Containing things between treatments

[murariji]

Does anyone have information on anything to stop the condition of the liver deteriorating while not taking interferon?

[Willy50]

When first diagnosed in 2003 before I even knew what staging I was I tried a series of supplements.  I couldn't tell a thing.  

For years I flew by on a Fibrosure test indicating I was about a stage 1.  When i finally got a biopsy in June 2008 my score was 1/6 ishak.

Now, i wonder, if the liver is so unimpaired, what sort of effects should I have felt?

I differentiate someone with a larger amount of liver damage.....a barely functioning liver may indeed see changes where I might not see any.  I attribute this the how well the liver serves us.  It may also be the reason that HCV is often called thew silent killer; many people progress almost silently without symptoms into cirrhosis.

I therefore consider those with more advanced a better barometer..... so to speak, the canary in the coal mine, than possibly a person like myself with relatively little damage.

In this case the absence of benefit to myself or fret may not be a legitimate means of assessing whether the stuff works or not.  If people like Joe or Stefano with more advanced damage are feeling benefit and seeing labs improve it may suggest that there may be something to it, something that might not be easily proven with a person like me with little damage.

Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

best,
Willy

[orphanedhawk]

Coffee, minimum three cups daily and dark chocolate.
There's research on both, do a google search, I'm sure you'll find it.
This is what I've been doing since my transplant and so far, so good.

[fretboard]

I don't doubt the Hepech supplements helped your situations out at all.  All I am saying is that I tried HeptoBoost and I didn't get a boost.  The only thing I noticed is that my body waste was alot darker than normal.  It very well could be that if I bought all their products then maybe it would help, but as you well know to buy all their products is close to $500.  If my liver was in worse shape, I may invest the money but not today.  One last thing, when I buy a product, whether it's a supplement or amino acid and in the name it says the word "Boost" then that's what I expect to feel.  

[evangelin]

Are you still going to be able to get your supplements?  This must be very frustrating . I don't know how customs works but I sure hope you can get them soon.
Maybe someone else around here will have a good idea that might help.  
hoping for the best,
Ev

[stef2011]

i actually tried the hepatitis tech for a month now, although on hbv cirrhosis i think this feed back can be helpful anyway
i was cirrhosis 16.3kpa and started the prtocol when 9kpa, i actually started it because of creatinine rise due to the antivirals (the rise was within high normal range but it is always bad when creatinine changes), the results are that it made creatinine normal and i also felt that much energy, so much that i wanted to go back swiming 3 times a wekk as once.

although my condition is regressed cirrhosis i did feel much better, now i am one week without pills because customs blocked the second order and creatinine is rising again and i feel much less energy (no way going to swim).

so i confirm it does help a lot when liver is not working at full regimen.
by the way all my blood tests have always been normal even if on cirrhosis but i felt bad at periods, so bad that i could not stand more than 30 minutes, travel, drive or have long walks

[evangelin]

Taking anti fibrotic/anti inflammatory supplements is  not like taking ibuprofen for a headache. It is a long term proposition.  Joe did show an increase in his energy level after only a few weeks but he took full doses of all 4 products and had been on similar supplements prior to this for years.  (not as high quality or optimal doses though)  It has been quite a few years now since HR was on here helping us to understand the potential of supplements to hold at bay , possibly even reverse damage done by the virus.  When Joe started taking our patched together supplements from the information given by HR, he very gradually showed some improvements but by 8 months, he was most definitely better and his labs showed that improvement.  Prior to this, his Dr. said he would no longer be eligible to retry TX because his labs looked dreadful and he felt very bad too.  After 8 months on HR's protocol, he had improved so much, that the Dr. OK'd him to try again,this time with Alinia added.  It still didn't work but Joe got right back on the supplements this time switching to Hepatitis Technologies and for a guy that has had cirrhosis for a long time and has been through 3 TX failures, he is doing quite well.  People can't just look at him and know he is sick anymore.  His color is normal and he has lost the sick, emaciated look he used to have.  He started getting mild ascites in his belly during his last very long TX but I can't see it anymore if it is there.  
I chose to listen to HR above all else because he is a highly qualified Doctor. He is a world renowned expert in things pertaining to the liver. He is a genius, and he has spent a lot of time looking in to which supplements are #1 safe and #2 have reasonable potential ,shown by research, to be helpful.  He has been on the cutting edge of fighting hepatitis B and C for a long time.  With no current options for SVR, why wouldn't we listen to him?
Everyone has their choices to make but this is why we chose HR and his advice.  If you have never gone through the archives and read his old posts, I highly recommend them.  People are probably getting sick of me saying it but I'm so thankful that I was there at the right time to read his posts.  What if I'd missed them... God only knows where we would be now.  We were going from bad to worse really fast back then.  
I feel very repetitive in my posts but the same things keep coming up.  All I can do is tell our story, even if it is starting to get old.  

[scratchinghead]

I probably agree. Seems like anyone pushing PPC sure has a lot of advertising jargon associated with the product. I would buy the cheapest, which I found would be that liquid stuff. I would buy it from Betterlife.com. I had to phone them to find out what the discount was, they won't show that for this one item. I'm not buying the stuff, . . . yet. I don't have the money.

[fretboard]

I wouldn't get too carried away with Hepatitis Technologies supplements as I bought a bottle (Heptoboost) and I didn't feel a boost of energy or anything.  In fact, I feel better taking my amino acids.  I am not saying that nobody will benefit from them but I will say that not everyone will benefit and you can certainly find the ingredients therein for alot cheaper.  

[murariji]

Thanks for all the tips, especially for the intro to HR.
Plenty to read and digest. Am feeling less and less the pressure to reach SVR and leaning more to finding a way to live that minimalizes the whole Hep C issue.
Thanks to SnoWav for his blithe disregard for 'the unwanted guest'. 11 hours gone and nobody has jumped on you yet for your irreverent attitude!

[evangelin]

It helps me to go reread things HR has said.  I forget easily forget,  plus there are things I understand now that I didn't back then, so I get more out of it.  
Good to see your name.
Take care,
Ev

[scratchinghead]

Here is a great discussion that includes HRs comments about this. Glad I found it.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/95631

the final paragraph from this post


3. From the foregoing it is understandable that we need to protect our livers from quick rise sugar levels in the intestinal circulation just as the liver tries to protect the main body from these spikes in toxic glucose. Therefore as a good principle ;

TREAT YOUR LIVER AS YOUR LIVER TREATS THE BODY: Protect it from excess sugar toxicity by handling it a slow, ongoing level of nutrients that it can use and process without toxic stress. Eat meals that will slowly release its carbohydrate content due to proper embedding in slow release fiber ( like veggies), small portions only, In other words "FEED IT AS IT NEEDS IT". Do not force it (the liver) into the need to store excess metabolites into fat causing metabolic stress and inflammation.

[Cory255]

Here's info on supplements from the Hep C Trust site:

http://www.hepctrust.org.uk/Wellness/Introduction+to+Supplements

[SnoWav]

eat healthy enjoy life forget about your hep C house guest the odds are good you will live just as long without TX

[Kristina538]

I questioned my old chinese doctor about the iron from spinach and he muttered about it being different than the iron in meat.   I didn't take his advise for some years, but after getting heavily constipated, I finally tried it and 'presto';  after that it was a nightly with ongoing success.  Protein is good for your immune system.

"It's psychologically very uncomfortable to inject yourself with 'poison' even if it may cure you." - I agree; my naturopath didn't want me to do the interferon again, but I figured if I researched it enough and became a part of my own treatment I would be more comfortable.  I also figured that interferon is is a God given gift also.   If Jesus could turn water into wine, perhaps, on some level, I could turn interferon into something user friendly; at least user friendly enough to fire up an SVR outcome!!

MMM - so, it looks as though I need 'home grown chickens' on my 'to do' list; sounds good!!

[blondie717]

Thank you for some of the sugestions. I use bleach all the time and from now on I will use gloves and cut back on the bleach use, I wont dye my hair. and will switch to the coldpressed virgin olive oil..Working as a inspector @ the chicken plant, I often saw 5 wk old chickens, with cancer,tumors and disease and I dont see that in my birds that eat what god gives them and are up to a yr old (of course mine are not as big). I was also afraid to enjoy spinich because of the iron.  But I guess if it goes through quick it wont stick w/ya. I do eat sardines, because my cat gets the wild samon. Even she likes wild samon and yard bird over store bought chicken. And she likes it poached or boiled, no salt, spices and oils. I guess we can learn from our pets and you. Ginger

[murariji]

Great stuff, thanks a lot.
Nice to know I don't have to mess with what I'm used to.
The lingering sx thread is pretty scary,
It's psychologically very uncomfortable to inject yourself with 'poison' even if it may cure you.

[Kristina538]

If you can get hold of the "The Healthy Liver & Bowel Book" by Dr Sandra Cabbot, there are some aweome recipies in the back.  

Stick to easily digestible proteins (chickpeas etc), but also make sure you get enough protein.  Less carbs, unless complex (veges), limit sugar.  I stopped salt for years, but if it's iodised, suggest you have small amounts as the iodine is important.   Steamed food rather than fried (I'd 'poach' chicken), but I did have liver damage.   Vege juices, like beetroot/celery/carrot combos.  Rest and lack of stress, excercise.  Don't allow yourself to get constipated (spinach works wonders - old Chinese doc put me on to that).  Make sure any multi-vitamins do not contain iron as it can be hard for a struggling liver to metabolise and collects there, causing scarring.  A good B-complex with high B12, fish oil (and/or oily fish like salmon or sardines - easily digested protein), and, if cooking with oil, used a 'cold-pressed virgin olive oil' which has a higher burning point (low burning point oil is just not assimilated).
If your liver is struggling you need easily digestible stuff to ensure that you're managing to absorb the nutrients, and not overwork your liver/pancreas/gallbladder.
Diluted lemon juice will help alkalinise your system and cleanse the liver (good on waking up) and I used to have a few teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in water (in a wine glass lol) to increase the stomach acids to assist in breaking down my dinner.  Likewise food high in 'digestive enzymes' or a digestive enzyme supplement can assist.

Be pesticide and chemical free where possible i.e wear gloves if you're using bleach or chemicals so that you're not giving your immune system and liver extra work to do.

When I first was diagnosed a naturopath had me eat organic beef liver lightly fried daily - I think because of nutrients I may be missing, but I hated it and opted for eating lots of sardines...

Good luck - I felt noticeably better in between treatments when I managed to concentrate on doing the good stuff.

[GSDgirl]

The only thing I can think of to add is eat organic, hormone & antibiotic free beef, chicken if possible.  Once you get used to cooking healthy is comes naturally and is easy.  Good Luck

[copyman]

don't drink alcohol. eat a healthy diet, low fat,salt & sugar.

Take supplements like milk thistle, PPC, and several others.