Ireland: The psychological effects of hepatitis C: 'It was a dirty and uneasy feeling and it began to haunt me'

It was in the early noughties when I first got my bloods tested. I wasn't even thinking about hepatitis C at that time, that wasn't on my radar at all. To be honest, I only got tested because a number of other people in the methadone clinic I attended at that time were getting tested. I had no idea that test would turn out to be the turning point in my life and the reality check that I needed.

At this point, my lifestyle was chaotic. This was down to my misuse of drugs and the type of life that comes with taking that path.

My issues with addiction started very early on, when I was 14. Like many others from my area at the time, peer pressure to do drugs was a big issue - like many teenagers I suffered from low self-esteem and drugs were an appealing way to 'fit in'.

Read more...

Ireland: Faithfull promotes Hepatitis C awareness week

Singer songwriter Marianne Faithfull is set to front Ireland’s
first campaign to promote awareness of hepatitis C.

The 68-year-old will front The National Hepatitis C Awareness Week. The campaign takes place from July 27 to 31, and Faithfull will be the guest speaker at the launch of the campaign tomorrow at 6pm in the Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin.

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that affects the liver, causing it to become inflamed and not work as effectively in the body. It can be contracted via blood-to-blood contact with an infected person’s blood.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Faithfull said she was diagnosed with the virus 23 years ago.

Read more...

Ireland: Hepatitis C patients to finally start life-saving treatment

Nearly all 250 sufferers expected to recover after treatment costing up to €55,000 each 

Some 250 seriously ill patients with hepatitis C are to begin receiving a life-saving new treatment after a six-month delay caused by bureaucratic red tape.

The first group of patients with advanced liver disease who have been approved will be treated at one of 10 centres across the State in the coming weeks. Virtually all are expected to be “cured” of the disease following a 12-week programme, which is costing between €45,000 and €55,000 per patient.

Last month, doctors warned that patients were dying because of the failure of the Government to roll out a national treatment programme, even after negotiations with drug companies had ended. Other patients were paying privately for the treatment because of the absence of State support.

Read more...

Ireland: UP to 80 seriously ill Hepatitis C patients have cleared virus from their blood

New treatment was given to the patients after doctors warned they were not responding to other drugs.

The treatment, which costs around €45,000 to €55,000 per patient was given to the patients after doctors warned they were not responding to other drugs.

Dr Suzanne Norris, a gastroenterologist at St James's Hospital in Dublin, said the patients will continue to be monitored over the coming months to determine their response.

Earlier this year Health Minister Leo Varadkar said a programme was being put in place to provide early access to the powerful new direct-acting anti-viral drugs for Hepatitis C patients with the greatest clinical need, due to the advanced nature of their condition.

Read more...