Male patients are not allowed to take interferon if their partner is pregnant because they don't want to get into a situation where if the baby is lost, patient might relate it to the treatment. I didn't probe them on how silly that sounds. I don't like this as my wife and I are planning to have more kids.
I haven't told my doctors about chinese meds, I know they will disapprove it and ask me to stop using it. One can put down my recent improved LFT results down to chance or it could be from using chinese meds. Either way, it's short term until I go on western meds.
At the moment, I am monitored fortnightly just in case my LFT flares again, if so I'd have to start oral treatment asap.
I am beginning to understand more and more what each of the numbers mean. I've learned a lot more from this community than from my specialist. They are far too busy to give me the attention and not enough question time that I would like.
I find it weird that you are not eligible for any Interferon treatments whilst your wife is pregnant. It is like you are not allowed to have a cold whilst she is having a baby. I am sure it is for non-medical reason, would appreciate if you ask your specialists why.
Once you are on a clinical trial, you are not allowed to take any other medications without approval, otherwise it will simply destroy the validity of your result in the trial.
I am not sure that it has been clinically proven that the herbs protect your liver. It is widely used in China, so I can't comment. You should inform your doctors what you are taking before starting treatment or going on a trial.
I am not sure why you need to test every two weeks. At you say in your biopsy report, your liver is in stage 1, which is pretty good. If you want to experiment with various combinations, make sure you know how to monitor your progress. Currently HBsAg quantity assay is not available in Australia and you need a prescription to do all the testings. So make sure you have a GP that will work with you. I don't think any specialists will.
Sorry to be such a pain, but you must ask questions. Stef2011 is different, he knows more than your average doctors about Hepatitis B and he knows what all the numbers mean.
Just found out that I am not eligible to receive any form of interferon treatment (lambda or alpha) whilst my wife is pregnant. I am not sure if the same rules apply outside Australia.
She is due in two months, during which I must continue to test ALT and AST and start oral treatment if figures go up.
I was told there is going to be a new trial which will probably open in 3 months. The trial is combined tenofovir and interferon. I will probably wait for that.
Thanks for your suggested pre-treatment, it seems so obvious to prepare my body to get it into a condition that favours interferon. I wonder why medical professionals here haven't suggested cholesterol and vitamin D levels in the fight against HBV.
I will try and get fortnightly blood tests on LFT, lipids, vitamin D, HBVDNA, HBVsAg qty, HBVeAg qty and IgM HBcAb during treatment. And also report back to this community.
I am currently using chinese meds and milk thistle to protect the liver from further damage. Like you said, it's short term until I go on western treatment.
I'll ask my GP if she will actively monitor my progress through fortnightly blood tests.
At the moment, I am still thinking of not taking Lambda trial so I am open to co-treatment.
I don't want to be selfish to go on trial to receiver the newer drug and cheat by getting additional treatment. This will not help the study and Hep B community.
he started with the worst situation for interferon, such high hbvdna and hbsag have no hope on interferon mono anyway addition of alinia reversed anything
i think that as shown on hcv trials alinia is able to restore interferon response and improve it, this is something we do need on hbv treatments because hbv can stop both our body natural interferon and the injected interferon and make it totally useless