Aa
What about Herbals?
In 1993, I was rejected by the Blood Bank for donations due to Hep C antibodies. I discussed this with my doctor who said that meant I had been exposed to Hep C but my body was taking care of it (dunce). I told every doctor I ever saw about this but only one doctor did a liver panel workup that showed my liver functions as normal - so I was put on Lipitor for high cholesterol. Finally, this year I got the proper blood work done by my GI doctor and it showed that I do have Hep C. My VL is 6,000,000. I am genotype 2. I will get the rest of the info on my first office visit on Wed. (9/3) to discuss treatment.
I may have had this for at least 25 years but at least 15. Everything I've read, including posts here, tell the nightmare of the side effects of interferon treatments (which, I've also read, don't work for genotypes 1x)
I am leaning towards the herbal approach of milk thistle, licorace, dandylion root, Liv.52, and NAC (to name some) I can't take time off work since I am the breadwinner in the family.
The posts here about the medical approach don't look real promising (side effects, time off work, 24/48/56 weeks of treatment, relapse, etc.) Has anyone tried the herbal approach? I'm told that there are NO side effects. Reading the posts here scare me even more about the medical approach.
I am trying to gather as much info as possible prior to my Wednesday appointment. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
I may have had this for at least 25 years but at least 15. Everything I've read, including posts here, tell the nightmare of the side effects of interferon treatments (which, I've also read, don't work for genotypes 1x)
I am leaning towards the herbal approach of milk thistle, licorace, dandylion root, Liv.52, and NAC (to name some) I can't take time off work since I am the breadwinner in the family.
The posts here about the medical approach don't look real promising (side effects, time off work, 24/48/56 weeks of treatment, relapse, etc.) Has anyone tried the herbal approach? I'm told that there are NO side effects. Reading the posts here scare me even more about the medical approach.
I am trying to gather as much info as possible prior to my Wednesday appointment. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
I just got back from my GI doctor. He said since I am genotype 2 that there is an 80% success cure rate, shorter treatment time, and less side effects. He ordered more blood work (full liver panel) and an ultrasound (yea! no needles) He said that since I am currently on anti-depressants, this would not be a good time to start treatment due to suicidal reactions when mixing interferon and anti-depressants. He wants me to hold off for a year and see if they come up any new/better treatments. He does not feel that I am in iminant danger.
I am showing no symptoms and a palpitation of my liver didn't turn up anything that concerned the doctor. So... I am going to go the herbal route for 6 months and have my blood work done again to see if it has improved my numbers.
I see this as very good news. I'll let you know what happens.
I am showing no symptoms and a palpitation of my liver didn't turn up anything that concerned the doctor. So... I am going to go the herbal route for 6 months and have my blood work done again to see if it has improved my numbers.
I see this as very good news. I'll let you know what happens.
Mattchin’s claims are dangerously misleading and gives people false hope. Please disregard them. For now Inteferon and Riba. is the only proven treatment.
Oh no, not again with Juice-O-Matic-Matt! Do not believe it.
It is nice that you will have ultrasound and no needle for biopsy. The ultrasound will not reveal histologic disease the way biopsy can. Often the biopsy is skipped for geno 2 patients because there is an assumption that they should treat whether or not damage has started. This because of the short TX period and the good likelihood of SVR.
If you are going to "watch and wait" I would caution you to watch carefully your disease progression. A biopsy might be an important part of the "watch", or in knowing more certainly the disease stage you currently have. I went from stage 1 to stage 4 between biopsies during the "watch and wait" period.
The hell of six months of treatment pales in comparison to finding yourself with end stage liver disease with no possibility for treatment and the only hope is for transplant before death. And then you must TX with the new liver: much harder and less successful as a transplant patient with a supressed immune system. I am not telling you not to wait, just to be careful in monitoring your disease progression. Don't go 5 years between biopsies like I did.
Can't say I would recommend the herbal treatments in any case. Make sure your GI is aware and consenting to anything you are taking. None of the remedies out there show any promise of treating HCV, and some are toxic, especially to HCV patients.
Good luck!
It is nice that you will have ultrasound and no needle for biopsy. The ultrasound will not reveal histologic disease the way biopsy can. Often the biopsy is skipped for geno 2 patients because there is an assumption that they should treat whether or not damage has started. This because of the short TX period and the good likelihood of SVR.
If you are going to "watch and wait" I would caution you to watch carefully your disease progression. A biopsy might be an important part of the "watch", or in knowing more certainly the disease stage you currently have. I went from stage 1 to stage 4 between biopsies during the "watch and wait" period.
The hell of six months of treatment pales in comparison to finding yourself with end stage liver disease with no possibility for treatment and the only hope is for transplant before death. And then you must TX with the new liver: much harder and less successful as a transplant patient with a supressed immune system. I am not telling you not to wait, just to be careful in monitoring your disease progression. Don't go 5 years between biopsies like I did.
Can't say I would recommend the herbal treatments in any case. Make sure your GI is aware and consenting to anything you are taking. None of the remedies out there show any promise of treating HCV, and some are toxic, especially to HCV patients.
Good luck!
By the way - it's not the mixing of anti-depressants and interferon that is not good, it is that depression and interferon can be a bad combination. Interferon can worsen existing depression. If you have suicidal thoughts, that is a real danger sign to the doc for putting you on TX. I think he would want to be sure that your depression was well controlled with the meds you are taking. He should get a shrink to at least cover his behind on the decision to TX a patient with depression. Depression is a leading reason for discontinuation of interferon treatment. My doc said "people have killed themselves on treatment".
Regards,
Walrus
Regards,
Walrus
Thanks for the info.
MittJChin, I will take a look at your journal. I am very opened minded and trying to gather as much info as possible.
Walrus, I understand that it is the depression itself that doesn't mix with the interferon. My Mom passed quickly and unexpected in late June and I'm working through the grieving process with the help of a psychiatrist and a psycologist. She was a big part of my life. All of the doctors know about each other.
I told my GI about trying the herbal route. I told him I was going to take milk thistle for the silybin along with Liv.52 and NAC. All target the liver. He said he didn't think it would hurt to give it a try. I have an appointment with a certified herbalist to verify and possibly modify my herbal approach. You can't overdose on these herbs and they have no drug interactions (I've done my homework on this). Most have been put through clinical trials with amazing results.
My GP is going to do blood work for me every 2 months so I can plot my progress. Since the GI doctor wants to wait at least a year to start treatment, this gives me the opportunity to try an alternative approach to interferon. I already take lots of other suppliments (vitamin C, E, B, garlic, cranberry extract, omega-3 fish oil, and others), so adding a couple more is no big deal.
I've read a lot that people usually die WITH Hep C, not from it. I have read that interferon can remove the virus from the body curing the patient. It has been stated here that interferon treatment is the only way to cure Hep C. Well, if I can keep it from damaging my body then I don't mind if I am not cured - as long as I stay healthy and can continue to live my life without the disease interrupting things. :)
I'll stop back and let you all know how it's going.
MittJChin, I will take a look at your journal. I am very opened minded and trying to gather as much info as possible.
Walrus, I understand that it is the depression itself that doesn't mix with the interferon. My Mom passed quickly and unexpected in late June and I'm working through the grieving process with the help of a psychiatrist and a psycologist. She was a big part of my life. All of the doctors know about each other.
I told my GI about trying the herbal route. I told him I was going to take milk thistle for the silybin along with Liv.52 and NAC. All target the liver. He said he didn't think it would hurt to give it a try. I have an appointment with a certified herbalist to verify and possibly modify my herbal approach. You can't overdose on these herbs and they have no drug interactions (I've done my homework on this). Most have been put through clinical trials with amazing results.
My GP is going to do blood work for me every 2 months so I can plot my progress. Since the GI doctor wants to wait at least a year to start treatment, this gives me the opportunity to try an alternative approach to interferon. I already take lots of other suppliments (vitamin C, E, B, garlic, cranberry extract, omega-3 fish oil, and others), so adding a couple more is no big deal.
I've read a lot that people usually die WITH Hep C, not from it. I have read that interferon can remove the virus from the body curing the patient. It has been stated here that interferon treatment is the only way to cure Hep C. Well, if I can keep it from damaging my body then I don't mind if I am not cured - as long as I stay healthy and can continue to live my life without the disease interrupting things. :)
I'll stop back and let you all know how it's going.
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