Guest guest Posted April 19, 2000 Report Share Posted April 19, 2000 This is for the list. Claudine > Claudine, > > Thank you for being supportive. You are right about my husband. I should > have never let him get to me. It is hard sometimes. I am so vunerable these > days. I am easy to make cry and it seems he likes it. My Mother seems to > think he likes to be a fun maker. He always seems to try to make me look > like an idiot, and this time I let him do it. > > I have been so weak the past two days and it seems like it gets harder to do > things. I plan on going to see my physician a week earlier. I wonder if a > blood pressure of 158/110 is real bad. I know that I feel extremely bad and > tired. It feels like I have I have pulled a sixteen hour shift of work. I > use to work in a nursing home and I know what a sixteen hour shift on feet, > feels like. I will get better soon I hope. I am almost fainted several times > today. I am so glad Mother is here. > > I better get off this computer before the husband gets up. > Take Care and God Bless, > Virginia > > I am using my maiden name now. > ______________________________________________________ > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 19, 2000 Report Share Posted April 19, 2000 This is for the list. Claudine > Claudine, > > Thank you for being supportive. You are right about my husband. I should > have never let him get to me. It is hard sometimes. I am so vunerable these > days. I am easy to make cry and it seems he likes it. My Mother seems to > think he likes to be a fun maker. He always seems to try to make me look > like an idiot, and this time I let him do it. > > I have been so weak the past two days and it seems like it gets harder to do > things. I plan on going to see my physician a week earlier. I wonder if a > blood pressure of 158/110 is real bad. I know that I feel extremely bad and > tired. It feels like I have I have pulled a sixteen hour shift of work. I > use to work in a nursing home and I know what a sixteen hour shift on feet, > feels like. I will get better soon I hope. I am almost fainted several times > today. I am so glad Mother is here. > > I better get off this computer before the husband gets up. > Take Care and God Bless, > Virginia > > I am using my maiden name now. > ______________________________________________________ > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2000 Report Share Posted July 22, 2000 Thanks...I was denied treatment for a very long time...well, I never wanted to just do Interferon mono therapy because the stats on responding just weren't good enough. But my last G.I. wouldn't even DO PCRs on folks that were not on treatment!...and when I told her I absolutely wanted a PCR done (it had been 2 years!!!) she reluctantly had the cheapo one done that ONLy measured 'under or over 500,000'. At that time, my question was...well it could be 500,001 OR it could be 10,000,000! It was my internist who thought that was ridiculous and ordered an absolute test which came back at over 5,000,000! He also told me to get another opinion as he thought I was not being treated very ethically. Thank God for him. He was right. I needed treatment AND I needed a biospy. My other doc is also my friend's doc. At his visit 3 months ago, he complained to her that he was feeling pain that was different and in his organs. Her response to this... " Be glad you have pain! If you didn't, you'd be dead! " Approximately 1 month later he had a major heart attack! He is 49 years old. Thanks God, he survivied it and the blockage was opened. When he saw her at his next visit, she was shocked to hear he had had a heart attack. When is she seeing him again????? NOt for another 6 months! and these visits are 5-10 mins. long! Sorry to go on....but this kind of stuff drives me crazy! and I'm crazy enough!!! LOL! I don't know if I will be a sustsained responder or not...but what I DO know is that my disease is running rampant inside of me affecting every part of my body AND hurting my liver. I DO know that eventually I would progress to cirhosis....maybe not next year, or maybe in 10 or 20 years...but it would happen. I hope these sides diminish in a while too...but I'm determined to stay the course if I can. I hope that all these new therapies that seem to be emerging will be easier to handle and will work more effectively. I'm so glad we have each other here and on other boards. Thanks to Doc Misra for setting this up! I may be slow at answering. I don't get to my computer as often these days....so bear with me and thanks for your kind words of encouragement. Much love, gee " We can do no great things; only small things with great Love. " Mother Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2000 Report Share Posted July 22, 2000 Thanks...I was denied treatment for a very long time...well, I never wanted to just do Interferon mono therapy because the stats on responding just weren't good enough. But my last G.I. wouldn't even DO PCRs on folks that were not on treatment!...and when I told her I absolutely wanted a PCR done (it had been 2 years!!!) she reluctantly had the cheapo one done that ONLy measured 'under or over 500,000'. At that time, my question was...well it could be 500,001 OR it could be 10,000,000! It was my internist who thought that was ridiculous and ordered an absolute test which came back at over 5,000,000! He also told me to get another opinion as he thought I was not being treated very ethically. Thank God for him. He was right. I needed treatment AND I needed a biospy. My other doc is also my friend's doc. At his visit 3 months ago, he complained to her that he was feeling pain that was different and in his organs. Her response to this... " Be glad you have pain! If you didn't, you'd be dead! " Approximately 1 month later he had a major heart attack! He is 49 years old. Thanks God, he survivied it and the blockage was opened. When he saw her at his next visit, she was shocked to hear he had had a heart attack. When is she seeing him again????? NOt for another 6 months! and these visits are 5-10 mins. long! Sorry to go on....but this kind of stuff drives me crazy! and I'm crazy enough!!! LOL! I don't know if I will be a sustsained responder or not...but what I DO know is that my disease is running rampant inside of me affecting every part of my body AND hurting my liver. I DO know that eventually I would progress to cirhosis....maybe not next year, or maybe in 10 or 20 years...but it would happen. I hope these sides diminish in a while too...but I'm determined to stay the course if I can. I hope that all these new therapies that seem to be emerging will be easier to handle and will work more effectively. I'm so glad we have each other here and on other boards. Thanks to Doc Misra for setting this up! I may be slow at answering. I don't get to my computer as often these days....so bear with me and thanks for your kind words of encouragement. Much love, gee " We can do no great things; only small things with great Love. " Mother Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2000 Report Share Posted July 22, 2000 Thanks...I was denied treatment for a very long time...well, I never wanted to just do Interferon mono therapy because the stats on responding just weren't good enough. But my last G.I. wouldn't even DO PCRs on folks that were not on treatment!...and when I told her I absolutely wanted a PCR done (it had been 2 years!!!) she reluctantly had the cheapo one done that ONLy measured 'under or over 500,000'. At that time, my question was...well it could be 500,001 OR it could be 10,000,000! It was my internist who thought that was ridiculous and ordered an absolute test which came back at over 5,000,000! He also told me to get another opinion as he thought I was not being treated very ethically. Thank God for him. He was right. I needed treatment AND I needed a biospy. My other doc is also my friend's doc. At his visit 3 months ago, he complained to her that he was feeling pain that was different and in his organs. Her response to this... " Be glad you have pain! If you didn't, you'd be dead! " Approximately 1 month later he had a major heart attack! He is 49 years old. Thanks God, he survivied it and the blockage was opened. When he saw her at his next visit, she was shocked to hear he had had a heart attack. When is she seeing him again????? NOt for another 6 months! and these visits are 5-10 mins. long! Sorry to go on....but this kind of stuff drives me crazy! and I'm crazy enough!!! LOL! I don't know if I will be a sustsained responder or not...but what I DO know is that my disease is running rampant inside of me affecting every part of my body AND hurting my liver. I DO know that eventually I would progress to cirhosis....maybe not next year, or maybe in 10 or 20 years...but it would happen. I hope these sides diminish in a while too...but I'm determined to stay the course if I can. I hope that all these new therapies that seem to be emerging will be easier to handle and will work more effectively. I'm so glad we have each other here and on other boards. Thanks to Doc Misra for setting this up! I may be slow at answering. I don't get to my computer as often these days....so bear with me and thanks for your kind words of encouragement. Much love, gee " We can do no great things; only small things with great Love. " Mother Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2000 Report Share Posted July 22, 2000 Thanks...I was denied treatment for a very long time...well, I never wanted to just do Interferon mono therapy because the stats on responding just weren't good enough. But my last G.I. wouldn't even DO PCRs on folks that were not on treatment!...and when I told her I absolutely wanted a PCR done (it had been 2 years!!!) she reluctantly had the cheapo one done that ONLy measured 'under or over 500,000'. At that time, my question was...well it could be 500,001 OR it could be 10,000,000! It was my internist who thought that was ridiculous and ordered an absolute test which came back at over 5,000,000! He also told me to get another opinion as he thought I was not being treated very ethically. Thank God for him. He was right. I needed treatment AND I needed a biospy. My other doc is also my friend's doc. At his visit 3 months ago, he complained to her that he was feeling pain that was different and in his organs. Her response to this... " Be glad you have pain! If you didn't, you'd be dead! " Approximately 1 month later he had a major heart attack! He is 49 years old. Thanks God, he survivied it and the blockage was opened. When he saw her at his next visit, she was shocked to hear he had had a heart attack. When is she seeing him again????? NOt for another 6 months! and these visits are 5-10 mins. long! Sorry to go on....but this kind of stuff drives me crazy! and I'm crazy enough!!! LOL! I don't know if I will be a sustsained responder or not...but what I DO know is that my disease is running rampant inside of me affecting every part of my body AND hurting my liver. I DO know that eventually I would progress to cirhosis....maybe not next year, or maybe in 10 or 20 years...but it would happen. I hope these sides diminish in a while too...but I'm determined to stay the course if I can. I hope that all these new therapies that seem to be emerging will be easier to handle and will work more effectively. I'm so glad we have each other here and on other boards. Thanks to Doc Misra for setting this up! I may be slow at answering. I don't get to my computer as often these days....so bear with me and thanks for your kind words of encouragement. Much love, gee " We can do no great things; only small things with great Love. " Mother Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2000 Report Share Posted July 22, 2000 --- Mzgee1@... wrote: > Sorry to go on....but this kind of stuff drives me > crazy! and I'm crazy > enough!!! LOL! About the only thing you can do if you are unlucky enough to have a doctor like that (I've been there too!) is to change doctors. And stay educated yourself! >I'm so glad we have each other > here and on other boards. > Thanks to Doc Misra for setting this up! I second that!! ===== Claudine claudinecrews@... __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2000 Report Share Posted July 22, 2000 --- Mzgee1@... wrote: > Sorry to go on....but this kind of stuff drives me > crazy! and I'm crazy > enough!!! LOL! About the only thing you can do if you are unlucky enough to have a doctor like that (I've been there too!) is to change doctors. And stay educated yourself! >I'm so glad we have each other > here and on other boards. > Thanks to Doc Misra for setting this up! I second that!! ===== Claudine claudinecrews@... __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2001 Report Share Posted May 20, 2001 Hi all, The HCV viral load is important insofar as the long term outcome of disease is concerned. Since the virus is not directy cytopathic the viral load doesnt change the histopathological changes taking place. However if the virus persists it will keep multipying and the more it multiplies the longer it stays. Thus with treatment any decrease in viral load is of help as it delays the development of advanced liver disease. Think of it like chipping away from a big block..sooner or later you are able to knock it down! So dont keep looking at the big load and getting daunted! regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2001 Report Share Posted May 20, 2001 Hi all, The HCV viral load is important insofar as the long term outcome of disease is concerned. Since the virus is not directy cytopathic the viral load doesnt change the histopathological changes taking place. However if the virus persists it will keep multipying and the more it multiplies the longer it stays. Thus with treatment any decrease in viral load is of help as it delays the development of advanced liver disease. Think of it like chipping away from a big block..sooner or later you are able to knock it down! So dont keep looking at the big load and getting daunted! regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2001 Report Share Posted May 20, 2001 Hi all, The HCV viral load is important insofar as the long term outcome of disease is concerned. Since the virus is not directy cytopathic the viral load doesnt change the histopathological changes taking place. However if the virus persists it will keep multipying and the more it multiplies the longer it stays. Thus with treatment any decrease in viral load is of help as it delays the development of advanced liver disease. Think of it like chipping away from a big block..sooner or later you are able to knock it down! So dont keep looking at the big load and getting daunted! regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2001 Report Share Posted May 20, 2001 Hi all, The HCV viral load is important insofar as the long term outcome of disease is concerned. Since the virus is not directy cytopathic the viral load doesnt change the histopathological changes taking place. However if the virus persists it will keep multipying and the more it multiplies the longer it stays. Thus with treatment any decrease in viral load is of help as it delays the development of advanced liver disease. Think of it like chipping away from a big block..sooner or later you are able to knock it down! So dont keep looking at the big load and getting daunted! regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2001 Report Share Posted May 20, 2001 I know it sounds crazy to say that viral load has no real bearing on how much damage is occurring, but that is what all the studies show. The only significance found really is that a higher viral load is more difficult to get rid of. Maybe a part of why viral load doesn't make a big difference in damage is a matter of realizing what this virus COULD do. Most of us have viral loads of up to 1 million, 2 million, or 5 million, or even 10 million. But researchers have found that this virus can replicate at the rate of one TRILLION viruses a day! That makes 5 million seem pretty low! Maybe if someone did have a viral load of 500 billion then maybe viral load would make a difference. And how many cells are in the liver anyway? I have no idea, probably a lot! Maybe that is a part of it too. (This is TOTAL speculation.... I've been thinking, a sometimes dangerous pastime, lol!) My LFTs went normal while I was on treatment too, even though I didn't respond, and my doctor was always telling me my liver was getting a break, and treatment was still helping me, although he didn't state it was because my viral load was down. (Knowing what I know now I realize a drop from 110,000 down to 50,000 was really nothing at all.) I suppose though that if your immune system is used to keeping the virus down to a certain level and then suddenly your liver has less of the virus to deal with that would be of benefit to YOUR liver, and would be a break of sorts. It's an interesting thought! Now it has been realized that interferon itself is good for the liver and can help reduce fibrosis. From what I've read the virus causes damage to the liver in two main ways. The first, and biggest problem, is that the virus triggers our immune system to fight it off, and it is actually our immune responses (inflammation) that cause the cells to die, and scar tissue to be formed. The other thing is the continued replication in each infected liver cell, which will eventually destroy that cell. However, the really serious culprit in the cause of fibrosis is our own immune system and the chronic inflammation it causes. I still feel better though when I know my viral load is low, even though all I've read says it doesn't make any real difference! As for the virus affecting other parts of the body, I know that I believe it does, and there are many knowledgeable doctors and researchers who believe the same, although I think this is still an area where there are a lot of skeptics, except in a few well documents disorders, like cryoglobulinemia, and still a real need for more research. But yes, it is known for sure that the virus cause cryo, glomerulonephritis, and porphyria cutanea tarda, and again, viral load, and the amount of damage to the liver, doesn't seem to make any difference. Other disorders are strongly suspected, like Sjogren's syndrome and Lichen planus. There is even speculation that the virus may infect the central nervous system, including the brain, causing this thing we call brain fog! Claudine __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2001 Report Share Posted May 20, 2001 I know it sounds crazy to say that viral load has no real bearing on how much damage is occurring, but that is what all the studies show. The only significance found really is that a higher viral load is more difficult to get rid of. Maybe a part of why viral load doesn't make a big difference in damage is a matter of realizing what this virus COULD do. Most of us have viral loads of up to 1 million, 2 million, or 5 million, or even 10 million. But researchers have found that this virus can replicate at the rate of one TRILLION viruses a day! That makes 5 million seem pretty low! Maybe if someone did have a viral load of 500 billion then maybe viral load would make a difference. And how many cells are in the liver anyway? I have no idea, probably a lot! Maybe that is a part of it too. (This is TOTAL speculation.... I've been thinking, a sometimes dangerous pastime, lol!) My LFTs went normal while I was on treatment too, even though I didn't respond, and my doctor was always telling me my liver was getting a break, and treatment was still helping me, although he didn't state it was because my viral load was down. (Knowing what I know now I realize a drop from 110,000 down to 50,000 was really nothing at all.) I suppose though that if your immune system is used to keeping the virus down to a certain level and then suddenly your liver has less of the virus to deal with that would be of benefit to YOUR liver, and would be a break of sorts. It's an interesting thought! Now it has been realized that interferon itself is good for the liver and can help reduce fibrosis. From what I've read the virus causes damage to the liver in two main ways. The first, and biggest problem, is that the virus triggers our immune system to fight it off, and it is actually our immune responses (inflammation) that cause the cells to die, and scar tissue to be formed. The other thing is the continued replication in each infected liver cell, which will eventually destroy that cell. However, the really serious culprit in the cause of fibrosis is our own immune system and the chronic inflammation it causes. I still feel better though when I know my viral load is low, even though all I've read says it doesn't make any real difference! As for the virus affecting other parts of the body, I know that I believe it does, and there are many knowledgeable doctors and researchers who believe the same, although I think this is still an area where there are a lot of skeptics, except in a few well documents disorders, like cryoglobulinemia, and still a real need for more research. But yes, it is known for sure that the virus cause cryo, glomerulonephritis, and porphyria cutanea tarda, and again, viral load, and the amount of damage to the liver, doesn't seem to make any difference. Other disorders are strongly suspected, like Sjogren's syndrome and Lichen planus. There is even speculation that the virus may infect the central nervous system, including the brain, causing this thing we call brain fog! Claudine __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2001 Report Share Posted May 20, 2001 I know it sounds crazy to say that viral load has no real bearing on how much damage is occurring, but that is what all the studies show. The only significance found really is that a higher viral load is more difficult to get rid of. Maybe a part of why viral load doesn't make a big difference in damage is a matter of realizing what this virus COULD do. Most of us have viral loads of up to 1 million, 2 million, or 5 million, or even 10 million. But researchers have found that this virus can replicate at the rate of one TRILLION viruses a day! That makes 5 million seem pretty low! Maybe if someone did have a viral load of 500 billion then maybe viral load would make a difference. And how many cells are in the liver anyway? I have no idea, probably a lot! Maybe that is a part of it too. (This is TOTAL speculation.... I've been thinking, a sometimes dangerous pastime, lol!) My LFTs went normal while I was on treatment too, even though I didn't respond, and my doctor was always telling me my liver was getting a break, and treatment was still helping me, although he didn't state it was because my viral load was down. (Knowing what I know now I realize a drop from 110,000 down to 50,000 was really nothing at all.) I suppose though that if your immune system is used to keeping the virus down to a certain level and then suddenly your liver has less of the virus to deal with that would be of benefit to YOUR liver, and would be a break of sorts. It's an interesting thought! Now it has been realized that interferon itself is good for the liver and can help reduce fibrosis. From what I've read the virus causes damage to the liver in two main ways. The first, and biggest problem, is that the virus triggers our immune system to fight it off, and it is actually our immune responses (inflammation) that cause the cells to die, and scar tissue to be formed. The other thing is the continued replication in each infected liver cell, which will eventually destroy that cell. However, the really serious culprit in the cause of fibrosis is our own immune system and the chronic inflammation it causes. I still feel better though when I know my viral load is low, even though all I've read says it doesn't make any real difference! As for the virus affecting other parts of the body, I know that I believe it does, and there are many knowledgeable doctors and researchers who believe the same, although I think this is still an area where there are a lot of skeptics, except in a few well documents disorders, like cryoglobulinemia, and still a real need for more research. But yes, it is known for sure that the virus cause cryo, glomerulonephritis, and porphyria cutanea tarda, and again, viral load, and the amount of damage to the liver, doesn't seem to make any difference. Other disorders are strongly suspected, like Sjogren's syndrome and Lichen planus. There is even speculation that the virus may infect the central nervous system, including the brain, causing this thing we call brain fog! Claudine __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2001 Report Share Posted May 20, 2001 I know it sounds crazy to say that viral load has no real bearing on how much damage is occurring, but that is what all the studies show. The only significance found really is that a higher viral load is more difficult to get rid of. Maybe a part of why viral load doesn't make a big difference in damage is a matter of realizing what this virus COULD do. Most of us have viral loads of up to 1 million, 2 million, or 5 million, or even 10 million. But researchers have found that this virus can replicate at the rate of one TRILLION viruses a day! That makes 5 million seem pretty low! Maybe if someone did have a viral load of 500 billion then maybe viral load would make a difference. And how many cells are in the liver anyway? I have no idea, probably a lot! Maybe that is a part of it too. (This is TOTAL speculation.... I've been thinking, a sometimes dangerous pastime, lol!) My LFTs went normal while I was on treatment too, even though I didn't respond, and my doctor was always telling me my liver was getting a break, and treatment was still helping me, although he didn't state it was because my viral load was down. (Knowing what I know now I realize a drop from 110,000 down to 50,000 was really nothing at all.) I suppose though that if your immune system is used to keeping the virus down to a certain level and then suddenly your liver has less of the virus to deal with that would be of benefit to YOUR liver, and would be a break of sorts. It's an interesting thought! Now it has been realized that interferon itself is good for the liver and can help reduce fibrosis. From what I've read the virus causes damage to the liver in two main ways. The first, and biggest problem, is that the virus triggers our immune system to fight it off, and it is actually our immune responses (inflammation) that cause the cells to die, and scar tissue to be formed. The other thing is the continued replication in each infected liver cell, which will eventually destroy that cell. However, the really serious culprit in the cause of fibrosis is our own immune system and the chronic inflammation it causes. I still feel better though when I know my viral load is low, even though all I've read says it doesn't make any real difference! As for the virus affecting other parts of the body, I know that I believe it does, and there are many knowledgeable doctors and researchers who believe the same, although I think this is still an area where there are a lot of skeptics, except in a few well documents disorders, like cryoglobulinemia, and still a real need for more research. But yes, it is known for sure that the virus cause cryo, glomerulonephritis, and porphyria cutanea tarda, and again, viral load, and the amount of damage to the liver, doesn't seem to make any difference. Other disorders are strongly suspected, like Sjogren's syndrome and Lichen planus. There is even speculation that the virus may infect the central nervous system, including the brain, causing this thing we call brain fog! Claudine __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2001 Report Share Posted May 21, 2001 That's what I had been reading. The lower the viral load, the easier to get into remission. Too bad the Brownian motion thing doesn't apply here, the more the bugs the faster they die One can always hope! Grand Prairie, Tx, USA, Earth " To endure is greater than to dare; to tire out hostile fortune; to be daunted by no difficulty; to keep heart when all have lost it -- who can say this is not greatness? " ~ Makepeace Thackeray ~ (1811 - 1863) http://communities.msn.com/TheMagog http://clubs./clubs/writingandpublishing http://www.alleypat.com http://community.dallasnews.com/dmn/dfwliver http://alleypat.livejournal.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2001 Report Share Posted May 21, 2001 That's what I had been reading. The lower the viral load, the easier to get into remission. Too bad the Brownian motion thing doesn't apply here, the more the bugs the faster they die One can always hope! Grand Prairie, Tx, USA, Earth " To endure is greater than to dare; to tire out hostile fortune; to be daunted by no difficulty; to keep heart when all have lost it -- who can say this is not greatness? " ~ Makepeace Thackeray ~ (1811 - 1863) http://communities.msn.com/TheMagog http://clubs./clubs/writingandpublishing http://www.alleypat.com http://community.dallasnews.com/dmn/dfwliver http://alleypat.livejournal.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2001 Report Share Posted May 21, 2001 That's what I had been reading. The lower the viral load, the easier to get into remission. Too bad the Brownian motion thing doesn't apply here, the more the bugs the faster they die One can always hope! Grand Prairie, Tx, USA, Earth " To endure is greater than to dare; to tire out hostile fortune; to be daunted by no difficulty; to keep heart when all have lost it -- who can say this is not greatness? " ~ Makepeace Thackeray ~ (1811 - 1863) http://communities.msn.com/TheMagog http://clubs./clubs/writingandpublishing http://www.alleypat.com http://community.dallasnews.com/dmn/dfwliver http://alleypat.livejournal.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2001 Report Share Posted May 21, 2001 That's what I had been reading. The lower the viral load, the easier to get into remission. Too bad the Brownian motion thing doesn't apply here, the more the bugs the faster they die One can always hope! Grand Prairie, Tx, USA, Earth " To endure is greater than to dare; to tire out hostile fortune; to be daunted by no difficulty; to keep heart when all have lost it -- who can say this is not greatness? " ~ Makepeace Thackeray ~ (1811 - 1863) http://communities.msn.com/TheMagog http://clubs./clubs/writingandpublishing http://www.alleypat.com http://community.dallasnews.com/dmn/dfwliver http://alleypat.livejournal.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2001 Report Share Posted May 21, 2001 Tatezi said <<I'm not quite sure how this virus, by attaching itself to your liver, causes liver damage>> Mysterious little bug isn't it? If I understand correctly, the virus likes to hide in the liver cells and we actually kill our own liver attacking it. Our body kills the cell it hides in plus the surrounding cells. On one hand this is good, what we want our body to do, but on the other, it'd be nice to turn it off cuz the virus mutates and replicates so fast, our body can't keep up. Hep C is classified as a liver disease because of the history of the disease. yes it's systemic, but it's so hard to say " your joint pain is caused by the hep " . Based on history, a person's liver malfunctions and so we call it hepatitis. I'm over simplifying and I'm sure someone else can put it much clearer. But that is kinda how I understand it. I have yet to have any doctor except my gastro say " your migaines are triggered and made more resistent to meds because of the hep " . Yet my gastro won't treat my migraines. It's like a catch 22, chicken and the egg thing. One is an egg and the other is a chicken, did the chicken cause the egg or did the egg cause the chicken? Is my bursitis caused by the hep and if so, what difference would it make anyway? The treatments would be basically the same. But I'm the type of person who asks " WHY " , cause and effect type thing. Since I've been on combo and now I'm off combo, but still on my antidepressants, I've noticed that I get upset easier than ever and then once upset, I can't calm down. I am used to taking things in stride, having more control over my emotions. Not like a robot but being able to breathe deeply and tell myself to relax, it's not worth it, put it in perspective. But now, it's like my perspective is all hosed. I'm hoping as I move away from treatment, time will help me level that out and I'll return to a person who doesn't get shakey and nervous and irritated. I'm not the type of person who wants to take antidepressants or any other drug the rest of my life, but I'm beginning to think I may have to. Has anyone else had this type of change and how did it affect you? Did it wear off eventually? Grand Prairie, Tx, USA, Earth " To endure is greater than to dare; to tire out hostile fortune; to be daunted by no difficulty; to keep heart when all have lost it -- who can say this is not greatness? " ~ Makepeace Thackeray ~ (1811 - 1863) http://communities.msn.com/TheMagog http://clubs./clubs/writingandpublishing http://www.alleypat.com http://community.dallasnews.com/dmn/dfwliver http://alleypat.livejournal.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2001 Report Share Posted May 21, 2001 Tatezi said <<I'm not quite sure how this virus, by attaching itself to your liver, causes liver damage>> Mysterious little bug isn't it? If I understand correctly, the virus likes to hide in the liver cells and we actually kill our own liver attacking it. Our body kills the cell it hides in plus the surrounding cells. On one hand this is good, what we want our body to do, but on the other, it'd be nice to turn it off cuz the virus mutates and replicates so fast, our body can't keep up. Hep C is classified as a liver disease because of the history of the disease. yes it's systemic, but it's so hard to say " your joint pain is caused by the hep " . Based on history, a person's liver malfunctions and so we call it hepatitis. I'm over simplifying and I'm sure someone else can put it much clearer. But that is kinda how I understand it. I have yet to have any doctor except my gastro say " your migaines are triggered and made more resistent to meds because of the hep " . Yet my gastro won't treat my migraines. It's like a catch 22, chicken and the egg thing. One is an egg and the other is a chicken, did the chicken cause the egg or did the egg cause the chicken? Is my bursitis caused by the hep and if so, what difference would it make anyway? The treatments would be basically the same. But I'm the type of person who asks " WHY " , cause and effect type thing. Since I've been on combo and now I'm off combo, but still on my antidepressants, I've noticed that I get upset easier than ever and then once upset, I can't calm down. I am used to taking things in stride, having more control over my emotions. Not like a robot but being able to breathe deeply and tell myself to relax, it's not worth it, put it in perspective. But now, it's like my perspective is all hosed. I'm hoping as I move away from treatment, time will help me level that out and I'll return to a person who doesn't get shakey and nervous and irritated. I'm not the type of person who wants to take antidepressants or any other drug the rest of my life, but I'm beginning to think I may have to. Has anyone else had this type of change and how did it affect you? Did it wear off eventually? Grand Prairie, Tx, USA, Earth " To endure is greater than to dare; to tire out hostile fortune; to be daunted by no difficulty; to keep heart when all have lost it -- who can say this is not greatness? " ~ Makepeace Thackeray ~ (1811 - 1863) http://communities.msn.com/TheMagog http://clubs./clubs/writingandpublishing http://www.alleypat.com http://community.dallasnews.com/dmn/dfwliver http://alleypat.livejournal.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 29, 2001 Report Share Posted August 29, 2001 Claudine.... Do you know of any research papers on this triple therapy with Infergen? I'd like to take some documentation to my liver guy and see if this might be something we could try. Thanks, Tatezi <Who has been working 10-12 hour days all week and is about to collapse from sheer exhaustion> claudine intexas wrote: > Connie, > There is one more thing I thought of, sort of a > last shot (no pun intended!) kind of thing, if you > really want to give getting rid of the virus one more > chance. (Don't stop what your doing now...) Talk to > this doctor about Infergen, high daily dosing. Amgen > makes Infergen, and they probably have something > similar to Schering's commitment to care program. > Infergen was 'designed' especially to fight HCV, and > is probably the most effective form of interferon for > use in HCV. People who have not responded to other > interferons have had success with this one. I'm not > sure how you could go about getting the ribavirin - > but I'd try to figure something out! And then, maybe > your doctor could prescribe Amantadine to go along > with it. There has been some research that shows > TRIPLE therapy increases the response rate. Amantadine > is a very inexpensive drug, but it doesn't really help > unless it's being used along with the ribavirin (and > interferon, of course.) Ok, it was just a thought.... > I still think that improving the condition of your > liver is a very worthwhile goal, in and of itself. > Claudine > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 21, 2001 Report Share Posted November 21, 2001 Thanks....now I think I understand fibrosis vs inflammation. And I'd forgotten about reading those reports on the HCV affecting brain functions. Yep, the rebetron blew out my thyroid do I am hypothyroid. After you were talking about the newer studies on TSH " normal " levels and other folks talked about how they felt better at the lower levels, I did a lot of research. Sent the research papers and various articles to my doc and told him I wanted to increase my dosage and bring my TSH down to the low end of normal. He prescribed the higher dosage and I've been on it a week. Course since I got laid off last week and can't tell if I'm starting to feel different yet because I'm pretty frightened and stressed right now...there just aren't any jobs out there these days. But I'm starting to bounce back to my ole positive self so hopefully I'll start being able to tell if the increased dosage of synthroid is making me feel any better. He had me holding at a TSH of 5.0 so dropping it down to 1 or 2 might make all the difference. Blessings Tatezi claudine intexas wrote: > Also, don't you have hypothyroidism? That can > cause the same type of 'brain fog' problems. If my TSH > get above 2 I start feeling worse, poor memory, more > depressed, easily confused, tired all the time - also > dry skin, dry hair, all those signs of hypothyroidism. > I don't care what the lab says is normal, for me I > need to keep my TSH around 1 to feel really good. Over > 2 is asking for trouble! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 22, 2001 Report Share Posted November 22, 2001 Thanks for the info on thyroid...another thing to watch out for. I'm so glad I joined this forum! You are all so nice and helpful. Thanx Alley for your input...that cleared up some questions I had. Like you, I like to do things the easiest way...so to have the injection all ready to go sounds much better than mixing it. I'll keep you all posted on how it goes and what I do about it. Hugggggs Carol Tatezi wrote: > > Thanks....now I think I understand fibrosis vs inflammation. And I'd > forgotten about reading those reports on the HCV affecting brain > functions. > > Yep, the rebetron blew out my thyroid do I am hypothyroid. After you > were talking about the newer studies on TSH " normal " levels and other > folks talked about how they felt better at the lower levels, I did a lot > of research. Sent the research papers and various articles to my doc and > told him I wanted to increase my dosage and bring my TSH down to the low > end of normal. He prescribed the higher dosage and I've been on it a > week. > > Course since I got laid off last week and can't tell if I'm starting to > feel different yet because I'm pretty frightened and stressed right > now...there just aren't any jobs out there these days. But I'm starting > to bounce back to my ole positive self so hopefully I'll start being > able to tell if the increased dosage of synthroid is making me feel any > better. He had me holding at a TSH of 5.0 so dropping it down to 1 or 2 > might make all the difference. > > Blessings > Tatezi > > claudine intexas wrote: > > > Also, don't you have hypothyroidism? That can > > cause the same type of 'brain fog' problems. If my TSH > > get above 2 I start feeling worse, poor memory, more > > depressed, easily confused, tired all the time - also > > dry skin, dry hair, all those signs of hypothyroidism. > > I don't care what the lab says is normal, for me I > > need to keep my TSH around 1 to feel really good. Over > > 2 is asking for trouble! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.