Aa
newly diagnosed with hcv
Hi all. just found this forum & reading through your posts. I am a health professional, just found out I tested positive for hcv, which is freaking me out. Most likely through patient exposure. Also a single mom, so I have to take care of my health at all costs.
I've read the side effects of the newest drug combinations, and they sound horrible. Kind of makes the possible ALA side effects seem like a walk in the park. I am wondering if anyone here has done both. "Standard" new therapies with supportive ALA either by mouth or IV. I don't really think IV therapy would be that expensive, and I would probably just order it and run it on myself. It's not that expensive, and let's be honest: drug addicts manage to get stuff in their veins. It's not exactly rocket science. Im sure anyone here could learn how to put a butterfly in and also give themself an IV treatment.
As for FDA approvals and efficacy and cost- they do not correlate. The FDA approves chemo therapy, which costs a minimum of $100,000 for each round, and only works 30% of the time.
I appreciate your feedback.
I've read the side effects of the newest drug combinations, and they sound horrible. Kind of makes the possible ALA side effects seem like a walk in the park. I am wondering if anyone here has done both. "Standard" new therapies with supportive ALA either by mouth or IV. I don't really think IV therapy would be that expensive, and I would probably just order it and run it on myself. It's not that expensive, and let's be honest: drug addicts manage to get stuff in their veins. It's not exactly rocket science. Im sure anyone here could learn how to put a butterfly in and also give themself an IV treatment.
As for FDA approvals and efficacy and cost- they do not correlate. The FDA approves chemo therapy, which costs a minimum of $100,000 for each round, and only works 30% of the time.
I appreciate your feedback.
Looks like it fret.......
To any newbies....ALA will do nothing to cure HCV . There are conflicting reports on MT and Gaia Herb??? never seen this in any literature for HCV.
ANJ....your welcome......... for the time and effort folks put in to answer your question.
Will
To any newbies....ALA will do nothing to cure HCV . There are conflicting reports on MT and Gaia Herb??? never seen this in any literature for HCV.
ANJ....your welcome......... for the time and effort folks put in to answer your question.
Will
Thank you all so much for your responses. Apparently, it was a false-positive as my initial s/co ratio was elevated over normal, but follow up PCR RNA tests were negative.
ALA is alpha lipoic therapy. It certainly seems as if taking ALA even by mouth would be very helpful for those with Hep C. It is readily available, and over the counter, and inexpensive. Also, there are good studies on milk thistle which has shown to be very effective over placebo in protecting the liver from sclerosis and fibrosis. I really recommend the Gaia herb brand, as their manufacturing process is outstanding.
Good luck and God bless to all of you.
ALA is alpha lipoic therapy. It certainly seems as if taking ALA even by mouth would be very helpful for those with Hep C. It is readily available, and over the counter, and inexpensive. Also, there are good studies on milk thistle which has shown to be very effective over placebo in protecting the liver from sclerosis and fibrosis. I really recommend the Gaia herb brand, as their manufacturing process is outstanding.
Good luck and God bless to all of you.
Awesome post to give a newcomer! Especially on the lopsided good and bad posts. After three weeks I'm surprised that I am feeling as well as I am given what I was expecting. It only makes sense that the posts would be lopsided; those doing well are busy keeping up with their lives. They have enough on their plates just being on tx.
And yes, most everyone is "freaked out" upon dx, but getting armed on this site with the knowledge of so many experiences helps so much. Just about every issue can be addressed and everyone keeps moving forward to get better; some amazing success stories on here.
And yes, most everyone is "freaked out" upon dx, but getting armed on this site with the knowledge of so many experiences helps so much. Just about every issue can be addressed and everyone keeps moving forward to get better; some amazing success stories on here.
Looking around, ALA treatment is Alpha Lipoic Acid treatment set forth by a Dr. Burton Berkson -
http://www.townsendletter.com/Dec2007/alphalipo1207.htm
http://www.townsendletter.com/Dec2007/alphalipo1207.htm
Welcome to the forum. I'm not familiar with ALA treatments, would you please elaborate?
I will offer you some encouragement, however, as it relates to triple therapy. My husband is on Week 18 (our of 24) and has had fairly minimal side effects. He's even managed to work and travel extensively while treating. I would agree with Pooh that you should not allow what you are reading here to scare you off, most people are posting because they're having issues. So much of your decision will need to be based on the answers to the question people have posed above.
Get a informed as you can, then, along with your doctor, decide on the best course of treatment for you. Best wishes.
I will offer you some encouragement, however, as it relates to triple therapy. My husband is on Week 18 (our of 24) and has had fairly minimal side effects. He's even managed to work and travel extensively while treating. I would agree with Pooh that you should not allow what you are reading here to scare you off, most people are posting because they're having issues. So much of your decision will need to be based on the answers to the question people have posed above.
Get a informed as you can, then, along with your doctor, decide on the best course of treatment for you. Best wishes.
I'm also not familiar with ALA, what it might be used for and how this relates to HCV. Was there a question somewhere in your post? The once a week interferon doses usually come in preload syringes, so no need to do an IV. The other meds are in pill form.
Let us know if you have specific questions and I'm sure the good people here will try to assist. Hope you find a well qualified hepatologist or GI to guide you through tx if that's what you choose.
Let us know if you have specific questions and I'm sure the good people here will try to assist. Hope you find a well qualified hepatologist or GI to guide you through tx if that's what you choose.
Hello and welcome to the forum.
I am not familiar with ALA threatment.
Most of us are on the new triple med therapy for Hepatitis C Genotype 1 (Interferon, Ribavirin, and either Incivek or Victrellis). Some are on just the Innterferon and Ribavirin (if they do not have Genotype 1).
First some questions so we can better address your concerns:
Do you definitely have Hepatitis C or were you just antibody positive.
Did you have a PCR test.
Did you have a viral load and a Genotype test.
Have you seen a specialist: gastroenterologist or hepatologist.
Have you had a liver biopsy.
The more information we have, the better we can respond and help you.
I do want to mention a couple of things. First, most of all of us were freaked out when we found out we had Hepatitis C. That is a natural reaction to a diagnosis such as Hepaptitis C. However, once we learned more about the disease, its treatment, and its prognosis, most of us are a bit calmer now knowing the facts.
There are treatments for Hepatitis C, even for Genotype 1 (the hardest to treat) and the cure rate is 75-80%. That is pretty good odds.
The treatments are not easy. They never have been, even with just Interferon and Ribavirin. However, they are doable for most people. The triple med treatment is also doable for most people. There are side effects, although they vary from person to person in type, severity, and frequency. Some people have few side effects and others have more. Some have mild side effects and others have more troublesome side effects.
Do not let the posts on this forum scare you away from treatment if you have Hep C. Most people who are posting on the forum are asking for advice for their side effects or for information about Hep C or the treatments. Most people who have no side effects are not posting because they don't need help. So the forum is lopsided and leans towards posts stating problems and side effects, but that is only a small fraction of the people on treatment.
Hopefully you will tel us a little more about yourself and then we can offer more help.
I am not familiar with ALA threatment.
Most of us are on the new triple med therapy for Hepatitis C Genotype 1 (Interferon, Ribavirin, and either Incivek or Victrellis). Some are on just the Innterferon and Ribavirin (if they do not have Genotype 1).
First some questions so we can better address your concerns:
Do you definitely have Hepatitis C or were you just antibody positive.
Did you have a PCR test.
Did you have a viral load and a Genotype test.
Have you seen a specialist: gastroenterologist or hepatologist.
Have you had a liver biopsy.
The more information we have, the better we can respond and help you.
I do want to mention a couple of things. First, most of all of us were freaked out when we found out we had Hepatitis C. That is a natural reaction to a diagnosis such as Hepaptitis C. However, once we learned more about the disease, its treatment, and its prognosis, most of us are a bit calmer now knowing the facts.
There are treatments for Hepatitis C, even for Genotype 1 (the hardest to treat) and the cure rate is 75-80%. That is pretty good odds.
The treatments are not easy. They never have been, even with just Interferon and Ribavirin. However, they are doable for most people. The triple med treatment is also doable for most people. There are side effects, although they vary from person to person in type, severity, and frequency. Some people have few side effects and others have more. Some have mild side effects and others have more troublesome side effects.
Do not let the posts on this forum scare you away from treatment if you have Hep C. Most people who are posting on the forum are asking for advice for their side effects or for information about Hep C or the treatments. Most people who have no side effects are not posting because they don't need help. So the forum is lopsided and leans towards posts stating problems and side effects, but that is only a small fraction of the people on treatment.
Hopefully you will tel us a little more about yourself and then we can offer more help.
I am on triple therapy, for genotype 1a, with the third med being Victrelis, one of the two FDA approved Protease Inhibitors. The side effects are pretty bad, I can only work part-time. But my husband is bed-ridden, and I still manage to take care of him, and my two school age children, and I have 20 weeks to go. I got anemia, and just took a "rescue drug" which is a shot of Procrit.
I'm not familiar with what ALA stands for either, but if it is an IV, that goes into a main vein, then I suppose it would also depend on your veins. Minelook large, like straws, and pop out, so they are very easy for the nurse to put a butterfly I.V. in. MY daughter has these tiny little veins, and often has to be poked quite a few times~
I'm not familiar with what ALA stands for either, but if it is an IV, that goes into a main vein, then I suppose it would also depend on your veins. Minelook large, like straws, and pop out, so they are very easy for the nurse to put a butterfly I.V. in. MY daughter has these tiny little veins, and often has to be poked quite a few times~
I am not familiar with any iv treatments. I am a health professional too. You are in luck that the new protease inhibitors were FDA approved in May last year. Nasty side effects but doable and very good results but you still have to do the riboviron and pegysys too. usually only 24 weeks of treatment as apposed to 48. And my Dr. said they are coming out with more stuff without as many side effects. In August I will get a viral load drawn for 6 months post treatment but it is undetectable since week four now.
Hi there.. I am not at all familiar with ALA,however you say you have been dx. with HCV. Have you had the definitive PCR or just the antibodies test?
Have you been refered to a gastroenterlogist or a Hepa ? Do you know your geno type (if you do indeed have active HCV)
If you could give us a bit more info.it would be helpful in order for folks to give some opinions going forward.
Welcome to the farm..
Will
Have you been refered to a gastroenterlogist or a Hepa ? Do you know your geno type (if you do indeed have active HCV)
If you could give us a bit more info.it would be helpful in order for folks to give some opinions going forward.
Welcome to the farm..
Will
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