So Confused =(

[KTKAT08]

So...I'm pretty new to this...I was only diagnosed about two weeks ago and apparently have only had HCV for a couple months...my doctor is just watching it right now and checking my blood work every two weeks to see if it won't kick out by itself...but it seems like the more research I do on acute HCV the more confused I get. I'm reading things like no nuts, bananas, proteins, caffeine, ect... =(  (doesn't help when I live for my coffee, lol) My main question is, is there some specific diet I should be on? Foods I should definitely avoid at this stage, ect? The only thing my doctor mentioned was no alcohol...duh...lol  I haven't had a drop to drink and I quit my eight-year pack-a-day cigarette habit as soon as I even realized there was a chance I could have HCV...so no worries there hahaha...if anyone has any advice as far as diet and nutrition I'd greatly appreciate it! 

[alice]

KTKAT,
Welcome to the site! You say you are in the acute phase of infection, the phase immediately following exposure. I am not aware of any particular dietary restrictions for someone in the acute stage. Of course, we are all advised to eat healthy, exercise, don't drink or smoke. There usually aren't any other dietary recommendations until patients have significant liver damage. (Good for you for quitting smoking!)

Only about 15% of patients clear the virus on their own...the other 85% or so go on to develop chronic HCV. it is generally believed thatacute infections respond better to tx than chronic infections. For this reason, you may want to consider starting tx soon. There are several new drugs on the market that will increase your chances of clearing the virus to 80-90%.

There is recent research suggesting that coffee is good for people with liver disease and people on tx so... plenty of us continue drinking coffee and like it! I am not sure what source you are reading about the food but bananas, nuts, and protein are all very healthy foods. I've never read anything saying we should avoid these and I eat these foods regularly.
good luck
alice

[KTKAT08]

Thanks Alice!

My doctor said he was going to monitor me for six months and see if I cleared the virus on my own because the treatment itself can cause liver damage and the side effects are pretty horrible apparently...does that makes any sense?

  Kat

[alice]

No, that doesn't make 100% sense to me but I'm not a doctor. Does your doctor specialize in HCV treatment? HCV tx is pretty complicated and beyond the scope and training of most doctors. If you don't already, I'd strongly encourage you to see a hepatologist, gastroenterologist, or infectious disease specialist with specialized training and experience treating HCV. Probably the best advice you'll get.

I have heard of patients with advanced liver disease--I'm talking advanced cirrhosis--  whose livers didn't handle the tx meds very well. I have advanced cirrhosis and my hepatologist who specializes in hepatitis tx and transplants couldn't get me back on tx again fast enough. Some people do have a rough time on tx but absolutely not everyone does. Generally, patients who have less liver damage do better on tx and have minimal side effects such as mild flu-like symptoms. Most people do fine and continue working through tx.

Maybe your doctor is trying to spare you 6 months of tx if you don't need it. If you are among the lucky 15% or so that clear the virus on their own, you will not need tx. For patients who can't clear the virus on their own and choose to treat, the cure rates for patients who have never treated and with no liver damage are really quite good with the new drugs, approaching 80-90%.

alice

[KTKAT08]

Oh...ugh lol...okay...yeah the doctor I'm talking about is a gastroenerologist. I'm not sure if he has a specialty in hcv...even my family physician told me to start out local and then go further south (southern Va) for treatment because they have more experience with HCV than the docs here do...so I might look into that in the next couple of days...thanks!

  Kat

[thesame40]

be kind to your liver. try to eat less red meat...high iron levels). stay away from sushi(raw and can have parasite, ) make sure your foods are fully cooked. If you must have red meat try to find organic and maybe try some buffalo, elk ,deer. game has less fat(grass fed ). I also like steamed veggies w/ brown rice. Miso soup is good,esp barley miso. (i don't do soy). Lot's of water....green tea is also very good, try to find some local honey. I am a chef and I did my research when I found out i was chronic(25 years). So i was quick to give my liver a much needed break. I stopped drinking and quit smoking and never r looked back. I am f3- f4 fibrosis w.chirosis. I made congee, it's Rice cooked in a crock pot and I mixed it with veg. I did a lot of GOOD eating to get ready for treatment. Only to muck it up with all that FFFFFAT, but i am off incivek now so the weight is coming off. Read as much as you can . knowledge is power. Now go get you some dragon and find the dr that's right for you and one u like who is informed. good luck to you we are here for you.

[greyrocker]

Thanks Alice!

My doctor said he was going to monitor me for six months and see if I cleared the virus on my own because the treatment itself can cause liver damage and the side effects are pretty horrible apparently...does that makes any sense?

  Kat

I agree with everything alice has told you. This monitoring for 6 months is a very conservative approach that, to me, is a bit "old school". I would seek out an opinion from a hepatologist or at least someone with a lot of experience as soon as possible. It you commence treatment and respond well (RVR) you may be able to shorten treatment duration.

greyrocker
 

[KTKAT08]

Thanks so much! You guys are awesome! 

  Kat

[alice]

Doh! I forgot! People with hepatitis are advised to not eat sushi (raw or undercooked fish or seafood) or raw shellfish like raw oysters. Bummer...

alcie

[KTKAT08]

Oh boo  I love sushi lol...well...I guess I can stick to vegitarian sushi and pretend lol 

[thesame40]

There is some good reading about traditional Chinese medicine and foods.I also read that tuna, and seabass should not be consumed .As they are extremely fatty fish and could prove to be a bit much for the liver. Yes salmon is fatty(please stay away from farm raised)but with the right fats we need. It's alot to absorb but as you get into it, you will find your way. Plus here on this site you have so much experience it's like having a team of drs. lol

[alice]

yeah.... I hate that little "sushi rule", myself. The parasites, meh, everyone's susceptible to that. The problem with the sushi and hepatitis is that any raw or undercooked seafood can be contaminated with the virus that causes hepatitis A. You really do NOT want to get two kinds of viral hepatitis at the same time. That is terribly, terribly rough on the liver.

Also, people with hepatitis are more susceptible to a serious infection caused by a particular bacteria that is sometimes found in seafood. Cooking the seafood kills it. Infection by this bacteria-- Vibrio vulnificus--is especially dangerous for patients with advanced liver disease. It is very rare, tho, and people can also get this infection by just swimming in the ocean with open sores.

So, if you really like sushi... get a vaccination for Hepatitis A and take care of this businesss so you don't have the disease progress to cirrhosis! 

alice

ps-- I had sushi twice last week and it was AWESOME. I had a crunchy tuna roll, a spicy tuna roll, a spider roll (cooked soft shell crab), a sashimi lunch bowl, and a ngiri appetizer sampler (shrimp, tuna, salmon, halibut, omg.... ) I have had my vaccinations, it is a  meticulously clean place with extremely fresh fish (I live in Alaska). We microbiologists really like to live on the edge. HA HA HA! I figure it isn't any worse than drinking soda, sitting on yer butt, and eating fast food every day, right? Gotta keep all this stuff in perspective, you know? however, I used to be really sick and I ate a diet much like what thesame40 talks about. I am MUCH healthier than i used to be because of it. The mostly vegan diet with exercise and weight loss was a great detox and I got rid of a fatty liver too.

[kimakay1950]

No shellfish especially from the Gulf, no Tylenol, no black cohash, lowest dose of hormones if taking you can. Just educate yourself. It is very unlikely that you will pass it on thru sexual intercourse I'm told but we put a raincoat on it just to be sure and had my husband tested.

[rjs]

I had acute hepatitis C and did not clear, was a geno 1a, treated for 24 weeks and am SVR.  My hepatologist said that for the first 6 months you have hcv you are considered in the acute phase and after that you are considered chronic hcv.   So they most often give the patient that 15 to 20% chance to clear it on their own during that first 6 months during the acute phase.  They start doing the biopsy and other things needed to prepare for possible treatment in month 6 and start treatment if the patient has not cleared on their own as they are then considered infected with chronic hcv.  That is how my hepatologist at Henry Ford in Michigan handled acute cases.  Hope this info helps.  Hang in there, being acute has its advantages.... which usually include an increased chance of clearance if you have to treat and possibly a shorter treatment time.

RJS

[sunny2day]

Alice!  I am sooo jealous of your sushi feast!!

I've had 2 out of 3 Hep A / B shots, the third is due in April.  Can I eat sushi in the meantime since I had the first 2 shots?

Maybe this is a question for hygieia.

California roll is sounding very good right about now.  I miss sushi!!!!