treatment ? regarding weight

[hexanowl]

I was wondering if losing weight (if thats even possible with the unexplained weight gain I seem to be having) would help out with the nasty side effects i know are part of the treatment. I have heard that many people lose weight while on the treatment of peg interferon and ribo. Is this true and does it lower your dose of the ribo? I am confused about treatment as I am only a grade 1 and stage 1. Yet I am developing fibromyalgia and RA.  I had none of this before the last year and in this last year I started to get many odd symptoms I know know are related to the HCV. The brain fog and the muscle and joint pains, I also got Bells Palsy and my voice is being affected. With all this going on my Dr is suggesting treatment. I have heard that the type 1 people who responded best were the ones who weighed the least, are there any ideas on that from anyone here? thanks Hex.

[Rockerforlife]

Well...im not gonna go on a crash diet or anything...like i said..i work 10 mhours a day and i have no problem dropping 15 -20 lbs in one week...

YOU SAID:
could backfire in various ways

only when i eat beans..LOL

[jmjm530]

I believe the studies on BMI were pre-treatment on SOC and not sure if it would make a difference now that you're treating. I would think twice before intentionally losing weight on treatment as it could backfire in various ways, but in any event run by your doctor

[Rockerforlife]

Jim...if my BMI  25...borderline i think for overweight....do ya think the odds are SVR are diminished much?...i  could lose 15... lbs i know...now the holidays are over...im gonna drop 15...its tough to not eat on xmas

[jmjm530]

High BMI (overweight) is associated with lower treatment outcomes. All else equal, I 'd try and get down to your ideal BMI before treating. Have you been tested for IR (insulin resistance). IR is also associated with lower success rates and often (but not always) goes hand in hand with being overweight. As a geno 1 ("type 1") you have difficult odds anyway. Don't make things even more difficult by not addressing your weigh issue.

-- Jim

[GreatBird]

Have they checked your thyroid?

I've heard the same thing--although not that the ones who responded weighted the least, but that overweight patients did not clear as often.