Welcome to Hepatitis C Network, Texas Inc.
A Texas Coastal Bend Hepatitis C Support Group
The following Hepatitis C information has been put together by Hepatitis C Network Texas, a Corpus Christi, Texas community based Support Group whose meetings are open and free to the public. Support group meetings are held every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month (temporarily during June-December 2007 meetings will only be on the 1st Tuesday of the month) at:
First Christian Church 7:00 PM
510 Santa Fe Room 603
Corpus Christi, Texas
Meetings are not faith based, and attendance and group participation is kept strictly confidential. Support group facilitators and others have personal experience with Hepatitis C and medication regimes to cure Hepatitis C. For additional Hepatitis C support and information call: Billy (Hepatitis C Network, Texas Executive Director and group facilitator) at 361-993-9266 or 361-215-9950, or other Hepatitis C Network Facilitators at 361-944-7606 or Jeanie at 857-0694. We are not 24-7 full time facilitators, so if we do not answer immediately, please leave your first name and a phone number and we will call you back as soon as possible, but be assured that we will call you back.
KNOW THE FACTS ABOUT HEPATITIS C
Hepatitis C Basics
· Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver
· Hepatitis C is an RNA virus, meaning it has only RNA in its nuclear structure(no DNA).
· Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)is a blood born virus (blood to blood exposure)
· HCV was not identified until 1989.
· Many people contracted HCV prior to 1992 through infected blood transfusions.
· Approximately 8-10 thousand Americans die annually of complications related to HCV.
· Approximately 4.5 million Americans have contracted HCV.
· The CDC estimates that 6,000 people in Nueces County have HCV
· As many as 80% of people who have contracted HCV will develop chronic HCV.
· Most people who have chronic HCV do not have symptoms, thus the reason HCV is sometimes called a silent killer.
· Hepatitis C causes liver damage as the virus progressively kills liver cells and tissue.
· Scar tissue takes the place of dead liver cells and tissue, leading to cirrhosis, which is severe scaring of liver tissue.
· People can not live without a functional liver.
· Drinking alcohol increases progression of HCV.
· There are no vaccines to prevent HCV, but there are currently three main FDA approved treatments for its eradication.
How is Hepatitis C Transmitted
- Only through direct blood to blood contact
- Sharing equipment for injection of drugs
- Also possible by sharing equipment to snort drugs such as cocaine
- Needles used for tattooing
- Sharing of personal Items such as: razors toothbrushes, fingernail clippers
Are family and Friends at risk in relation to contracting Hep C
- Not unless there is direct blood to blood contact with a person with HCV
- If a family member cuts or scraps ones self, then they should be particularly cautious not
to contact blood of a person who has HCV.
How does Hepatitis C affect the liver, and why is the liver so important.
- The liver is one of the largest organs in the human body, and is responsible for some 500
bodily functions (supplies to the blood stream nutrients absorbed by the intestine, stores
vitamins and minerals, synthesizes proteins (all blood proteins), enzymes, and products
for blood clotting.
- You can not live without a liver, as all blood coming from the stomach, intestines, pancreas
and the spleen must pass through the liver before returning to the heart.
- Once HCV is in ones blood stream, the virus begins gradually killing liver cells and liver
tissue. This process causes inflammation of the liver (hepatitis). Scar tissue takes the
place of liver tissue killed by HCV. The scaring progressively intensifies to cirrhosis.
Cirrhosis stops the liver from performing its normal bodily functions and restricts or ceases
the normal flow of blood through the liver to the heart.
What are the progressive symptoms and side affects of Hep C.
- Flu-like symptoms like nausea, fatigue, fever, headaches, loss of appetite, abdominal pain,
muscle and joint pain, itching..
- Inflammation of the liver.
- Increased ALT liver enzymes in the blood (enzymes released when liver cells die)
- Sometimes jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).
- In progressive HCV: weakened blood vessels due to blood pressure build up at the liver, which can cause fluid build up in the abdomen and sometimes bleeding in the esophagus and stomach.
- In advance stages cancer is possible
The three main FDA approved medications for the eradication of Hepatitis C
At present laboratory prepared large doses of Interferon (a natural immune substance which helps to prevent the spread of a virus from one cell to another) administered through injection, in conjunction with the oral administered anti-viral drug Ribivirin, is the only FDA approved treatment These cures are not 100% effective, and cause side affects some people are unable to tolerate. FDA approved Injectable interferon products are: Peg-Intron (Schering-Plough Laboratories) Pegasys(Roche Laboratories) and Infergen(InterMune Laboratories).
This Hepatitis C Network, Texas web site is continuing to be developed for up to date support, information and awareness relating to Hepatitis C.
Two great additional sites for up to date information on Hepatitis C and its cure are:
Texas Liver Coalition
Hepatitis C Information Central
Hepatitis C Network, Texas is a 501 (C) (3) non profit support group
You can write to us at: Hepatitis C Network
PO Box 61061
Corpus Christi, Texas 78466
Or email us at apogon2@grandecom.net
We look forward to talking to you, or better yet meeting with you at one of our open, but confidential, support group meetings.
Sincerely
Billy E. Fuls
Volunteer Executive Director and Support Group Facilitator
Hepatitis C Network, Texas is partially funded by the Texas Liver Coalition, St. Luke's Center for Liver Disease, Houston, Texas