Re: What About This Info-Two?  

Group: sci.med.diseases.hepatitis Date: Sun, Mar 11, 2007, 3:29pm
(CDT-2) From: amzolt@gmail.com (amzolt)
Waterspider & Greyhackles,
I've appreciated all the various things I've seen you both say in this
group.
Do ya think, rather than just saying there is no alternative to the
standard treatment, trying to explain Why there isn't?
~ Alex
/////////////
There is an alternative to standard treatment for many patients....it's
called 'liver failure' or 'liver transplant'.  
elmo

http://community.webtv.net/elmoemerson/DocElmosHepFile

http://community.webtv.net/elmoemerson/TheFamilyAlbum

I'm not Waterspider, but I'll still answer...

Why? Because none of the alternative "treatments" can eliminate the
virus. And as long as the virus is in your body, it is killing your
liver cells. No matter how much milk thistle you take, no matter what
else you try to stave of the damage, the virus is more powerful than
anything you can do. It's as simple as that. Kill the virus, stop the
damage. And only interferon and riba can kill the virus (at least so
far). Normal LFT values are no indication that the liver isn't being
damaged. Low viral counts don't correlate to less damage. So all the
alternative "treatments" do is to give people a false sense of security.
Pretty crappy results, don't you agree?

Thomas

That's like asking why there isn't a herbal tea that will cure cancer, or an
elixir that will cure getting run over by a crosstown bus!

Maybe someday we'll be able to take a pill to erradicate hepatits C from our
blood and our livers, but I think we're a long way away from it. HCV is one
tough virus, and it requires tough treatment. Unfortunately, there has been
nothing, absolutely nothing, in the alternative field which succeeded in
curing hep c. Absolutely nothing.

But, it's a tough treatment. So, when we're faced with this treatment, it's
natural to want to make sure that maybe there's not something out there,
something easier, that we've missed. So, we look on the internet and we read
books and magazines, maybe hear an interview with a star on television.
Doing this, it's possible to find a whole range of "cures" like colodial
silver, liver flushes, herbal mixtures, etc. etc. etc. Of course these
claims will be accompanied by glowing testimonials from people like "Greg in
Kansas" who thank God and Brand X for their renewed health and longevity.
And, we all have a friend who had a friend who read so-and-so's book and
followed the instructions to be cured of hep c.

Sorry, but it's all crap and snakeoil, desperate people wanting so badly to
believe in something that they'll let themselves die of liver failure rather
than accept that traditional medical science is the only answer. The only
chance. Everything else wastes precious time, letting hep c continue
destroying your liver for another day, and another month, another year...
until you're in the ER, all yellow and bloated, bleeding internally, sicker
than you can imagine... hearing that you're going on the transplant list,
usually a two-year wait, but you've only got six months to live.

In the first couple of months after my diagnosis, I spent way too much money
on milkthistle, vitamin combos, enzymes, herbal teas and some really bad
books with no science behind them, and way too much time meditating on
making my body heal. But, luckily I'm a geek, a researcher by trade, so I
soon learned that there was no other option than the Big Guns. I had
cirrhosis and my symptoms were preventing me from functioning anywhere near
like a normal human being. I was scared shitless because I knew the
treatment was horrible, and I knew it was the only chance I had at not being
dead in 3-5 years (doctor's prognosis if I kept f.cking around with the
alternative crap). The only way I could gather the courage to undertake it
was to remind myself that, if it turned out to be that bad, if I couldn't
handle it, then I would simply not bother taking any more pills, not bother
with the next shot. I really had nothing to lose.

Guess what? The first, the worst, shot didn't kill me. So I did the next
one, and it wasn't as bad. So, I continued, and yes it was a bitch, but it
was quite do-able. I even worked through most of it. And, the treatment
worked. I no longer have hepatitis c. I no longer have that horrible virus
replecating in my liver as much as three billion times a day. No more
symptoms, no more fatigue, no more brain fog, no more fevers and dizzy
spells. No more fear. Oh yeah, and my hair grew back thicker and better than
ever (treatment will definitely thin your hair).

In other words, I know how you feel and I know where you're coming from. But
it's time for a reality check... you won't live forever and I have a feeling
that you're not ready to roll over and die yet.

Btw, Naomi Judd at some point made a serious reality check and underwent
peg-interferon and ribavirin treatment for her hepatitis c. Now she's
helping raise money for the American Liver Foundation to fund more research
on hepatitis c. Here is a link to that page on her website:
http://www.naomijudd.com/Pages/hepc.html

All the best,

Waterspider

you can try to improve your immune system. try eating good food. veggies
and water. limit meats to small portions. exercise if able. dont put
alcohol  or drugs in the bod.. unless truely needed. limit sugar(cane)
have regular liver/iron tests done. cbc/with diff (blood test) dont get
anemic or iron-overloaded. And at least consider the peg/co-peg
treatment. it would be good if there was some special diet/alternative
treatment that we could hang our hats onto... not yet!
interferon/ribivirin are the best so far. and be cool. always be sure of
what you post. some people are easily misled with holistic/alternative
plans. alot of that stuff can help overall health. but hcv is one mean
son of a bitch with a mind of its own. kinda like a dragon.... your
intentions prob. are good, education is the best for you. i have read
about hcv and virus function for over 10 yrs. the sh.t is deep. peace...