This is my first post so be gentle! Back in 1997, I had a colonoscopy day before Thanksgiving where they removed their usual 5 pollups. Went back to Friday and immediately started bleeding. I went straight to VA hospital where I had surgery done.The surgeon decided that he wanted to go home instead of fix the bleeder this was around noon.This was his first mistake. Second mistake, was he ordered that an IV be placed in my arm but forgot to order solutions for the IV.So I was left to bleed out for 22 hours without nothing being replaced.I was losing about 150-250cc every hour of blood. Hence the next morning they had to pump in whole blood before they could do the surgery.I believe that if either the Dr would have fixed bleeder the day I came in or if was getting fluids to replace blood loss I wouldn’t have needed the transfusion.It was a few months before the VA took any blood for tests. Then in the mail I get a letter from the State health Dept that I had tested positive for Hep C at the VA. I was upset beause they didn’t notify me directly. I went in asap and got all my necessary shots.My whole life changed forever from the point on. Family and friends either deserted me or treated me like a lepper.I ask my primary Dr what recourse did I have. He told me that I couldn’t do anything because they were the government. Since he was #2 man on staff, I believed him.(latter I found this to be a lie) Being abandoned by everyone, I had no way to take off the time to take the interferon treatments.(good thing, I found out latter my genotype had no responses to treatment at that time.The stigma that goes with Hep C followed me everywhere. People think your either a drug user or involved in risky sex. Neither was true.Last summer I was reading about how the Florida Vets got 100% disability and free medical from the VAs mistake. I felt like I at least deserved that for all I was going thru.So last August I filed a 1151 which is the only recourse I now have.After doing some research I found out that my Dr lied to me and that an incident report should have been written up and I should have been notified of all my options available to me including a tort claim.Luckily I have always been one to gather my records up before I move somewhere.VA takes years sometimes to forward records from one VA hospital to another VA hospital.So I always get my records and make them a copy when I move. Less BS to go thru.So I have I believe I have everything that has to do with my fixer surgery.ER notes showing loss of blood,notes showing blood transfusion and even some what I believe to be altered authorization notes for surgery and transfusion.Two authorizations are hand written except a small section that mentions transfusions risks which is now typed in.Why would any document be both computer written or hand written. they aren’t. Anyway I have tried to get a nexus letter from previous primary Dr, but he was retired early after about 2 months of me filing my claim.No reply from him. Also when I had a biopsy done by a specialist DR in Portland VA, she mentioned in small talk that it was obvious that the VA was at fault. Record shows no sign of Hep C before Surgery, six months after Positive for Hep C.But when asked to write a letter, no answer. I’m on SSD so I don’t have the funds for a Dr for hire.$4000 might be a good investment if you have the funds.Local veteran groups lack the knowledge to help with claims, they are just involved in the politics. My claim is entering the 12 month and still in the development stage.I’ve tried going the Congressional route but either was ignored or they are playing softball while the VA is playing hardball.I figured this would be an easy case. No Hep C before surgery, Hep C afterwards.Surgeons notes and hospital notes tell a slightly different story but close enough to decipher thru.Since this was my first claim it has been kind of a chop job.I’ve done alot of research of cases and gathering of info from sites like yours.So they know they have a rookie on this end.The RO even invented visits to a VAMC I’ve never been to to slow down the process.After 9 contacts by phone, letters and Congressmans Aide it is now gone after 4 months.Usually I handle stress well, but this is driving me crazy. Any suggestions!! Any and all help is much appreciated.I’ve tried to shoot down their no’s before they have a chance to give them.I figure I should hear something in the next month or so.So if I get ahead of them, maybe I won’t be fighting this for years.Between health and life, time is running out. Thank you for being available for us old timers. Mike
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johnsonbigred@hotmail.com

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12 months into it is when time starts to warp and stretch unreasonably. VA has so many strictures on the rules for filing one’s claim yet there are none for them to follow to issue a timely answer. We commiserate with you on the delay. We have all gone through this so we know exactly what you are going through. It sucks to put it mildly.

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Thank you NOD for replying so quickly.I don’t why I waited so long to join HCvets. Alot of my what I call media evidence came from this site.I am 99% sure of how I got the Hep C, but I have such stuff as your info on jetguns in case I need to appeal any denial they may throw at me.They have never had me fill out a Risk Factor questionaire.They know I have no tatoos, no history of IV use( I hate needles),and during my surgery time period there seems to be alot of Hep C cases at CAVC that came from blood transfusions at VMACs that would have gotten their supply of blood from the same Blood center as mine did.Around that time period they stopped getting blood from the local prison system due to the high cases of infectious diseases.Due to economic reasons, The VA has been my main medical source of treatment since 1992. Never been arrested for any drug offenses. But the VA knew that I had a State (Oregon) Medical Marijuana card and I have never lied about it when they asked.Over the years like most Vets they have tested me for other drugs of which I never had any positive tests.When you are raising a family and serious about it, one doesn’t waste money on selfish habits.It is funny tho over the years since getting it, I have noticed little notes from mysterious people (not my Doctors) saying I once tried smoking cocaine with my wife.100% false and anyone who knew my wife would know that it was a lie.And I found something in there about Significant Other.Those are two words that are not in my dictionary. I have either a Girl friend or a Wife.I’m not prejudice of what others do, but those two words are only used by me to refer to a gay couple.Those two comments were only mentioned once by the same hospital. I don’t know if they were from another patient or were put there fraudlently.Since I always get copies of my records, it’s only since filing this claim have I gone completely over them with a fine tooth comb.I reported to OIG about some altered documents, some false documents and some just illegal activity by the offending hospital, doctor and the RO and all I got was the 3rd degree for involving them in my case.If the roles were reversed, I’d be in jail for lying to the Feds.I learned 40 years ago that there was a right way, a wrong way and the Governments way. And the Governments way has the option to change hourly if needed. I would love a nexus letter.Everything is on my computer in triple and I can send long form or a readers digest version.To be honest with you, one of the reasons I joined was that I was hoping to maybe get a buddy letter since the site specialized in HEPCVETS.A Doctors nexus is so much more.You have removed one of the many weights that has been burdening me for many months.This whole experience has been an eye openning experience.When I saw how the Modern Vets were starting to get what they deserved, I thought that maybe the VA had changed it’s ways.But was surprised to see that it changed for every other Vet, but us Vietnam Era veterans were still getting the short straw.Yes, we had the first non accepted war by the average American viewpoint. But not much has changed toward us after 40 years.If not for the modern Vets, I believe we still wouldn’t be getting any scraps of benefits.Denail was the keyword back then and they are still denying everything related to us.I’m hoping they see the wisdom of how I was done wrong by the whole system and they give me the same thing any other Vet infected has been given.I don’t want 1 penny more, just what is owed me.I figured if they hadn’t lied to me back then and told me of my options available to me, that they would be oweing me about $400,000+ in lost benefits.I see other Congressional reps getting the back pay Vets have been shorted, but I don’t feel mine are strong enough to stand up against them.Too much time has passed  for the media to be interested in.Not enough numbers involved like the Florida Vets and the Dental patient Vets that recently contracted Hep C.Just one single VN era vet with one foot in the grave.Thank you for being here for us Vets!! ( Your right, I was wasteing my time at another vet site where the only respect I would  get had to be bought and paid for by THEIR special people.$4000 is equal to 1/3 of my yearly earnings.)lol You will probably never realize how much your one post has already done for me.A grain of HOPE is a powerful thing!! Mike
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johnsonbigred@hotmail.com

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The estimates are as high as 80% of the people who have HCV in the USA got it in military service. The government decided back around 2000 that they wanted to bury the entire HCV thing with Veterans. They didn’t want to spend the money on it. They figured that if they wouldn’t admit that military service was the primary risk factor, that those Vets would simply not be tested or diagnosed. And if they were not diagnosed, then they wouldn’t have to be treated. And the VA doesn’t have to compensate a veteran who doesn’t know that they have HCV.

I am the typical Veteran. I came out of active duty and got married. Went to work for defense contractors and maintained a DOD security clearance all of these years. I bought health insurance from the companies I worked for. I didn’t go to VA for anything. I was healthy, active and rather athletic, exercised constantly. I enjoyed a normal fruitful life and had my American Dream. We owned a newer tract home near the beach. Every thing was going well until the economy went South and then so did my life.

Lost my job, sold our home, lost my investments because UE insurance didn’t cover the bills. Couldn’t afford Cobra so then when I got sick and couldn’t shake it, I was forced into going to the VA. Was diagnosed with HCV in 2009 and since then have been treated like I am less than dirt, more like a piece of shit. And my service medrecs somehow were lost.

I talked to a good friend who was on a river boat in Vietnam a few weeks back. I met him on the job many years ago. He had no idea what HCV was or even the issue with Vietnam Vets. Now he knows that he needs to be tested.

Posted by Squid with dragon

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TUESDAY, June 16 2009 (HealthDay News) — The scandal over potentially tainted colonoscopy and endoscopy equipment used at three Veterans’ Affairs hospitals made its way to Capitol Hill on Tuesday, with U.S. lawmakers rebuking VA officials for not taking tougher action to remedy the situation.

In February, the VA launched an investigation after learning that more than 10,000patients at three agency hospitals in the Southeast may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis and other infections through non-sterile equipment used in colonoscopies or endoscopies conducted as far back as 2003.

Some believe the problem may extend beyond those three hospitals, which are in Miami, Fla., Murfreesboro, Tenn. (where the problem was first detected), and Augusta, Ga., the Associated Press reported.

“I think this was an institutional breakdown,” Rep. Phil Roe of Tennessee, a doctor and ranking Republican on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs oversight and investigation subcommittee, told the news service.

After the initial problems were reported at Murfreesboro, the VA conducted a nationwide safety “step up” at its 153 medical centers. The agency says it has also discussed the issue with staff at all hospitals, as well as representatives of the company that made the equipment, Olympus America, Inc., the news service said.

The VA’s inspector general also conducted random, surprise checks on 42 VA locations to see if similar, lax sterilization procedures were in place. According to the AP, VA officials said that similar problems were noted at more than 12 other facilities, but they did not warrant follow-up blood tests from current and former patients.

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/cancer/articles/2009/06/16/va-faces-questions-over-tainted-colonoscopies

I apologize for tampering with your post. There was an advertisement hitchhiking on there that I had to remove. I pay good money to keep this advertisement-free so it bugged me. NOD

Posted by Squid with Dragon

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This site has inspired some new questions, so I went thru my medical notes for around the 50th time and low and behold I found some info I was looking for.I found my missing genotype of 1b. The VA has always been really vague about any questions I have asked. I had a well known specialist while performing a biopsy on my liver, volunteer that my type of Hep C did not respond well to interferon.(this was 2005) She had Hep C and had the same type.So today after finding my genotype in my records and did the ole internet thingy.So I have learned that genotype 1b has something to do with Europe or Asia.Well never been to europe since relatives left in the late 1780’s.lol Did spend a year in Korea, but no transfusions, no risky(or kinky) sex,no IV drug use( hate needles),and only a couple of shots given by drs for my knees.Still convinced Hep C came from transfusion from a botched surgery at the VA hospital. Does the 1b mean that blood donor was asian/european or was a possible veteran with an asian connection?It really doesn’t mean anything to me unless it has a great history that can bring me millions on a movie deal.Hep C is just Hep C to me except mine is harder to get rid of.I can see how it can help a Dr in knowing which beer or cocktail to use on me besides a BIG HAMMER.Only thing I can decipher is that it is going to be a rough ride when things start sliding downhill.It just fires up my anger with my primary back then because that internal medicine was his speciality and he should have known that interferon would not work on me back in 1998.He only wanted me as a guinea pig to get money for studies for the hospital.I can now better understand why he lied to me about options against VA for malpractice andhis constant bugging for me to have the treatments knowing I had no backup support system.His motives were purely selfish in nature.Geez I wish there was some type of punishment for these type of Drs.Since supposedly no big deal for us to have Hep C, they wouldn’t mind doing the ole Blood brother thing we use to do as kids but on a larger scale.lol Guess I shouldn’t have typed that, I will now find it in my file that I pricked my finger when I was 8 yrs old and transfered blood to the neighbor boy and got Hep C.lol Probable NOT, but as possible as some of the excuses the VA comes up with.They would chickenout if they had to participate.Thanks for letting me vent!All information is welcomed and appreciated!!Mike

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The type of shots given to us going into Korea were known to be suspect for hepititas and a possible source of the virus. Now if the time line of that shot fits your desease time line, your in business…peter

Posted by Menalteed

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I was in Korea 71-72. The disease didn’t show up till a few months after I had a transfusion during a surgery in 1997. Does that genotype normally stay dormant that long before raising its ugly head?Except for the genotype (which I only found out today in my notes), Most of what I have read would have followed the other time schedule. The first blood the VA had taken was about 6 months after my surgery.I usually only go to the VA once a year.And the health dept gave me a clean bill of health before the surgery. The only other question is that I have had a slightly elevated WBC count most of my adult life.Any correlation there?I was almost positive that it came from the surgery.”HELP ME MR WIZARD”, I’m so confused.lol I’m sure the VA will clear it up for me! lol One thing they can’t say is ” You got it from a toilet seat in Korea”.( for those who have never been to Korea,their bathrooms are a square hole in the floor)Ok now, when does this benefit of doubt kick in for the Vet??? Mike
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johnsonbigred@hotmail.com

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When you were in Korea the predominant genotypes were 2a,2b and 1b in that order. Some people got their Hep from the Munjis befoe they went to Korea. The MUNJIS seem to be some 1a around that time. I went 28 years without knowing I had it. All kinds of blood draws even in the hospital once for kidney stones. Look on the front webpage for ways to get it in service. There was no shortage of opportunity for the fairer and softer gender when I was there. But I just did a port call for a few days. If your biopsy shows stage 3 then that puts you back there in service time frame anyway. That isn’t one of the easiest genotypes to kick, I certainly wish you the best.

But I am just a newbie trying to learn the ropes like you. The “wizard” should be around shortly. The VA is famous for trying to pawn off their poison for no good reason. They try to make you think that you should just take the coolaid asap. I guess they have new drugs out there now, but don’t know how good they are.

Posted by Squid w/ Dragon

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Emmunoglobulin is the shot given to troops headed to Korea or when they arrived in Korea. It was formulated in many casses with blood drawn form Prision populations  in the sixties and seventies prior to knowledge of HCV. I used that as a possible source but rather then admit that they gave me SC for jetguns. The QTC doctor when I told her about the shot said she had no doubt that could be the cause of my virus..peter

posted by Menalteed

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 You need to have a Liver Biopsy to find out what stage your in, for help on the time line. Ask for one, no  insist on one as that will give you a idea on were you stand…peter

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The stage and grade numbers came from my last biospsy done in 2005.From what I have found at a med site was the Grade 2 out of 4 was mild little hepa to cellular damage.The stage 2 of 4 was Periportal or rare portal-porta septa.So from what I gather it is MORE LIKELY than not related to the 1997 surgery transfusion.I would have more damage if it was related 1971 shots (jet gun in basic and prior to overseas jet gun shots.)Couldn’t find any info on that Emmunoglobulin shot Menalteed mentioned.My shot record just showed what disease shot was for. But if my memory is right serum shots were not given by jet gun.I guess it really doesn’t matter what I find, until the VA decides on how they want to label it.Finding that the truth is often not relevant.lol Mike
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johnsonbigred@hotmail.com

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Not really big red, depends on your lifestyle, like eating a lot of protein or drinks a lot of alcohol, diet basically…. My husband, Gary has stage 4 or cirrhoses now, but stayed at stage 3 for many years. Plus we have vets connected from Nam era only stage 2…. The odds of getting HCV by transfusion in 1997 were far less than 1991 when they started testing the blood. The jet guns were withoutadoubt the most obvious, but also remember you served when the epidemic was at its height for Veterans… 62.7 % or 1 in 5 out of all vets, 2.6 million+ with HCV disease are from Vietnam, 18% post Nam…. Then remember… when you got the jet gun shot, another medic usually followed with a tray carrying a large vial and he injected each reusing that needle till dull and drawing vaccine continually from that vial. It boils down to this in my book- what was the greatest risk-  and usually service wins hands down…. you’ll need a nexus to prove it. We can help with that once you have your med service records… look to the left of this page and you’ll see more info on that.

Good luck Sir

Posted by HCVet@AOL.com