Welcome Newbies!

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Welcome to all newbies! I'm - 55, female and I've probably had hep c since the early 70's through IV use. Was diagnosed in 2002 and am 1b genotype with minor inflammation/fatty liver showing on my 2003 biopsy. I chose not to treat using the current combo treatment and am waiting for something else to come along in the next few years. Until then, I have tried to keep as healthy as possible through diet, supplements and exercise.

First off - take a deep breath - it's very scary to be diagnosed with hep c - I thought that I only had a year or two left to live when I was first diagnosed. But as Suzi and others have pointed out, hep c usually takes decades before any symptoms are even noticed.

Finding a good doctor is key to managing/treating this disease. Unfortunately, most doctors feel that the only treatment is the current combination treatment of interferon/ribavirin and will try and push you to go on it. There are some folks who should definitely not treat but that fact sometimes get swept to the wayside when it comes to doctors. Using the current treatment should only be undergone after you understand completely what you are getting into. Most people leap at the chance to get rid of the virus and will start the treatment before they fully understand the side effects, the success rate, etc.

With that being said, depending on genotype, the success rates are climbing with the current treatment, particularly when they are combined with the newer protease type inhibitors. Currently, depending on genotype, you will either treat 24 weeks or 48 weeks and possibly longer. Newer protocols will probably result in a shorter treatment time as a lot of doctors are now concluding that if one is svr (sustained virological response)that is low or undetectable after 4 weeks, it is a good indicator of ultimate response. Other studies have even explored a one day to one week treatment response. These treatments, as well as others, are being developed for future use. On the pipeline are other types of treatment, including the newer DNA treatment as well as other genetic and cellular approaches. Unfortunately, these last type treatments are a few years away - depending on the FDA, drug company patents, etc.

So, as Jax and Suzie mentioned - what should you do now? Bloodwork is number one (particularly the liver function test, viral load and genotype (a kind of strain) , followed by a biopsy, preferably a real biopsy, not the fibrosure one, that is not entirely accurate. These tests will allow you and your doctor to know exactly where your liver's health is at -as well as your overall health.

Once you have these tests done, then you can plan on a course of action. To treat or not to treat - it's entirely up to you to decide on what to do - whatever your choice, we will be here to guide you on your journey.

Here is some info about current therapy and possible side effects (though the folks on this forum can tell you plenty about side effects, lol) :

http://hepcchallenge.org/choices/allopathic2.htm

The treatment can also cause autoimmune disorders and worsen pre-existing ones.

Regardless of if you treat or not, there are many things that you can do to help heal and strengthen your liver, as well as your overall health. Hepatitis C is a VIRUS. It is not just a "liver disease" although it is found in and replicates primarily in the liver, it is found in ever organ and body system. It is a multi-function disorder which leads to multiple side-effects throughout the body.

Number one is to ditch all alcohol! Nothing could be worse for your liver than alcohol!

Number two is to change your diet! Everything that goes down your throat is filtered through your liver. And your liver is constantly under siege from the virus. The idea is to prevent any more harm to your liver and this can be achieved through proper nutrition. Try and eat more organic products - mostly veggies - raw is very good but lightly steamed is good too. Ditch or limit heavy red meats as they are very hard on the digestive system; it can take two days to fully digest a steak. Try and eat oily fish and lean cuts of meat, like chicken or turkey. Drink as much water as you can, preferably distilled or filtered water - it might be a good idea to invest in a water filter to save money. Fruit juices, kombucha, kefir, yogurt, are all liver friendly. Avoid chemicals (painting, staining furniture, etc.) Artificial sweeteners are particularly bad (see stevia or xylitol as healthy substitutes) as is margarine or anything fake - real food is always better, even butter.

Many folks with chronic illness, along with heppers, also suffer from what it known as "leaky gut". This is when the nutrients in your food do not get absorbed and leak into the bloodstream and can wreak havoc with your immune system. This can lead to food allergies or intolerance as well as autoimmune disorders that are prevalent among heppers and others with chronic conditions.

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/healthconditionsdisease/a/TestLeakyGut.htm

Wheat, dairy, sugar as well as food additives and sugar substitutes are common allergens in leaky gut and should be weaned from your diet or at least cut down on.

Here's more info about diet:

http://hepcchallenge.org/choices/nutrition.htm

Supplements, especially antioxidants are very helpful. Many heppers are malnourished because of the virus and the leaky gut as the nutrients from foods don't get to where they are supposed to go. They can be very deficient in certain vitamins and nutrients such as magnesium and vitamin d3. Taking a good multi (without IRON!) or fillers, amino acids, vitamin c's, b-complex, milk thistle is a good start. Alpha-lipoic-acid, NAC, selenium, and other supplements are also needed to raise your glutathione level, which is often reduced in heppers due to oxidative stress. Here's a good article about supplements:

http://hepcchallenge.org/choices/supplements.htm

The best thing to do is to take charge of your health! Read, read, read! Educate yourself about your disease - you are the one who has it and has to live with it. Try and find a good doctor - if you don't like the one you have - get another one! These people work for you and if you aren't comfortable with them or if you don't feel that they have the answers that you want, then find someone else. You will come to find that doctors all have different opinions on the best way to treat hep c. Unfortunately, most of them concentrate on treatment only and know little about nutrition - and they usually frown on supplements, usually through ignorance. However, it is a good idea to let you doctor know what supplements you are taking as some can interfere with prescription medication.

I suffered from fibromyalgia, bloated stomach, irritable bowel syndrome, feeling crappy, etc. for many years. I was told that all of my symptoms were caused by the hepatitis c virus. I finally found a knowledgeable doctor last year and she immediately suggested that I might be intolerant to wheat gluten. I went on a gluten-free diet and within weeks, I felt much better. My stomach bloating went away, my fibro symptoms greatly diminished and I felt better than I have in years. Her diagnosis of leaky gut included (in my case) severe intolerance to gluten. Research is showing that leaky gut and food allergies/intolerances is now being linked to almost all disorders. This is why diet is CRUCIAL!

Well, hopes this helps! I wanted to welcome all to the group where you will find folks from all over the world and at every stage of this disease. You are not alone! Hepatitis C is an epidemic with at least 4 million folks in this country infected and many do not know that they have it. So you are lucky in that you have found out that you are infected - now you just have to plan on what to do about it. Hepatitis C is not a death sentence and most folks will die with the virus and not because it. Everyone is different and has a different story and approach - mine is through nutrition and supplements. Others just want to do treatment only. Regardless of your approach, it will be respected here. And we are here to help!

Take care - you are not alone!

M

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