Q for TallBlonde

Hi,

I read in an earlier post that you are using herbs and supplements to keep your liver as healthy as possible.  I am also a stage 1 or 0 depending on which pathologist you believe.  Anyway, I cannot do treatment at this time and will need to postpone for several more years.  I read you drink a combination of both Red Tea and Vanilla Red.  Aside from these teas what else are you using?

I don't expect herbs to cure me but I'm hoping to at least keep my liver as healthy as possible given the situation.  

Many thanks!
S.

[layla]

Hope it's ok to jump in here. I'm starting the wait once again. I just got back from getting my 6 month post tx PCR. Man I hope the next 2 weeks fly by. I was very edgy while waiting for my 3 month post labs. Edgy may not be the best word, more like bitchy. I almost waited until after the holidays but I figure we are so busy it'll help keep my mind of the waiting. Tick tock, tick tock...LL

[TnHepGuy_]

The correlation between a negative viral result on a 3-month PCR is strong with receiving the same result on the 6-month'er. You've just about got this thing knocked.

Best to you as you do what becomes the norm for anyone with Hep C: sit tight and wait on labs and doctors - again, and again, and again, and.....


TnHepGuy

[Tallblonde]

S

[Tallblonde]

S--

One more thought....

Since being diagnosed, I've made sure that I get a full 8 hours of sleep every night (no naps).

Again, I don't know if that really makes a difference, but it just seems to make sense to me.  The body needs rest in order to heal.  So many people take it for granted that 5-7 hours of sleep is normal for a busy person.  I've made it a priority to get a full night's sleep and I've had absolutely no sypmtoms of fatigue (so far).  

Susan

[HepCinLA]

Drat!  I'm running on about 4 hours of sleep per night (toddler won't sleep thru the night).  As a result, I'm drinking a ton of coffee and too tired to exercise.  I know all this is taking some toll on my liver (I'm perpetually fatigued even if I do manage more than 4 hours of sleep) but my resolution for the New Year is to start taking a little bit better care of my health.

Thank you for your advice!  I appreciate reading all your posts.
Warm regards,
S.

[Tallblonde]

S-

Awwww, thanks.  It's good to know that someone out there doesn't hate me.  By the way, you mentioned coffee.  Well, drink up! It's great for your liver. I drink two cups every morning. Here's the some of the latest research on it:

New research published in the Annals of Epidemiology, Volume 13, 2003, demonstrates that drinking three cups of coffee a day can reduce the risk of fatal liver disease by up to 40 percent.
Scientists have discovered that coffee protects against liver cirrhosis, a life threatening illness usually caused by excessive alcohol consumption.

Previous studies have suggested that coffee may have a protective effect on the liver but this research is the first to look at the impact on deaths. The researchers conducted a follow-up study of 51,306 adults who underwent screening for cardiovascular disease from 1977 to 1983. During the subsequent 17 years, the total number of deaths from all causes in the studied group was 4207. Fifty-three had the diagnosis of cirrhosis mentioned on the death certificate and of these 36 had alcoholic cirrhosis. The relative risk of liver cirrhosis as the major cause of death, when associated with an increase of two cups of coffee per day adjusted for sex, age, alcohol use and other major cardiovascular risk factors was 0.6 i.e. 40% less. For alcoholic cirrhosis the results were identical. But of course this no excuse to consume excessive amounts of alcohol and then

[Oreos]

Try not to gnaw off too many fingernails : ) : ) : )

The waiting is excruciating, isn't it?  I'm waiting for my 2 mos post tx.  Climbing up the frigging walls.  

Hang in there!

[scruffy]

I don't hate you. Some times I'm easily pissed. But I really want to thank you for the coffee info-very uplifting for me personally and truly I wish you well even if I can be an a-hole.I apologize sincerely.

[njrsl]

What's healthy version 2 have in it that a regular mineral-vitamin don't have in it?  Is this your only place you answer questions or do you have your own supplemtn site? Let me know so I can visit there to.  I wont take that treament again for a year or two now.  How long has this site been open?  I didn't have stuff like this when i first wnet through treatment.  I just got this computer a few months ago. I wrote down that other stuff but just wonder about that number 2 stuff.  Is it is cheap. Thanks for everything.

[Tallblonde]

No, I don't have my own site.  I'm just a regular person with HCV like the rest of you.  I don't sell supplements.  I also don't want to mislead anyone into thinking that supplements or vitamins can or should replace treatment. In fact, if I were stage 2 or 3, I wouldn't hesitate to begin treatment.  Luckily, it appears I have the luxury of waiting for something better to come along.  So, in the meantime, I'm trying to take good care of my liver.  I'm not into anything exotic, as you can see from the list I posted.  

As far as the Healthy Liver Version 2 goes, it has Milk Thistle, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Selenium, and other ingredients that are commonly considered good for the liver.  It's cheaper to buy these ingredients in one supplement, than to purchase each one individually.  You can go the the vitacost.com website (no, I don't work for Vitacost) and review the list of ingredients.

The SAM-e is the only thing I take that I know with 100 percent certainty has made a difference.  Within a couple of weeks of taking it, all my joint pain disappeared.  I can literally do deep knee bends without any discomfort.  It's the most pricey of all the things I take, but well-worth it, in my opinion.  The dramatic improvement in my viral load and liver enzymes may indeed be from the other things I'm taking, but who knows?

Susan

[Tallblonde]

Thank you for your apology.  None of the wacky comments I've received here have ever fazed me, except for yours.  You're a kind, decent person and it hurt me to think you had such disdain for me.   I hope we can be friends.

Merry Christmas, Scruffy.

Susan

[Califia]

For anyone just diagnosed w/ Hep C or in need of  a little refresher about supplements and nutrition,  http://www.hepcchallenge.org offers a free download called "Choices" with terrific, thorough and documented information on liver disease treatment.   I've been managing this disease for fourteen years, have heavily researched nutritional and alternative approaches, and  can say with confidence that this is the best summary of  credible information that exists anywhere.   One-stop shopping, you might say.

One of the authors of the nutrition and supplement section is Lark Lands, Ph.D, a nutritionist who has been a pioneer in HIV research and treatment.    She has a pretty good handle on what the body needs to deal with the assault of chronic viral disease,  and her understanding of our little liver-munching bug is topnotch, too.

I'd also like to mention http://www.liverfriend.com as a source of reliable  information and discounted high quality supplements.    The owner, Jay Emmons, runs the site on a non-profit basis.   I can vouch for him personally, as I  have known him through HCV circles since 1996.  

Happy Solstice, everyone.

[scruffy]

Susan,It was kind of you to forgive so freely. My anger was very generalized and you came up as the target. You are a friend and I wish you a merry Christmas also.

Mikesimon, well said and merry Christmas to you.

Everyone, I have been losing control quite a bit lately and I apologize for that. Frank

[mikesimon]

Thanks Frank and may you have a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year. Mike

[kennedge]

snif....i think my eyes are watering

[DebbieDo]

Peace on Earth and good will to all mankind.......Hate is a powerful word.......Glad everyone is getting along better....
We all need a happy, healthy and blessed 2005.....
               Debbie  :)

[scruffy]

Hell Kennedge, commercials still make me cry and thats 7 mo post tx!

Debbiedo-yeah all that merry merry stuff, goodwill and such!

[Tony-z]

Hi

I would caution the use of coffee. I read the study, and it did not take into consideration a Liver that is compromised. Also any studies made by consulting firm for the products manufacturer are in question.
Like many foods that there finding have Good nutrients in them are tested generally in people with a normal livers.
Chocolate, Spinach and many other food have many good nutrients that are very beneficial for the body, but I know a dietitian wouldn't recommend it for people with Hepatitis or anyone with a compensated liver.

I would strongly recommend before taking very many herbs and/or supplements that you see a Natural-Pathetic or holistic Physician. Work up an individualized plan, then you can go from there.

I would recommend you take milk Thistle that is in a different form. Here is a web site that will explain it to you and where you can buy it.

<a href="http://www.liversupport.com/studiesindex.htm
">Clinical studies</a>

<a href="http://www.vitamedics.com/cat72_1.htm">Where I buy mine</a>


                        God Bless

                            TonyZ

[Tony-z]

Here is a working Link.

<a href="http://www.liversupport.com/studiesindex.htm">Clinical studies</a>

http://www.liversupport.com/studiesindex.htm

TonyZ

[Tallblonde]

May 18, 2004 (New Orleans)

[Tallblonde]

I agree with you.  This is the best HCV site around most of the time.  Best wishes to you, Mike, for a Merry Christmas and the best year ever in 2005.

Susan

[mikesimon]

I hope you don't take this as condescending because that is truly not my mind-set but I want to tell you both how wonderful it is to see you two trying to get along. And tallblonde I want to you to know that I don't hate you either. I don't hate anyone here and I think that the overwhelming majority of the members here feel the same. Discussions can and will get heated but we must all keep in mind that the disease is the enemy and we are all together in our fight. This is the best board I have found and when it is good it is by far the best source of information and support on the internet. Peace and good will to all. Mike

[Tony-z]

Here is just some of what the professionals say about drinking coffee and Hepatitis.

<a href="http://janis7hepc.com/Nutrition/hepatitis_c_diet.htm">Hepatitis C diet</a>

http://janis7hepc.com/Nutrition/hepatitis_c_diet.htm


V.3.0   COFFEE, TEA, CAFFEINE AND OTHER STIMULANTS  

In the book Healthy Healing by Linda Rector-Paige, N.D., PhD, she says:

[myka]

you can find information showing that drinking a gallon of  coffee, 15 alcoholic drinks a day, smoking a pack of cigarettes and 12 marijuana joints, and shooting heroin will not affect treatment or anything to do with hepatitis c. and tall blonde will dredge up an article from some source that will prove she (?) is a total ass....et to this forum.

[Tallblonde]

Merry Christmas, Myka.  May God bless you abundantly in 2005.

Susan