Hey Tig

Wow. its hard to believe there could be such a difference in care from region to region like this. Especially when you consider that Michigan is just coming out of a 15 year economic decline and has just gotten back on its feet. The facilities here are better than I have seen at any private hospital and the one that just opened 7 miles from me is down-right gorgeous. Any wait time is spent in brand new easy chairs. They even have their own armed security. Hard to understand. Obviously, their system needs a serious nation-wide over-haul. I wish I could give you some advice but I don't have any. I sure won't advise you to move up here. We had 30 inches of snow in Nov. and it snowed yesterday! It might get up to 50 this week though. WooT! Woot! Time to break out the shorts perhaps? I hope things improve for you and others where-ever they live. I'm envious of your location though. Sounds warm!

On another note< I go in for my 4 week labs on Wednesday. No appointment needed. I sure would like to see that 21.8 million drop by a substantial amount. Thanks to all of you for your experienced advice on Hep C and thank you for your service as well Tig. See you around!

Greg

BTW_I retract that statement about knowing all there is to know about the VA. Obviously I know nothing outside my area!

Hey Greg,

I'm also Group 3. I've got additional active duty qualifying events that I have tried to get them to recognize since my D/C in 1979. Disappointing assistance from the VA, except for pharmacy (no hcv consideration). I've worked with the VA, DAV, and two Vets counselors (very helpful) but only the initial determination in 1980 was approved. It's a long and disappointing story and it has recently continued to turn grayer. [smh]

I'm in Florida, Gulf Coast region. Our facilities are over crowded, out dated and under staffed. The lines at my VAMC are literally out the door. I've heard there are problems here much like the AZ story. I was fortunate that I had Medicare disability and a secondary with BCBS that agreed to pay for my medication, while M/C paid for the medical care. That was the Interferon triple with Victrelis. It wasn't cheap either so I'm very grateful that they came through when the VA wouldn't. I achieved SVR and that's what counts!

I hope there is a turn around in every VA facility soon. We've got a lot of people coming home from The Middle East in bad shape that need better care than is currently available in many facilities. I fear they will suffer the same delays in many areas if this system doesn't experience a correction soon. Those of you with access to quality VA care are very fortunate. Thanks for your reply and your service Greg!

Tig

It's good to hear that there are a few of us on this forum.  Thanks for sounding off.

Mallani, I think that the % of known cases is higher and there arre lots of un DXed cases as well.  If you picked yours up from the VN population, wouldn't it be a genotype other than 1a or 1b??

My OP was not a bitch on the VA, as I'm thankful for all they have given me so far, having just walked into our local small town clinic and asked for help.  My only complaint is that they seem so understaffed that they can't give all of us the time we need.  

Having said that, they have just given me the most detailed physical that I've had since I got discharged............but it took almost 6 months to get it done.

Bottom line, It would have broke my bank if I had to pay for testing and Tx out of pocket because I was uninsured and living the last 2 decades in Asia where medical is cheap, but you're lucky if you get what you pay for.

The 'jet air gun' issue is still up in the air and they are reluctant to admit it as a cause of transmission, but I remember blood flying everywhere between a line of 200 recruits getting their vaccines.  I'm 99.99% sure that's where I got my HVC.  I'm hoping that they cop to that and give me not only the cure, but a little disability compensation for the years and quality of life that was taken from me.  I had to leave my Thai family last year to get into the VA system and get this new cure.  

Thank you VA!!

Hi guys,

Some surveys of US Vietnam Vets give a HCV incidence of up to 10% . The vaccination air-guns are a likely cause, but there was a high incidence of HCV in the Vietnam population.

I was a Medical Officer in the Australian Army in S. Vietnam in1969-70, and I'm sure this is where I picked up my virus, treating civilians and N.and S. Vietnamese army personnel. I had abnormal LFT's on my discharge but this was put down to booze. I first applied for VA assistance in about 1995, but was declined. Reason- link to service not proven. When I turned 70, there was a sudden change of heart and I now have a complete VA Medical pension.

The US VA has always had a great attitude to HCV, so I hope all you guys get the best  treatment possible.

I'm an Army Vet and am rated by the VA for HCV.  Luckily I have other health insurance so I went through them to get Harvoni.  It costs me a bit more, but it is an expense I gladly pay to avoid the headaches at the VA.

Thank you all for your service in Panama and elsewhere your duties carried you.

In regards to the heartburn; I have some nasty heartburn that is well controlled with nexium. When I started Harvoni I attempted to stop taking the nexium.  I lasted 3 days before it got too bad to stand and I started calling people.  Solution ended up being I take Harvoni and nexium at the same time in the morning (empty stomach) and then wait 1 hour before eating.  I got this from the specialty pharmacist and confirmed with a second pharmacist to make sure everything was safe.  So there are solutions out there, just be sure to check with the appropriate folks to avoid any interactions.

Yes, I am a Veteran and receive all my health care thru the VA. I enrolled in the VA system in 2010. They have provided my with the best state of the art health care that I have ever known. Not just now, but from the day I enrolled. I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan where they have just built a brand new clinic and the main hospitals in Battle Creek and Ann Arbor are second to none. I now have an 8 dollar co-pay on prescriptions because I am now in a high income bracket. 8 dollars for tens of thousand od dollars worth of very expensive meds and the labs and all drs. and specialist appts. are free. I could have a liver transplant, not that I need one and it would be free. So your post really intrigued me! First of all, which priority group are you in? They go from 1 thru 8 with one being the highest. I am group 3. Wounded in Panama in 1989 and dis-charged because of those injuries. What state do you live in? I have heard that the VA has some major complaints in states like Arizona. If I were you I would first find out what priority group you are in. Then I would get on the Dept. of veterans affairs Gov. websites and find out all the info you can. Then I would shoot off a bunch of E-mails inquiring about the poor treatment you are getting. I think even at 7 or 8 you should be getting treated. I have had ultra-sounds, colonoscopies, biopsies ect, ect, all for free. And with travel pay to boot. I have no links to give you just now but I can get them. Your post really disturbed me. Sounds like your getting the shaft and that's not right. Feel free to send me a private message if you like. Us Vets gotta stick together man. Keep posting and keep us informed. I'm no Guru here but I know all there is to know about the VA. Good luck and keep in touch!  Later-Greg

PS-at least you are getting the Harvoni   Are you on myhealthevet  website?

I'm a Navy Vet that had (yay!) the disease and also went to the VA for help. They refused to treat because my service connected disability wasn't high enough and didn't list HCV as part of my documented disability. I argued and lost, appealed with the local Vets Center and still lost. They did provide some of the viral load testing, but that's it.

Like you, I have always wondered if the inoculations I received by air gun were responsible. There was an obvious blood contamination issue with them looking back, but they weren't concerned or were unaware of the possibility of viral contamination. I think convenience trumped concern at the time.

I agree that they are overwhelmed now, but I think they are responsible for most of it. I would like to see them allow the use of civilian doctors and hospitals to reduce the wait times. They provided me with one of the new cards for that purpose, but when I requested permission to use it, I was denied! It's always something it seems. It may be my region that's responsible. I hope things improve soon, for all Vets needing care. There are a bunch of us out there!

One other thing you mentioned that I need to comment on. You're right about the antacid administration time warnings. You mentioned that you were told to wait 2 hours either side of the Harvoni, it actually is 4 hours either side. If you take the aluminum or magnesium based antacids, you need to be aware of this.

Tig

I'm one that just got into the system at the perfect time as Harvoni is available and the big shake up last year that got them more funding and more pressure to perform.  They gave me a complete physical, confirmed my HVC and am now going to start the Harvoni in a couple of days.

My esperience and observations are that they are totally overwhelmed and have too much of a patient load and therefore have to rush us through the process to cater to all the other vets waiting.  When I was given my Harvoni on a Friday, I was only instructed to take the pills the same time every day and to not take any anti acids 2 hrs before or after...............that's the only instructions that I got.  Thanks to Dr Google and this forum, I have access to more info.

Just wondering if other vets have experienced same??