Milk Thistle and Hep B

[confuseguy]

Zelly or anyone else,

I think you're taking milk thistle? I read on it. I'm a believer of herbal medicine. I guess it doesn't hurt to try?

I went out and bought GNC milk thistle 200 mg/capsule today. I read that recommended dosage is 200-400 mg/day. So I plan taking them at 8am and 5pm every day. What is your dose? Are you still currently on it? How long have you been on it? Any side effects? Since you indicated no treatment for your hep B thus far, have you figure milk thistle may help your viral load at all or ALT, AST levels?

Since milk thistle claim to help in detoxification, prevention, and repair of liver damaged cells, do you find you're feeling better overall in terms of energy level? Fatigue is one of the hallmark signs of liver overworking/damage isn't it?

Any feedback from anyone with this experience would be greatly appreciated!

[zellyf]

I just started taking milk thistle against the advice of my physician.  My feeling is that you should wait until you have a series of baseline labs to see what your liver is doing.  I have only had one set of labs back since I started taking supplements and it looks like they are not doing any harm at this point.  I cannot say that they are helping b/c my numbers tend to ping around so a slight drop in ALT and DNA one time wouldn't confirm anything.

I think you could start drinking green tea.  That's good for everyone and might have tumor inhibiting properties.  

Even when you have a new topic you can still post under your old thread and we will see it.  That way other people's questions won't get pushed down before we see them.

[zellyf]

>>>>I'm curious and couldn't seem to find an answer to this question. As chronic carriers, we are not immune because Hep B ab is negative.

1) In adults, when the virus is replicating, does our immune system at least try to kill it?
2) What is the half-life of the virus, if any?


1)Actually the immune system does such a good job of fighting that virus that it actually creates a problem.  The HB virus gets into the liver cell and the immune system kills the virus and the cell dies along with it.  That's why causes the liver damage.

2) I have no idea.

[zellyf]

>>>>>I often read about how a physical exam can see if you have an inflame or enlarge liver, can you tell just by touching?

I don't ever recall having pain on my right side, isn't that where the pain suppose to be for hep B?

I do have rib pain on my left side once in awhile.

Do you guys get fatigue easily even with at least 6:30-7 hrs of sleep?
                    ***********************

1.  Your liver has no nerve endings but the membrane around it does.  If you are acute you might have a swollen liver but in a chronic infection you would, theoretically, not have liver pain.  However, it does seem to be the case that heppers have increased sensation around their liver.  There is an "increased awareness" of the liver.  

2.  See above.

3.  Hep B patients will have symptoms totally unrelated to Hep B for their whole lives.  They will get colds, flus, broken bones, carpal tunnel, athlete's foot etc...none of it having to do with Hep B.  

4.  I have 3 children under the age of 9.  I haven't slept for seven hours in, hmmmm, nine years.  If you're tired, rest.  

[confuseguy]

Thanks Zelly. My impression is that you took Milk Thistle awhile back. I started it today. Oh gosh...it doesn't feel good. I felt fine before but hrs after taking it, I felt tired, tingling sensation on legs, stomach, and just an awful stomach bloating. I don't know if this is normal. I did a whole lot of reading and there doesn't seem to be any indication of harm, more good than harm.

I thought about not taking it until I see my hepatologist for the 1st appointment which probably won't be until 1 month considering how slow the health care system is for specialist.

You're right, baseline values without supplements should be established first before anything.

[cajim]

You only tried Milk Thistle for less than one day!  Even a magic cure may take time to show its effect.  Maybe it is better to talk to your hepatologist before trying this and that.