Politics ...

I can't for the Life of me understand that people who are living in one of the poorest States in the Nation are voting Republican . There , here we go with our Politics . But how can you totally ignore what is going on in the White House and Congress right now ! President Obama is making a speech and then Boehner has the Balls to hold a speech right after .... Our President is one of the smartest and peaceful Man we ever had as a President ... and he has a heart for the Poor . And TV Stations wanted to know which speech was better . What ? My President spoke with his heart and he spoke for our working class People : not the filthy rich . So there is my Answer . I will not shut my mouth about politics and the unfair Tax brake for the Rich ! I was educated in Europe where we actually had a school system that worked . Here in the USA we cut Education to keep everybody on the " FOX NEWS " Liar channel . Here we don't want to have people think for themselves . That could be so Political Incorrect . Well let me just say : I rather be a honest Person then a greedy Bastard that is selfish .

Just for the record

Just want 2 add a few more words : ) 2 Questions : 1. ) Why can people have a License Plate saying " Choose Life " and # 2 .) Why Can't I have one saying " My Body my Choice " ?

Sometimes God has other Plans

Had to go for a ride today because I had to renew my Military ID Card . It was storming and raining and I was glad that Hubby drove . I have been thinking a lot lately about the ifs and whens and buts . But you know if we all would be happy all the time it would be a boring life . It is the Hurdles and Mountains that we have to climb ; that makes us who we are !
This too shall pass ! keeps ringing in my ears and I don't know if I just found a direct line to our Man upstairs or if it is just in my head . You have to laugh about your Misery sometimes !
Anyway couldn't get my ID Card today because the storm knocked out the Computers ! Well, at least we found out that when we go sometimes this week we will not have to drive all the way to Biloxi MS. There is a closer place and I am still good until the 15th of August . I hate to wait to the last minute . Let me change that : I don't " hate " anything anymore ! Hate is a bad word ! I will not use this word again ... well until a Republican wants to talk to me .. Little Humor is good for the soul and laughter is the best medicine and cheap . Anyway we left the house at 11 AM and it is now 7 PM , I feel rather tired but it was a nice ride . I will put one load of laundry in and then it is ME TIME ! Oh yeah.... need my me time ... maybe a little nap ... Hang in there fellow Hepper's ... there is hope on the way !

Good News 4 my European Friends with Hep C

Merck, Roche expand hepatitis C drug promo deal

By LINDA A. JOHNSON

TRENTON, N.J.
Merck & Co. and Roche Holding AG, formerly bitter rivals in the hepatitis C drug market, have expanded their recent collaboration to jointly promote their drugs.
The companies said Wednesday that their subsidiaries have signed a new nonexclusive agreement to promote Merck's new drug, Victrelis, worldwide as part of a triple-combination therapy, the new standard for fighting the sometimes-deadly disease.
Merck, based in Whitehouse Station, N.J., and Roche, headquartered in Switzerland, agreed in May to have their salespeople promote Victrelis along with the two companies' older hepatitis C drugs. That deal came just days after Victrelis, one of two drugs in a new class expected to transform treatment of the tough-to-cure virus, was approved for sale in the U.S.
On Monday, Victrelis was approved for sale in all 27 European Union countries. Under the new agreement, Roche and Merck salespeople will work in markets including Europe, Asia and Latin America to educate physicians and patients about hepatitis C.
Roche sales reps will promote Victrelis along with Roche's injected hepatitis C drug, Pegasys, and ribavirin pills. Merck salespeople will promote Victrelis plus its similar injected drug, PEG-Intron, and ribavirin. Ribavirin is available as a generic as well as Merck's brand, Rebetol, and Roche's brand, Copegus.
Victrelis and Incivek, approved in late May, are hepatitis C virus protease inhibitors, which block an enzyme needed for the blood-borne virus to copy itself. They're the first new breakthrough treatments for the liver disease in 20 years. Incivek ( is a wonder Drug ) was developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. and will be marketed outside the U.S. by Vertex partner Johnson & Johnson.
The two new drugs will cost roughly $50,000 per treatment, so they are likely to generate billions of dollars in annual sales -- and a big battle for market share. Merck was first to market, but the Vertex drug is seen as slightly more effective, with studies suggesting Incivek cures about 80 percent of patients, versus 66 percent for Victrelis.
I am on Pegasus Ribavirin and Incivek ! Triple cocktail that gives me hope !

In case you want to know more about the Virus

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Hepatitis C infection is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). People who may be at risk for hepatitis C are those who:

• Have been on long-term kidney dialysis
• Have regular contact with blood at work (for instance, as a health care worker)
• Have unprotected sexual contact with a person who has hepatitis C (this is much less common, but the risk is higher for those who have many sex partners, already have a sexually transmitted disease, or are infected with HIV)
• Inject street drugs or share a needle with someone who has hepatitis C
• Received a blood transfusion before July 1992
• Received a tattoo or acupuncture with contaminated instruments (the risk is very low with licensed, commercial tattoo facilities)
• Received blood, blood products, or solid organs from a donor who has hepatitis C
• Share personal items such as toothbrushes and razors with someone who has hepatitis C (less common)
• Were born to a hepatitis C-infected mother (this occurs in about 1 out of 20 babies born to mothers with HCV, which is much less common than with hepatitis B)

Hepatitis C has an acute and chronic form. Most people who are infected with the virus develop chronic hepatitis C.
About 1.5% of the U.S. population is infected with HCV.

Symptoms

Most people who were recently infected with hepatitis C do not have symptoms. About 10% have jaundice that gets better.
Of people who get infected with HCV, most develop chronic HCV infection. Usually there are no symptoms.
If the infection has been present for many years, the liver may be permanently scarred, a condition called cirrhosis. In many cases, there may be no symptoms of the disease until cirrhosis has developed.
The following symptoms could occur with hepatitis C infection:

• Abdominal pain (right upper abdomen)
• Abdominal swelling (due to fluid calledascites)
• Bleeding from the esophagus or stomach (due to dilated veins in the esophagus or stomach called varices
• Dark urine
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Itching
• Jaundice
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Pale or clay-colored stools
• Vomiting

Signs and tests

The following tests are done to help diagnose hepatitis C:

• EIA assay to detect hepatitis C antibody
• Hepatitis C RNA assays to measure virus levels (viral load)
• Hepatitis C genotype. Six genotypes exist. Most Americans have genotype 1 infection, which is the hardest to treat.

The following tests are done to identify and monitor liver damage from hepatitis C:

• Albumin level
• Liver function tests
• Prothrombin time

Liver biopsy can show how much damage has been done to the liver.

Treatment

The goals of HCV treatment are to remove the virus from the blood and reduce the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer that can result from long-term HCV infection.
Many patients with hepatitis C benefit from treatment with medications. The most common medications are a combination of pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin, an antiviral medication.

• Most patients receive weekly injections of pegylated interferon alfa.
• Ribavirin is a capsule taken twice daily. Ribavirin can cause birth defects. Women should avoid getting pregnant during, and for 6 months after treatment.
• Treatment is given for 24 - 48 weeks.

These medications have a number of side effects, and patients must be watched closely. Symptoms include:

• Anemia
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Flu-like symptoms
• Headache
• Irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Low white blood cell counts and platelets
• Nausea
• Thinning of hair
• Vomiting

Don't forget that you have a chance to slay the Dragon ; so get over the Part " There is no cure " As long as you have faith ; anything is possible ! Never ever give up !