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In summary, the authors write,
In summary, the authors write,
I don't know if any of you remember me stressing last month as I was dealing with tx. and trying to pull a wedding together for my daughter. She told me that she wanted to get married on Valentines day....6 weeks before. So it was a struggle to put it all together..and at my house,Wheewwww!!! Well it ended up being a beautiful event. I am not sure if any of you are interested but I just posted some pics of the wedding and my family on the Hotheps site. There is also a pic with my Grand children. Always the proud Mamma and Grandma...LOL ...I hope you all are enjoying the weekend!!! Take care, kim
What you are saying makes alot of sense...I do think that Indy was speaking of an occasional beer,,,not going HOG WILD...hahahaha. But either way....we do need to be aware of the conditions our livers are in after TX is over before we make any decisions on whether or not it is OK to drink. And as you said, if you throw being over-weight into the mix...that complicates the matter even further. I am very sorry to hear about your Mother and thank you for sharing this sad story in the hopes of helping others who might be so compromised. You are having alot to deal with...a Double Whammmy ...so to speak. I will keep you in my prayers. Take care, kim
HI INDY and others, i have been a little concerned about telling people it's ok to drink after becoming svr or for waiting a year after tx then drinking whatever you want. ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS NO FOLLOW UP BIOPSY SHOWING LIVER HAS RETURNED TO NORMAL OR CLOSE TO IT.
i have to say that might not be great advice. because if your liver has any damage left in it,which i'm sure it will especially for those who's damage was severe to begin with, even with clean living i'm sure it takes years for the liver to regenerate completely if that is even possible, especially with scar tissues to concider.
case in point: my mom, died last year of liver disease. not hepc but from alcohol. but here is the clincher, she stopped drinking completely at age 40, never to touch another drop. and her liver still continued to die anyway. she died of liver cirhosis, and liver cancer as a result, at age 65. SHE HAD 25 YEARS FOR HER LIVER TO RETURN TO NORMAL, BUT IT DID'NT!!! IT STILL PROGRESSED TO CIRHOSIS AND CANCER.
in her case i believe it was because of fatty liver. she was very obese. the fat in her liver made the progression to liver fibrosis, cirhosis, and finally cancer possible.
now we know drinking causes fatty liver and so does being overweight. healthy fat people who only have fatty liver do fine with it for life. they just have a fatty liver. (unless it turns into "NASH", NON ALCHOLIC STEATOSIS, which is another story for another day.)
my point is that it is not a given that our livers will just go on to becoming perfect again. as a matter of fact various things can cause it to continue to die even after we clear the virus completely. some of these things could be continued alcohol use or abuse or exposure to other toxins. the
other thing is being overweight and thus having a fatty liver.
my GI told me right at the beginning of my tx that,"just the fat alone is enough to cause the liver to continue to die once we've killed the virus... that is why for me killing the virus is only half the battle for some", the doc said,"i must become a normal weight or my liver will just keep dieing anyway". and gastric bypass surgery is not an option because it causes fatty liver due to starvation, etc....this is what my GI told me. HE IS A JERK, BUT ALSO A VERY INTELLEGENT ONE. HE IS RENOWN IN THIS AREA FOR LIVER CARE.
it is therefore very important to lead the same clean, healthy lifestyle we are leading while on tx. we should not introduce any poisons to the injured liver before, durring or after tx. OUR LIVERS ARE STILL COMPROMISED, and still not in good shape after tx. better perhaps, but not perfect..... just my oppinion but i think it's true.
UPDATE ON MY PROGRESS, well, i wish i had better news. but my enzymes alt/ast are still high. by now,5 months into the tx and being 3a i should be clear. so either i'm not clear or my fat is still killing my liver..... something is.... boo hoo! i get my rna/pcr viral load results in supposedly 10 days. i'm afraid i will still have the virus, because it's so hard to kill in fat people... or it could be virus is gone but fat is doing it's additional killing of liver. EITHER WAY THE BATTLE IS STILL ON FOR ME...
if any one has any thoughts,articles,etc... on this i would love to here some good news. sandi
i have to say that might not be great advice. because if your liver has any damage left in it,which i'm sure it will especially for those who's damage was severe to begin with, even with clean living i'm sure it takes years for the liver to regenerate completely if that is even possible, especially with scar tissues to concider.
case in point: my mom, died last year of liver disease. not hepc but from alcohol. but here is the clincher, she stopped drinking completely at age 40, never to touch another drop. and her liver still continued to die anyway. she died of liver cirhosis, and liver cancer as a result, at age 65. SHE HAD 25 YEARS FOR HER LIVER TO RETURN TO NORMAL, BUT IT DID'NT!!! IT STILL PROGRESSED TO CIRHOSIS AND CANCER.
in her case i believe it was because of fatty liver. she was very obese. the fat in her liver made the progression to liver fibrosis, cirhosis, and finally cancer possible.
now we know drinking causes fatty liver and so does being overweight. healthy fat people who only have fatty liver do fine with it for life. they just have a fatty liver. (unless it turns into "NASH", NON ALCHOLIC STEATOSIS, which is another story for another day.)
my point is that it is not a given that our livers will just go on to becoming perfect again. as a matter of fact various things can cause it to continue to die even after we clear the virus completely. some of these things could be continued alcohol use or abuse or exposure to other toxins. the
other thing is being overweight and thus having a fatty liver.
my GI told me right at the beginning of my tx that,"just the fat alone is enough to cause the liver to continue to die once we've killed the virus... that is why for me killing the virus is only half the battle for some", the doc said,"i must become a normal weight or my liver will just keep dieing anyway". and gastric bypass surgery is not an option because it causes fatty liver due to starvation, etc....this is what my GI told me. HE IS A JERK, BUT ALSO A VERY INTELLEGENT ONE. HE IS RENOWN IN THIS AREA FOR LIVER CARE.
it is therefore very important to lead the same clean, healthy lifestyle we are leading while on tx. we should not introduce any poisons to the injured liver before, durring or after tx. OUR LIVERS ARE STILL COMPROMISED, and still not in good shape after tx. better perhaps, but not perfect..... just my oppinion but i think it's true.
UPDATE ON MY PROGRESS, well, i wish i had better news. but my enzymes alt/ast are still high. by now,5 months into the tx and being 3a i should be clear. so either i'm not clear or my fat is still killing my liver..... something is.... boo hoo! i get my rna/pcr viral load results in supposedly 10 days. i'm afraid i will still have the virus, because it's so hard to kill in fat people... or it could be virus is gone but fat is doing it's additional killing of liver. EITHER WAY THE BATTLE IS STILL ON FOR ME...
if any one has any thoughts,articles,etc... on this i would love to here some good news. sandi
Fibrosis generally regresses in those who achieve SVR. There are other things that can cause fibrosis to continue...like Fatty Liver ans such, but for most of us the fibrosis goes away. Stay clean for 6-12 months to make sure you're clear. After the 1 year test comes back clean then I would say drink if you want to. I do. It's a personal choice.
Fibrosis is the big thing that takes us to Chirrosis and cancer. It progresses differently in all folks. They have no real idea why. the biggest factors they find in the progression are age and the length of time you've had the disease. With the exception of alcohol abuse, healthy lifestyle had little bearing on it in the studies I have seen. Look at Is This Reals' recent post. His "healthy Lifestyle" while waiting to decide got him what....a 52 MILLION viral load progression? OH YEAH....lets just all wait and see how this all goes. hahahahahaha Hcv fibrosis progresses at it's own steady rate. The mean time to chirrosis is 30 years. 1/3 of folks can get there in less than 20 years. 1/3 will last for 50 years....or die of something else first.....like a direct meteor strike or something.
The odds of successful tx are much better than that.....especially for those with types 2 & 3. Unfortunately, age and damage levels are detremental to successful tx. That is why waiting for progression to worsen is so bad.
One thing they have said is that for those with symptoms, usually what you have going in is what you are left with comming out. They don't get worse after successful tx, but they don't usually get better either. At least they do normally stop progressing.
Here is one of the articles I have read on this....
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/410846
I hope this gives you some GOOD news to sleep with as you head for that finish line.
Fibrosis is the big thing that takes us to Chirrosis and cancer. It progresses differently in all folks. They have no real idea why. the biggest factors they find in the progression are age and the length of time you've had the disease. With the exception of alcohol abuse, healthy lifestyle had little bearing on it in the studies I have seen. Look at Is This Reals' recent post. His "healthy Lifestyle" while waiting to decide got him what....a 52 MILLION viral load progression? OH YEAH....lets just all wait and see how this all goes. hahahahahaha Hcv fibrosis progresses at it's own steady rate. The mean time to chirrosis is 30 years. 1/3 of folks can get there in less than 20 years. 1/3 will last for 50 years....or die of something else first.....like a direct meteor strike or something.
The odds of successful tx are much better than that.....especially for those with types 2 & 3. Unfortunately, age and damage levels are detremental to successful tx. That is why waiting for progression to worsen is so bad.
One thing they have said is that for those with symptoms, usually what you have going in is what you are left with comming out. They don't get worse after successful tx, but they don't usually get better either. At least they do normally stop progressing.
Here is one of the articles I have read on this....
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/410846
I hope this gives you some GOOD news to sleep with as you head for that finish line.
I agree...Thank you for putting this one in perspective.......Az voters...3 times PASSED bills to legalize pot.....but were completely ignored...how is that for believieng that you vote counts,when it really gets down to it?? take care, kim
Gosh...I am going to have to find out what time you are all tuning into the forum. By the time I get on here..usually when I wake up in the middle of the night(hungry) about 2am....hahahahaha....every one is snoooooooozzzzzing. I hate missing all the fun, but it sure gives me a laugh when I finally get here.
Thanbey...I am a little worried about something that I read in one of your posts(or one somebody else posted for you) It was about sugar intake being being harmful, (I thought it said it was compared to alchohol) This has me worried cause I am on the downhill side of this 40/48 1A,(unless I don't hold SVR or have to extend tx). Anyway, the reason I am so concerned is because I have had a hard time eating alot while on tx...except for SWEETS. I want to eat sweets all the time mostly chocoalte. Although a Krispy Kreme would do in a pinch. And now with EASTER comming....I am craving "little peeps" like crazy!!! (always have, even before tx)I have probably eaten at least 4 of the large boxes of those little bunnies and chicks. Since those things are pure sugar...that's alot of sugar.Since I have lost over 20 lbs.since tx..I have not worried too much about my sugar intake.....but after reading the post...I am a little worried about whether I have compromised my fight against the DRAGON. What do you think??
kim
Thanbey...I am a little worried about something that I read in one of your posts(or one somebody else posted for you) It was about sugar intake being being harmful, (I thought it said it was compared to alchohol) This has me worried cause I am on the downhill side of this 40/48 1A,(unless I don't hold SVR or have to extend tx). Anyway, the reason I am so concerned is because I have had a hard time eating alot while on tx...except for SWEETS. I want to eat sweets all the time mostly chocoalte. Although a Krispy Kreme would do in a pinch. And now with EASTER comming....I am craving "little peeps" like crazy!!! (always have, even before tx)I have probably eaten at least 4 of the large boxes of those little bunnies and chicks. Since those things are pure sugar...that's alot of sugar.Since I have lost over 20 lbs.since tx..I have not worried too much about my sugar intake.....but after reading the post...I am a little worried about whether I have compromised my fight against the DRAGON. What do you think??
kim
Those pot studies are just people going over flawed info and putting their own slant on it. I worry more about the pcp's in my 'organic cherries' than smoking a joint in a clean and smog free area. (Its much healthier statistically speaking than taking an AD and live in the city breathing all those polycarbs.)
I don't know why it isn't obvious to do it all--life style changes and herbs and tx and yoga and meditation and eastern medicine and western medicine. I did and healed myself w/o an unholy dependency on just another designer drug.
Pain and the releif of it is highly subjective. Drugs of choice are also a matter of comfort levels. I am more comfortable smoking pot than poping an expensive, addictive drug w/the most severe withdrawals and relapse rate of all. Ditto w/emotional discomfort and depression.
I agree that the worse thing about pot is that it is illegal-that's the real crime. 25% of the populace is to large to ignore.
I don't know why it isn't obvious to do it all--life style changes and herbs and tx and yoga and meditation and eastern medicine and western medicine. I did and healed myself w/o an unholy dependency on just another designer drug.
Pain and the releif of it is highly subjective. Drugs of choice are also a matter of comfort levels. I am more comfortable smoking pot than poping an expensive, addictive drug w/the most severe withdrawals and relapse rate of all. Ditto w/emotional discomfort and depression.
I agree that the worse thing about pot is that it is illegal-that's the real crime. 25% of the populace is to large to ignore.
WOW.....THAT SURE LOOKS GREAT FROM HERE.
I remember how hard you wrestled with your decision to do tx. Now aren't ya glad that you got off the fence and decided to treat? Sure beats just getting eaten and sittin around worryin.
I'll be lookin forward to the latest test results......
I remember how hard you wrestled with your decision to do tx. Now aren't ya glad that you got off the fence and decided to treat? Sure beats just getting eaten and sittin around worryin.
I'll be lookin forward to the latest test results......
just read my above post and found an error. I don't think this board allows you to edit a posting, so I will post another message to correct teh error.
The error was in the comments about my viral load. When diagnosed in 7/02 it was 13,000,000 (13 million). In 11/02 it was 24,000,000 (24 million). In 9/03 it was 52,400,000 (52 million, 4 hundred thousand). That is what scared me and when I decided to treat.
In January 2004, my baseline viral load prior to starting treatment was 7,550,000 (7 million, 550 thousand). Then after 8 weeks and 4 days of pegasys/cophegas my viral load was 40 (forty).
The error was in the comments about my viral load. When diagnosed in 7/02 it was 13,000,000 (13 million). In 11/02 it was 24,000,000 (24 million). In 9/03 it was 52,400,000 (52 million, 4 hundred thousand). That is what scared me and when I decided to treat.
In January 2004, my baseline viral load prior to starting treatment was 7,550,000 (7 million, 550 thousand). Then after 8 weeks and 4 days of pegasys/cophegas my viral load was 40 (forty).
Just wanted to drop a quick post to say hello to all. I have missed this forum for a while, and from reveiwing some of the recent posts .... it appears that I really missed a big commotion!
For those of you who don't remember me, I am 40 years old, male, geno 1a, diagnosed in 7/02 with a viral load of 13 million. Afraid to treat at that time, so I kept checking on stuff. Viral load in 11/02 was 24,000. Still decided to wait. Viral load in 9/03 was 52.4 million.
The huge increase got my attention and scared me. I had my baseline labs taken and started my treatment at 3:30 pm on January 16, 2004 in my doctors office. My baseline viral load was down to 7.55 million, but ALT was up so my doctor said that I was still experiencing liver damage.
Anyhow, my doctor beleives in staying on top of things, so she did a new viral load after 4 weeks of treatment (2/17/04). At that time, my viral load had decreased to only 40 (forty).
I now go in on Monday 3/15/04 for 8 week labs. Everyone wish me luck and say a prayer for me that I have continued responding to the meds and that I am now undetectable.
Peace to all,
ITR
For those of you who don't remember me, I am 40 years old, male, geno 1a, diagnosed in 7/02 with a viral load of 13 million. Afraid to treat at that time, so I kept checking on stuff. Viral load in 11/02 was 24,000. Still decided to wait. Viral load in 9/03 was 52.4 million.
The huge increase got my attention and scared me. I had my baseline labs taken and started my treatment at 3:30 pm on January 16, 2004 in my doctors office. My baseline viral load was down to 7.55 million, but ALT was up so my doctor said that I was still experiencing liver damage.
Anyhow, my doctor beleives in staying on top of things, so she did a new viral load after 4 weeks of treatment (2/17/04). At that time, my viral load had decreased to only 40 (forty).
I now go in on Monday 3/15/04 for 8 week labs. Everyone wish me luck and say a prayer for me that I have continued responding to the meds and that I am now undetectable.
Peace to all,
ITR
Suggestion: try the pineapple. Very gentle and natural.
The organic, lactobacillus yoghurt should offer balance in intenstinal tract.
Experiment a little and let me know if this helps. Also watch for the artificial sweetners in drinks and products.
Take notes on what you are eating and drinking (read labels) to see if there is a pattern.
You are not alone with this as a side effect, not that that is any comfort.
The organic, lactobacillus yoghurt should offer balance in intenstinal tract.
Experiment a little and let me know if this helps. Also watch for the artificial sweetners in drinks and products.
Take notes on what you are eating and drinking (read labels) to see if there is a pattern.
You are not alone with this as a side effect, not that that is any comfort.
SURE....You just write to "Indianamann" and we can hook you right up. Studies are always ready to be started for those things. Just drive north.........
LOL Ok excuse me guys...don't want to break in on your little meeting here haha Just kidding Mrs. Billy..My hubby found something on tx for your husband down the road. I don't have your email so you can mail ***@****...
DOLL FACE;
Thank you for the message from TnHepGuy.
He was one of the reason's I alway's looked forward to coming to the forum.
A true gentleman who I will sorely miss.
May God continue to bless him and his family.
Chevy Gal;
You have such a great sense of humor. Something we get too little of. I think you missed your calling. Keep on putting smiles on our faces. We need them. I hope we can do the same for you.
A friend.... EDGAR
Thank you for the message from TnHepGuy.
He was one of the reason's I alway's looked forward to coming to the forum.
A true gentleman who I will sorely miss.
May God continue to bless him and his family.
Chevy Gal;
You have such a great sense of humor. Something we get too little of. I think you missed your calling. Keep on putting smiles on our faces. We need them. I hope we can do the same for you.
A friend.... EDGAR
I have been thinking about you.
Maybe something in <a href="http://www.hcop.org/hcvinfo/articles/index.cfm?articleid=149">here</a> will be helpful.
Take care.
Maybe something in <a href="http://www.hcop.org/hcvinfo/articles/index.cfm?articleid=149">here</a> will be helpful.
Take care.
But what do you do if SOMETIMES you have to go urgently and other times you can't go for over a week? I am afraid to take immodium because it may plug me up. I amafraid to take a laxative
for obvious reasons.
So far the best I have come up with is prunes when constipated. I am trying to figure out if they make an adult "underwear" for this sort of problem. I am told "depends" will not do it.
for obvious reasons.
So far the best I have come up with is prunes when constipated. I am trying to figure out if they make an adult "underwear" for this sort of problem. I am told "depends" will not do it.
Quick question- your biopsy showed stage 3 fibrosis(in my case)- you go 1 year tx, clear stay clear for ever- 1st question- you STOP alcohol forever, don't smoke, no drugs- eat and drink healthy stuff, what does the liver do, stay at stage 3(Iknow there could be a possibility the tx helped it some, don't believe it would reverse completly back to normal. Lets say it went from Stg.3 to stg.2- then what- what goes on when you have to live with a liver with fibrosis- any dangers of it getting worse even if you live a CLEAN lifestyle, does it affect you in anyway. I know the only way to tell what stage your at is another Biopsy (think I'll pass on that one)-. 2nd you clear stay clear (SVR), your liver is at stage 3 fibrosis- would an occasional drink hurt (and don't chew me out on this question, I'm just curious)- or with fibrosis is it a definite NO NO not to even look at alcohol. Thank's and hope you'll have a side free or at least an almost side free weekend-- Harley Dude
Can you see us at a party? In AA we call sharing our experiences "war stories"
At the Party:
Can you just picture us on tx fighting over the bathroom? Asking if there are plenty of beds if we need to lie down? Making sure we all know where the phone is in case of emergency? Needing to know the ingredients in all the food in case it might upset our already upset tummies?
But I would LOVE anyway to be at a party with you guys. It would be a one of a kind party, wouldn't it?
At the Party:
Can you just picture us on tx fighting over the bathroom? Asking if there are plenty of beds if we need to lie down? Making sure we all know where the phone is in case of emergency? Needing to know the ingredients in all the food in case it might upset our already upset tummies?
But I would LOVE anyway to be at a party with you guys. It would be a one of a kind party, wouldn't it?
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