Hepatitis C and building-up immune system

[Jaek]

Is it advisable to build-up immune system with antioxident juices,supplements, and/or health foods before starting treatment for Hepatitis? If so what do you suggest?  Can it continue during treatment? Also, how should a non-affected person help an affected person through treatment? Thank you.

[Rajojo]

The thought of doing away with chicken and milk scares me. I love chicken.

[jboyhk]

I'm not saying those things aren't good for you but I don't think it will do anything special if you have HepC. You should consider that programme even if you are healthy.

[Forseegood]

I don't exactly agree with you. There are hardly any tests with conventional drugs, let alone these things. I'm not saying they will rid the virus for you, only conventional drugs will do that, but I don't see how anyone can unqualifiedly say that these don't do what you say...just another opinion...

[headsrtails]

Some may say its psychosomatic, but juicing fresh vegetable as well as eating healthy feels easier on my body and the liver as well... Whenever I ate a meat diet, white bread, processed foods, junk food and so forth, I would feel sluggish. Certain foods are easier to digest and have more vitamins and nutrients especaiily in there raw state,and promtoe health and well being and it makes it easier on that type of diet to deal with tx. It may be my own consitution, luck or the inevitable ha yet to come, but so far(hear me knocking on wood) I have no sx except 6 hours after Peg, when I intermitently feel flulike sx. Its true that I am only coming to shot # 4 and only on day 19 of ri. and all this may change???Hope not and hope that helps you in anyway. Headsrtails

[jboyhk]

I have to completely disagree with you.

There have been clinical tests with conventional drugs such as inteferon that actually show an increased immune response from fighter cells.

[Califia]

My answer to your question would be a big resounding "'yes."   You want to go in as strong as possible, with a low viral load and the lowest possible iron stores.  (As to the latter, google "lactoferrin" and see what you come up with.)   A very reputable hepatologist recommended to me that treating patients take 2-3 gms daily of pure phosphatidyl choline, a good B vitamin complex,  N-Acetyl Cysteine and SAME-e.  There's even a Japanese study that suggests that zinc could be especially helpful:  <a href=http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2893.2001.00311.x/abs/>Zinc Supplementation Enhances the Response to Interferon Therapy in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C</a>  Further nutritional recommendations can be found at <a href=http://www.hepcchallenge.org/choices/coverpagep.htm>HEP C CHOICES</a>.  Best of luck to you.

[Forseegood]

youre arguing a different point....I didn't say that interferon didn't bolster the immune system, I just took issue with any one adamantly saying that certain supplements, herbs do nothing to bolster the immune system...that's all...

[Kalio1]

I agree with Headsrtails, eating a very good, nutritious diet of foods, in particular raw fruits and veggies and non processed foods is the best way to go. Also avoid alcohol and smoking or any medications that are hard on the liver. There is scant evidence taking any herbs or supplements actually benefit you but we do know a good balanced healthy diet with little or no red meat and processed foods is ideal. Also drink ample amounts of water each day and get plenty of rest.
Most Hep C patients take a multi vitamin without iron.
Many doctors suggest you not start up a regimen of herbs and supplements while on treatment as it could complicate or interfere with your treatment.

[Forseegood]

as you can see, we're all just offering our own opinions on these issues, and they can differ, even from doctor to doctor...prob a good idea to read everything you can pro and con and in the middle, and decide for yourself....none of us are experts on these issues and even the docs and researchers differ on these points...

[jmjm530]

Omitted, but probably more important than anything mentioned, is to get down to your ideal weight and stop smoking if you're a smoker.

Both -- being overweight and nicotine use -- have been associated with lower rates of treatment success.

While the rest of the advice is good, I don't think eating Big Mac's verus carrot juice effects your chances very much of SVR (cure).

(Thankfully Rocker isn't posting much this week or I'd have my head taken off for this last statment. LOL)

[Kalio1]

Actually the NUMBER ONE thing to avoid with Hep C is ALCOHOL.

[Kalio1]

I mentioned smoking, it wasn't omitted.

[jmjm530]

Kalio: I mentioned smoking, it wasn't omitted.
----------------------
OK. You get a gold star :) I'd still put my odds on a moderatly drinking thin person over an abstaining weight-challenged person in terms of odds of achieving SVR. Of course you will disagree but that's my story and I'm sticking to it :)

[Forseegood]

Taxi!!!! Taxi!!!!

[jmjm530]

LOL. Don't worry, this ain't gonna turn into an alcohol thread, at least on my account. For one reason, I'm going to bed in about five minutes. LOL. BTW had two salmon/avocado rolls tonight plus my usual edamame, etc and a nice cold SAPPORO LIGHT. LoL.

Be well,

-- Jim

[Kalio1]

Anyone with Hep C should not drink alcohol, it acts like jet fuel to the fire of Hep C and causes faster replication of the virus. The safest way to go is to not drink at all.

[jmjm530]

I promised not to get involved in another one of our "alcohol" threads but will just add (before I go to bed) that there are many of us (including leading doctors) that do not agree with Kalio's frequent blanket statements on this issue. I was allowed to drink in moderation before and after treatment but not during. All the studies suggesting alcohol is bad for you are older studies whose data was based on HEAVY drinking, not social drinking. Nite :)

-- Jim

[GoofyDad]

Speaking of Roseanne Barr riding a mechanical bull in a string bikini........ooopps sorry wrong thread.

Speaking of nutrition and supplements for the liverly disadvantaged, didn't you have some info for me?

BTW, doc likes the latest sonogram report. Says some of the observations bode well for improvement in histology for me. He didn't sound like he thought said improvement had happened. Which makes me wonder what changes did occur to make him see that in the crystal ball. I guess I'll pick his brain next month while he's picking my bung. Sending in snakes from both ends to see if they meet in the middle...like laying the atlantic cable. And yes, I'll be taking him a red rose for the occasion.

[jboyhk]

You are right, to be extra safe you shouldn't drink.

However I haven't seen a well done credible study on moderate drinking (all the ones I have seen are flawed and I am not even a statitician but can point them out).

If what you are saying is true, then shouldn't all alcoholics (heavy drinkers) with HepC progress to cirrhosis? The data doesn't support that thesis.

[Kalio1]

I didn't say that all alkies would progress to cirrhosis but if they have Hep C it is highly likely they will, we have no way of knowing who will and who won't progress, the safest route is no alcohol.

Anyone is free to google Hep C and Alcohol and see that overwhelmingly experts advise against drinking with Hep C.

[FlGuy]

If your doc is one of those cost-conscious docs who has only a single snake, make sure he goes southbound before he goes northboud. Of course, if he uses an inversion table the suggestion is reversed.  Oh yeah, get his first appointment that day.

[returntosender]

The studies show that the mean fibrosis score for hepc patients is higher on the average if they drink alcohol.  Drinking more than 3 drinks or so daily results in significantly higher mean fibrosis.  Drinking less than 3 drinks a day does increase fibrosis but not as much as drinking more than 3 drinks.

I cant see how an occasional drink (reading "not daily") would really matter at all.  There are probably more damaging things such as certain toxins in food and the enviornment that happen from time to time without our knowledge.  This subject is tough for me because I cant imagine the concept of an "occasional" drink.  My last drink was about 25 years ago and prior to that I drank as much as I could as often as I could.  Those that can actually have an occasional drink should probably feel free to do so.  For me, an occasional good bowel movement is just as satisfactory and doesnt affect fibrosis score at all.

[niceguy2007]

my japanese doc prescribed vitamin B complex. the highest antioxidents r found in pomegranates,followed by grapes.
daikins soothe ur liver, so eat plenty of them. their leaves r also great.
alcohol is a no no.

[NYgirl]

I'm sure that a bit of heroin once in a while won't hurt your liver but...is it wise of me whether I use it or not to say "oh it's probably fine if you only do a little?"

Please...just please.  Since 99.999% of the doctors in the world advise no drinking or smoking.....just say that.

Personally I smoke but I would not say to anyone that it's FINE to keep smoking because I KNOW it's not.  I KNOW that it hurts the liver and lungs but I am addicted completely and I admit it. I would ADVISE to try and quit completely, asap.  

I wouldn't say it's OK in moderation. And also what is to say what one persons moderation is?  My moderate drinking was a half a pint a day. My drinking drinking was more than a pint a night. And usually I put that a way every night between 5 - 10pm.  So a half a pint would be MODERATE and CUTTING DOWN in my eyes. I honestly thought that was the nights I was being "good".

And that is so BIZARRE but it's the logic of an alcoholic...and mostly - the people who ARE alcoholics would really have THAT MUCH trouble not drinking and they would be looking for ANYONE to say it's ok for ANY reason so that they would be able to continue. Once an alcoholic has one drink.....all sense of "moderation" goes out the window. It's not possible.

It's not our personal opinions that matter - it's the solid FACT and what the doctors TELL US.

What we think personally has nothing to do with it at all.

I will NOT debate is it ok or not alcohol threads any longer. Obviously it's NOT since it is a known toxin to a liver. What you decide to do in your own life is fine but it ISNT ok to tell people anything else.

Let's just say whether or not you want to drink or smoke it's up to you but they are BOTH known TOXINS to the liver and should be avoided completely at all times.

What a person then decides to do...is up to them.

EVERYTHING is based on that but it doesn't make any of it 'ok' or 'fine' or anything.  Now I want a cigarette badly, damn.