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Hepatitis C and treatment
I have had Hepatitis C for 35 years. I have never treated. I take herbs and doctors are amazed at my health at 61 years old.
My case has been studied by Scripps research foundation in San Diego CA. At 24 years old I was one sick puppy. Today I am better than ever, still with Hepatitis C. My question.....
Why do some doctor's tell their patients they are cured of Hepatitis C? There is No actual cure at this time. Treatments simply disguise or hide the symptoms and are subject to return if the patient suddenly becomes ill with another illness or run down. Treatments distroy the immune system and some can not seem to recover well when distroying the immune system. I would think the idea would be to build the immune system. There is still too much unknown science and I think it is inaproperate to tell a patient they are cured. If that patient should go out and begin drinking alcohol, they can kill their liver. People and doctors are so mis-informed. THERE IS NO CURE FOR HEPATITIS C AT THIS TIME!
My case has been studied by Scripps research foundation in San Diego CA. At 24 years old I was one sick puppy. Today I am better than ever, still with Hepatitis C. My question.....
Why do some doctor's tell their patients they are cured of Hepatitis C? There is No actual cure at this time. Treatments simply disguise or hide the symptoms and are subject to return if the patient suddenly becomes ill with another illness or run down. Treatments distroy the immune system and some can not seem to recover well when distroying the immune system. I would think the idea would be to build the immune system. There is still too much unknown science and I think it is inaproperate to tell a patient they are cured. If that patient should go out and begin drinking alcohol, they can kill their liver. People and doctors are so mis-informed. THERE IS NO CURE FOR HEPATITIS C AT THIS TIME!
Oh.. and OneWildFlower.. welcome to the forum.. Hope you are well.. Perhaps you should start a new thread?
I have lost three friends to Hep C.. Had they treated, they might be here today. I too used herbs for years and I truly believe it helped.. but, herbs do not clear the virus.. and although the progression was very slow, I still progressed in the 8 years between biopsies. I am three months post tx and was UND two months post.. and I have no regrets.
http://www.amazon.com/Bad-Blood-Crisis-American-Cross/dp/0786005084/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1339387146&sr=1-1
Here is a book I read years ago that states: bad blood came in after the Korean War, due to we ran out of blood products and imported it from SE Asia. Appears a lot of opinions from readers on the correctness of the statements in this book, but it is food for thought.
SE Asia is a huge vector for emerging viruses.
I had a total blood transfusion at birth in 1953, and wonder if that blood may have been tainted. Most of us will never know how we got the dang virus. Here's hoping we know how we got rid of it!!!!
Here is a book I read years ago that states: bad blood came in after the Korean War, due to we ran out of blood products and imported it from SE Asia. Appears a lot of opinions from readers on the correctness of the statements in this book, but it is food for thought.
SE Asia is a huge vector for emerging viruses.
I had a total blood transfusion at birth in 1953, and wonder if that blood may have been tainted. Most of us will never know how we got the dang virus. Here's hoping we know how we got rid of it!!!!
Welcome to the forum.
This a very old thread ... from 2006. Torry has not posted for 6 years which probably means he no longer comes here.
A test for Hepatitis C was not developed until about 1992, but that does not mean Hep C did not exist before 1992. It was known as Non A Non B Hepatitis until the virus was isolated and a test developed. Then it became known as Hepatitis C.
A huge majority of the people on this forum contracted Hep C long before there was a test for it. So a huge majority of the people on this forum contracted Hep C in the 60s, 70, 80s, and early 90s before blood products were being screened, before medical people used blood precautions, before equipment was required to be properly cleaned, etc. In addition, there are a disproportionate number of Vietnam Vets with Hep C, probably from the the excessive blood exposure in the field and probably from multi-use air guns used for injecting vaccines.
So when we say we have had Hep C for 30-35-40 years, we mean we have had the Hep C virus for that length of time even though the virus had not been isolated and there was no test for it. It is similar to many diseases. People contracted and died of HIV before the virus was isolated. Having no test did not mean the virus was not there. People have contracted all sorts of diseases before there was a name for them or a test for them.
This a very old thread ... from 2006. Torry has not posted for 6 years which probably means he no longer comes here.
A test for Hepatitis C was not developed until about 1992, but that does not mean Hep C did not exist before 1992. It was known as Non A Non B Hepatitis until the virus was isolated and a test developed. Then it became known as Hepatitis C.
A huge majority of the people on this forum contracted Hep C long before there was a test for it. So a huge majority of the people on this forum contracted Hep C in the 60s, 70, 80s, and early 90s before blood products were being screened, before medical people used blood precautions, before equipment was required to be properly cleaned, etc. In addition, there are a disproportionate number of Vietnam Vets with Hep C, probably from the the excessive blood exposure in the field and probably from multi-use air guns used for injecting vaccines.
So when we say we have had Hep C for 30-35-40 years, we mean we have had the Hep C virus for that length of time even though the virus had not been isolated and there was no test for it. It is similar to many diseases. People contracted and died of HIV before the virus was isolated. Having no test did not mean the virus was not there. People have contracted all sorts of diseases before there was a name for them or a test for them.
http://tinyurl.com/74858xe
Hepatitis C was first discovered in 1973, but was not recognized as a unique virus until 1989
A lot of misinformation in your post, some conjecture, with a little food for thought thrown in.
It *appears* you may have chosen the right path for yourself, assuming that that you did not develop significant liver damage over the years.
The only way you can really know for sure is by needle biopsy, with certain blood markers and other tests being helpful in the hands of a a good liver specialist (hepatologist).
The main danger in herbal therapy, is not the herbs themselves -- although some may be bad -- but that some people stop monitoring liver damage through more scientific western means. People with advanced liver damage (cirrhosis) can be asymptomatic and still feel fine.
Hopefully, you've had these tests to confirm you liver is really in good shape.
-- Jim
It *appears* you may have chosen the right path for yourself, assuming that that you did not develop significant liver damage over the years.
The only way you can really know for sure is by needle biopsy, with certain blood markers and other tests being helpful in the hands of a a good liver specialist (hepatologist).
The main danger in herbal therapy, is not the herbs themselves -- although some may be bad -- but that some people stop monitoring liver damage through more scientific western means. People with advanced liver damage (cirrhosis) can be asymptomatic and still feel fine.
Hopefully, you've had these tests to confirm you liver is really in good shape.
-- Jim
The word "cure" is debated and debated again. Many top heptologists use the word "cure" and their educated opinion is enough for me. Some people think the world is flat but that doesn't make it fact, saying so doesn't make it true. Are you just trying to start a debate? Before I believe your statement that you are virtually free of any damage from Hep C, I'd have to see your liver biopsy report. Do you have a current biopsy report? Ofen you hear nontreaters make statements like yours yet they have not had a biopsy so they really have no idea if they have liver damage or not. Just because you "feel fine" doesn't say much, Hep C is called the "silent killer" for that reason. People feel perfectly fine yet their livers are being compromised. If you do have NO damage after 3 decades of Hep C, lucky you. Many of us are not so lucky. Being Hep C positive also puts you at a much higher risk for other diseases and illnesses than a person who does not have the virus including but not limited to diabetes, lymphoma and liver cancer. That alone is reason enough for me to try for the "cure."
Calling it a cure or calling it SVR is just semantics but the truth is, if you clear the virus with treatment you no longer have active virus in your body, you are no longer in the much higher risk category for other illnesses, your body is no longer being assaulted by the virus and you have achieved SVR ( sustained viral response) means CURED in my book.
Coming to a support forum for those who ARE suffering from Hep C related symptoms (and many of us are treating our disease)and saying you are virtually unscathed by Hep C ( which I don't believe without some physical PROOF from a current biopsy) and that a cure doesn't exist is a pretty mean thing to do if you ask me.
Calling it a cure or calling it SVR is just semantics but the truth is, if you clear the virus with treatment you no longer have active virus in your body, you are no longer in the much higher risk category for other illnesses, your body is no longer being assaulted by the virus and you have achieved SVR ( sustained viral response) means CURED in my book.
Coming to a support forum for those who ARE suffering from Hep C related symptoms (and many of us are treating our disease)and saying you are virtually unscathed by Hep C ( which I don't believe without some physical PROOF from a current biopsy) and that a cure doesn't exist is a pretty mean thing to do if you ask me.
It is so confusing at first.
Here are a few:
bx = biopsy
tx = treatment
sx = side effects
dx = diagnosis
SVR = sustained viral response
EVR = early viral response
Here are a few:
bx = biopsy
tx = treatment
sx = side effects
dx = diagnosis
SVR = sustained viral response
EVR = early viral response
You don't seem like you understand treatment and have lots of fears due to your lack of knowledge. Any treatment carries some risk for any disease but Interferon IS the drug of choice for this devastating virus. Here is a link on how it works to enhance your immune sysem rather than "destroy it" as you stated.
http://www.natap.org/2002/jan/011402_2.htm
http://www.natap.org/2002/jan/011402_2.htm
i am newly diagnosed and i don't know what all of these abbreviations mean--tx-bx--sx-all of this is new to me where can i go to learn about the lingo--help!!!!!--am seein the liver docs on monday--
I would never subject my children to tx if I was not convinced that they could be cured. I have one of the best docs in the country who is also involved in research and on the cutting edge of developments concerning this horrible disease.
To hear that there is no cure in bold is insulting
To hear that there is no cure in bold is insulting
Cure. I just don't know. Can you donate blood again? would your doctor take a blood transfusion from you? The thing I don't really understand is if viral load is no indicator of liver damage than why the push to lower it to 50 copies or less? Most of the info comes from the drug companies. I believe the answer is in the Genes. Cancer hep-c and all the rest will be solved by gene thearpy.
Ron
Ron
I waited 13 yrs. after diagnosis to begin tx because tx seemed harder on the body than the hepc. Things went well with alternate methods. Vl down to 350,000, enzymes normal, grade 1, stage 1. All looked great. Then i got my next biopsy and had gone to grade2, stage 2 in 5 yrs, without a raise in enzymes! I finally started tx 5 yrs. later at grade2, stage 3. I had no choice, AND they finally told me I was geno3, so I was full of hope. It dang near killed me but it also saved me. I had hepc for 26 to 45 years (really dont know) and now I'm feeling pretty free. Find out end of this week.
There is a test that measures to to 5 copies.
Transcription-mediated amplification: TMA technology allows for the amplification and detection of nucleic acids (components of genetic material) in the blood. This test can measure as few as 5-10 IU/mL.
Transcription-mediated amplification: TMA technology allows for the amplification and detection of nucleic acids (components of genetic material) in the blood. This test can measure as few as 5-10 IU/mL.
Wow - it must be sad to be you and be so stubborn and wrong.
Who brainwashed you or are you just afraid of treatment? To make a strong statement like that with no backup...what does that say to ALL of the people who have been completely undetectible for years and had major fibrotic regression in their livers and had their liver enzymes go from the hundreds to the teens?
Since this is a viral disease = if they cannot find any of them in your system at all.....what does that mean? They are covered up or DEAD and GONE?
PS Herbs can be more dangerous for your liver than the hep can. But I guess you already know that.
Who brainwashed you or are you just afraid of treatment? To make a strong statement like that with no backup...what does that say to ALL of the people who have been completely undetectible for years and had major fibrotic regression in their livers and had their liver enzymes go from the hundreds to the teens?
Since this is a viral disease = if they cannot find any of them in your system at all.....what does that mean? They are covered up or DEAD and GONE?
PS Herbs can be more dangerous for your liver than the hep can. But I guess you already know that.
My DR told me he CURES people all the time! treatment dose not hide symptoms, I had NO symptoms, but I am at stage 3, now I will post a study paper from my DR that uses the word CURE in it alot.Pam
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