So Confused =(

[alice]

Sunny, that is a good question for Hygiea. Shame on me for eating sushi and gushing about it on a HCV forum! 

I just figure we takes our chances where we do and, dangit! I've given up everything else and I'm drawing the line here. I won't eat raw oysters, tho. They are filter feeders and concentrate any contaminants.

alice

[sunny2day]

I guess I should play it safe and just stick with California roll.  Am now craving it!!   

[KTKAT08]

Sushi sounds so delicious lol lol    lol  thanks for all the replies and tips everyone =)  So now that I've finally figured out most of the basics here...I've managed to catch a cold haha go me...does anyone have any suggestions on what to take? I know I can't use most of the regular cold meds out there...I'm gonna call my dr tomorrow and see what he says...but I was just curious if you guys have found anything hcv-friendly that works well.

  Kat

[hepcatts]

Your liver is a chemical factory. I was shocked when I read all the stuff the liver does. All the meds ,scrip or OTC, end up in the liver. Hep is liver inflammation, so anything that requires work from the liver adds to it's stress. Of course the worst are substances that also cause inflammation like alcohol and Tylenol ( acetaminophen ) . The only herbal that I have consistantly heard can help the liver is Milk Thistle (silymarin). A doc lady who has done a lot of research sells her own brew on the internet called Livatone. It has milk thistle and a bunch of other stuff. I was taking it before I started treatment, but my doc said not to during the treatment. Also, one of the main functions your liver performs is to metabolize fat, so fat causes it to work harder which doesn't help fight the inflammation. One of the many chemicals the liver produces is glucogen. It is the basic energy source for the muscles, that is why fatigue is often the only noticeable symptom. I always thought I was just real lazy until I found all this out. I don't know how you'd ever figure out how much experience and research is represented on this site, but I'm sure glad I found it.  As far as raw fish...anyone can have my share, there is a reason fire is considered a great discovery...like COOKING.   Kirk

[cryermama]

Hepcat, I have to agree on the sushi thing. They can have my portion too.  Haha!  As far a diet goes, I think eating healthy is the way to go.  High on the veggies, low on the red meat and fat and sugar.  Other than that, I have been eating fairly normally.  I do need to lose weight so I think my husband and I are going to start cutting more meat from our diet.  KT, you have come to the right place for info.  These folks are great!  Don't know what I would do without all my friends at HCV Support.

cheryl/cryermama

[B]

A great option on eating red meat is buffalo/bison.  It is grass fed thus leaner and higher in protein, and easier to digest due to lower fat content.  No antibiotics or hormones added, either.  Available ground, in steaks as well as in roasts.  I do not notice any "gamey" taste at all.

[banarep]

will look up the Livatone. 

[thesame40]

 
May I recommend wild caught canned salmon,lots oh greens, bok choy, mustard greens, swiss chard, lentils, brown, red ,black rice, add wheat germ to yogurt)if u can tolerate the dairy. ) I eat low fat plain organic whatever brand. The cleaner the food the better. cook your veggies thru as it's harder on the liver for raw stuff. enjoy!!!!

[alice]

May I recommend wild caught canned salmon,

like they say here in Alaska: Friends don't let friends eat farmed salmon. 

[ScaredyCat]

Hello KTKAT
I'm not sure I've ever heard that a doc will treat someone in the "acute" phase. But once that is over, if you actually have hcv you could treat right away.  I can't imagine that you would need a liver biopsy.  They may suggest waiting for the new drugs that are being tested -this is a slow moving disease.
Good luck and welcome to the site!
ScaredyCat

[runningbrit]

When I was first diagnosed with HCV I started eating very healthily.   I saw Dr Cabot's book on helping the liver.   It is mostly a nutrition based book and would improve anyone's health.   I also started taking her supplement Livatone.    I got a juicer and juiced Kale and Beetroot and Carrots and any other veggie, juiced with apple for sweetness.   Quite good and a great way to eat your veggies if you don't usually do them.   THAT SAID....when I started treatment all that went to hell.   I was told not to take milk thistle by the docs (that is in Livatone) as I suppose it can scew the results of a clinical trial.   All I wanted to eat were things like waffles and pound cake, something that could settle my queasy tummy.  Juicing was too much of an effort.  My life was in a bit of a turmoil because my daughter dumped my granddaughter off on me so she could go to Florida for a week as she was "stressed"    I love my granddaughter, but an ill 61 year old looking after an active 9 month old is not good.   I saw a naturopath.   She told me Hep C treatment is poison and will destroy my health and to only eat raw foods etc.   All snake oil.   

COMMON SENSE should prevail.    A healthy diet can only help but (for the most part, barring a miracle) will not cure chronic Hep C.   I am back to juicing and trying to eat sensibly.   Things such as three large servings of fries from MacD will only make you feel worse (from my experience ).  At my one week blood draw my virus had dropped 4.3 log points despite the fries!!

I too think that fire and cooking are a good thing.   I hate sushi.

Just my 2cents.

Good luck to you.
Lynda

[alice]

Runningbrit,

I agree with with you about the diet! I have had tremendous improvement in my health by eating sensibly, losing weight and exercising. Unfortunately, my diet has also gone to hell on tx (pound cake and waffles sounds about right) but I am also trying to hard to eat more veg, salad, fruit, lean meat... and fast food is out. As my appetite improves, I am filling the gaps in my diet

Back in 2006 my liver was a disaster and I had recently been released from the hospital after a bout with failure. That really slapped some sense into me. I went vegan for awhile and exercised regularly. That was the last time i have been hospitalized with liver problems. I think my diet and being on tx has caused significant improvement in my cirrhosis. I have gone form decompensated to very well compensated in the last 5 years. Since then, I have reversed portal hypertension, ascites, enlarged spleen, swelling and I no longer have horrendous nosebleeds and my protein, bili, etc are normal. I don't know if that's a miracle but i will take it! I firmly believe diet, exercise, and tx have allowed this healing.

alice

ps---  but I still think that sushi fits in well with this dietary approach. lean meat and fish (it can be cooked) sea vegetables, and rice, tofu are all very healthy.

[runningbrit]

Alice - I am so glad your liver function is improving just by improving your life style.   Definitely can't hurt that's for sure.   You have certainly been through it and I hope your treatment is going well.   Here I am whining and moaning and so many people keep great attitudes even though they are going through hell.   Let us know how tx is going.

KT:   If you are in the VA area, check out Dr. Mark Sulkowski at Johns Hopkins (Lutherville) Maryland.   I am doing a clinical trial there but Dr. Sulkowski is one of the best hep c docs around.  He will give you ALL your options and spend time explaining them.   All the staff are friendly and helpful.   I have only been on the trial  for almost 4 weeks but dropped from 550,000 to <25 in one week.   Of course, all that can change but I am hopeful.