Diet Suggestions

[dingleberry243]

I have stage 2 liver disease.  I am interested in information on healthy diets for patients with Hep C.
What about vitamins?  

[Bill1954]

With stage 2 fibrosis, there are really no dietary constraints. We’ll all benefit from eating healthy food, but there is nothing specific to Hep C.

Some HCV patients will have iron storage problems; until you’re doctor performs an iron study, you might benefit from a no-iron multi like Centrum Silver.

Bill

[Rockerforlife]

No offence,but Centrum Silver brand vitamins are a commericail  brand made by big pharma, and too syntectic,better of getting a good organic probotic type like" new chapter"

[becksta29]

i have read that a diet low in bad fats,salt,etc which is bad for every1 else too is the way to go.
i have read that pineapple,beetroot mmm cant really think of the rest....brain fog,is good for the liver,but dont go eating to much of the good foods cos to much of 1 thing wouldnt be a good idea,moderation is the key.
Milk thistle is very good,but people here say dont take it on the tx but take it if you are not on the tx,its a herb you bye in pill form.

[dingleberry243]

What about not eating shell fish?  Kaiser 'indoctrination" said to stay away from iron and just stick to one 'good' multivitamin a day.  I have read many of the comments on the side effects of treatment and they are freaking me out.  I work long hours in a management position and cannot financially afford to stop work.  Saw a hep C specialist at UCLA and he said that based on my medical history, I have had this virus for 20+ years.  I'm stage 2 genotype 2.  He indicated that based on the length of time this has been brewing, I can consider waiting for the new treatment to be released.

So what do you all think?  20 years to get to this point, don't drink alcohol, exercise, try to eat right, and wait?  The alternative of taking treatment now, with all the side effects, is frightening.

[Rockerforlife]

Geno 2 is the easest to treat,Do not eat shell fish.Easy on the iron if you have lots in your system,if you dod multivitamin,use a food based organic one like" new chapter"TX is not as bad as you hear 10% have heavy sides,80% have mediium,the other 10% have very minium like me...your lucky you have geno 2...if you clear by wek 4 you odds are 0ver 90% you win

[Bill1954]

Hi,

Yeah, there are some warnings our about shellfish; good catch. I seldom eat shellfish due to cost, so it wasn’t on my list of biggies at the time.

Genotype 2 is fortunately quite responsive to treatment; it only requires a 24 week treatment duration with a roughly 90% response. All the trial drugs are currently being used as adjuncts to the interferon/riba combo therapy, and most probably will for some time to come. If your doctor was somehow suggesting otherwise, I’d like to hear his thoughts.

When I was diagnosed, I had stage 3-4 fibrosis with genotype 1 HCV. It took me several years, but I managed to get through it, and am now SVR, or sustained viral response. It can be done, although it might not be pleasant at times. I probably contracted this stuff in 1973-’74, and wasn’t diagnosed until 2004.

Understand that many, if not most of the people that post in internet discussion groups are having significant problems managing their treatment and disease. Those that aren’t affected severely continue on with their lives, and are therefore under represented in these groups. Not all of us get slammed by treatment; although almost all of seem to get hit with fatigue, etc. I have yet to speak with someone that slid through this stuff completely unscathed.

Welcome to the group, by the way—

Bill

[dingleberry243]

You make some good points.  Fatigue is what got me to the doctor to follow up on getting a biopsy to see what was going on with my liver.  I was first diagnosed in 1998 and did blood work follow up every year with no indication of any progression of the virus, or so I was told until the recent biopsy.
It would be great to hear from people that have had less negative results from treatment but this is a good place for people to download some 'bad time' frustrations.

Thanks for your comments.  You as well Rocker

[Bill1954]

Fatigue was my single biggest complaint, before as well as during treatment; it led to my diagnosis as well.

Good luck to you with whatever course of action you decide to take—

Bill