For those who CAN'T go the traditional treatment route

[mj6000]

I only recommend this article for those who CAN'T treat with traditional treatment,so don't shoot the messenger. It's just an FYI  that I came across. I don't know how reputable this Dr is. I of course believe in traditional treatment 100% but it doesn't work for all  & some can't take the side effects...and THEN alternatives ONLY as the last chance or option for hope... It's the Alpha Lipoic Regimen.    Here is the link below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mercola/antioxidants-benefits_b_509655.html

[Trinity4]

Many experience chronic fatigue and do not have hemolytic anemia such as myself.  When fatigue is constant (hence chronic) and you are told it is a common manifestation from interferon by one of the leading hepatologists in the country I tend to believe that is the case.
Those with hemolytic anemia will experience fatigue and if Procrit is necessary the fatigue will lessen to a degree.  Chronic interferon fatigue does not go away until the cessation of interferon.

[desrt]

Interesting, in that I started taking CoQ10 during the early 90's for unrelated reasons - my 2001 bx came back as 'mild fibrosis' and during tx my gastro was always asking me if I was taking all my meds, based on my near nomal CBCs.

[merryBe]

harveywallbanger...now there's a word I haven't heard in a while how true, how true.

let me explain why I felt the lipid issue is important a little more.

when I started out treatment my total cholesterol was 150....it fell to 110 during tx.

I suspect this was due to liver function, as well as me paying close attention to lipids in an attempt to not provide my virons with more shell protection. I still ate fat mind you, but very judiciously.

Nevertheless, when my Chol. fell that low I developed the shakes really bad as well as depression and they put me on both ativan and remeron...(already was on ambien for no sleep)....then I discovered the cholesterol/brain connection, due to a forum member...and so had to choose...do I restore the fat now, and maybe help the virus or wait.
I waited.
Now that I'm done with tx it made sense to restore cholesterol because it protects the brain, liver and more...it's not fat that is the enemy as much as the wrong types of fats.
Plus I felt getting off the meds and resoring normal brain function would be better for my liver. To try to avert withdrawals I went slowly on this process...weaning over several months...
Yet I still developed tremors...I wake up with them every morning. Uncontrolable shaking, primarily right side, which means it's likely a left brain issue.

I have since then tried requip, a dopamine antagonist...but to no avail..it helps but gives all day headaches so nixed that. Currently I am eating a can of sardines a day to go with my Coq10, and ALA, and this has reversed my lipid profile and also added 40 pts to my total...back to 150 now....no more depression to speak of...so cholesterol does effect this...it protects the brain from overfiring etc...

also trigylecides are lower than ever, and BSugars are nromal...no more IR...yeah!!

this is another part of the equation that liver people should be paying attention to since metabolism is so effected by the virus, unless things are done to supplement the glands that are failing AND to help the cells return to proper nutrition via supplements its a downward spiral.

My Homa score has gone from a 7 (very high) back down to a 3....pretty good for starter....and I can still get it lower....I just have to work a little harder at eating smaller meals more often, also good for the liver...but hard for me.

Nevertheless, getting off of diebetes drugs, and all those "calmers" none of which were liver friendly was a good thing...but I don't think my mind would be in good shape if I wasn't also being proactive with what can restore normal brain functions and help reset my metabolic rates.

I also reduced my ammonia, a ten fold reduction, and I did it without the use of lactulose....reason being is lactulose contains chlorine isotopes not good for liver...oxidation issues...so I did it NATURALLY with additional fibers (and good lipids)
and protein reductions.....ammonia is now 22 not 130 like before....
I'm not saying some should not use lactulose, certainly in high ammonia or ESLD it is essential, but for me, it was worth trying the natural route first because the chlorine can contribute to HCC to which 3-5% of hcv people succoumb each year...and I didn't want that.

all in all, I'd say we are all making progress.

Mike:

you haven't eaten a normal american diet. The addition of sugars and white flour are the primary culprits in intestinal degradation. White flour coat the villi eventually killing off much of it...think glue,  white flour is wall paper paste, it does the same in our intestines, coats and forms glue...eventually the delicate villi are destroyed....also sugars increase the wrong bacteria and the two produce a alimentary tract that limps along, which is why you probaby absorbed better than the average bear...you don't eat that way....your intestines are cleaner and so ergo more riba absorbed...just a guess. OF course, you could also have gotten into an eczema issue from a mineral imbalance...it does happen.
the other maybe is the mitochondria issue, and I concur that a little prevention here makes sense...particularly the coq10, branched chain amino acids as well can be reparative here.
what I noticed was that my skin turned instantly dry...as riba kicked in it got dryer and the fat redistributed as is common in retroviruses...but the damage to the skin can be really severe...so exploring how to help the mitochondria repair makes sense...(hgh)....unfortunately the cells all take the onslaught, not just the virons but all our RNA gets damaged...I do not understand why there is no effort within medicine to address this...true there is no percentage I guess, but until they can only target cancer or viron cells, you would think they'd try to address reparative things...but HGH is so expensive I'm certain this will always be something doctors do for themselves, and patients will have to fight to get.
Nevertheless the supplements known to help should be employed...rats fed mitochondrial reparative supplements lived 3 times longer in several studies...THREE TIMES LONGER...that should be a clue to longevity....not sure why this isn't getting more notice...it also points to the need HCV treaters have to explore this since the tx drugs are known to damage our mitochondria...just makes sense to me.

mb

[Trish77]

Fatigue on treatment is often a result of reduced oxygen levels due to the hemolytic anemia caused by the ribavirin that produce those low hgb levels.  I don't hear too many people claiming that INF is the cause for their chronic fatigue.  Their weekend fatigue and flu symptoms perhaps, which is why they tend to do the interferon on the Friday.  INF instigates a variety of side effects.  However, the ongoing fatigue is generally associated with the ribavirin-induced anemia.

[mhudnall]

I take your word on the thyroid issues being caused by the INF. That was not as severe as the other issues. But ribavarin is well known to cause mitochondrial damage which cause fatigue.

"When medications cause damage to the mitochondria, it is known as mitochondrial toxicity. Used for standard HCV combination therapy, ribavirin is known to be toxic to mitochondria. Ribavirin is a nucleoside analog drug, a class of medications particularly likely to cause mitochondrial damage."

http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2009/01/hepatitis_c_fat.html

However, that is not to dispute your observation that INF causes fatigue as well. The combined effect of both might be the reason that chronic fatigue is so common and persistent after tx.

[Trinity4]

"Evidence is that after only 12 weeks I was heavily into extreme chronic fatigue - the result of riba-induced mitochondrial damage."

I experienced extreme chronic fatigue after 12 wks of treatment also and this was a result of the interferon.  Exact diagnosis "chronic interferon fatigue".  I was given Provogil but did not like the side effects and discontinued use.