THE DRAGON

[secondtime]

DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW HEP C HAS COME TO BE CALLED "THE DRAGON?" I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO TREAT, BUT WHY THE DRAGON???

[gonagetbetr]

SOMEONE ACTUALLY TOLD ME THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE VIRUS IT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE A DRAGON INSIDE
NOW I HAVENT SEEN A PICTURE THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT
JUST WHAT I HEARD.

I HAVE A QUESTION TO THE LADIES:
IF YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO EAT SUGAR HOW DO YOU KILL THE MONTHLY CHOCOLATE NEED? DIDN'T WANT TO WASTE A COMMENT BUT AM CURIOUS

[honey1616]

What??  We are not supposed to be eating sugar LOL  Well,,,I'm still eating chocolate and sugar but really I think you should be just eating moderately because its probably not great for liver.

[gonagetbetr]

YIPEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO KILL ANY OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS LOL
THIS WHOLE VEGGIE THING IS TAKING A LOT OF GETTING USE TO

[Amerabrit]

Secondtime: I don't know why the virus is called the dragon.  I am probably in a minority here but I don't personally like that moniker and don't use it.  Dragons are mystical magical, creatures with untold strength and powers.  HC is not magical nor mystical, it's a virus, albeit a very clever virus.  It's most mystifying quality is it's ability to mutate itself to hide from the meds.   In my humble opinion, HCV will be eradicated, there will be a vaccine and until that day comes it's much easier for me to deal with a virus than a Dragon.  Right now I'm staying positive about current research efforts and the tx now available.  Having said all that, I do understand and respect that each of us deals with the virus in the way that works best for us; the dragon thing just doesn't work for me, that's all.

Gonagetbtr:  If I couldn't eat sugar or chocolate, I guarantee i could kill the HCV within my body; we'd both starve to death..:)

[gonagetbetr]

THANKS
I COME FROM A FAMILY OF MEAT EATERS  THOUGH AND FROM WHAT I READ THE ANIMAL PROTIEN IS SO BAD FOR YOUR LIVER. I AM REALLY JUST EATING A LOT MORE VEGGIES AND VERY LITTLE MEAT. IT IS TOUGH THOUGH AT TIMES. I CAN DEAL WITH DARK CHOCOLATE THOUGH AND WILL GIVE THAT A TRY.
I REALLY THINK THE WATER IS THE HARDEST FOR ME THOUGH. I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I WENT MONTHS IF NOT YEARS WITHOUT DRINKING A GLASS. IVE TRIED THE LEMONS AND SOMETIMES OTHER FRUIT AND CAN DEAL WITH A GLASS OR TWO A DAY.
TRY NOT TO WORK TO HARD TODAY AND TAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF TOO.

HAVE YOU OR ANYONE ELSE HAD A STABBING PAIN IN SHOLDERBLADES BEFORE? I THINK THAT ANYTHING THAT HURTS AROUND THE OLE LIVER AREA SCARES ME NOW. IT LASTS A COUPLE DAYS THEN JUST GOES AWAY
CRAZY STUFF

[Showboat]

Do not know how the Dragon got it's name.....all I know is that it has been known to be "draggon my butt" at times.......
Ah, yes, sugar:::::::Amerabrit...hahaha I like what you said about being able to kill the dragon if you could not eat sugar. I love my sugar too......hopefully my craving for it will go away soon.  That has been one of my sx.....thankgoodness I did not gain weight on tx, did not lose any either......but since I completed 48/48 last month, I really need to cut that darn sugar out or at least cut down.......I eat bags of cotton candy......ymmmmmmmy yum yum.....:>)

[cuteus]

sweeeet, sweeeet , sweet city woman all the way.  

amerabrit; I am with you on the dragon thing, if you noticed it i call it the bug for lack of better analogy, but a bug like flies and mosquitoes, not butterflies.  i like the dragon in Shrek and Disney's reluctant dragon ... i can't call hcv by their name!

[Amerabrit]

I love cotton candy too, I used to eat it as a child at the fairgrounds; only place you could buy it, made fresh too right in front of my eyes.. we called it candy floss:)

[BethUK]

Are you a Brit then, we call it candy floss?

[LuckyHaskins]

I don't know about you, but I've been "draggin'" ever since I started taking this varmit killing cocktail!

Pete

[new-sojourn]

I don't know and personally never use 'dragon'.  I prefer virus.  Viruses are something that can be eliminated.  And I was the unwilling host.  B/now its gone.  

The virus it self looks much like a futuristic space thingy.  The mo I was starting tx, Newsweek mag had a cover story on HCV complete w/scientific illustrations of the HCV virus and how tx works.  So, I always thot of it in star wars terms and as an epic battle.  I never heard 'dragon' until I went on the internet in Sept 2002, just as I was finishing tx.

B/what ever works, visualization is a very important tool in healing.  & its free & legal w/o sx's.

[honey1616]

Good Question on where that name came from! It is crazy when you think about it because this is nothing but a nasty virus!  In my case,,I find that I often do refer to the "Dragon"!  Maybe because its something I am conquering in this lifetime and feel like if I slay the dragon,,,that is put in a better perspective for me then just say "I'm beating the virus,,hep c".  Whatever,,its a challenge that we all have to step up to the plate and face...

[honey1616]

LOL,,,Yeah I want a cocktail lately but not this weekly one we are taking....I'm thinking along the lines of a cocktail that makes me feel good,,,not yucky! haha

[LuckyHaskins]

As a wise person on this forum said, "I toast you with my glass of water, and salute you with my celery stick!"


Best regards to you, and Chevy, too!

Pete

[Amerabrit]

Yes, I'm English - I was born in Cheltenham, Glos. I came here in 1980 at the age of 24 and have lived here ever since; what about you?

[Indiana]

OK gang.......Here's the scoop.
Hcv is called The Dragon because ancient Chinese Medicine uses the Dragon to represent the Liver. Hcv has been around since Babalyonian times and before. So much for transmission primarily through needle sticks and all the stuff that goes with that.
Here is some stuff that I copied a long time ago as I began my personal battle with "The Dragon".....
______________________________________________________________________

Viral hepatitis is a disease as old as the history of Medicine. Hepatitis was described in the Babylonian Talmud in the Fifth Century BC, and was referenced by Hippocrates over 2000 years ago.

This disease is often called the dragon because it will drag-on and drag-on for the rest of your life; and also because it sleeps for many years before awaking and breathing its fiery breath. It's name is frequently shortened to either HCV for Hepatitis C Virus or CHC for Chronic Hepatitis C.

______________________________________________________________________

                        The Dragon Awaits!



Dragons are a source of both delight and awe as they are so powerful and such a fantasy creature.  In Tibet they say that dragons only appear to certain individuals and only then at certain times.  They represent 'eloquent speech' in Tibetan tradition.  In the Chinese Medical system dragons are said to be represented by the liver in the anatomical system and all the anger and resentments are stored in this organ.  Hepatitis C is a viral condition which may destroy the liver by inflammation and progressing liver disease until a transplant or end stage is reached.  The dragon is used as the symbol for HCV.  The anecdote for anger and like emotions is to modify behavior, meditate to remove stress and practice the art of eloquent speech.  
Here is a prose about the Dragon Of Hepatitis C.

  
                      The Dragon
  

I heard a story the other day, the mean old Dragon had gone away,
but when I looked what did I see?  That dreaded Dragon staring at me.
  
I said, "Hey Dragon, what is your fun?
He said, right off, "Your liver is one"
  
"Well let me be to live again or let me pass in peace,
for this virus you are, is hurting me, I want some quick release."
  
The Dragon breathed his fire as his eyes turned crimson red.
"I'll let you go when I want to, and then you will be dead."
  
Moral:  Get tested for HCV today, you may have it and cannot tell as it lies silently in the liver and destroys it without obvious symptoms until it gets too late.
______________________________________________________________________

Here is a link for a good starter info site for Hcv. The treatment section is dated as it still says the current tx is the old 3x/week interferon, but the rest of it is pretty good.

http://articles.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FSL/is_6_77/ai_103379527
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Personally, I LIKE putting a name and a face on this disease. It is to create a picture for me of the "Thing" that I was fighting. Made it easier for me to wrap my mind around it all. PLUS......That makes me a "Dragon Slayer"!  And all the hottest Babes LOVED the Dragon Slayers in the movies.
Hahahahahahahahaha

[Amerabrit]

Hey, thanks... that post made sense... it must be my English heritage though that prevents me from embracing the chinese interpretation of this virus;  Although if I find out the virus is back after 12/31/2005, I may well move to China:)

[Showboat]

Indi....Thanks for posting your research.  I am glad I checked back at the medhelp site. You saved me from myself.  I had been surfing the internet trying to find that answer....Must have surfed for two hours.....nothing....it wore me out!!!!! Thank you for posting.....I had to find that answer somewhere.....I should have come back here a lot sooner....would have saved me some time. (lol)

Amerabrit::: I like your name much better than ours....cotton floss sounds more light and has a healthier ring to it. hahahhaha......think I will buy some more tomorrow.....

[LuckyHaskins]

Chevy, you rule, and have always been a very positive inspiration to me. Thanks!!! I can't tell you how many times I've thought about stopping this Tx, but am encouraged by all of the positive people here who are doing their best. It REALLY helps me,

God bless us all,

Pete

[BethUK]

I live in the West Midlands & got rid of my hep C in 2002 thanks to the Queen Elizabeth Liver Unit, Birmingham!  Have you turned into an American now after having lived there so long?

[TnHepGuy_]

(the other thread above was closed - so I'll post the response here):

I'm very sorry to hear about your bone pain. I have been experiencing something similar throughout the majority of my tx. Possibilities I have seen range from - the pain is a response caused when the interferon and riba diminish cell production - to the other end of the spectrum, where in rare cases there occurs bone death, because the riba disrupts blood flow to the growing points (e.g. - the femeral/hip joint).

I'm sorry to report that I, too, haven't been able to find much of anything that can touch the pain. What I have done is go to my primary care doc and have him X-ray the joint (negative, thank God) and on Monday I had an MRI done to determine if adequate blood flow is still occuring to the hip joints (still waiting on the results).

I wish I could be of more hlep to you. But push your doc for pain meds to try and manage it. And you may want to ask for an MRI, too (though some insurance companies will be reluctant to pay for it - so you'll need your doc to push them on it).


May God's blessing and mercy be upon you.


TnHepGuy

[Amerabrit]

BethUK:  I am definitely americanized and hold citizenship here too;  I have to be able to vote!  Congratulations on clearing back in 2002.  That is so encouraging, I hope you're still doing well...  My sister drives into Birmingham from Cheltenham a couple of times a week as her daughter  (15 yrs) takes Irish dancing classes.. it's nice to hear of familiar places:)

Chevy;  You inspire us all every time you post;  you're funny and inquisitive and kind..  need I go on:)

[cuteus]

June 11, 2004 was scheduled to be hcv day in Washington, DC. Instead, we know whose day is going to be now. The increasing number of memorials, activities and money wasted on ONE person, with no need for this now, is obscene.  
There were 3 day activities scheduled to begin tomorrow and ending on Sat, there were meetings scheduled with members of congress to promote the need for more research, services and education. All this has now being overshadowed by the sensationalism of the burial of a person who was irresponsible enough to remain in office as president, with diminished mental capacities. I am non partisan, so political party plays no part in this feeling.   All that time and money wasted on ONE human irks the heck out of me.  OUR money.  
HCV takes the back burner one more time...

[derail]

go figure. although he was a president,its still only one man. Had he or nancy had a more positive anti disease agenda it might be more understandable. As it is well..... this continues my political rant from several days ago on this forum. It STILL behooves each and every one on this forum to become political by informing others of our plight and encouraging them to be vocal about this issue. Yes, I know the stigma attached to this damn disease ,but can we continue to be apathetic to the point that nothing will ever change. Remember that squeaky wheel does often get oiled but not until it is heard long enough and loud enough. No hahas this i am really **ssed off