Antioxidants, HCV, cirrhosis (correction)

Anyone familiar with works of Dr. Burton Berkson & his use of alpha-lipoic acid, selenium, milk thistle for folks with HCV and/or cirrhosis?
Berkson's in New Mexico. He said to find a local doctor who has knowledge of oxidative stress medicine. How does one do this?

[layla]

You need to be aware that this forum only has a few questions allowed to be posted each day and you just used up three. This does happen with new people so I am jsut informing you of the posting protocal. You don't need to open a new thread for each question. You just add on to the one you are using. You also can ask a question on an existing post by just typing in new question in the comment to: line. If you hit post a comment and don't post then that post is still used up. LL

[ellissg]

Go to
http://hepcchallenge.org/ and print out the Nutritional Supplements segment of the book. This will answer all your questions.

[cuteus]

It might alleviate symptoms but it will not cure you of HCV. Do you  and your liver have time to waste?
If there are no medical conditions that preclude treating with effective medications, you need to consider it if your liver damage is above stage2.

[genedog]

dr gave me a script for 2 potassium pill's 1 tues 1 today do i feel good, thank god

[cougareyes]

It can help if you don't have alot of damege like cuteous said. I have a friend who had slightly elevated liver panels w/ slight fatty liver (no HCV, no fibrosis). And with the combo you listed he brought all his levels down to normal and reversed the fatty liver.

[BIOPHIL]

Well, I am scheduled to have bloods done on the 21st. hopefully I will have some news for you all about wether or not the expensive "natural" progam that I embarked on is improving my symtoms (symptoms). i just have one question...

If.... My enzymes are better and viral Load is down *and* I continue to havew more Energy.. what doeas that mean? I keep hearing so much  "Listen to the doctors, listen to the doctors, listen to the doctors", and no one even thinks about why the doctors dont focus on your diet, even though you really *are* what you eat. Well maybe because the pharmaceutical Companies dont have patents on spirulina, on milk thisle on cordyceps, on sam-e  or alpha lipoic acid.

Well i have had bleeding varicies and most definetly have cirhosis and i feel better since staring rhis diet and using the supplements. I feel a lot better.

[cuteus]

interferon gives 50 to 56% of genotype 1 what many doctors call a virological cure.
That is better than 0% with "alternatives"

[Brien]

Who said anything about curing HCV and cirrhosis? I didn't; Dr. Berkson doesn't. Interferon "treatment" only helps, is it 30% of patients?

[honey1616]

I see you are still going strong! Hmmmm,,,,what is it now?  6 weeks left?  Or are you going to call it a draw in July and pack your pills.  haha I agree with Susan,,,NONE of the above but you are right,,,A combination might just do the trick! I just know that you have secured you a spot on the SVR list! Good to see you!

[Califia]

Folks, here's a simple little mantra I'd like to implant:  Both / And.  Why do we always think in oppositions like either/or, this/not this?  Of course a chronic viral infection would cause huge amounts of oxidative stress, and addressing this situation nutritionally just makes good sense.  Genedog just offered us an example of a  mineral, potassium, used as a prescribed drug, and to good benefit.     Both / And!

[Tallblonde]

If I had my druthers, it would be neither/nor....but since that's not an option, I like your idea about both/and.

Hope you're feeling better these days.

Susan

[Califia]

Hey you two, nice to see you both.    Rest assured that everything's surprisingly good at 52 weeks,  well over that little road bump of anemia, thank you for asking..still following the medication schedule like a good automaton but otherwise trying to think about hepatitis as little as possible.   And hell no I'm not packing it in early!  Made a terrible fuss in order to extend tx and there'll be no egg on this face, I can tell you that.   (Just a little unsightly riba rash.)    So how about that Tony?  Is there maybe justice in this world after all?   Be very well, you two.

[cougareyes]

I agree all of those things will improve your health and make you feel better. VL can change depending on your own immune system, so healthy living can lower your VL. But this natural theraphy can not drop the VL to undetectable levels. If you have been diagnosed with cirrohis(a biopsy is the only way I know of for sure),a natural treatment can not reverse stages of fibrosis/cirrohis.Good Drs do know the importance of diet, mine recommended me to a nutritionist, suggested books, and internet sources to find recommendations on diet; good Drs don't claim to know it all. Good Luck with everything.

[eagles5]

hi evryone, this is my first time here and I need alot of answers, My Name is Luis and I,ve have hep C had it for 15 years have been on 2 treatments 1 was 3shots a week now I'm on peg and reb take reb 5 times a wk my Dr. now has ask me to take a alpja feto protrein blood test and also a liver scan, I am worred sick my vrus is not droping as fast as I would like and I,ve been on peg and reb for more then a year is there anything else I can do?? is there any clincal trails I can get into?

thanks for listening
L

[Califia]

I'm sorry you are not responding the way you had expected.  You might want to try www.clinicalrials.gov or www.hivandhepatitis.com for clinical trial info.   Better luck to you....

[Porsche216]

Am 1.5 years post-diagnosis HCV gen.2, end-stage liver disease;have 25% of liver left. Been on diuretics, kristolose (sp), zinc sulphate and hemeopathy (m.thistle,ALA, etc). Today am told my doc wants to treat me, but platelets too low (30k) for interferon. Need a transplant. No insurance. Guess things could be worse: I could be homeless and no family. Am wondering what my options are - almost ludicrous, at this point. Son and I are still reeling from what I thought was fluid retention a year and a half ago. Haven't gotten a 2nd opinion - since I feel I need a miracle - anyone got any to spare?

[cuteus]

please email Dr. Cecil as I suggested above. He is customizing tx for his patients and has some good ideas.

[BIOPHIL]

I got the results of my bloods.

Not what I was hoping. my platelets are down to 87 from  100 3 months ago. in general, i dont think my ezymes are better either. maybe 10 % higher.

My VL is down to 375,000 from 400 k.I am depressed.