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| | | From: flapjack (Original Message) | Sent: 5/28/2007 4:55 AM |
Hi all, flapj here. Last week I got some blood test results back from the free clinic and all the numbers are great, right where they should be, except antibodies for Hep C where found. The viral load count, or number is nineteen, which, I think is low. I must do more research and talk to Lee's sister in law who is a nurse of twenty plus years and just two years ago was diagnosed with a significantly higher viral load count number and did a year of interferon, which was unpleasant in the extreme. I guess the only thong worse would chemo, or spinal meningitis. I'm not doing interferon if it comes down to it. Who wants to vomit, be exhausted, and feel like they have the flu cubed? I don't. I'll try diet, homeopathic approach, natural remedies, or just do nothing and have my assigned primary care physician write for all the class II and class III and class IV narcotic opioid analgesics, sedatives, tranquilizers, muscle relaxers, hypnotics, and barbituates I want. And don't forget the dope and weed. Also I believe I have the mental, emotional, and physiological power within me to simply will it out of my liver. My powers of inward visualisation and imagination are strong. Or I'll be fine. Or I'll die. I'm not afraid. Every day is a good day to die. Any suggestions on naturalistic and homeopathic links on this subject would be appreciated. I'm gonna get another blood test done up. You never know, it could've been a mistake. Later on psychonauts, much love, directly from my solar plexus, flap. |
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Flap, Im sorry to hear about the Hep C. You have the right attitude though. Attitude is Half the battle. Make sure you stay healthy and try to eat right, it will make a HUGE difference... Also you should make sure you get a check up every once in a while to keep an eye on the blood count..... All My Love Karen |
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| | | From: sophia | Sent: 5/30/2007 9:46 PM |
Hi Flap, My boyfriend was diagnosed w/ hep C about four years ago and felt the same way you did - the docs kept trying to push interferon on him, and he wanted to avoid it at all costs. However, he had a much higher viral load than you do. He has worked really hard and it has taken a long time, but his last two blood tests (I think he gets tested every three months) have shown that his AST/ALT levels are within normal range and his blood is normal in all other regards, meaning that if he were to be tested for Hep C today, it would undetectable. SO....in order to acheive this, he stopped drinking (by far the hardest part, for him) and avoids taking any other drugs that affect the liver - including a lot of OTC drugs. He started eating right - lots of veggies, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins; cut out sodium, refined sugars, fatty/fried stuff, foods with added iron (some docs say it's hard on the liver), etc. - basically, we cook at home most of the time and eat a very healthy, balanced diet. He exercises about 6 days a week. He takes a few herbal/dietary supplements, including milk thistle and a number of other liver-cleansing ones. I will have to get back to you on these - I'm not at home right now, but will ask him when I get home. There are so many he has tried, but finally he found what works for him. I will get back to you though because this is an important part, I think, in why he has been successful with treating his hep c naturally and avoiding interferon. I hope this helps a little - dealing w/ hep C can be a challenge, no matter which route you take. But like you said, keeping a positive attitude and the knowledge in your heart that you can overcome it will go a long way! Anyway, take care and I'll write you later about the supplements. Sophia |
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| | | From: sophia | Sent: 6/1/2007 11:52 PM |
Hey Flapjack - Ok, I found out what my bf is taking as far as supplements go (and I think brands are important regarding quality - the ones I have listed are just what he has found works for him): Solaray brand Liver Blend SP-13 (includes MILK thistle) Planetary Herbals Bupleurum Liver Cleanse Twinlab L-Glutathione Caps NOW brand NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) I hope this helps! You are definitely on the right track by avoiding interferon with such a low viral load. My bf also mentioned a newer drug treatment in the UK that you can read about here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article648941.ece. His doctor said that this drug has passed clinical trials in europe but has not yet been tested or approved by the FDA in the US (what else is new, right?), but he's been telling all his patients about it. Sounds promising for folks w/ Hep C. Good luck with everything and take care, S. |
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Sophia: Thank you for this information. I have Hep C also and dont want to go on interferon yet. I was looking for herbs regarding this. Thanks again, sue |
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| | | From: sophia | Sent: 6/10/2007 7:13 PM |
Hi Sue, I'm glad you found this info useful too! I'm sure there are a lot of people with Hep C who could benefit greatly from learning about options besides interferon. I know that treatment depends on how high your viral load is/level of liver damage/what type of hep C/etc. but I think for people whose virus is not that far advanced, taking steps like eating right, exercising, avoiding substances hard on the liver, and maybe a few supplements to support liver function can go a long way. This might sound weird but I feel like my bf's Hep C was a blessing in disguise. After making the decision to be proactive (rather than inactive) about his own health we both really made the effort to take care of ourselves by cooking healthy food at home and exercising regularly (he's better about this than I am, though). I don't think this would have happened to the degree it did without his diagnosis and today we are both healthier than we've ever been. Oh yeah, we are also on methadone, I am on antidepressants, and he just started a testosterone replacement treatment with his doctor (his levels were really, really low). So it's not like we are totally doing everything "all natural", but we've both addressed issues we needed to address and feel good knowing we are taking care of ourselves! Anyway, I'm glad the supplement info helped and wish you good health as well! Take care ~ S. |
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Hi Sophia, flapj here. Sorry I'm getting back to this thread so late. Yeah, that's what the doc at the clinic said too, that drinking is pretty much the worst, in which case I am lucky because I never really enjoyed alcohol very much anyway, so making the decision to stop having an occasional beer or two was effortless. My eating habits are in general pretty good, but could be better I am sure: no fast food or soda, relatively small amounts of pre packaged food, which like you said is usually packed with sugar or salt. My mom never cooked with salt, so I never developed a taste for it, or anything spicy. Will have the occasional frozen pizza or some macoroni and cheese(kraft). Our meals usually consist of a meat and a vegetable or two and some bread, sometimes substituting fish or chicken for meat, and some fruit and yogurt or eggs in the morning for breakfast. I do take a multi vitamin/mineral tablet every other day but would like to learn more about the herbal supplements that are beneficial in especial to the liver and perhaps the kidneys too. That's one thing I've learned thus far is that liver and renal function go hand in hand. I drink lots of water and have started to fast for twenty four hours once a week, another tidbit of info I learned from researching. Fasting helps your liver by lessening the load it carries day to day. I'd like to gradually work up to fasting two and perhaps three days a week, not concurrently, well maybe two days in a row would be OK after a while, I guess. But maybe during the holiday season like Thanksgiving through Christmas, fast three days a week(the day before during and after the holiday, respectively) in protest to mass consumption of food and merchandise by the majority of the population. I still have to get some of those milk-thistle supplements and ones similar to them like I said, but so far so good, I don't feel any different than I did since I found out about being positive for HepC anti-bodies. Thank you for your concern and kind words. Much loveth to you Sophia, hope all is well with you and yours, flapjack |
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I should read up on Hep C, I know very little about it except that My father in law died of it. He wasnt diagnosed early enough on to do anything for him. He was given tainted blood back in the late 80s when No one screened for Hepititis. My Brother in law is also HepC positive but has not had any treatment for it.... Sophia, Its GREAT to hear from you and it sounds like your INCREDIBLY happy and IN LOVE.. Im Soooo Soooo thrilled to hear that.. I think of you often girl... You have a HUGE birthday coming up in the fall, hope you have GREAT plans... Drop me a line when you get a minute, ok?? All my Love Karen |
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