is this alcohol use on tx? and other questions

guys when i have acid reflux at night, i take a drop of ethanol based argentum nitricum 30x with nux vomica 30x.

this means taking 2 drops of ethanol.

i usually do this once a week.

now does this constitute alcohol use on tx? and doesnt pegasys itself contain some
benzyl alcohol too?



also, some other issues i have:

i took the 7th week PCR on the 5th day of the shot, UND <50 IU/ML.  now this wasnt a trough reading.  


the 4th week PCR kinda messed up too cuz it was a <500 IU/ML QUANT, though it was UND.


the 13th week PCR was right on the last day, UND<50 IU/ML.

now considering all of the above, should i extend tx beyond 24 weeks?


i feel so bad right now messing up the PCRs.

geno 3a, age 25, pre tx VL 50,000 IU/ML, infected less than 4 years.


is a short duration of infection very positive predictor of SVR? maybe jim would know something about any studies on this?

[sfbaygirl]

It doesn't sound like you messed up your PCR. Granted it wasn't sensitive at week 4 but that doesn't mean you weren't clear to <50 at that point as well. If you are clear at week 12, I don't see any reason to extend! Recent studies suggest if you are NOT UND at week 12, you should extend if you are clear by week 24. My PCR was messed up at week 10 because the results contradicted each other. Sounds like you are suffering with sx's too. You are Geno 3?

[jmjm530]

guys when i have acid reflux at night, i take a drop of ethanol based argentum nitri****30x with nux vomica 30x...this means taking 2 drops of ethanol.
now does this constitute alcohol use on tx?
----------------------
No. Wouldn't worry at all. Curious, how bad was your reflux and is your homeopathic remedy working?


i took the 7th week PCR on the 5th day of the shot, UND <50 IU/ML. now this wasnt a trough reading.
---------------------
Wouldn't give it a thought, especially in light of your other tests.


should i extend tx beyond 24 weeks?
-----------------------------------
My guess is you were non-detectible at week 4 and probably could get away with treating only 12 weeks total based on your response and the rest of your stats. But since you didn't take a very sensitive test at week 4, the prudent thing to do is to treat for 24 weeks. So, no, I personally wouldn't extend beyond 24 weeks in your case. No reason at all. The thinking IMO is to expose yourself to the toxic treatment drugs for the least reasonable amount of time to kill off the virus, and not to extend unless your stats dictate you should.


geno 3a, age 25, pre tx VL 50,000 IU/ML, infected less than 4 years.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't know if duration of infection per say makes a difference but how old you were when infected (in your case young) and age your treating at (young again) and pre-tx viral load (low in your case) are all positive predictors for SVR.


Glad you seem to be doing so well with treatment!

All the best,

-- Jim

[niceguy2007]

acid reflux:

yeah jim the homeopathy works really well with the acid reflux...it goes away within 10 minuets of taking the medicine.  you can get argentum nitri[um 30x from your local homeopathic store.  its usually good to take it with nux vomica 30x to aid digestion.

one drop of each is enough.

btw, are you sure it wont affect the treatment?  does it react with interferon, or is it because of the effect on the liver that alcohol is forbidden on tx?

my eye:

i have issues with the right eye.  the chalazion hasnt gone away, and now a new hordeolum has formed right next to it.  this appeared suddenly, was painful and produced a pus like fluid, which may have been sterile oil instead of pus, but who knows.  it doesnt hurt anymore, though is very worrisome.

[niceguy2007]

some afterthoughts...

my acid reflux isnt too severe.  its usually caused by the ribavirin, but that too isnt very frequent.

i have noticed that eating a sufficient amoutn of butter with my ribavirin can ensure that acid reflux and heartburn will not occur.  

eating lesser amount of fat with any given meal causes heartburn that is directly proprotional to the reduction in the meal's fat content.

therefore, all treaters should ensure that they use adequate fat with each ribavirin meal.

[jmjm530]

I wouldn't worry about the minute amount of alcohol you describe. As to the rest, I don't know much about homeopathic meds but my understanding is that they are benign. You can always check with your local doctor or email the one in Japan. Maybe see an eye doctor regarding your eye. Sounds very treatable with either meds and/or compresses, etc.

-- Jim

[niceguy2007]

i've been using an ulcer drug before every shot.  its called teprenone.

i've taken it before every shot uptil shot 13.  how do u think it will affect the viral response?

[jmjm530]

Not familiar with the drug but I took a medicine cabinet full of stuff on treatment and it didn't affect my viral response. Still, run everything you take by your doctor.

Just so you know, practically everyone treating has the same anxieties you're expressing, i.e. "Am I treating long enough", "Are the drugs I'm taking going to harm my SVR", etc.  It pretty much goes with the territory regardless of how long you treat. Be prepared to feel even more of this anxiety as you near the end of treatment and have to stop taking the drugs. This is normal because the drugs are like a security blanket. All indications are that you are doing fine so I'd try and not worry too much.

-- Jim

[scubadiver30]

Hi there again
I'm also experiencing acid reflux (and I have to agree with Nice that the more I eat in mc Donalds the less I feel it)...So I'll cure my liver but get morbidly obese
The problem is that I'm feeling pretty crappy overall and don't know if I'll be able to finish the 24 wks.
I'm focusing on reliving the SX but I cannot...
In fact I was reading in clinical options yesterday( an article dated march last year) about geno 2/3s that could get by with 400 mg RIBA instead of 800 given they were RVR by week 4 (I was at week 2) to reduce toxicity.
Another article says that 16 weeks 80% SVR vs 24 90%(24 was optimum for 2 and 3's).. I'll take the 80%
So what should I do? reduce the riba to 400 mg and treat 24 or keep going with 800 mg until I finished 16 weeks?
The problem is that I'm not tolerating the meds at all these past 2 weeks...The doc says everything is OK CDC wise but it sure feels very bad, bad..fisically and psicologically...

scuba

[niceguy2007]

ive been taking arsenic, aconite, belladonna, mercury since i was a toddler. but they r extremely diluted, almost nonexistent.

[WillPower]

I agree.  I have learned not to trust any conclusion, especially if there is profit involved, linked to the source.  True, not every approach works for everyone.  I am still looking for the GERD "cause".  Like you, the "herb" is not the answer, but I view it as, possibly, IFN where it allows enough temporary relief to allow healing, which takes time.  Of course, the danger is LT side effects.  Presently, I think the IFN started the GERD problem, but maybe it stopped the bigger problem.
Al

[Tallahassee]

If not pH adjustment, could be an antiseptic power of silver.  So may be it kills pylori (sp?) bacteria in the stomach

[niceguy2007]

lol talahasee, its neither ph nor antibiotic. its actualy a systemic immune response to a perceived poison that is diluted enough to be harmless.

[niceguy2007]

you can check out homeopathic principles:

http://www.hpathy.com/homeopathy/homeopathy.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeopathy

of course u dont have to believe in them...but homeopathy is popular in the old world including europe.

[jmjm530]

The shorter course is for those non-detectible by week 4. Earlier studies show that SVRs were similar to those treating 24 weeks but the later study you mention shows slightly better results with 24 weeks, however it does state that the shorter course is a viable option for those not tolerating treatment very well. We've had a couple of members here who did the short course and ended up SVR. Short course is usually 16 weeks if you're doing Pegasys and 12 weeks if your're doing Peg Intron. HOWEVER, the short course studies were based on weight-based ribavirin, and if I remember correctly you're on a flat dose of 800mg which is probably not weight based but could be if you're under 65 kg. On the other hand, you did RVR at week 2, hopefully using a test with a sensitivity of at least 50 IU/ml. Tough call as usual.

I did remember the riba study that someone posted but never looked into it. These treatment calls are never easy, just got to go with a combination of what your doctor tells you, what you learn on your own, and your gut. Speaking of which, did they put you on PPIs like Nexium for your reflux. If not, something to discuss. If hearburn is your main sympton, 1 nexium a day is probably OK. But if you're getting symptons higher up like hoarseness, for example, you need two a day. Best person to see on that is an ENT.

Be well,

-- Jim

[WillPower]

I had horrible acid reflux during treatment.  First time ever.  Then, post tx it would rear its ugly head again at different times.  I found Orange (Citrus sinesis) peel extract standardized to contain a Minimum of 98.5% d-limonene (1000 mg) to TOTALLY stop this problem.  Here is a web site that discusses its use.

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/sep2006_cover_heartburn_01.htm

For the full information be sure to hit the small down button on the right side of the article's window.

Al

[niceguy2007]

scuba,

i think given your weight, 400mg would be a risk.  u weigh around 80kg, right?

anyway, i've had bad weeks too... but then i also get good weeks after that, so i suggest u hang in there...ur past the half way mark...

FRUITS + MEAT + WATER
...remember, MEAT will diminish your sense of weakness due to the interferon, while FRUIT will replenish your nutrients and vitamins.  make sure u get lots of MEAT AND FRUIT AND WATER.

my japanse doctor tells me to eat more STEAK.

whenever i start feeling really bad, i increase my diet intake, and i immediately feel better.  i think u can reduce about 50% of ur SX by just eating better.

plan your eating STRATEGICALLY.  divide your day for different foods.


i remember when i was at the half way mark, the rest of the journey seemed so long... but now as i'm getting there, i know i can pull it through.  

hemoglobin is at its highest right after u get up in the morning, so do most of ur exertions during that time.

hey i know its not easy man.  but, to state the cliche, its doable.

[jmjm530]

I'm skeptical after trying Apple Cider Vinegar and reading about other highly touted alternative cures such as HCL, etc, that work by a mechanism other than acid suppression like the PPI's but somehow fail to live up to their promise at least by my experience and after scanning several hearburn discussion groups.

I briefly checked one of the Heartburn Forums on Orange Peel Extract and nothing there to write home about either. That said, the article was interesting -- albeit the website source must be taken with a grain of salt IMO -- interesting enough that I plan to give it a try myself. I don't see any downside. Glad it worked for you and thanks for posting the information. Hearburn (GERD) is not the same with everyone and what works for Jack may not work for Jill.

Be well,

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

When I say the article was "interesting" I meant whoever wrote the article it actually had a pretty good understanding of GERD and how in theory it could be prevented. You usually don't get this at some alternative sites which sale their wared.

-- Jim

[niceguy2007]

jim,

my dad says that people who have never been exposed to homeopathy usually respond very rapidly and very well to a homeopathic remedy.

if u still ahve heartburn i suggest u try argentum nitricum 30x.  it is actually a dilutino of silver nitrate, i think.  bu tdont try it at home, just buy it from the homeo store :)

[Tallahassee]

Hey, Nice, did you say that you are taking a homeopathic compound with Argentum in it?  

Argentum is Latin for Silver, so I guess you are taking Silver.  Indipendently of the claims with colloidal silver (and such) different treatments, but it is still a heavy metal... I would worry more about silver consumption in your diet, than miniscule amount of alcohol...

All the best to you

[niceguy2007]

yeah its silver nitrate, a 30 times dilution of silver nitrate.  

there is a minute amount or NO amount of silver in it for all pratical purposes... not even 1% of 1 drop of ethanol.

[Tallahassee]

I guess, Nice, we posted simultaneously.  

Wow!  It is not only Silver, but it is also Nitrate Silver!  It probably changes your stomach