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Colorado Hepatitis C Support Groups
(For individuals infected with hepatitis C and family members affected by hepatitis C.
Free and confidential. New members always welcome.)
Metro-Denver
Aurora - 900 Potomac, 1st Floor Staff Cafeteria ~ 1st Tues. ~ 6:30-8 p.m. ~ Consuelo (303) 367-2813
Englewood - 1000 Englewood Parkway ~ 4th Tues. ~ 7-8:30 p.m. ~ Jena` (303) 239-0336 - New Date & Location!
Lakewood - 11500 W. 20th ~ 2nd Tues. ~ 6:30-8 p.m. ~ Betsy (303) 237-1150
HIV/HCV Co-Infection - 1325 S. Colorado Blvd., B-302 ~ 3rd Tues. ~ 5-6:30 p.m. ~ Sue (720) 917-3972
VA (VA Patients Only) - 1055 Clemont, Room 2E-104 ~ 2nd Wed. ~ 12:30-1:30 p.m. ~ Jena` (303) 239-0336 NEW!
Statewide
Boulder - 3303 N. Broadway, North Building ~ 2nd Wed. ~ 6-7:30 p.m. ~ Carrie (303) 678-6157 - New Date!
CO Springs - 825 E. Pikes Peak, 5th Floor Dining Room ~ 3rd Thurs. ~ 7-8:30 p.m. ~ David (719) 236-1416
Fort Collins - 2809 E. Harmony, 3rd Floor ~ Last Wed. ~ 6:30-8 p.m. ~ Jerry (970) 214-2912
Grand Junction - 510 29½ Road, Room 1060 ~ 1st Wed. ~ 5:15-6:45 p.m.
Pueblo - 3676 Parker Blvd., 2nd Floor Conf. Room ~ Last Mon. ~ 6:30-8 p.m. ~ Roni (719) 553-1862 - New Location! |
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| Englewood Community Dinner
When: March 25th 2008 from 6pm-8pm
Where: Swedish Medical Hospital, The Pines Conference Room (Englewood, CO)
To Get more information or to RSVP contact:
Laura Ginnett at 720-917-3960 or via email at
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| Please RSVP by Friday, March 21st. |
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Greetings! 
We hope that you are enjoying our new e-newsletter, but we would love to hear your feedback. What do you like? What is missing? Comments, suggestions, we want to hear it all. We can be reached via email at info@hepc-connection.org. Also, don't forget that on March 26th, Hep C Connection will host a comedy night at Jazz @ Jack's with Kevin Fitzgerald headlining this fundraising event. Tickets are just $25 and can be purchased by calling or emailing Todd Haggerty at 720-917-3963 or thaggerty@hepc-connection.org.
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| Doctors & Science |
| Pot poses risk for those with hepatitis C
SAN FRANCISCO , Calif., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Using marijuana daily may raise the risk of liver fibrosis nearly seven-fold in those with chronic hepatitis C, or HCV, infection, U.S. researchers said.
The study, published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, also found combining marijuana use with alcohol use in HCV patients significantly raised the risk of liver fibrosis.
The recommendation to avoid marijuana is of particular importance for HCV patients who are also infected with HIV -- because the progression to fibrosis is already greater in these patients.
"Hepatitis C is a major public health concern and the number of patients developing complications of chronic disease is on the rise," lead investigator Dr. Norah Terrault of the University of California, San Francisco, said in a statement. "It is essential that we identify risk factors that can be modified to prevent and/or lessen the progression of HCV to fibrosis, cirrhosis and even liver cancer. These complications of chronic HCV infection will significantly contribute to the overall burden of liver disease in the U.S. and will continue to increase in the next decade."
Of the more than 300 patients screened, 204 were included in the analysis. More than half of those using marijuana daily had it medically prescribed.
Click here to read the full article.
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| Kevin Fitzgerald Comedy Night! |
 Yuk! Yuk! Yuk! Kevin Fitzgerald comedy night for Hep C Connection
Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald, popular local veterinarian with Alameda East Veterinary Hospital, Animal Planet star on Emergency Vets, and stand-up comic, will headline a comedy benefit for Hep C Connection titled Yuk! Yuk! Yuk! on Wednesday, March 26. Yuk! Yuk! Yuk! will be held at Jazz @ Jack's, a creative venue in the Denver Pavilions on the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver. Tickets are $25 each and include one complimentary beverage. Doors open at 6:00 P.M. and Kevin takes the stage at 7:00 P.M. Dr. Fitzgerald is donating his talent and Jazz @ Jack's is donating the space. Tickets may be purchased by calling or emailing Todd Haggerty, 720-917-3963, thaggerty@hepc-connection.org..
Dr. Fitzgerald is no stranger to TV or radio. He had a weekly radio spot, "Veterinary Corner," on Lewis and Floorwax's popular morning show for four years. Since 2003 he has hosted a weekly television segment, "Animal House" on Denver's Channel 2 morning news, and since 1997 he has been one of the featured veterinarians on Animal Planet's Emergency Vets. In addition to his veterinary work, Kevin performs frequently in the metro-Denver area and thinks none of us laugh enough. |
| New Members Elected to Hep C Connection Board |
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The Hep C Connection Board of Directors elected six new Board members at its January 2008 Board meeting. The new members are:
Christy Calvin, Event Manager with the Colorado Convention Center
Scott Cissna, Senior Director of Finance for Leap Wireless
Ralph M. Jones, Senior Vice President for Investments with UBS
Scott A. Meiklejohn, Government Relations Consultant
Stephen R. Piper, Retired Chief Financial Officer with Schlumberger
Brian Wilkerson, National Practice Director with Watson Wyatt Worldwide
Board members contribute their expertise in planning, marketing, fundraising, and other subject areas to the organization through Board and committee work. Each member has been affected by HCV, whether personally or through a friend or family member. They were elected to three year terms and began immediately by attending a three-hour orientation meeting the beginning of February. Please welcome these new faces to the organization at our events and other forums.
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| Share your story |
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Each month Hep C Connections will bring you a personal story of someone affected by the Hep C virus. These stories are intended to provide hope, insight and knowledge that only people who have lived with the virus have. If you would like to read more personal stories or submit your own click here. This month's story comes courtesy of Jeanette.
It's only a virus. It took 18 months to get to this point
I had been feeling really tired and shaky, so I decided to make an appointment with my doctor. I was truly shocked when I found out that I was diagnosed with hep C. My primary physician said I would have to see a specialist and that appointment wasn't for another three months. So, I went on the internet to see what hep C is all about. There were definently some scary stories out there and a lot of information. Be sure to find a reputable source on the web (Hep C Connection).
When I finally saw the specialist they recommended interferon. From what I had read on the web, I was totally against it. I had an ultrasound, then a liver biopsy. The news wasn't good. So after weeks of debating, I decided to try interferon, even though there was only a forty-percent chance that it would work. The treatment involved five pills a day and one injection of peg.intron a week. There was an 800 number where nurses were available for assistance and questions with the treatment. They helped me a lot when I needed them.
About thirty years ago I did intravenous drugs. That's how I got hep C. For years, every so often I would feel like I was getting the flu. It's a symptom of hep C. From the start I kept thinking how innocent people get sick, cancer and other diseases. I felt so guilty, I felt I did this to myself. I tried to find a support group but there were none in my area. I went to a therapist who knew nothing of hep C, but she did tell me I "needed to forgive myself." I felt like I was going through all of this alone but knew God was with me every step of the way.
While I was on the treatment, I was so fatigued. It was difficult to do the things I always did, even shopping or doing laundry. Somehow I did it all and only missed one day of work. The treatment was supposed to last fifty-two weeks but after six months I had to stop. It made me too sick. It started to affect my immune system and I lost nearly fifty pounds.
I have my life back now. What I experienced isn't what everyone goes through. Everyone has their own journey. Now, the way I look at it is I just have a 'virus'. It's still inside me attacking my liver, but I just enjoy everyday and don't worry so much about what the future will bring.
Jeanette
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| Volunteer Update |
Hep C Connection is very grateful for our team of volunteers who help towards our mission by answering calls on our HelpLine; representing us at health fairs and community events; lending a hand to daily office operations; and by sharing their thoughts, time and energy. A big thank you goes out to all of our volunteers!
A notice to our Colorado readers: As the 9Health Fair season is upon us, Hep C Connection is entering into that time of year when we will be relying heavily on volunteer energy. We are looking to our volunteers - new and old - to staff health fairs which will be held throughout the Denver area as well as in surrounding communities.
- Health fairs fall on all days of the week.
- Most fairs are in the month of April.
- Your time commitment would be a 4 hour shift.
- Admission to the fair is free for volunteers.
- Breakfast and light snacks are often provided by the hosting organization for volunteers.
Would you be interested in representing Hep C Connection by handing out materials, debunking myths, answering questions, encouraging people to get screened, and by recruiting new volunteers? We will also provide training to make sure that you are informed and ready to help out.
Please contact me (Sue) at sbruckner@hepc-connection.org or 720.917.3972. I look forward to hearing from you!
Click here to see a schedule of upcoming Health Fairs. |
| Be an Advocate for Health Care in Colorado |
There are many ways to become involved in the public discussion about health care issues in Colorado. The following are current opportunities to become an advocate and I encourage you to take a pro-active role in the important issue of health care:
Health Care Day of Action on March 3rd - organized by Colorado Consumer Health Initiative (CCHI), this day at the State Capitol allows people to speak to their legislators about the state of health care in Colorado and how it affects their lives. The agenda runs from 8:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. and includes training on talking with your legislators, a rally on the Capitol steps, lunch with legislators, and a joint commission meeting between the House and Senate Committees on Health and Human Services. Breakfast and lunch will be provided and there's no cost to participate. Hep C Connection is one of over 50 co-sponsoring organizations. Go to this web address to register/RSVP: http://ga3.org/campaign/hcda2008.
CoverColorado Seeking New Board Members - CoverColorado provides health insurance to persons unable to purchase comprehensive insurance because of a medical condition. The Governor's Office of Boards and Commissions is looking for candidates to submit an application to serve on CoverColorado's Board of Directors. The primary qualification is that you are insured or have been insured by CoverColorado and are not associated with the medical profession, any hospital, or any insurance carrier. A Board term lasts for four years and the Board meets several times per year. There is no financial obligation to serve on this Board. Send an email or call Shaylisa Hurte, 303-866-6380, shaylisa.hurt@state.co.us.
Long-Term Care Advisory Committee - the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, the state agency that administers Medicare and Medicaid, is seeking people to serve on their newly formed Long-Term Care Advisory Committee. They would like to have applicants with one of these perspectives (not a complete list): client, elderly, individual with disability, and mental health. Submit your name and brief overview of qualifications to: ltc.advisory@state.co.us.
It's not often that we're given three opportunities to find meaningful involvement in one of the biggest policy and budget issues affecting Colorado. I hope you're able to get involved.
Nancy Steinfurth
Executive Director | |
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