Carbs and the Liver

[Bobby1952]

     Has anyone else experienced this. I am on week 18 of 24 week treatment for Hcv type 3a. Before I started TX I would stay away from most carbs because even though I work out vigorously they would make me gain weight. I would eat a mostly Protein and vegetables with a little fruit.
    
    Since the 5th or 6th week of treatment my cravings have changed. I am eating Cherrios with whole wheat toast and Yogurt for breakfast. A tuna salad sandwich for lunch. And for Dinner I will eat meat or chicken with pasta or potatoes for dinner. With a lot of junk in between meals. In the past this would of caused me to gain at least 10 lbs.

   Has anyone else experienced this? I am undetected since week 10 (First VL test) and my Liver enzymes are normal for the first time in about 25-30 years. Does anyone know if the Tx could be causing this or if my Liver may be working better.

[Bobby1952]

My thyroid tests are all normal ! tsh is  2.9

[moahunter]

I also got a crazy sweet tooth on treatment (last 3 pills for me this evening). I never had that before, I always had the more savoury taste. I also found fatty foods, especially processed cheese, were really really difficult for me on treatment. Even my favourtite burger changed, I will be interested to see if it changes back now...

[nygirl7]

I couldn't stand it I craved sugar sugar sugar more than anything on treatment. For 72 weeks I could eaten it straight out of the bowl.  I ate more ice cream than any human being should EVER eat in one life time during treatment too..........it was the only thing that didn't hurt my tongue so ... I ate and ate and ate it.

As far as I know treatment doesn't hype up your metabolism - however - it could be affecting your thyroid (the interferon) and THAT could hype up your metabolism big time.

Have you had your thyroid panel test yet?  If not and you do find that your reved up...you might want to ask the doctor about that.  Mine went somewhere about week 20 - 30 and I was hyperthyroid.  Then in three weeks time it flip flopped and i was hypo.  go figure it's pretty common on treatment to get a blown thyroid unfortunately.

Hope that helps.

[Bobby1952]

I guess what I am realy asking, which everybody missed is ---- Could my tolerating the carbs be  because my Liver enzymes are normal and the Virus is undetected. Or does TX just rev up the metabolism.

[CockSparrow]

I still cant even look at Ice Cream. God I ate heaps of it on Tx.
That and the significant contribution I made to HepCi Co's bottom line.
CS

[charm27]

Yes!! My taste buds have changed. FIrst of all I started tx 11/23. 11/24 I stopped smoking and never looked back. Coffee was a must in the morning now it rastes like dirty water to me. I must have hot foods for lunch and dinner and crave pasta and potatoes all the time. Chocolate I havent touched it doesnt taste good anymore.
I could live on hot foods and potatoes, pasta etx. ( Maybe the hot food is comfort I dont know) But I too have a complete change in my taste buds. I eat things now normally I wouldnt eat everday.

Charm

[jmjm530]

Yes, taste alteration, craving (or aversion to) certain foods, weight loss (sometimes weight gain) -- are all very common on the treatment drugs. Most of my previous favorite "healthy" foods made me nauceous on treatment, so I reverted to more higher-fat comfort foods to try and stave off the weight loss. I called it eating for survival -- if I could 'stomach it', I ate it.

About 6-8 weeks after treatment, my previous food tastes returned and they are now exactly as before treatment.

I know end of treatment is a long way off for you, but just be warned that the weight can come back in spades post treatment once your metabolism reverts back. In fact, some of us ended treatment with what I consider impaired metabolisms and now I find it harder to lose excess weight as it wants to stay on as fat. My doc suggested that the treatment drugs accelerated the metabolic syndrome which I had to some degree pre-treatment.

Bottom line -- if you found new foods that you enjoy -- then enjoy them while you can.

-- Jim

[FlGuy]

I think a lot of people will tell you that the appetite and cravings go through changes on tx.  For me my appetite was almost gone and the stuff that seemed most appealing were carbs that you mentioned; pasta, taters and yes - Cheerios.  For a while there I picked up a little egg salad habit, then cottage cheese with fruit.  Many people have serious flings with ice cream.  Curiously enough (and appropriate to treatment) Rock Road is frequently mentioned as a favorite.  Whatever gets you through as long as you promise to get yourself on the straight and narrow when tx is over.