CINCINNATI (Liz Bonis) - Hepatitis C is expected to be one of the
biggest public health problems in the coming years following the heroin
epidemic.
It's a virus which can shut down the liver, often transmitted through shared needles. The good news is you can overcome it.
Julie Baird is one of the lucky ones. Not only has she been sober now almost two years, but after tests initially showed she did have hepatitis C, she is now completely cured.
Her body got rid of it on its own.
Dr. Raja Chadalavada is a liver specialist and said if that doesn't happen, the virus can lead to serious health problems long-term.
"Nowadays with the availability of the new hepatitis C medications, the cure rate is pretty high--90 to 98 percent," he said.
So he now wants patients to know if you do need treatment, the medications can be expensive, even with insurance.
But the bigger problem according to Dr. Chadalavada:
"The majority of the patients that get infected--half of them don't even know they have the infection. That is the sad thing."
This is just one of the reasons Julie Baird continues to share her journey. She wants to raise awareness that, even in recovery, no matter what you face, there are people who will help you overcome it.
"I know the feeling of hopelessness; I know the feeling of 'there is nothing else and I have no choice but to die,' and 'I have done so much damage that there's no coming back from it,' but there is. The possibilities once you are sober are limitless," said Baird.
A blood test can tell you if you have hepatitis C, and you should get them every six months to see if your body is clearing the virus or if you need medication to cure it.
It's a virus which can shut down the liver, often transmitted through shared needles. The good news is you can overcome it.
Julie Baird is one of the lucky ones. Not only has she been sober now almost two years, but after tests initially showed she did have hepatitis C, she is now completely cured.
Her body got rid of it on its own.
Dr. Raja Chadalavada is a liver specialist and said if that doesn't happen, the virus can lead to serious health problems long-term.
"Nowadays with the availability of the new hepatitis C medications, the cure rate is pretty high--90 to 98 percent," he said.
So he now wants patients to know if you do need treatment, the medications can be expensive, even with insurance.
But the bigger problem according to Dr. Chadalavada:
"The majority of the patients that get infected--half of them don't even know they have the infection. That is the sad thing."
This is just one of the reasons Julie Baird continues to share her journey. She wants to raise awareness that, even in recovery, no matter what you face, there are people who will help you overcome it.
"I know the feeling of hopelessness; I know the feeling of 'there is nothing else and I have no choice but to die,' and 'I have done so much damage that there's no coming back from it,' but there is. The possibilities once you are sober are limitless," said Baird.
A blood test can tell you if you have hepatitis C, and you should get them every six months to see if your body is clearing the virus or if you need medication to cure it.
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