October
2001
Many who gave blood because of Sept. 11 will learn that they have HCV. A subcommittee of this support group will make a plan for dealing with a large group of new hep C'ers (flyers? and phone calls? to doctors & clinics????). If you can help, phone or email us (see box @ lower right)
Tai Than Le, Grand Master (Oriental Art of Healing) -- October 17

www.migrainespecialty.com - For 28 years has combined eastern and western medicine to help with Hep C and other ailments. 28 years He will teach us self-help relaxing and mediatation techniques. Bring a partner, a mat or sheet, and wear comfortable clothes
Location: SGH Conf. Rm B&C (see "Our Meetings" below right)

Meeting Agenda:
6:30 p.m. (sharp) - Theme Song: I Will Survive
6:35 - 6:45 announcements
6:45 - 8:00 Tai Than Le, bring mat or sheet & partner
8:00 - 8:30 (or earlier) questions/answers 'til we adjourn
Upcoming Agendas:


Nov 21 - SCC Classrm 3&4, Daniel MacKenzie, biomeridain therapy
Dec 19 - SCC Classrm 3&4, To Be Announced
More News

Our Meetings: Our Meetings: 3rd Wednesday of every month. Oct 17 in Conf. Rooms B&C (across the hall from cafeteria) @ SGH (Sutter Ceneral Hospital), 2801 L St (28th & L).
Contact Us: Phone number: (916) 491-4942
Our Web Site> www.sacmall.net/transplant/hepc.html
Email: dck@innercite.com (include "I Will Survive" in subject line or your message might be delected before being read).

* Time to Renew your subscription to I Will Survive. Members who could not contribute last year want to thank those of you whose paid subscriptions made it possible for them to receive our newsletter. Hopefully, some more of you will be able to provide support for 2001.

If you want to be included on our mailing/emailing list and you can afford to include a check, make it to Eve Cragen, Treasurer I Will Survive, P.O. Bx 2180, Loomis, CA 95650, for:
$24 if you want the Newsletter by U.S. mail
$15 if you get the Newsletter from the website (if you wish, each month we'll email a link to you)
$ 0 if, right now, you can't afford to pay dues. In which case "I Will Survive" will mail monthly Newsletters to you. Please contribute to the "Donations" Box at the meetings as you are able.


From the Oct 2001 Hep C Connections:
..The fatigue of chronic HCV infection is more severe and difficult to treat and is associated with greater feelings of anger and hostility than with these symptoms in other chronic but non-liver diseases.
..There is evidence of biological processes associated with HCV that cause elevated choline/creatine ratios in regions of the brain.
..Smoking increases the severity of hepatic lesions in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
..Your body affects your mind: 1) the physical effects of the virus can leave you feeling tired and emotionally drained. 2) Side effects of medication as well as symptoms of the disease can make you irritable or dull your thinking power, leaving you feeling confused. 3) Your feelings can affect your actions. If you're upset about being sick, you might not do what you have to do to get better. 4) Stress can weaken your bodies immune system, lowering its abiility to fight off the disease.

From the Oct 2001 HCV Advocate:
..For HCV genotype 1, Peg-Intron plus Ribavirin appears to result in only a 1% increase in SVR (30% for Peg-Intron/Rebetol versus 29% for Rebetron). Let's hope for better results and for simpler dosage instructions for Pegasys/ribavirin.
..Cryoglobulinemia is believed to have an autoimmune component. When the blood is cooled, the cryoglobulins in the body clump together causing the blood to thicken or "gel" thus restricting blood flow. Mixed types II and III is now known to be secondary to HCV. The most characteristic signs are generalized weakness, joint pain and purplish blotches on the skin. To minimize cryoglobulemia symptoms, avoid the cold, wear protective clothing when its cold, exercise regularly, get enough rest, eat a healthy well balanced diet, and ask your doctor if hep C treatment might help reduce your symptoms.
..Protease inhibitors administered to patients coinfected with HIV and HCV resulted in less necroinflammatory and fibrotic (liver) lesions. Whether HCV increases the risk of protease inhibitors induced hepatotoxicity remains inconclusive..
If you have no money or insurance call:
Sacramento Clinical Trials
Schering's Commitment to Care 1-800-521-7157
Infergen's Safety Net Program 1-888-508-8088
Roche's Patient Assistance 1-800-443-6676
Dr. Gish, et al, call: Pacific Hepatology, (916) 443-0503
Dr. Pimstone UCD Med Center, (916) 734-1557
Dr. Rossaro UCD Med Cntr, call: Katherine Suggett (916) 734-8696



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