milk thistle

[heene]

I have just read an article on milk thistle being helpful in cleansing/healing/regenerating the liver.  My husband has autoimmune hepatitis and is on Prednisone 20mg. and Lactulose.  Do you know anything about this herb and its compatibility with these drugs?  He is also on Cipro once a week to prevent infection of ascities fluid in the abdomin.

[CARUU]

Hey, OHC...good to hear from you.  I didn't know you were dealing with FMS.  Can you point me to any good sites, tips, how it's diagnosed, causes, etc.  Seems most of the sites are the type that are trying to sell something.  As I said, I don't want to talk myself into anything, but I'm pretty sick of always feeling bad and not knowing why.  Thanks, caruu

[CARUU]

Best wishes on the bx.  I'll be watching to see how it goes.  The numbness and pain I have is elbow to wrist on right arm and into right side of hand (palm, ring and pinky fingers).  They don't look red.  I also have the elbow pain on the left, but not the arm and hand stuff.  Years of typing at work probably doesn't help the right side.  My boss says try using your left hand for the mouse (she's a big help)-:  Actually my entire right side has nerve damage and has for many years before I was dx with HCV.  I have a damaged spinal accessory nerve that has caused atrophy in my right trapezus.  Any info on fibromyalgia experience would also be helpful.  Thanks! caruu

[snook_man]

I would be greatly interested in the link you are talking about.. I know that Chinese medicine tx for hep c is combination of 19 herbs and mushrooms, and they have like 20% svr, and significant reductions in viral loads and liver damage.. Andrew Weil is in Boston, right?? I would be very interested in what you are taking, as I have researched alot.. My family believes in herbs, as they are old hippies, that eat organic, do not like Dr.'s with stock options in meds!! My wife and her family are exact opposite, being nurses that trust in meds and Dr.'s.. I had a rough time, and only did one week of tx, and was pulled by Dr.. All my sides where supposed common ones too.. I really want to try natural for awhile till my mind is confident enough to tx again.. I read this site almost everyday, and people are getting all kinds of new permenant sx's of tx.. I am exploring every possible option, as like others have stated above, it is your mind set and confidence that will get you through tx.. Seems like I'm still doing searches for mine!!

[cuteus]

CTS=carpal tunnel syndrome (pre TX stuff).

SAm...that sounds like some scary stuff, darn.  I hope it stays away for good.
Neurological problems seem to be why they don't want us on this tx for too long, especially the riba.
I tend to think like Chev...these things were here before Tx, latent or masked, and the Tx brings it to light.
Frisco...like I stated before...I believe that route will be beneficial to your general health, no doubt, but I don't think it will kill an organism that has been present in us for decades and has fooled our immune systems all that time. it is a cleverly mutating organism and no herb is going to kill every mutation, plus our bodies have failed to do so also.  
As I said, if you are not close to 50, experiment. If you are approaching that age...precious time is ticking away that can be use to kill the bug.  I would try both the proven bug killing meds and the holistic approach(that will strengthen the body), seems like the best combo.

[cindee]

Hey, I have had red palms, and the redness continues up into my pinky and into my ring finger on my left hand. I have numbness from between my elbow and wrist and 2 fingers. My pinky is the worst. The tip looks like it has been chemically burned...all of the above NEVER goes away. I was so delighted in my new doctor that i did show him my RED palms, but forgot to mention the numbness and the red tip of my pinky. I will ask him Tues when I go for a bx. I will TRY to remember to let you know....brain fog!!!! Ya know? I've mentioned this many X's on the forum, but never have gotten an answer that I can remember. If ya hear something before me...let me know. I will be posting after my bx Tues, probably on Thurs. nite. My doctor wants me to take it easy and stay in bed until then...because of my bx. Best wishes on an answer....I'll keep checking back. I am putting a note on my calendar now, so I won't forget ya!!!! Love @ prayers, Cindee

[Sam Hall]

The numbness stuff sounds very like the early part of perio' neurop' that i developed. It eventually became like walking through a full on hail storm and i had little or no fine motor control. I was informed by the medics it was the result of my refusal to drop my Riba from 1200. It passed but then returned with avengence. As its neuro-nerve damage general pain killers and even opiates have no effect. At one point and this was six weeks post tx i thought that i had had a stroke. I'm tellin ya that third eye of mine opened up the size of a silver dollar. I sat it out(or rather lay) keeping still seemed the only relief and gradually it became phasic and then my youngist had a fibrile siezure in the heat so it was up up and away! Since then nothing. One thing i believe is that for me it's also directly related to stress. Some people have to live with this **it for live. Prayers for them.
PS It can also be very very mild jurst tingling in extremities. Also some old ADs can help but that's another chemical path with it's owm pitfalls.