Milk thistle?

[HarlemHon]

Does anyone know if milk thistle is good, bad, or of no effect?  I read somewhere that it is helpful for liver problems so started taking it.  I won't see my dr. for almost three months so can't ask him until then.

[rambleon40]

probably good advice.  

[James10500]

My Doc (Everson) said save your money go out to lunch once a month.

[TexSunflwr]

I treated with interferon/ribavirin in 1999. It didn't work but I had absolutely no lasting side effects. Any sides I did have were gone within a few months of ending treatment.

[uncledudeness]

you hit the nail on the head HPG, the only treatment that cures us is proven. sure there are risks, but there are calculated risks that each of us take daily. i responded to treatment and then relapsed in a few months. i am going to treat again with interferon, ribaviron and incivek. it's been 4 months since i treated and i feel great. sure there are a few sides left e.g. joint pain and a small rash, but they pale in comparison to the alternative. i am probably stage 4 (i still can't get a straight answer to that) so i don't have time to wait for new drugs to be approved.

the point is this; if Interferon was not available to me i might be known as "the former" uncledudeness. i think "almost" everyone would agree that would suk.

i feel for the people that have lingering side effects from treatment, but "the good of many, outweigh the good of a few"....i think i heard that in a star trek episode.

[hrsepwrguy]

"there coming out with non interferon treatment studies right now, so don't tell someone to do treatment"

Hmmm, that is a nice thought, however the projected release for the non interferon tx is 3-5 yrs, interferon has saved many lives and with the  current treatment availible SVR rates are around 75% for all genotypes, for some like me who were diagnosed with borderline cirrhosis, waiting is not a luxury I could afford and treatment looked a whole lot more promising that waiting to advance cirrhosis and possibly on to ESLD, I'm sorry that you are having long term effects but there are many who treat, reach SVR and continue on with there lives without long term problems.

Are you SVR ?

Have a great day

[psmike59]

why the treament ruined my life amost killed me and still having sidez years later, if someone wants to do it another why, good thing. The treatment is poison getting ready to be pulled off too i bet, there coming out with non interferon treatment studies right now, so don't tell someone to do treatment, unless you know for a fact it will work in them and you can't make that promise, i know alot of ppl on disability because of treatment. I collapsed at the 10month mark unalbe to move, walk or talk. This stuff is serious business. I don't blame anyone for finding a better way, im just waiting for the class action lawsuit to come out, cause  ill be on board.