Guest guest Posted August 5, 2002 Report Share Posted August 5, 2002 Crud, I thought in 12 months I wouldn't have to worry. Well my liver enzymes stay elevated, they have been for three months. I find out my biopsy results on the 16th. they won't give them to me until I am there. " the Dr needs to talk with me in person " pretty scary. But I am prepared, I already have to take the treatments, the biopsy isn't going to stop that. Bonnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2002 Report Share Posted August 5, 2002 Crud, I thought in 12 months I wouldn't have to worry. Well my liver enzymes stay elevated, they have been for three months. I find out my biopsy results on the 16th. they won't give them to me until I am there. " the Dr needs to talk with me in person " pretty scary. But I am prepared, I already have to take the treatments, the biopsy isn't going to stop that. Bonnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2002 Report Share Posted August 5, 2002 Thank you Princess. [unable to display image] Bonnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2002 Report Share Posted August 5, 2002 Thank you Princess. [unable to display image] Bonnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2002 Report Share Posted August 5, 2002 I wish more people beleived that!! so many people are getting told by their doctors that they are cured its terrible!!! i am a relapser & thought i was cured but whammy it can back! so sad to get my hopes up & then slide right down agin. But i am fine with it now! i have a positive additude & will LIVE with the dragon NOT die from it!!!! love & heppo hugs Princess wrote:Bonnie, Yes, Hep C can become undetectable; however, that is not a cure, there is no cure. The interferon is only a means to slow down the disease right now and hopefully prevent the onset of liver cancer. Princess www.studioreflections.com Re: New Member Thanks Lori, I am glad you are doing better. As I have been reading all the posts I get the idea that your viral load can go away and then come back? Does this mean that you can do the 12 months of treatment, be fine and then have it come back? Bonnie > > Hello, I am 28 I work at a Pediatric Office and I was just > diagnosed > > with hep C. My Viral load at last count was 453,000. Pretty high. > I > > had my liver biopsy this week and should stat pills and injections > > around the 16 of August. I have genotype 1. so I quess there is a > > 50/50 chance of cure rate. I quess the thing I hate the most is the > > abdominal swelling and the severe fatigue. I am worried about the > > chemo injections. The plan is every friday for 12 months and pills > > twice a day, weekly dr. appts and blood draws. I hope to still be > > able to work full time. How bad are the effects of interferon? > they > > are not sure how I got it, they are sure it is from work exposure. > > and the good news is that my abdominal ultrasound last month showed > > that my liver at least LOOKED healthy. LOL > > > > Scared Bonnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2002 Report Share Posted August 5, 2002 I wish more people beleived that!! so many people are getting told by their doctors that they are cured its terrible!!! i am a relapser & thought i was cured but whammy it can back! so sad to get my hopes up & then slide right down agin. But i am fine with it now! i have a positive additude & will LIVE with the dragon NOT die from it!!!! love & heppo hugs Princess wrote:Bonnie, Yes, Hep C can become undetectable; however, that is not a cure, there is no cure. The interferon is only a means to slow down the disease right now and hopefully prevent the onset of liver cancer. Princess www.studioreflections.com Re: New Member Thanks Lori, I am glad you are doing better. As I have been reading all the posts I get the idea that your viral load can go away and then come back? Does this mean that you can do the 12 months of treatment, be fine and then have it come back? Bonnie > > Hello, I am 28 I work at a Pediatric Office and I was just > diagnosed > > with hep C. My Viral load at last count was 453,000. Pretty high. > I > > had my liver biopsy this week and should stat pills and injections > > around the 16 of August. I have genotype 1. so I quess there is a > > 50/50 chance of cure rate. I quess the thing I hate the most is the > > abdominal swelling and the severe fatigue. I am worried about the > > chemo injections. The plan is every friday for 12 months and pills > > twice a day, weekly dr. appts and blood draws. I hope to still be > > able to work full time. How bad are the effects of interferon? > they > > are not sure how I got it, they are sure it is from work exposure. > > and the good news is that my abdominal ultrasound last month showed > > that my liver at least LOOKED healthy. LOL > > > > Scared Bonnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 Hey, Nick: Glad you made it here. This group is awesome, and there are people of all ages and from all walks of life who will share their experiences with you and encourage you to do the same. if nothing else, we understand what you've been through, how you were misdiagnosed, and how you are struggling to regain yourself after taking these drugs. We're a wild and crazy bunch, that's for sure!! LOL Glitter, author of <A HREF= " www.xlibris.com/BlindReason.html " >Blind Reason</A> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 Hey, Nick: Glad you made it here. This group is awesome, and there are people of all ages and from all walks of life who will share their experiences with you and encourage you to do the same. if nothing else, we understand what you've been through, how you were misdiagnosed, and how you are struggling to regain yourself after taking these drugs. We're a wild and crazy bunch, that's for sure!! LOL Glitter, author of <A HREF= " www.xlibris.com/BlindReason.html " >Blind Reason</A> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2002 Report Share Posted August 21, 2002 Welcome... I look forward to seeing your website. Matt new member > Hello, Ladies & Gentlemen. > I hope ypu don't mind me joining your gruop, my wife, and i found out > a while back through the DAL-WORTH LPA, that my 7yr old daughters > birth defect is considered a type of dwarfism. I joined your group in > the hopes that we might be able or i might be able to ask some > questions when they arise, and maybe get some advice occasionally . I > look foreward to your responses , thank you. Tommy Stricklen > P.S. MY DAUGHTERS NAME IS JOY LYNN AND AS SOON as i can find out how > to design a web page i will post it on this sight if the group would > like to see it thanks agian > > > > > === > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2002 Report Share Posted October 22, 2002 Dear All and JB, What is really weired is that I followed ALL of that! Hee! Yes I/we can help you here at this site. And in turn you will remember this site when you become a big fish (pharmacist). You will help us out as a pharmacist and send all of your techs this way. So it is a two way street! Good Luck to you and to US! Helping you get to Step 12! Piece of cake! Respectfully, Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Chem Founder/Owner of this site > Hi, just taking a break. Been studying the posts. Thanks for > everything to . Let me tell you all about > myself. I am new to the pharmacy career. I am currently an > unqualified pharmacy specialist for the us army reserves. That is > correct, I am a pharmacy specialist. Since the army is not sending > me to advance training, I am taking it upon myself to get trained > and certified. Here are my plans/goals. > > Step 1: Find any pharmacy related text and study. > Step 2: Be active in this StudyGroup. > Step 3: Study the Military Occupational Skill 91Q Manual Skill level > 1,2,3, and 4. > Step 4: Enroll in a distance learning course: Pharmacy Technology > Certificate Diploma at CCHS later this month. > Step 5: Enroll in prepharmacy course in a community college. Winter > enrollment in January. > Step 6: Take the PTCE in March or the next exam date after March. > Step 7: Graduate Pharmacy Technology course in April or May. > Step 8: Complete preproffesional coure by 2004. > Step 9: Take PCAT > Step 10: Go to school. > Step 11: Stay in school. > Step 12: Graduate. > > Now for me to Get to Step 12, I need all your help. I am taking this > baby steps style. Need all you members and nonmembers to help me > with Step 1 and Step 2. The army will help me with Step 3. I will > take care of Step 4 and Step 5. > > Here is why your help is vital to completion of my goal. If you help > me knock out Step 1 and Step 2. I will automatically get bump up to > Step 6. If your help is a success, I will surely take care of Step 7 > and Step 8. The rest will fall in place. > > Goodluck to me and to you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2002 Report Share Posted December 31, 2002 Told Ya!! <br><br>Good news for your New Years! No Tumors!!!!! I can relate to how you feel about those damn little pills. I used to call them my " Toxic Waste " pills. They just really get in there and screw up so much stuff...your WBC, RBC, brain...etc!<br><br>Feel free to vent all you want here. That's what this board is for! Have a safe night tonight!!<br><br>LeighAnn<br><a href=http://www.geocities.com/1Leighann target=new>http://www.geocities.com/1Leighann</a> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2002 Report Share Posted December 31, 2002 Told Ya!! <br><br>Good news for your New Years! No Tumors!!!!! I can relate to how you feel about those damn little pills. I used to call them my " Toxic Waste " pills. They just really get in there and screw up so much stuff...your WBC, RBC, brain...etc!<br><br>Feel free to vent all you want here. That's what this board is for! Have a safe night tonight!!<br><br>LeighAnn<br><a href=http://www.geocities.com/1Leighann target=new>http://www.geocities.com/1Leighann</a> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2003 Report Share Posted September 22, 2003 Dear New Member, The rules do state no selling or poroting of non-pharmacy items or services. I am going to have my members let me know about this. You have chose individual emails. This s not something some one does who wants to do spam and split. But I warn you this is the last time you may place any comment or site addy regarding your business, otherwise you jeapardize your membership in good standing on this site. I wish you success in all you do and study. Please feel free to post your pharmacology study questions and information. Respectfully, Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BSChem Founder/Owner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 30, 2003 Report Share Posted October 30, 2003 Hi and welcome to the board!! You have both genotype 1a AND 1b? I don't know anyone who has both. If you have Fibrosis and it is bridging from portal to portal on the biopsy report you should seriously consider treating. Even with stage 2 you should think about it with your genotype. While the treatment most likely isn't going to get rid of the virus, it WILL slow down the progression of the liver damage and can keep you from going into cirrhosis. If you decide on treatment, learn all you can about both forms of the Pegelated interferon. The Roche Pegasys seems to have better results and easier side effects. Because it's the first time you have ever done treatment, the sides may feel like a truck hit you, but believe me, they are not near as bad as the side effects from earlier meds. Be sure you are not drinking any alcohol because it will advance the liver damage much faster. Vitamin C and Vitamin E are very good for the liver. A low fat diet with no, or very little, fried foods will help also. While on treatment drink TONS of water. Interferon can damage the kidneys and the water also helps with the side effects. Lots of people do respond to the treatment, but this genotype is more difficult for some reason. Waiting could be a 3-5 yr ordeal as nothing is that close to being sent to the FDA for approval at this time. There are other meds being studied now and you can try to get into a treatment study for them, if there are any in your area. You can look up studies at http://www.centerwatch.com or http://www.clinicaltrials.gov There are loads of great people here on this board and many have either done treatment already or are in the middle of a treatment course. Feel free to ask away!! LeighAnn http://www.geocities.com/1Leighann Moderator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2003 Report Share Posted November 5, 2003 The owner of the other list is afraid of competition. He would not pass any message that he perceived as even hinting of the existence of any brand of CNO but his. As someone said, he is destroying his own list. As I remember he did, eventually, pass all of my posts. But that’s been a while ago, as I dropped out and joined this list as soon as I knew it existed. It is sad that anyone with a product as good as TT is so low in self-esteem that he cannot tolerate the thought of anyone even mentioning any other brand. Judith Alta -----Original Message----- hello! I am another refugee from the TT group.. it was driving me crazy! how often I have composed long messages only to not have them post! Though a few did post at the very beginning. There are many splinter discussion groups on coconut oil. I myself formed one on delphiforums but it never took off because delphi is hard to find. The discussion board software there is far superior to . Then there's another DB on curezone, which has quite good software. Those groups are not very active due to few members. The more groups the merrier! At this stage it's good to excahange informnation and testimonials on CO so as to encourage its use, and discussion boards are the ideal medium. The TT guy claims that he is keeping it so restricted due to the fear of attackers, but I don't really believe this. I think it's more an attempt to be in control of the market! Which is a pity because they really do have a good product which should have spoken for itself. I know that if I were in the US I would boycott it because of his behaviour! I live in the UK. regards, Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2004 Report Share Posted February 19, 2004 > Through electroacupunkture I could find some things, that cancprevent > the negative effekt of EMF. Welcome! I agree that Electroacupuncture According to Voll (aka " EAV testing " or " Electrodermal Screening " ) can be very useful for one's recovery from a number of chronic illnesses. I currently see someone once a month who tests me for supplements and EMF devices to keep my recovery going along smoothly. However, as with all professions, there are some people who are good at this kind of testing, and some who are not. I saw 2 people prior to the person I'm seeing now that weren't good, which gave me the impression that this wasn't a useful form of testing. But now I know that it is useful if you can find someone who knows what they are doing! My EAV tester is energy sensitive, and claims that she can feel the energy emitting from some of the devices I have brought in. So at least I don't have to worry about her being skeptical about these devices... :-) Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2004 Report Share Posted February 19, 2004 How fantastic to have a doctor on the list who is interested in ES. new member Hello, I am new in this list an would like to introduce myself. I live in germany in the south near Stuttgart. I am not electrosensitiv. But as a medical doctor I have to deal with patients who also sometimes complain about symptoms caused by EMF.Through elektroacupuncture I can clearly measure the biological negative effect of various elektromagnetic radiations. So far a mobile at your ear ist worst. Through electroacupunkture I could find some things, that cancprevent the negative effekt of EMF. I also can confirm, that intoxication with mercury and other heavy metals greatly can increase the electrosensitivity to the degree, that other means that usually help are not sufficient any more in these people. Through my research into the nature of electrosmog via electroacupuncture I developed an new and wider understandig about the true nature of electrosmog and its negative biological effects. This might be discussed later. Greetings Dietrich Gruen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 13, 2004 Report Share Posted March 13, 2004 Daddybob did you the biggest favor anyone ever could, I'd say. Stick around you will see why. I'm sort of at a loss to point to a good verbal instruction for the one battery, though I've tried to update the descriptions of the photos to be self-documenting. photos pages are not allowing me to edit the descriptions. The photos show what to do, but only have a letter of the alphabet next to each photo. So, while good, it means you have to kind of get the whole idea from the photo. Wish I had some way to annotate the photos, but i don't. In general, you look at the first photo that shows what parts to buy from Radio Shack. Then, you begin wiring it up, which should take you about an hour, all told. Using a bout 2 feet or so of speaker wire, strip the ends as shown, attach a 15k resistor to one of the middle posts of the switch. (either one, either end of the resistor). Attach one speaker wire to the other end of the resistor. The switch should have 8 connectors or " posts " . Criss cross two wires from each corner to the diagonal opposite corner of the switch, like an " X " . Then, attach the two battery wires to two of the posts at the same end of the switch. Either wire, either end. The photos show this, let me know if not visible. It helps to click " fullsize " in the upper right of the picture. That enlarges the shot so it's more visible. OK, that's the wiring, all you then do is attach the stainless cotter pins to the ends, wrap with cotton and thread. Soak in water with a pinch of baking soda, and apply. There's lots of ways to apply it, but you have to experiment, since we are not legally ok to tell you how to do things to your body..only a doctor can do that, or you do it yourself. Bear in mind, the sense of self- responsibility needed to do this, I'm sure you get it fine. It's not used for health, but to try to find out what microbes are electrically sensitive. If they are, they go ... fast with this. If not, or it is not really a microbe anyway, forget it, you lose, it probably will do nothing, at best. Cheers, bG > Greetings All, > > I just joined your group, at the recommendation of Daddybob. I was > looking at the photos of the " budget device " and the " one battery " > device. I couldn't find directions in the files for the one battery > device. Can anyone help point me in the right direction? Thank you in > advance, for your help with my request. > > Best Regards, > > Randy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 13, 2004 Report Share Posted March 13, 2004 ....sorry, hit a wrong key...the switch should have 6 connectors, not 8. The second speaker wire, the one not attached to the resistor, goes to the remaining center post on the switch. bG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 13, 2004 Report Share Posted March 13, 2004 Send me the pics and the text and I will put the text onto the pictures and send them back. V Re: New Member Daddybob did you the biggest favor anyone ever could, I'd say. Stick around you will see why.I'm sort of at a loss to point to a good verbal instruction for the one battery, though I've tried to update the descriptions of the photos to be self-documenting. photos pages are not allowing me to edit the descriptions. The photos show what to do, but only have a letter of the alphabet next to each photo. So, while good, it means you have to kind of get the whole idea from the photo. Wish I had some way to annotate the photos, but i don't.In general, you look at the first photo that shows what parts to buy from Radio Shack. Then, you begin wiring it up, which should take you about an hour, all told. Using a bout 2 feet or so of speaker wire, strip the ends as shown, attach a 15k resistor to one of the middle posts of the switch. (either one, either end of the resistor). Attach one speaker wire to the other end of the resistor. The switch should have 8 connectors or "posts". Criss cross two wires from each corner to the diagonal opposite corner of the switch, like an "X". Then, attach the two battery wires to two of the posts at the same end of the switch. Either wire, either end. The photos show this, let me know if not visible. It helps to click "fullsize" in the upper right of the picture. That enlarges the shot so it's more visible.OK, that's the wiring, all you then do is attach the stainless cotter pins to the ends, wrap with cotton and thread. Soak in water with a pinch of baking soda, and apply. There's lots of ways to apply it, but you have to experiment, since we are not legally ok to tell you how to do things to your body..only a doctor can do that, or you do it yourself. Bear in mind, the sense of self-responsibility needed to do this, I'm sure you get it fine. It's not used for health, but to try to find out what microbes are electrically sensitive. If they are, they go ... fast with this. If not, or it is not really a microbe anyway, forget it, you lose, it probably will do nothing, at best.Cheers,bG> Greetings All,> > I just joined your group, at the recommendation of Daddybob. I was > looking at the photos of the "budget device" and the "one battery" > device. I couldn't find directions in the files for the one battery > device. Can anyone help point me in the right direction? Thank you in > advance, for your help with my request.> > Best Regards,> > RandyThe information on this group is not intended as medical advice. Most group members are NOT doctors or health authorities. Please do not request medical advice, lest anyone get into trouble out of human compassion. There are huge fines and issues currently involved with unlicensed medical advice. The group is only here to share experiences according to the theme of the group, namely testing if electrical stimulus might inactivate microbes, as it seems to have done in the Einstein Medical College labs. We are interested in your results, but cannot say anything about repeatability, or whether this might have medical benefits. Thanks, for your understanding, good luck researching. --bG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 13, 2004 Report Share Posted March 13, 2004 Thanks, V. Very nice offer. It will probably be best to create files with text that I can easily edit, so I did that. SEE our " FILES " section, new folder with instructions numbered to go with the photos for the Single battery unit. best, bG > > Greetings All, > > > > I just joined your group, at the recommendation of Daddybob. I was > > looking at the photos of the " budget device " and the " one battery " > > device. I couldn't find directions in the files for the one > battery > > device. Can anyone help point me in the right direction? Thank you > in > > advance, for your help with my request. > > > > Best Regards, > > > > Randy > > > > The information on this group is not intended as medical advice. Most group members are NOT doctors or health authorities. Please do not request medical advice, lest anyone get into trouble out of human compassion. There are huge fines and issues currently involved with unlicensed medical advice. The group is only here to share experiences according to the theme of the group, namely testing if electrical stimulus might inactivate microbes, as it seems to have done in the Einstein Medical College labs. We are interested in your results, but cannot say anything about repeatability, or whether this might have medical benefits. Thanks, for your understanding, good luck researching. --bG > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 13, 2004 Report Share Posted March 13, 2004 see our files section, I've added instructions for the one battery unit. it goes by the letters for each photo. The photos are ok, but with the descriptions, you have a better shot at it. It's really easy to do, and everyone should have one of these. bG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 14, 2004 Report Share Posted March 14, 2004 Thank you for your replies. Baby Grand, thank you for adding the directions for the One Battery to the files. Would you sugust the One Battery or the budget device for a newcomer like myself? I am, on a tight budget, and both devices look pretty straight forward to build. Daddybob has helped me in more ways than one! I like his wrist strap that is in the photo gallery. Best Regards, Randy > Greetings All, > > I just joined your group, at the recommendation of Daddybob. I was > looking at the photos of the " budget device " and the " one battery " > device. I couldn't find directions in the files for the one battery > device. Can anyone help point me in the right direction? Thank you in > advance, for your help with my request. > > Best Regards, > > Randy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 14, 2004 Report Share Posted March 14, 2004 You're welcome, certainly. I'd suggest, if I were you, and I have been, to build a one battery unit using a 10k ohm resistor (or two 5k in series, daisy-chained, end-to-end). That would be useful both for the head areas and the wrists, and most normal uses. If it's too harsh and irritates skin, try upping the resistance to 15k or 22k. If I had HIV, hep-c, or something awful, I'd build Godzilla, hands down, no issues there. For families, again Godzilla for the gang. used at low intensity can be used in mouth area, I do. Must stess my advice isn't official doctor advice, just my experience, Your results will vary. The budget device has more limited use, having no free electrodes to place here and there. It should be very effective in blood-borne illness, such as malaria, since it sits in the bloodstream directly. But many illnesses like colds and liver diseases, etc, are not to be solved by treating just the blood. IT can save a life- --fast and easy, for sure, and it's a time saver for those on the go, or flying overseas, it can be built fast on arrival. And it's easy to conceal, though I'd not yet call it a fashion statement! bG > > Greetings All, > > > > I just joined your group, at the recommendation of Daddybob. I was > > looking at the photos of the " budget device " and the " one battery " > > device. I couldn't find directions in the files for the one battery > > device. Can anyone help point me in the right direction? Thank you > in > > advance, for your help with my request. > > > > Best Regards, > > > > Randy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2004 Report Share Posted March 21, 2004 Well, good for you, Lynne, now you know why you've been feeling like crap! And now that you know, there are things you can do about it to feel better. We have all been where you are. I got my diagnosis two years ago, on March 15 (beware the Ides of March!). I was 54 at the time. The first thing I thought was, " Now I know what's going to kill me. " I couldn't have been further from the truth. All I did was go to the doctor for a regular checkup. She asked me about the scars on my leg, and asked if I ever had blood transfusions. I said yes, when I was a young girl. She asked if she could go ahead and check for Hep C, because she had already drawn my blood. When I got the results, I wished I had never let her do the test in the first place. Here's what's wrong with what you wrote: viruses are incurable - well, that's that, isn't it? Maybe so, but there are things that can be done that can make them undetectable. That's what treatment is all about. And for most of us, this is such a slow moving virus that odds are we will die of old age before this thing ever gets us. And there are things we can do right now to experience better health. Agonizing pain of a liver biopsy? Not at all, if you have someone who knows what they are doing! My doctor gave me a lidocaine drip before they started the procedure. They told me I may feel light-headed - I was so light-headed that I woke up 2 hours later! I never felt a thing. It's the idiots who tell you the procedure is so quick that you don't need anything. Quick has nothing to do with painful! Here is the point of the biopsy and horrid tests: You find out which genotype of Hep C you have. Some are a lot more treatable than others. You find out what shape your liver is in. This is what will help you make the biggest determination of whether or not to even consider treatment. The 30% remission rate is for genotype 1A and 1B, other genotypes have better odds. But still, if the disease is progressing and you are one of those genotypes, a 30% remission rate sure beats the alternative! I learned I am genotype 1B, not great chances for successful treatment with the TX, *but*, my liver biopsy showed NO damage! I was amazed, I've had this virus since I was probably 10 years old. That's why the biopsy is so important, it can give you your life back either way. You can be lucky, like me, and have little to no damage from this virus, or you can find that you have damage, and at least doing treatment, if it doesn't make the virus undetectable in you, it protects your liver from further damage while you are on treatment. And not everybody gets sick from doing the treatment. So I'm not doing treatment, and may never have to. But I learned all I could about this virus. I felt like hell for years. I was taking 2-hour naps every afternoon, and would wake up in the morning feeling like I never slept. I thought it was because I was getting older. For about 10 years, I felt myself really slowing down. I never had any energy for anything. And I never really enjoyed anything because I was so dragged out all the time. The people on this list and another really helped me. They gave me suggestions that worked beautifully. Here are a few: Drink water! One oz. of water for every 2# of body weight per day. You're going to get up at night a lot at first, but your body learns to deal with it. I carry a water bottle with me everywhere. It's just good to do for general health, to keep flushing toxins from your body. Get enough protein. We're tired, we're draggy, we just don't feel like cooking so we grab whatever is easy. The foods that give us energy are protein-based. We need 60 grams of protein a day. Get a book on nutritional values - most even include Mcs and Burger King. Seek out protein first, if you can't get it from food, you can get drinks from health food stores. Just be sure that they have NO Iron. People with Hep C cannot process Iron, it gets stored in the liver and causes damage. Take a good multivitamin every day that is also without iron. The " silver " or " senior " vitamins generally have no iron because as we age, we don't need it. You can have foods with iron in them, if you make sure you don't have vitamin C with them. For instance, I love spinach salad. I can have one, if I don't have tomatoes, mandarin oranges or strawberries on it, too. Your body will just pass any iron you eat, unless there is vitamin C there to process it. Then it goes straight to the liver. Exercise! (Ok, I can hear the wild laughter about that one!) When I first joined this list, and people were helping me to have a healthier life, one of the men on this list told me to exercise (Glenn? I don't remember now). He said that if I walked to the corner and back and came home and took a 2 hour nap, that was ok, because it was exercise. The next day, I might even be able to go around the corner, and someday I might even be able to go around the block and only need a 20 minute nap when I got home! And I was told not to beat myself up if I was tired and wanted to lay down. If I got up at 8:30 and by 9:30, needed to sleep some more, go for it. I would feel like I *shouldn't* be tired after sleeping all night, so would fight it until late afternoon, and then crash for a couple of hours. If I lay down at 9:30 when I first felt tired, I might sleep for 20 minutes, or even an hour, but then I had energy for the rest of the day, instead of feeling like a zombie all the time. There's probably a few things I am missing here, and someone else can fill them in. But here's the point: you need to have all the tests, including the biopsy (done properly). It will arm you so that you can make your own decisions about your health. I did all that. I found out that I am 1B (bummer!), *but* my viral load was only 350,000 and I had *no* liver damage after having the virus for 42 -44 years! So when the money-grubbing hepatologist tried to strongarm me into treatment I didn't need, which could potentially harm me more, I fired his butt! I have a new doctor who would like me to try the treatment, but he respects my decision and he monitors me every year. I'll probably do another biopsy in 2 - 3 years, just to see where I am at. Other than that, I am living my life and not giving Hepatitis C too much thought, except to thank God for my diagnosis. You see, because of the diagnosis, I found the great people on this list who gave me the suggestions I just told you about. I thought I would try the things they were telling me, and maybe in 6 months or so, I'd start to see a difference. Well, I felt so much better after only a couple of weeks, and it just got better after that. I almost never take naps anymore. I didn't ever try to diet, but paying attention to protein intake brought me down to a normal weight. I lost 20# without ever feeling hungry. Sheesh, I laugh at everybody jumping on the Atkins and the low-carb thing, us Heppers have known about it for a long time. It's not that we watch our carbs, it's that we watch our protein! I even walk my dog, and have gotten into AKC obedience competition with him and got an official AKC Companion Dog title on him in December! This was certainly never the person I saw myself as being, but I am happy and healthier than I remember in years. Yeah, a good part of my life still stinks, but I can deal with that now that I don't have many periods of fatigue and brain fog. Those are parts of Hepatitis C that will never go away, but they don't have to be all-consuming, either. We all understand how you are feeling, Lynne. There is nothing like hearing you have Hepatitis C when it's the absolute last thing on your mind. You may be like me - never did drugs, got tattoos, had any kind of lifestyle that would put you in the path of Hep C. Some people can never identify how they got it, we're just guessing mine came from one of those early transfusions because there aren't any other identifying factors. I didn't ask to be tested, neither did you. I don't know how it is in your state, but I almost crapped when I got a call from the county health departments STD person, wanting to interview me. So I am now on record with my county health department as a carrier of an STD, what BS! Anyone who knows *anything* about this virus knows nothing could be further from the truth. The only reason I bring this up is that this may be another little bombshell you get from the medical community! But stick with us, you'll find out it isn't a death sentence at all. And get the tests done and see if your hospital has a Hep C support group. They are usually sponsored by the Liver Foundation, so they are primarily geared to people on treatment, but there are things you can get from them. The biggest thing they did for me was to put faces with the virus. Here were all these perfectly normal, wonderful people from every walk of life, and they were fighting the same dragon as me. It put this virus in such context for me. This virus is not my life, it is only a fraction of what I have to deal with in life. Lynne, I'm sorry this is so long, but I hate to see someone as scared and as hurt as I was when I had this bomb dropped on me. Ask anything you want, there is always someone with an answer. Sometimes this group is more chatty than others, but someone will get back to you with an answer to whatever you want to know. You aren't alone, and this isn't as horrible a thing as it seems now. Take care, Marilyn New Member I was just diagnosed with Hepatitis C and I am a wreck. I had a bunch of blood tests done before gallbladder surgery and I came up positive for Hep C and then was given a more intensive test and it came up positive, too. I am 53, have always been in poor health, and now this. I am devastated. Since the gallbladder surgery, I have been having pain in my liver and extreme fatigue but I will not go to a Gastroenterologist because this is a virus and viruses are incurable. I went through enough complications and hell with the gallbladder ordeal (it was not simple), and I am just not going to subject myself to the agonizing pain of a liver biopsy and all the other horrid tests that they run. What's the point? All they can do is treat me with Interferon and Ribovirin which my low-income government issued insurance does not cover anyway. Plus there is only a 30% remission rate with those drugs and the virus usually comes back. I am old. I am not young and strong and not in good shape at all. I don't smoke or drink and I eat healthy foods. I also take Milkthistle and a few other Hep friendly herbal supplements. I figure that this is the best that I can do and hope that I have more than 5 years to live. The worst thing for me is that I have a 17 year old daughter that I worship and adore and I may not live to see her go through college, have her nursing career, and get married. That part breaks my heart and as I write this, I am crying. I am not ready to leave this earth just yet. I was hoping that I would at least make it for another 15-20 years but I guess not. I just need some hope and support right now. This has hit me like a ton of bricks and I don't know where to turn. Lynne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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