Weight

[BayAreaWomen]

Does weight make a big difference in your tx results?

[BayAreaWomen]

I am about to start my tx Sunday night and I heard a few comments here about weight but does anyone know for sure if you are heavy weight you may not reach svr and would it be better if a person has less weight. I am a 5' 9" tall women and I weight 180.  I am hoping that when I start on the meds, I lose weight. Do many lose weight on the meds? I actually should have been started, but the insurance held me up. I have 2 insurances, so one good thing is I don't have to paid for the meds; I was able to combine the both. Thank you all and wish me luck for Sunday night. I will keep you posted. BAW

[rearfang]

Hi,
I blieve that a low bmi is related to chances of success, as are being female, under 40 yo, caucasian and having a low viral load. Good luck with the treatment!

[amirtracy]

hi. well i'm 5'5" and weigh 183. i was undetectable @ 12 weeks and now 24 weeks. my doc thinks i have a really good chance to svr.

[Dale_Ray]

Wishing you a lot of luck. I'm not really sure how weight affects success with the treatment. It seems like every time I read an article that leans one way then I see one in direct opposition to it. I you stick to the instructions, stay away from alcohol and stay with it you'll have the best chances of clearing. Two people the same size, type and circumstances and one will clear and the other won't. The virus is amazingly complicated. Again good luck to you and I'll put you on my hall of fame success list:) Dale

[jmjm530]

"Obese patients who are treated for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are more likely to have a better outcome if the underlying abnormalities caused by excessive fat tissue are corrected first, according to a review published in the medical journal Hepatology."

Not entirely new but worth reading:

http://www.newstarget.com/020014.html

[tulsatime]

Losing wieght during treatment does not always happen. In fact I gained wieght, about 10 lbs. But my sides were not too bad.
Good luck, Debi

[NYgirl]

Obesity is one of the negative predictors for SVR.  That is the only fact regarding weight that I really know.  Is that what you were asking?

[pigeonca]

I just saw my hepatologist this week.  Because my ultrasound (haven't had biopsy yet - scheduled for September) shows indications of fatty liver, she wants me to lose weight.  I didn't even think I was overweight, except by Southern California standards, because my BMI was under 25, although just barely.  But as an apple-shaped person I carry my weight in the middle, which apparently goes with fatty liver, so I need to get that BMI down to 21 or 22.  In fact, she wants me to lose this weight now, prior to tx.  Oy vey!!  Without my beloved wine, my only consolation has been cheese danishes and the like.  As I wrote in an earlier post, I'm going to try low carb, but not ultra low carb.  This means no cookies and ice cream, but at least I can enjoy nuts and cheese.  Is it true that -- once tx begins -- Riba enables you to eat all sorts of wonderful fatty junk food and not gain weight?
pigeonca

[Kalio1]

If you have the diagnosis you do, you have to keep your diet regimen even on tx. You dont get a free square from the way I understand it. True it is suggested you eat a meal with some fat in it (in your case that is GOOD fat not bad fat)when you take the Riba, however, it is not true that Riba somehow changes the content of fat ad keeps it from oleting in your liver. Not everyone loses weight on tx, some even gain. You can eat a limited amount of "good" fat but I believe you are restriced from all "bad" fat and that includes anything like cheese danish and cookies and ice cream.
Nice try though!
I am suprised you are allowed cheese. Also cheese is hard on your liver. I guess the type of cheese is relevant but many cheeses are not ok.
One thing that was suggested to me that worked well for me when changing my diet you might try was to try looking at it that you are going to ENJOY your new way of eating and drinking (or not drinking as the case may be)instead of dreading it and see how many items you do enjoy that will fit into your new regimen. Get into preparing things or collecting applicable cook books and thinking up recipes that include the allowable items rather than looking at it like you are being denied the things you want. We have a friend that had a massive heart attack at 44 and after undergoing a radical heart operation he completely changed his diet and he offered me this advise. It has worked incredibly well for him and has helped me so much.He told me if I didnt hange my attitude TOWARDS the changes I wouldnt be succssful making them and it really hit home with me.
Maybe cooking good healthy low fat food and the fun of that could help replace the wine tasting activity?
That really helped me a lot when adjusting my diet and believe it or not, there are many really yummy things you can eat even if you cant have cheese danish!

;)