Aa
HCV, diet and Tx
What do you all on Tx (or just finishing) eat? What works for you with the meds and keeping them down, etc? I've been doing lots of reading, and I have seen several VERY different recommended diets. Do you really have to give up all meat and dairy? I don't do well on soy, or on super low protein diets. Help! My clinical trial begins in less than two weeks and I would like to be settled into an eating plan before I begin, if possible.
Thanks - Kristi
Thanks - Kristi
I don't know about all those herbs, and I totally understand about those big meals and not being able to eat. My favorite food at the moment is Loard's Strawberry icecream. I have it for breakfast with my Riba, followed by my Total One ceral and banannas, the next few meals are skimpy and iffy at best, but that big bowl of icecream at night not only tastes good, but calms me and puts me at peace. What else could be better?
Just thought I'd pitch this in since a lot of people do think about the natural route-2hep2it
Herbs
(The following is excerpted from the HCV Advocate.)
Herbs with known liver toxicity
Herbs
(The following is excerpted from the HCV Advocate.)
Herbs with known liver toxicity
just as long as you don't leave it hanging around for others to enjoy, you keep it our little secret....somthing about a certain acid it contains, that's very good for you...
As far as our itty bitty tiny little Liver Diet Club is concerned...lessee...now of course Rocker for Life would be the prez...I could be the secretary...Jim could be the Speaker, but only when he eats Japanese food...who else, Chev could be the vice president...Goof you can't come in the fort, I have seen what you eat...and you might make us laugh too much and disrupt our meetings....Pdilly is in, cept she might not want to be...hmmm, well, it's a tiny little club...who else? we just gotta watch out for Can-do man, Dyce and Dale cause they were throwing mudpies at us last week and our tiny little fort almost fell out of the tree....
As far as our itty bitty tiny little Liver Diet Club is concerned...lessee...now of course Rocker for Life would be the prez...I could be the secretary...Jim could be the Speaker, but only when he eats Japanese food...who else, Chev could be the vice president...Goof you can't come in the fort, I have seen what you eat...and you might make us laugh too much and disrupt our meetings....Pdilly is in, cept she might not want to be...hmmm, well, it's a tiny little club...who else? we just gotta watch out for Can-do man, Dyce and Dale cause they were throwing mudpies at us last week and our tiny little fort almost fell out of the tree....
I love asparagus, but I notice it makes my urine smell funny. What's going on?
By Elizabeth Somer, MA,RD
Aug. 14, 2000 -- You may have heard the tall tale that "asparagus urine" is linked to higher intelligence. In fact, it's the result of a simple chemical reaction. Asparagus contains a sulfur compound called mercaptan. (It's also found in rotten eggs, onions, garlic, and in the secretions of skunks.) When your digestive tract breaks down this substance, by-products are released that cause the funny scent. The process is so quick that your urine can develop the distinctive smell within 15 to 30 minutes of eating asparagus.
But not everyone has this experience. Your genetic makeup may determine whether your urine has the odor -- or whether you can actually smell it. Only some people appear to have the gene for the enzyme that breaks down mercaptan into its more pungent parts. A study published in the May 1989 British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that 46% of 115 people tested produced the odor in one group of British citizens, while 100% of 103 people produced it in a group of French citizens. The ability to smell the by-products may also be genetic. Another study published in the same journal found that 10% of a group of 300 Israeli Jews could not detect the odor. In other words, a person's urine could smell, but he or she might not know it. Judging from your question, you can do both. But that's nothing to worry about.
While eating asparagus may make your urine smell strange, it won't harm you. Actually, asparagus -- a member of the lily family along with garlic, onions, and leeks -- is a powerhouse of nutrients. It's an excellent source of folic acid (a B vitamin that may help protect against birth defects, heart disease, and cancer), a significant source of vitamin C (an antioxidant that may protect tissues against damage), and a good source of vitamin A (an antioxidant). Not to mention that asparagus contains 3 grams of fiber per 3.5-ounce serving and a host of health-enhancing plant chemicals, or phytonutrients, that may protect against disease.
Although the link between "asparagus urine" and higher intelligence is a figment of someone's imagination, eating it regularly could be a sign of some serious health smarts.
By Elizabeth Somer, MA,RD
Aug. 14, 2000 -- You may have heard the tall tale that "asparagus urine" is linked to higher intelligence. In fact, it's the result of a simple chemical reaction. Asparagus contains a sulfur compound called mercaptan. (It's also found in rotten eggs, onions, garlic, and in the secretions of skunks.) When your digestive tract breaks down this substance, by-products are released that cause the funny scent. The process is so quick that your urine can develop the distinctive smell within 15 to 30 minutes of eating asparagus.
But not everyone has this experience. Your genetic makeup may determine whether your urine has the odor -- or whether you can actually smell it. Only some people appear to have the gene for the enzyme that breaks down mercaptan into its more pungent parts. A study published in the May 1989 British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that 46% of 115 people tested produced the odor in one group of British citizens, while 100% of 103 people produced it in a group of French citizens. The ability to smell the by-products may also be genetic. Another study published in the same journal found that 10% of a group of 300 Israeli Jews could not detect the odor. In other words, a person's urine could smell, but he or she might not know it. Judging from your question, you can do both. But that's nothing to worry about.
While eating asparagus may make your urine smell strange, it won't harm you. Actually, asparagus -- a member of the lily family along with garlic, onions, and leeks -- is a powerhouse of nutrients. It's an excellent source of folic acid (a B vitamin that may help protect against birth defects, heart disease, and cancer), a significant source of vitamin C (an antioxidant that may protect tissues against damage), and a good source of vitamin A (an antioxidant). Not to mention that asparagus contains 3 grams of fiber per 3.5-ounce serving and a host of health-enhancing plant chemicals, or phytonutrients, that may protect against disease.
Although the link between "asparagus urine" and higher intelligence is a figment of someone's imagination, eating it regularly could be a sign of some serious health smarts.
Yup. Those black bean burritos can cause hysterics..... BTW, wonder why I've never seen bean and egg salad on the burrito menu?
AZgirl:
<i>"I will cook a nice big yummy meal and by the time I sit down to eat I can't."</i>
I've had a similar problem. It's a b!tch, ain't it? Try thinking about a meal other than the one on your plate.... works for me :)
<i>My husband thought I had another man in the house he came running into the kitchen so fast.....</i>
What was you doin', throwin pots and pans at the topping?
Forseegood:
How come asparagus makes my pee stink?
<i>"I will cook a nice big yummy meal and by the time I sit down to eat I can't."</i>
I've had a similar problem. It's a b!tch, ain't it? Try thinking about a meal other than the one on your plate.... works for me :)
<i>My husband thought I had another man in the house he came running into the kitchen so fast.....</i>
What was you doin', throwin pots and pans at the topping?
Forseegood:
How come asparagus makes my pee stink?
I hear ya! I can't wait for bedtime so I can eat my vices in peace! 2 year olds just don't get it. And mine SURELY doesn't need any sugar! :)
I don't usually have much of a sweet tooth but I saw that and it looked good. When I had a bite of it...HOLY CANOLI My husband thought I had another man in the house he came running into the kitchen so fast.....now my biggest problem is having to wait until the 3 year old goes to bed so I can actually eat it. 3 year olds and that topping don't go hand in hand. A little lesson I learned the hard way being a new mom. Don't give sugar to a kid before bed time....hahahahahahahaha.
deb in az
deb in az
Deb! That Mrs. Richardson's butterscotch caramel topping is to die for. A little bit of heaven right in my mouth. lol
I have almost no sweet tooth, which is odd for me, but if it does kick up, I just have a taste of that stuff and I'm good to go! Glad to find someone else who likes it! :)
I have almost no sweet tooth, which is odd for me, but if it does kick up, I just have a taste of that stuff and I'm good to go! Glad to find someone else who likes it! :)
I couldn't have said it better myself.
I don't have much of an appetite. I will cook a nice big yummy meal and by the time I sit down to eat I can't. It's like I am hungry until it is actually time to eat.....blah. I've been living off of peanut butter and saltines and a bowl of ice cream. Ice cream in the evening is now just a part of tx!!! I recommend vanilla with Mrs Richardson butterscotch carmel topping. Yummmmmmmmmmmyyyyyy!!!
hahahahahahaha. pre tx I would never have eaten like this.
deb in az
I don't have much of an appetite. I will cook a nice big yummy meal and by the time I sit down to eat I can't. It's like I am hungry until it is actually time to eat.....blah. I've been living off of peanut butter and saltines and a bowl of ice cream. Ice cream in the evening is now just a part of tx!!! I recommend vanilla with Mrs Richardson butterscotch carmel topping. Yummmmmmmmmmmyyyyyy!!!
hahahahahahaha. pre tx I would never have eaten like this.
deb in az
When I first started treatment I ate whatever I was able to with NO worry to any kind of diet. I lost 20 pounds off the bat and was very thin to start. The doctor said if you want cookies eat cookies, if you want ice cream eat ice cream just eat whatever you can. I wasn't hungry at ALL and when I was just couldn't really eat a meal so I'd have a big bowl of ice cream for the calories.
Spicy things went out the window and a lot of foods I really enjoy. Things often don't taste or smell right cause of the meds.
I have a yogurt smoothie every morning with my Riba as the Riba is FAT SOLUABLE so you should always make sure you have it with some form of FAT (peanut butter, bacon something) so that you get the max dose possible into you and your body doesn't just pee it all out.
I know it would be much much better to eat well balanced meals but with some of us it's just NOT possible...at ALL...and putting calories in is important. If I lost much more weight it would be dreadful.
I hope that helps you!
Spicy things went out the window and a lot of foods I really enjoy. Things often don't taste or smell right cause of the meds.
I have a yogurt smoothie every morning with my Riba as the Riba is FAT SOLUABLE so you should always make sure you have it with some form of FAT (peanut butter, bacon something) so that you get the max dose possible into you and your body doesn't just pee it all out.
I know it would be much much better to eat well balanced meals but with some of us it's just NOT possible...at ALL...and putting calories in is important. If I lost much more weight it would be dreadful.
I hope that helps you!
Thanks, everybody! Now that's an approach to eating that makes sense to me, and doesn't freak me out. I appreciate all the good advice. 2hep2it - thanks for the link. I can't find anything there that resembles what they described to me, but I know that all the trials aren't listed. UCSD alone (where I'm being treated) is involved with 8 different trials at the moment, according to my hepatologist, who heads up the liver transplant dept and the hepatology area in general.
Just thought you would like to check out this site on clinical trials on HCV:http://www.liverfoundation.org/cgi-bin/dbs/chapter.cgi?db=chclinicaltrials&uid=default&keyword=hepatitis+C&view_records=1
Keep us posted on how you are doing. I have never heard of the C... drug. Maybe it will be a good thing.
just take every thing in small partions and see what you can and cant digest,for some reason i havent been able to eat chicken, it messes with me big time but i can eat chicken fried steak fine,it seem like ive been craving red meats for about a month maybe my body needing iron,they say not to eat shell fish ,but i just fried up 5 pounds of shrimp for my sons birthday in april and had some and everything seems to be ok..drink water ..drink water ....drink water
Oh and as you have probably heard a million times, the water is key. I HAVE to drink a ton to even function. Sometimes, if my intake is down, I really do feel on the verge of passing out. It is bizarre!
This is some kind of mysterious clinical trial that my hepatologist recommended. SO far, no one seems to be able to tell me anything about it. It was supposed to be a brand new drug used in conjunction with Pegasys and Copegus, and the CT was starting at the beginning of June. I don't even know if there is a control group, but I guess if there is, it would be a group that takes int. + riba alone, so I wouldn't have much to lose. As soon as I get some asnwers, I will pass the information along to you all. At any rate, the Pegasys and Copegus arrive tomorrow, so I am gearing up to begin SOMETHING very soon. I'm NERVOUS, but reading posts from you all is very helpful. I don't feel so alone, and know that I have somewhere to turn day or night. It's very comforting. But No - I am no longer drinking ANY alcohol, and I'm searching out as much info as possible on supps, etc. Thanks to all - Kristi
Honestly, I believe your body will tell you. Prior to tx, I had a MAJOR MAJOR sweet tooth. Now, it is rare that I want to eat a cookie. However, I crave like nobody's business lots and lots of protein. So, I've been eating a ton of chicken and lots of different kinds of dairy foods. I have also been getting more "cravings" for veggies than before. Everything in moderation, listen to your body and you'll be fine! Oh, one more thing, I have to eat VERY VERY frequent small meals in order to not feel TERRIBLE all the time, so you may have to adjust how you eat your meals. Just try to go with the flow, and be prepared to adapt! Good luck. It is a wild ride, and this is a great place to be!
There are some things to remember
Broccoli and other vegies but broccoli is #1
WHole grains (do not get bread that says Enriched or unbleached/bleached)
Brown and whole grain rice
Sweet potatoes
Fruit
Salad
Lean mean (in moderation)
Fish is good as long as not farm raised (salmon)
Walnuts (and almonds) Do not eat roasted nuts
Exercise
Water, water, water
Broccoli and other vegies but broccoli is #1
WHole grains (do not get bread that says Enriched or unbleached/bleached)
Brown and whole grain rice
Sweet potatoes
Fruit
Salad
Lean mean (in moderation)
Fish is good as long as not farm raised (salmon)
Walnuts (and almonds) Do not eat roasted nuts
Exercise
Water, water, water
I'm not a diet and nutrition maven but my experience was that I would eat what I could, mostly in small servings and with the greatest variety possible. Depending on the meds you take there may be some things to avoid and some things that might be particularly helpful. I didn't avoid anything on purpose but some things that I like just didn't seem at all appetizing. Lost about 15 - 20 lbs. If the meds are interferon and ribavirin it's a good idea to get as healthy as you can, avoid alcohol, talk to your doc about recommended supplements a lay in a supply of water. What trial will you be in, what are the meds in the trial, does the trial use placebo?
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
