This forum is for questions about medical issues and research aspects of
Hepatitis C such as, questions about being newly diagnosed, questions about current treatments, information and participation in discussions about research studies and clinical trials related to Hepatitis. If you would like to communicate with other people who have been touched by Hepatitis, please visit our new
Hepatitis Social/Living with Hepatitis forum
Since nothing is going to get rid of the virus except Interferon - I figure it really isn't worth taking a chance and taking it DURING treatment you know? So I just stopped when I started tx.
Just take vitamins and things for general over all health = not to try and combat the hep - it wont.
All my numbers are cool (hgb 11 wowowow), neuts 1.0, ast 27 alt 29. Nothing big and exciting.
I DID notice that my Alkaline Phosphatase went up from like 70 - 91. It's never varied before and I am wondering the significance of the jump if anybody knows. (normal is 35 - 125).
I'm really mad though they didn't test my TSH or T3 or T4 and now I have the endo on Thursday and have no clue how he's going to judge if my Synthroid is working enough of not.
I didn't do rescue meds and the hgb has slowly gone up on it's own. I swear I can feel that 1.5 increase, my energy is good enough I can do a task, rest, do a task now and before I couldn't stand without getting out of breath and dizzy, it was so frustrating.
The NP called just now to say my Hgb is 11.5. No wonder I am feeling somewhat better lately.
My platelets went UP and are 125 now, up 11 points! Not bad when I started tx with 76.
LFT's normal, all other values normal. Not bad for 1600 riba a day and 180IFN.
I do not subscribe to any of the "miracle herbs".
There is a great link you should read over,
<a href="http://hepcchallenge.org/choices/supplements.htm">Choices link</a>
This is a book created by a few Dr's, and goes over supplements, nutrition, treatments, etc.. Great read. Another book I highly recommend, is "The Hepatitis C Help Book".. By Misha Cohen and Dr Robert Gish. They have compiled a Grounbreaking Treatment program combining western and eastern medicine for MAXIMUM wellness and healing.
It is VERY important to take certain supplements in particlar while undergoing tx, as the body is depleted of certain substances, and it begins cannibolizing itself. Look into a quality Multi vitamin, w/o Iron.
For those that don't clear or cannot treat bc of other health reasons, I think the milk thistle couldn't hurt.
It is NOT a cure no matter what some of the ads say but it is helpful for the liver.
As the others said, it should not be taken during treatment.
He is referring to the fact that there are no completed studies showing it either does nothing, enhances or inhibits tx.
I figure best to use them if you can't tx for some reason or after you tx. rather than risking complicating or limiting the tx. It would seem to be fine, but I know nothing about the metabolic processes of each supplement and it's affect on tx so why risk it.
JUST FINISHED FOURTH MONTH. AND AT 3RD UNDETECTABLE PEG-INTRON/CO-PEGUS WITH MILK THISTLE AND A GUP OF COFFEE EACH MORNING. MY DOCTOR ADVISED TO STAY ON MILK THISTLE DURING TREATMENT. THE COFFEE BECAUSE I LIKE IT BUT, RECENTLY HEARD REPORT ON THE NEWS THAT A CUP OF COFFEE HELPS LIVER PATIENTS.