My sympathy runs deep for these dedicated men and women who risk their own health in search of helping others get control over their physical demons. How can you take a patient with common complaints such as nausea, vomiting, head aches and fatigue then choose the correct blood tests to determine the origin of the problem? I mean if they tested for everything that it could possibly fit those vague symptoms, our lab bills would run into the thousands! What makes Hepatitis so different, is that you might not experience any symptoms except a slight fatigue after mild exercise.
Some Physicians are even telling their patients that these viruses are only a problem years later after the initial infection. They can dismiss the importance of regular tests and follow up treatment. Though even if you are given the advice to be tested, more often than not the doctors are not checking for anything other than your ALT levels, which is just the beginning of a battery of tests that are needed to discover the extent of the damage occurring in the liver.
Then there are some HMO's that are discouraging their patients from getting the expensive treatment siting that there is minimal value in the current drugs available and not worth the discomfort and serious side effects over the long haul. Or better yet, having your HMO deny claims for Interferon and Ribavirin treatment because the patient happens to be older than the current acceptable cut off AGE! Most insurance companies seem to have a problem with treating anyone over the age of 60. Age issues aside, there are many people who just don't have health coverage at all, so fighting with an insurance company is a step up from what many people have to deal with like the lack of any type of treatment.
