Aa
Hemoglobin/Vitamin C/Open thread
I know I have been asking a lot of questions and do not want to be a thread hog. Buuuuuut I go to see my Hep doctor this Thursday for the first time. I believe I am ready thanks to you guys. The only have a couple more questions. I am a little light on my hemoglobin knowledge. I understand what it is and what it does, but what affects it, the Ribivirin? What is the corrective therapy? Also what are within range levels and experiences with tx difficulties with surrounding it? Secondly, Vitamin C. There doesn
Reality sets in , back from Doc. said load was "fairly low" VL 2.21 RNA 162. I asked for genotype & biop but Doc said its too soon for all that- HUH? Maybe cause it`s a free clinic no one`s rushing to my aid , what`s a POOR hepper to do? Feel like poo... esp. lower back pain 8 on a scale 1-10 not taking anything for it , luckily have a high tolerance. Holistic Doc has me on VitC B12 Hydilla Milk thistle Cranberry Oregacyn Thymo plex and Medi safe , only been taking all this for a week. In 3 mo. I`ll test again to see if any of this stuff "helps" I`ll let anyone know if they are into vit. versus REAl med. It is my only op cause I don`t have any ins. nor do "real" Doc`s in the good ole USA treat for free or take payments that I know of. Also on diet of No dairy ,fried food, caffine or meat {only fish or turkey}. CAN have distilled water only , hard cause I LOVE Pepsi or anything with carmel color lol,can only have natural food ie: all kinda veggies and brown rice. Wanted to ask if there is Anything HepC friendly for ENERGY {for which I have very little of} cause I need to get back to work so I might be able to get some insurance and some much needed dough for all these vit I take Thanks for any input Peace
If you come up with any data, formal or informal, if you would post it somewhere for us to view or to me via personal e-mail it would be much appreciated. The lack of available data is quite frustrating. My doc is pretty much in the same postion as the others you mentioned...watchful waiting to see if there is some meaningful trend that merits further research in the herbal realm.
I have been beside myself a time or two but I don't think that qualifies as a cloning experience.
take care,
BobK
Well, darlin', your brain is clearly working well and I'm really delighted to hear that you and your professional life and your garden are thriving. I look forward to the day when I can tramp around the Trinities again, but like Befuddled said, right now it's the mukluks for me.
I'm going to fish around for data. For now, all I can tell you is that a few dozen people that I know of are either doing or have completed the MC protocol/combo combination, so what's going on right now is a quiet gathering of data. An informal pre-pilot study, you could say. Stuart Cooper, M.D. of U.C. Med, someone at Stanford and Bob Gish, MD of Pacific Medical Center are all quietly observing. I think "preliminary" is the key word here. As for my own experience, what I really need to do is clone myself so I can do tx with and without herbal supplementation. Anybody have any clues as to how to pull this off?
I'm going to fish around for data. For now, all I can tell you is that a few dozen people that I know of are either doing or have completed the MC protocol/combo combination, so what's going on right now is a quiet gathering of data. An informal pre-pilot study, you could say. Stuart Cooper, M.D. of U.C. Med, someone at Stanford and Bob Gish, MD of Pacific Medical Center are all quietly observing. I think "preliminary" is the key word here. As for my own experience, what I really need to do is clone myself so I can do tx with and without herbal supplementation. Anybody have any clues as to how to pull this off?
Hi Califia,
Tomatoes, tomatillos, and peppers (to mention a few) are coming in like gangbusters...friends, chickens, turkeys, and pigs all enjoying the fresh produce although many folks are afraid of my approaching them fearing an offer of squash ;-)
We have been canning lots of chipotle salsa with jalapenos and habeneros smoked in our smoker...yummy stuff!! Also about to start a time consuming experiment that will extend for 50 days straight and in preparation I had to take 7 days off to go salmon fishing and then camping at our favorite camping spot on Trinity Lake. I think I am ready ...but maybe a couple of more days fishing would make it more of a sure thing !!??
First Califia don't think you are boring anyone with the technical...you would be suprised at the number who are interested. I think it goes a bit beyond how to translate the TCM criteria into western terminology. I believe it needs to extend to how does (did) the patient fare in the long run. Data is quite sparse and the two references cited by Misha Cohen from the chinese literature are articles that are not only difficult to access ( and translate) but they appear to be quite short (one page and two pages respectively). In my experience it is difficult to evaluate the research when limited details are presented much as a complete picture is not obtained by reading abstracts only.
I agree with you on the lead content of imported herbal products...a very real and important concern for all. There are numerous published incidences of the problems associated with lead contamination from herbal products.
Once I stopped treatment I felt a bit better right away and then seemed to hit a plateau. At this point improvement seemed slow but steady and after 6 months I felt really good but still not as well as I had hoped. By the time one year went by I felt better then I have in many many years and still do. One of the things that forced my hand in getting diagnosed and treated was a increasing problem with mental processing of all the information I had to read and learn in my pharmacology and toxicology course work. I am happy to say that now, 18 months post treatment, that problem is a thing of the past and has been for sometime now. To all who are on treatment and those who have just stopped do not despair if things seem to progress slowly in your recovery. My doctor, and others who I have talked too, indicate that a one year time period for complete recovery is quite common. I have no lingering problems that I can complain of but do have some problems that I would say are more age related than anything else....the usual eyesight getting a bit worse and some bouts with aches and pains....but I am near 50 so I can't really complain.
Regards,
BobK
ps: I did look the Mihsa Cohen article up that was published in Integrative Medicine and it did not provide any data on anemia response to the herbal treatment although there was a brief mention that anemia does occur.... ;-(
Tomatoes, tomatillos, and peppers (to mention a few) are coming in like gangbusters...friends, chickens, turkeys, and pigs all enjoying the fresh produce although many folks are afraid of my approaching them fearing an offer of squash ;-)
We have been canning lots of chipotle salsa with jalapenos and habeneros smoked in our smoker...yummy stuff!! Also about to start a time consuming experiment that will extend for 50 days straight and in preparation I had to take 7 days off to go salmon fishing and then camping at our favorite camping spot on Trinity Lake. I think I am ready ...but maybe a couple of more days fishing would make it more of a sure thing !!??
First Califia don't think you are boring anyone with the technical...you would be suprised at the number who are interested. I think it goes a bit beyond how to translate the TCM criteria into western terminology. I believe it needs to extend to how does (did) the patient fare in the long run. Data is quite sparse and the two references cited by Misha Cohen from the chinese literature are articles that are not only difficult to access ( and translate) but they appear to be quite short (one page and two pages respectively). In my experience it is difficult to evaluate the research when limited details are presented much as a complete picture is not obtained by reading abstracts only.
I agree with you on the lead content of imported herbal products...a very real and important concern for all. There are numerous published incidences of the problems associated with lead contamination from herbal products.
Once I stopped treatment I felt a bit better right away and then seemed to hit a plateau. At this point improvement seemed slow but steady and after 6 months I felt really good but still not as well as I had hoped. By the time one year went by I felt better then I have in many many years and still do. One of the things that forced my hand in getting diagnosed and treated was a increasing problem with mental processing of all the information I had to read and learn in my pharmacology and toxicology course work. I am happy to say that now, 18 months post treatment, that problem is a thing of the past and has been for sometime now. To all who are on treatment and those who have just stopped do not despair if things seem to progress slowly in your recovery. My doctor, and others who I have talked too, indicate that a one year time period for complete recovery is quite common. I have no lingering problems that I can complain of but do have some problems that I would say are more age related than anything else....the usual eyesight getting a bit worse and some bouts with aches and pains....but I am near 50 so I can't really complain.
Regards,
BobK
ps: I did look the Mihsa Cohen article up that was published in Integrative Medicine and it did not provide any data on anemia response to the herbal treatment although there was a brief mention that anemia does occur.... ;-(
Hey there, Bob. How are your tomatoes coming? The questions you raise are more than valid and it is going to take time and much concerted effort to assemble and scrutinize the requisite data, however anecdotal. Interferon has been in use since the 1950s, and look how long it's taken to get where we are! A lot of soldiers have dropped by the wayside during this last half century of clinical research. I promise you & everyone that I will be on the job and will report in when I can.
As for safety, I am afraid of the lead and arsenic levels found in aryuvedic and Chinese herbal compounds and ONLY use herbal matter grown organically in the U.S. As for the biochemical effects of the plants and the traditional formulas which combine them, the Chinese have an extremely well documented five thousand year old pharmacopeia to draw from. The real challenge is--and forgive me, folks, if this is getting a bit yawningly academic--the challenge is to _translate_ their classification system into ours, and vice-versa. Check out Ted Kapchuk....
For me, experientially, the difference between traditional Chinese medicine and Westen medicine has been like solar versus nuclear energy. But I've just chosen to nuke again, so I guess you could say that my approach is eclectic and self-experimental.
Do you know the German Kommission Herbal PDR, the NIH databases, and so on? I don't want to go on because I'm afraid this is boring everyone to tears. Contact me offlist or via Jovo if you like.
But more importantly, how are you feeling post tx? Have a GOOD day, everyone.
As for safety, I am afraid of the lead and arsenic levels found in aryuvedic and Chinese herbal compounds and ONLY use herbal matter grown organically in the U.S. As for the biochemical effects of the plants and the traditional formulas which combine them, the Chinese have an extremely well documented five thousand year old pharmacopeia to draw from. The real challenge is--and forgive me, folks, if this is getting a bit yawningly academic--the challenge is to _translate_ their classification system into ours, and vice-versa. Check out Ted Kapchuk....
For me, experientially, the difference between traditional Chinese medicine and Westen medicine has been like solar versus nuclear energy. But I've just chosen to nuke again, so I guess you could say that my approach is eclectic and self-experimental.
Do you know the German Kommission Herbal PDR, the NIH databases, and so on? I don't want to go on because I'm afraid this is boring everyone to tears. Contact me offlist or via Jovo if you like.
But more importantly, how are you feeling post tx? Have a GOOD day, everyone.
Hi all..stopped by to catch up and was quite pleased to see a lot of familiar handles still participating.
For the most part our doctors follow the same protocol for monitoring blood counts at the initiation and duration of treatment. At the onset our docs have us take frequent blood tests in order to catch those individuals who have a rapid, and potentially lifethreatenin, drop in Hb, HCT, platelets, ect. After a few weeks go by the blood testing is less frequent and for a very good reason. The largest majority of patients on INF/riba treatment have their blood levels stabilize by weeks 6-8. Califia's experience is quite typical of the "average" HCV patient on treatment. My own experience is almost exactly the same; an initial rapid drop (10.6) in hemoglobin stabilizing at week 8 at a level of 11.5. These counts remained at this level for the entire 100 weeks I was on treatment.
I think it might be a bit premature to attribute stabilised blood counts on any herbal protocol. In reading Misha Cohen's website and the literature the strongest statement that is made in relation to improved or stabilising blood counts is the following:
"There is very good success with alleviating side effects and apparently helping to improve bone marrow suppression related to both Pegasys and Peg-Intron pegylated interferon therapies"
The use of the wording "Apparently helping" is not very strong evidence or data in support of a increase in the number of patients who have stabilised blood counts using a herbal protocol over those who do nothing. Admittedly I have not read the single article that she helped write/research on herbal treatment of mild to moderate anemia...but I will this week! What concerns me is that there is no published data on treatment of anemia using this or simiar protocol and that one article only mentions mild to moderate anemia. I hope no one gets their hopes up too high about using this protocol to treat their anemia.....the evidence is a bit thin.
I am also concerned that with claims of using these herbals for a period of decade(s) has resulted in no publications of the efficacy of this type of treatment. There are certainly some components of herbal treatments that help a great many people stablise LFT's but so far in my research I have found little to support the notion of increased blood counts.....if anyone has any references they feel I should look at please post the citations.
regards,
BobK
For the most part our doctors follow the same protocol for monitoring blood counts at the initiation and duration of treatment. At the onset our docs have us take frequent blood tests in order to catch those individuals who have a rapid, and potentially lifethreatenin, drop in Hb, HCT, platelets, ect. After a few weeks go by the blood testing is less frequent and for a very good reason. The largest majority of patients on INF/riba treatment have their blood levels stabilize by weeks 6-8. Califia's experience is quite typical of the "average" HCV patient on treatment. My own experience is almost exactly the same; an initial rapid drop (10.6) in hemoglobin stabilizing at week 8 at a level of 11.5. These counts remained at this level for the entire 100 weeks I was on treatment.
I think it might be a bit premature to attribute stabilised blood counts on any herbal protocol. In reading Misha Cohen's website and the literature the strongest statement that is made in relation to improved or stabilising blood counts is the following:
"There is very good success with alleviating side effects and apparently helping to improve bone marrow suppression related to both Pegasys and Peg-Intron pegylated interferon therapies"
The use of the wording "Apparently helping" is not very strong evidence or data in support of a increase in the number of patients who have stabilised blood counts using a herbal protocol over those who do nothing. Admittedly I have not read the single article that she helped write/research on herbal treatment of mild to moderate anemia...but I will this week! What concerns me is that there is no published data on treatment of anemia using this or simiar protocol and that one article only mentions mild to moderate anemia. I hope no one gets their hopes up too high about using this protocol to treat their anemia.....the evidence is a bit thin.
I am also concerned that with claims of using these herbals for a period of decade(s) has resulted in no publications of the efficacy of this type of treatment. There are certainly some components of herbal treatments that help a great many people stablise LFT's but so far in my research I have found little to support the notion of increased blood counts.....if anyone has any references they feel I should look at please post the citations.
regards,
BobK
ck michael,HI and welcome! I have never posted to you! Please don't give up on this forum...as it will quieten down soon! Seems like it has already! YEAHHHHH!!!!!!!
I took about a 3 day brak, during all the hoopla. It aggrivates me sometimes too! But honestly, you have found the right place for the hep virus!!!!
Most of the time everyone here is very loving, caring, helpful, compassionate and knowledgeable!!!! I didn't find this forum,until I was already way into tx.
I treated for 48wks was an early viral responder and undectable thoughout tx! Then BAM! 4 months post tx I relapsed! I will be starting a clinical trial study, because of the way I reacted thoughout tx and then relapsed..it has the doctor's baffled and I will NOT give up!
I did have a very rough time on tx and was so sure w/ all I had gone thru I would surely "clear", but for some unknown reason something went wrong! I do have a New doctor, a heptologist this time. And even tho I did relapse, the tx did some major damage to the virus. My bx in June showed....stage 1 ...grade 0-1...with no scarring!!!
So once again..I will start a new roller coster ride!!!! I never thought I could do tx again, because I had all sx and sometimes all sx @ the same time!
Please hang with us here. Without this forum I don't know how I would have made it!!!! BTW I am a 49 yr old female..geno 1A. I want to wish you the best while you are on tx, but stay with us. We can help you and you can help us!!!
Also were you ever a disc-jocky on a radio station? I knew a c michael...but then I saw you post at the end... michael in kc. The "radio man" I knew was in Charlotte, NC???? Just wondering? Sending much love @ many prayers your way, Cindee
befuddled!!!! Hey you!!! Thank you so much for remembering Betty in your prayers! She is doing okay. (for those of you who don't know..Betty is my 2nd Mother, who is dying from a rare form of cancer...signet ring adenocarcemona @ it's 100% fatal) She took care of me when I was on tx and cooked many meals for hubby @ me.
Befuddled...hospice is starting to come in once a wk right now, and then more as needed. She has been sitting in her recliner the past few times I have visited her. She loves to crochet and is "working" on her last afghan for one of her great-grand childern. She has 5 great-grands and has made them all an afghan!! She looks and smells like an angel!!!!! She wears Wind Song cologne....something I haven't worn in years. Do you remember their...theme song? "I can't seem to forget you...your WIND SONG stays on my mind"? SOOOO TRUE!!! I am soon going to get me some. It smells so "light @ clean". She is also going to make my grand-daughter an afghan...something to always remember her by...it's a secret...my g.daughter has wanted mine, since she made it for me for my b.day in July!!! My g.daughter will be so happy and so surprised!!!!
I want to Thank you all for keeping Betty in your prayers. I tell her how everyone here is "praying" for her and I give her a kiss on the forehead...from anyone who ever mentions her name! So Vicki, tomorrow when I visit her..I will kiss her forehead, and tell her it's from you. When I do that she always smiles...so BIG!!!!! You are so special to me.....and I love you very much. You remain in my prayers always!!! Hope your family and you are doing good. I know you have a lot on your plate right now....and I'm praying extra prayers for YOU! Love, Cindee
unico..you are a wonderful person. You have the greatest "outlook on life". I love to read your posts...sometimes you "crack me up"!!!! And I believe "laughter" is the best medicine we all need right now!!!!! You are a GOD send to this forum! I am so happy to call you my friend!!!! I hope you are feeling good these days! Much love @ Many prayers, Cindee :)
I took about a 3 day brak, during all the hoopla. It aggrivates me sometimes too! But honestly, you have found the right place for the hep virus!!!!
Most of the time everyone here is very loving, caring, helpful, compassionate and knowledgeable!!!! I didn't find this forum,until I was already way into tx.
I treated for 48wks was an early viral responder and undectable thoughout tx! Then BAM! 4 months post tx I relapsed! I will be starting a clinical trial study, because of the way I reacted thoughout tx and then relapsed..it has the doctor's baffled and I will NOT give up!
I did have a very rough time on tx and was so sure w/ all I had gone thru I would surely "clear", but for some unknown reason something went wrong! I do have a New doctor, a heptologist this time. And even tho I did relapse, the tx did some major damage to the virus. My bx in June showed....stage 1 ...grade 0-1...with no scarring!!!
So once again..I will start a new roller coster ride!!!! I never thought I could do tx again, because I had all sx and sometimes all sx @ the same time!
Please hang with us here. Without this forum I don't know how I would have made it!!!! BTW I am a 49 yr old female..geno 1A. I want to wish you the best while you are on tx, but stay with us. We can help you and you can help us!!!
Also were you ever a disc-jocky on a radio station? I knew a c michael...but then I saw you post at the end... michael in kc. The "radio man" I knew was in Charlotte, NC???? Just wondering? Sending much love @ many prayers your way, Cindee
befuddled!!!! Hey you!!! Thank you so much for remembering Betty in your prayers! She is doing okay. (for those of you who don't know..Betty is my 2nd Mother, who is dying from a rare form of cancer...signet ring adenocarcemona @ it's 100% fatal) She took care of me when I was on tx and cooked many meals for hubby @ me.
Befuddled...hospice is starting to come in once a wk right now, and then more as needed. She has been sitting in her recliner the past few times I have visited her. She loves to crochet and is "working" on her last afghan for one of her great-grand childern. She has 5 great-grands and has made them all an afghan!! She looks and smells like an angel!!!!! She wears Wind Song cologne....something I haven't worn in years. Do you remember their...theme song? "I can't seem to forget you...your WIND SONG stays on my mind"? SOOOO TRUE!!! I am soon going to get me some. It smells so "light @ clean". She is also going to make my grand-daughter an afghan...something to always remember her by...it's a secret...my g.daughter has wanted mine, since she made it for me for my b.day in July!!! My g.daughter will be so happy and so surprised!!!!
I want to Thank you all for keeping Betty in your prayers. I tell her how everyone here is "praying" for her and I give her a kiss on the forehead...from anyone who ever mentions her name! So Vicki, tomorrow when I visit her..I will kiss her forehead, and tell her it's from you. When I do that she always smiles...so BIG!!!!! You are so special to me.....and I love you very much. You remain in my prayers always!!! Hope your family and you are doing good. I know you have a lot on your plate right now....and I'm praying extra prayers for YOU! Love, Cindee
unico..you are a wonderful person. You have the greatest "outlook on life". I love to read your posts...sometimes you "crack me up"!!!! And I believe "laughter" is the best medicine we all need right now!!!!! You are a GOD send to this forum! I am so happy to call you my friend!!!! I hope you are feeling good these days! Much love @ Many prayers, Cindee :)
hmmmm.. your description of yourself and philosophy on people, sounds like you are describing me.. I have been told more than oncee, that I am too nice, too trusting.. oh well.... Maybe we were twins in another life????? stranger things have happened.. LOL..
Do I remember right? are you in FL? I was born in StPete..
Saw this on sign on a pickup truck/camper of a guy who just roams around.works as he travels.....I LOVE IT!!
"Be what you be, don't be what you ain't, coz if you be what you ain't, then you ain't what you IS...Be what you BE!!!" :)
Do I remember right? are you in FL? I was born in StPete..
Saw this on sign on a pickup truck/camper of a guy who just roams around.works as he travels.....I LOVE IT!!
"Be what you be, don't be what you ain't, coz if you be what you ain't, then you ain't what you IS...Be what you BE!!!" :)
I noticed also first couple of months being out of breath. Climbing stairs was a real challenge LOL And also my hemoglobin at that time was about 10.4 and now at 30 weeks still running the same but I don't have shortness of breath as in beginning. The only time I ever noticed a drastic change is like I said when dropped to 9! I was so light headed! I think Cuteus had said at time if dr didn't give me procrit soon,,,I would be needing a blood transfusion LOL Anyways,,,I guess it seems to usually take care of itself and onward we go!! No backing out now right?
That site is pretty informing huh?? Has basically every view and approach towards hep c all in one place..I learned alot from it, and I'm still reading, as there is just so damn much!!!
Ameribrit, yeah I'm going to get back into this, can't let you guys have all the fun without me..I have been taking the Effexor's, and they are working, I guess. They haven't made me as tired as Celexa, and no neck pain or anything.That is what the Dr wanted me to wait on.To make sure she could find a AD that worked for me, and it also helps anxiety..Stomach has been alot better, as I have been eating alot of yogurt, and a cultured drink by Dannon.. Haven't had reflux problems in weeks, only alittle when I wake up..
I am alot more aware of the effects of the drugs this time, and hopefully more at ease of what I'm getting myself into.The initial shock should not be as overwhelming, I'm hoping..Thanks for asking, as I make my appointment monday morning for bloodwork, then it should all come into play after that..Taking pegysus or nothing..It is my decision, and if I feel more comfortable with MY decision, Dr should respect that..
As far as RBC counts, and anemia..For some it is inevitable, but for others they stay above the exectable limits throughout tx..I have read some studies that show this is directly effected by condition of blood labs before tx, and patients diet BEFORE and during tx..Foods do have an effect on your CBC, and eating lots of greens and red meat, bring RBC's up..For some, again eating right may not counter act the drop and drug interaction may be the only option..Only trial and error, can determine that..
Most take vitamins with no iron, and if not getting enough natural iron from the intake of iron rich foods, then this would definately contribute to lowering RBC's..The body neeeds Iron to produce RBC's..
Ameribrit, yeah I'm going to get back into this, can't let you guys have all the fun without me..I have been taking the Effexor's, and they are working, I guess. They haven't made me as tired as Celexa, and no neck pain or anything.That is what the Dr wanted me to wait on.To make sure she could find a AD that worked for me, and it also helps anxiety..Stomach has been alot better, as I have been eating alot of yogurt, and a cultured drink by Dannon.. Haven't had reflux problems in weeks, only alittle when I wake up..
I am alot more aware of the effects of the drugs this time, and hopefully more at ease of what I'm getting myself into.The initial shock should not be as overwhelming, I'm hoping..Thanks for asking, as I make my appointment monday morning for bloodwork, then it should all come into play after that..Taking pegysus or nothing..It is my decision, and if I feel more comfortable with MY decision, Dr should respect that..
As far as RBC counts, and anemia..For some it is inevitable, but for others they stay above the exectable limits throughout tx..I have read some studies that show this is directly effected by condition of blood labs before tx, and patients diet BEFORE and during tx..Foods do have an effect on your CBC, and eating lots of greens and red meat, bring RBC's up..For some, again eating right may not counter act the drop and drug interaction may be the only option..Only trial and error, can determine that..
Most take vitamins with no iron, and if not getting enough natural iron from the intake of iron rich foods, then this would definately contribute to lowering RBC's..The body neeeds Iron to produce RBC's..
Hi would you mind sharing your herbal regimen with me? My doc says he doesn't want me to do any herbs, not even milk thistle while on Tx.. but, it is up to me.. so i am interessted in the experience of others who also are interested in natural remedies, an what they use and how it's working for them.. Thanx!!.. if you'd like to email me instead of replying here.. that's fine.. ***@****
Califia, You are a brave, brave women. May the gods of open mindedness grant you sanctuary. Good luck!
Lou
Lou
Born in Boston, live in Boston. Gods country. The last seven years have been very liberating. I live by the credo "What other people think of me is really none of my buisness" And I really don't care what the strangers think. Family and associates I am a little more consevative. I spent most my life tryig to be CEO of the universe (Job was taken!). Now, screw it! Give me a nap sack, a pair of levis and a T shirt that says "Yankees Suck" and I will walk into the Waldoff! I really just don't care!I belive I am here to be a good person, all the rest if fluff. However "If you are not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!!!"
LOU
LOU
Hey,,,on absolute neutrophill,,,standard is 0.5 and under for alarm and something to be done...My hubby's fell at one time to 0.5 but was monitored closely and then came back up. Is yours low?
Normal range is 2.3 to 7.0 so 0.5 is equal to 500.. 500 or under something would have to be done...
Thanks, Lou, for your invocation. I think I'd position myself somewhere between brave and foolish... (funny, I don't look fewlish).
Honey, I'm glad to hear, that your breathless and anemia resolved on their own. I was afraid to go unassisted, though--with my lousy interferon track record I was taking no chances. If only I were treatment naive, but I lost my, uh, innocence a long time ago....
And Silvermoon--I'm following my OMD's interferon protocol which is fully described in a pdf file you can download at her site:
http://www.docmisha.com . (She's actually on the board of consultants of the Hep_C organization whose URL Snook posted earlier.) The formula specific to red and white blood production is called Marrow Plus and is manufactured by Health Concerns. It's a classic chemotherapy formula that was first test-driven by two decades of AIDS patients taking AZT.
Honey, I'm glad to hear, that your breathless and anemia resolved on their own. I was afraid to go unassisted, though--with my lousy interferon track record I was taking no chances. If only I were treatment naive, but I lost my, uh, innocence a long time ago....
And Silvermoon--I'm following my OMD's interferon protocol which is fully described in a pdf file you can download at her site:
http://www.docmisha.com . (She's actually on the board of consultants of the Hep_C organization whose URL Snook posted earlier.) The formula specific to red and white blood production is called Marrow Plus and is manufactured by Health Concerns. It's a classic chemotherapy formula that was first test-driven by two decades of AIDS patients taking AZT.
Thanks rev, guess I am reaching for something that doesn't exsist. No the first time for me with that illusion. Suppose I will wait and play the hand as it is dealt to me.
Lou
Lou
At the risk of mob violence and eternal damnation, I will just say that at week 8 my blood values are holding strong; at start of tx hemoglobin immediatley slipped to 10.6 (low end normal range is 11.5), bounced back up to 10.9 and is now holding tight, everything else is high normal. I am out of breath even at this level and have calf muscles of cement, but am trying to avoid Procrit. My HMO doc and nurse are relenting about my herbal protocol, are pretty damn impressed. Just one woman's urban legend... WORD.
I read somewhere that you were ready to start tx? Just wanted to wish you luck. BTW, the skin cancer I had was the same as yours. Truly no big deal, just so long as you treat it right away:)
Great site, Thanks. Rev, why not a preventive approach. Since the Riba almost always has this result, why wait until Then? Not procrit of course, but I mean is there anything we can take or consume to stabalize the drop before the critical level. Procit is more or less the last resort isn't it?
Lou
Lou
My hemoglobin dropped about 3 to 4 month mark on tx to 9 and believe me,,,,It took energy to even think about moving from couch back to computer LOL I was feeling faint alot also if I stood too long but my dr didn't give me procrit and said take bloodwork the next week,,,it then went back up to 10 in one week and from then on has been hovering 10 to 10.8 and that has not been a problem for me. I know alot of drs have put their patient on procrit at 10 or under but I have found in my case that drops in certain things 1 week have come back up next week and now I'm pretty much maintaing levels that are passable!!
Lou, here is a good link to answer some of your questions on vitamin C, and diet.. Not reall sure about the hemoglobin.. I will post the page link, you can explore what you would like to read on.. It answers about every question you might have..
http://www.hepcchallenge.org/Manual/sitemap.htm
http://www.hepcchallenge.org/Manual/sitemap.htm
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
