Danny

[Guest guest]

Well, here. Am again. My name is Tommy and my husband Danny went the doc today

and confirmed he has hep c. Well, where do we go from here? Doc said treatment

is 6 to 12 months and $5000. Holy shit! Yep, that's what I said. We're trying

for Medicaid but he probably makes too much. Not poor enough for indigent care

and too rich for assistance. We don't have insurance through our business.

Checked and he's self employed and they won't cover him. I love him and our kids

need him around for a long life. I just want to crawl under a rock. Just venting

to anyone who will hear me. Sincerely, Mrs. Tommy Clifton

[Guest guest]

Dear Mrs. Clifton,

Wow, I am so sorry to hear this. I don't have any idea what I can do for you but tell you to stay focus and positive. I hope Don, our fearless leader here, will have some ideas for you.

I am on my 16th week of a 24 week schedule. I do have insurance and when I see how much the meds cost I almost choke. The cost is $2300 per month. I am so fortunate to have insurance and hope you can find a way to get your husband the treatment he needs. It's so hard to find out you have this virus let alone figure how you can afford to treat it.

I am wishing you a way to find the path to get him well.

Take care,

Donna

[ ] Danny

Well, here. Am again. My name is Tommy and my husband Danny went the doc today and confirmed he has hep c. Well, where do we go from here? Doc said treatment is 6 to 12 months and $5000. Holy shit! Yep, that's what I said. We're trying for Medicaid but he probably makes too much. Not poor enough for indigent care and too rich for assistance. We don't have insurance through our business. Checked and he's self employed and they won't cover him. I love him and our kids need him around for a long life. I just want to crawl under a rock. Just venting to anyone who will hear me. Sincerely, Mrs. Tommy Clifton

[Guest guest]

Hi Tommy,

I'm SuziQ. I've had Hep c over 44 years, I'm 76 and have not treated, so it is

possible to live with Hep C. I have no real symptoms still as some others do.

First, as Don says, you need to learn about Hep C. There is an excellent online

book called Choices. You can simply type in Hep C Choices or go to

hepcchallenge.org and look for the book Choices.

Second, if treatment becomes necessary, many of the pharmaceutical companies DO

help.

Sorry, but I am just beat tonight--been up since 6am and it is 10pm. I'll send

more tomorrow, but did want to say hello and welcome.

SuziQ

>

> Well, here. Am again. My name is Tommy and my husband Danny went the doc today

and confirmed he has hep c. Well, where do we go from here? Doc said treatment

is 6 to 12 months and $5000. Holy shit! Yep, that's what I said. We're trying

for Medicaid but he probably makes too much. Not poor enough for indigent care

and too rich for assistance. We don't have insurance through our business.

Checked and he's self employed and they won't cover him. I love him and our kids

need him around for a long life. I just want to crawl under a rock. Just venting

to anyone who will hear me. Sincerely, Mrs. Tommy Clifton

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, I am Diane wife of Tom who has hep C. We are also very scared of the

treatment cost and we have insurance. The shots alone are over eight hundred

dollars and our copays are two hundred, there is no way on this earth that we

have that kind of money. we are waiting now for the new meds to come this

summer, as recommended by the Doctor but those are supposed to be even more

expensive. We also have been talking about getting in on trials because then we

would be covered. The problem with the trials is you don't know what you are

getting. I don't know where you live but from what I was told it is more like

twentyfive thousand. Our insurance will cover in whole after we spend six

thousand out of pocket but that is in a year. So we will still be hit with very

large copays including lab work. Really scared that this could destroy us

finnacialy never mind the thought of how hard the treatment can be. In short I

am with you on the cost of this and we really don't know how we are going to

afford to treat.

>

> Well, here. Am again. My name is Tommy and my husband Danny went the doc today

and confirmed he has hep c. Well, where do we go from here? Doc said treatment

is 6 to 12 months and $5000. Holy shit! Yep, that's what I said. We're trying

for Medicaid but he probably makes too much. Not poor enough for indigent care

and too rich for assistance. We don't have insurance through our business.

Checked and he's self employed and they won't cover him. I love him and our kids

need him around for a long life. I just want to crawl under a rock. Just venting

to anyone who will hear me. Sincerely, Mrs. Tommy Clifton

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Diane and Tommy.

I had a biopsy in 1999 and was stage 2 genotype 1b. My disease has not

progressed much since then. Still at stage 2 according to Fibrosure test, but

they are not super accurate. Had an ultrasound a couple of months ago at my

gastro office. They called back and left message saying it was fine--need to

follow that up with a phone call and be sure what she meant. I was told I had

liver disease in 1966.

I don't drink and ONLY use meds for diabetes and high blood pressure--just for

the last year. I take Dr Berkson's supplements(inexpensive)--you can google him

or email me direct and I will send info. I also take a number of vitamins. There

are a number of articles on Dr B in the link section of this forum as well. Some

control their Hep C with other types of alternative supplements. Alcohol is the

#1 NO_NO. It speeds liver damage very quickly.

The current treatments are very difficult and cost is $5,000 per month--not for

full treatment. ( It is chemo for a year) There are several NEW meds coming in

the summer and even more being considered that are more effective and less than

a year of treatment. I believe (and hope) that in the near future there will be

meds with few side effects that will stop Hep C virus completely. One being

considered in France is only a 2 week treatment.

Hep C is a disease, and like with diabetes, good health habits help with most

people--especially if their liver is not severely damaged. Don't jump into

treatment until you are fully aware of the side effects and what other options

you might have or wish to pursue. AND have read about the new treatments coming

up. MOST doctors have no knowledge of supplements or what might help. Most

will not prescribe supps as there is no drug company to back them in case they

don't help you and you decide to sue them. Fear of lawsuit really runs what

most doctors are willing to do. Current treatment is less than 50% effective on

patients with Type 1 genotype.

There are no alternatives yet that cure Hep C.(to my knowledge) They DO help

keep the damage to a minimum until a REALLY effective treatment can be found.

So relax, learn all you can and join us on our journey.

SuziQ

>

> > Hi SuziQ, my husband has no symptons and has had hep c since the seventies.

The hep doc we saw said that it might take another twenty years before he gets

to the next stage. Because of the cost we have been wondering if he should just

be monitored but really don't know how that works.He has had a biopsy and has

stage two inflamation. Have you had a biopsy? and what are you doing to follow

your hepC? I hope that isn't intrusive, I am just really confused. Thank you.

> > Diane

[Guest guest]

hi ms, tommy my name is karen i feel your pain it is hell being poor,

but there is help in getting the med s if needed just like mr. Don said the

pharmactabls will help if you cant afford it. Im getting help from roche that

make the tx med s please your gas doctor should know more if not reply back to

me ill send you the info to put your application in i send you and your danny

much love i to live in tx. love karen

On Tue Apr 26th, 2011 1:37 PM EDT tlc_countrygirl wrote:

>Well, it's me Tommy, again. I am married to Danny and we went to the dr., which

was $300.00, last week who ordered a bunch of testing to be done. He went to do

the liver ultrasound, which we are awaiting the results. Waiting is the hard

part, right? That was only $175.00. He went to bloodwork and that turned out to

be $2000.00, discounted for cash pay. Really, that's a freaking discount!!!

Needless to say, we didn't get any done, because we don't have the money. I am

still trying for medicaid. We live in Texas. This is our last resort. If this

falls through, I just don't know of anything else to do. We were told treatment

would be around $5000.00 if he requires it.I feel like laying down and hopeing a

big truck runs me over, but I won't. I have to stay strong for him. It's sad

when we live in the good old U.S.A. and have to decide if we want to feed our

family or scrounge up enough to save for treatment for a medical disease. Then,

who's to say the

treatment will even work. Luckily he hasn't been feeling too bad. His joints

have been hurting, but he works so much, that's always been an issue. He has

contemplated marijuana, but is that really safe? If it helps his appetite and

helps him feel better, we're up for anything at this point. Well, I didn't mean

to rant on. It's just nice to know I'm not the only one going through this

alone.

>

>Sincerely, Mrs. Tommy C

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Tommy

First off - NEVER GIVE UP.

There are answers - we just have to find them, but sometimes doing so is a big pain in the......'youknowwhat'.

Tommy, HCV is a slow progressing disease.

Danny may have a lot of time to wait before treating.

The lab tests are very important, so get them done ASAP.

Have you tried the Texas Health Dept?

Can you all afford to make payments?

Tommy, I know that your stressing, and my heart goes out to you.

Waiting and worry is very hard.

Please stand strong.

I wish I knew some answers for you all right off, but I dont.

That doesnt mean that they are not there.

I might suggest one thing though - talk to your doctor about a clinical trial.

The clinical trial will foot all the bills if Danny is accepted.

[They may run all the necessary pre-trial labs also.]

love

don in ks

From: tlc_countrygirl <tlc_countrygirl@...>Subject: [ ] Danny Date: Tuesday, April 26, 2011, 12:37 PM

Well, it's me Tommy, again. I am married to Danny and we went to the dr., which was $300.00, last week who ordered a bunch of testing to be done. He went to do the liver ultrasound, which we are awaiting the results. Waiting is the hard part, right? That was only $175.00. He went to bloodwork and that turned out to be $2000.00, discounted for cash pay. Really, that's a freaking discount!!! Needless to say, we didn't get any done, because we don't have the money. I am still trying for medicaid. We live in Texas. This is our last resort. If this falls through, I just don't know of anything else to do. We were told treatment would be around $5000.00 if he requires it.I feel like laying down and hopeing a big truck runs me over, but I won't. I have to stay strong for him. It's sad when we live in the good old U.S.A. and have to decide if we want to feed our family or scrounge up enough to save for treatment for a medical disease. Then,

who's to say the treatment will even work. Luckily he hasn't been feeling too bad. His joints have been hurting, but he works so much, that's always been an issue. He has contemplated marijuana, but is that really safe? If it helps his appetite and helps him feel better, we're up for anything at this point. Well, I didn't mean to rant on. It's just nice to know I'm not the only one going through this alone.Sincerely, Mrs. Tommy C------------------------------------