80s. It’s unclear of the whys for higher rates, as many self report they were not IV drug users, other than HepC was more prevalent than and universal precautions weren’t yet stringent. The CDC is calling HepC among Boomers the “silent epidemic “ because they have unlikely been infected for many years unknowingly. The suggestion is all Boomers get tested.

Source? I never heard of this.

[charmed hour]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Source? I never heard of this.

The CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/knowmorehepatiti...et-boomers.pdf
Sorry for clarity, 75% of cases are Baby Boomers. The stat is 1 in 3 Boomers are HepC positive.

[suzy_q2010]

Originally Posted by charmed hour

The CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/knowmorehepatiti...et-boomers.pdf
Sorry for clarity, 75% of cases are Baby Boomers. The stat is 1 in 3 Boomers are HepC positive.

Looks like 1 in 30 boomers are infected with hep C.

https://www.piedmont.org/living-bett...th-hepatitis-c

[charmed hour]

Originally Posted by suzy_q2010

Looks like 1 in 30 boomers are infected with hep C.

https://www.piedmont.org/living-bett...th-hepatitis-c

Fat fingers + tiny phone keyboard + not wearing my glasses= missing 0. 😂