I'm here.   New to the site. Looks like a pretty quiet site. I was diagnosed in 1993. 3 rounds of interferon, 1 with ribaviron. Non-responder to all. Contracted the disease in 1977 due to blood transfusion during a surgery.  Need a transplant, not going to have one. I'm co-infected with MRSA & have multiple other problems that make a transplant out of the question. Live with my husband, 2 beagle dogs, 2 cats, and 1 bird. I have a hard time keeping up with everything, but I do the best that I can. I joined to have someone to talk to, not always about this disease, but to have some friends that have some idea of what I'm going through. Hope to hear from you guys. We can bring this group back to some level of activity, I think, if we try.

I read on the petition sites that the founder of this group, Laurie was suspended. I don't know if that has anything to do with the quietness in here. But it probably does. I hope we can keep it going until she gets back...she sounds like someone I'd really like to get to know.

Talk soon & take care,

Josi

    Hey There Peoples!  

     Sorry for not making an apperance in a VERY long time but that's been the case in basically ALL my groups and Care2, for that matter.

    I don't know when I contracted HCV but found out I had it in 1998 or so. I WAS diagnosed with hepatitis in 1970 but at that time, there were no Hep A, B, C etc... only viral & infectious. I was just entering my 1st yr. of college and was still a bit jaundiced and quite weak. I found out later that I have the antibodies for Hep B, so they figured that it was what I had then. I was given a vaccine for Hep A, when I found out about the HCV.

   I had an abdominal ultrasound and was curious about the MD's ideas on Interferon, (not that I would EVER go on it)! He said that he would never put ANYONE on it again, after seeing the horrific side effects that his patients endured. The main thing that REALLY bothered him were the number of his patients, who had a hx. of depression and when they went on Interferon/Ribavirin, they commited suicide. I am by NO means saying that this will be YOUR outcome, as obviously, many of you have already been through your trials on this junk and "survived".

    Having been a registered nurse since 1975 and now also a homeopathic practioner, I am a firm believer in quality of life issues and and I don't feel that this can be obtained by listening to some stupid liver MD, who doesn't know jack about nutrition, vitamins and herbal cures(which other countries have been using WITH SUCCESS for YEARS!!!) As a nurse, I know by my dealings with doctors, that they are not taught ANYTHING about nutrition and vitamins in Med school. When I was a student nurse, I recall one MD asking me what Riboflavin was! A stupid B2 vitamin!(there were other instances too). What a jerk! I wouldn't want that guy touching me!

     I've written quite a bit on what I use for tackling HCV and it should be in these archives. My Email address is on my profile, if you want to ask me anything.  I'll put it here also...sevenx7x7x@yahoo.com

   I pray that God holds you in His arms and heals all of you and keeps you feeling on Top Of the World!

If I knew then what I know now about interferon, I would never have gone through the clinical trials or abused my body by using it. It left me with many permanent side effects, and to me, it absolutely was not worth it. I know there are those that will disagree with this view, because they have responded to this treatment. And to them, I say more power to you. Each of us has to choose our own path. I just believe that the pharmaceutical companies are making way too much money on this treatment to ever fund research for a complete cure, just like HIV. So, the doctors & drug co.'s push this as the only way to fight this disease and gloss over all of the negative effects it also produces.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents. Glad to see you back here Karen & looking forward to talking to others too!

Josi

Kim, didn't see the results of your spinal mri's how did you do?  Hopefully OK.

Morgan

i'm still bummed from finding out i have moved up to stage 4 cirrhosis just yesterday.  i have always felt invincible and this is messing with that image.  i go back and forth from the blues to anger.  i woke up this morning in tears.  i have 5 dogs (2 chihuahua, 1 spaniel mix, 1 stand. poodle/shep mix, and one great dane, gotta cover all the bases!!)  they all came over immediately and licked the tears off my face and then surrounded me in a circle of animal angels.  don't know what i would do without them. each has their own blessing to give.  Bernie long coat chi is the most loving and knows exactly when mom ain' t doin so well, Monty the short coat chi is the sheriff, the love bug, the dude and the chi-chi nut and shifts back and forth inhis personality depending on the situation.  Spirit is a nut---he lives life at 100 miles an hour--not hyper at all blut he squeezes every bit of fun out of every minute. why go around the propane tank when you jump over it and feel the wind blowing back your ears. No matter what he does he is just toooooo funny to get mad at including the time recently when he went thru a closed window cuz he thought that another dog was attacking the chihuahuas.  Gracie the dane is a wonderful spirit who came to me damaged from very harsh treatment in a household that was going through a very nasty divorce. she mirrored what the people involved were feeling.  it took a long time of working with her. she does have a wonderful talent for calming panicked horses just by going over and looking at them. this is awesome to witness.

Well, there's my story i don't know why i felt i had to put this out there but there it is.  peace to all of you and my prayers be with you.

Morgan

I know how you feel Morgan, I also am at the same stage of this disease. I also have a whole group of animals that look up to me to take care of all of them.. but they give so much back in return. Even when I feel at the bottom of the pit, they can pull me back with their kisses, eye contact & snuggles. So I'm glad you have your crew to rally around you when you're feeling down. As for why you put your story out here.. well... why not?   If you don't have someone that understands or that you can talk to, where else are you going to go?  You wanted to reach out to someone & here we are. I'm listening. I'm over the anger & the frustration for the most part. Now I'm just in the mode of living day to day. Let out that anger, scream if you have to because if you hold it in it will only grow, and you don't need that. I hope your doctor is someone that you trust and that you can talk to. I have a wonderful hep doc, but I haven't seen him in some time. I was one of his very first patients, now I have to wait an average of 4 mo.'s to see him because he is so good & everyone wants him. So I'm in the process of finding a good gastro doc in the clinic that is nearer to me so he can keep all of my tests, shots, etc. up to date.

If you need to talk anytime please feel free to contact me. I understand & I'll listen to anything you want to share with me.

Thats afterall what we're suppose to be here for. To help each other. Take care & talk to you soon. *HUGS*

Josi  jo_piper@verizon.net  email if you want anytime.

Now that we have more friends gathering I think this site will build more.

That is true I have relapsed 5 times.

Stage 4 cirrhosis and in May 07 my biopsy showed now I have Fatty Liver Disease.

So now the doctors are worried now I have another disease in my liver that is basically killing me. If most of my weight comes off the Fatty Liver Disease can most likely be cure but right now they are estimatting my life for another 6-7 years.

That's scary but I am trying to be positive and do what I can to help others. I know "lose weight" well I have tried everything so now they are suggesting lapband or gastric bypass, ooooh thats a change.

I want to thank you all for keeping my site active this is the most active since I started it I believe back 4 years ago,lol

Welcome back Laurie. So glad to see you here. Now.. down to brass tacks. Are your friggin' doctors nutz? You're stage 4 w/fatty liver & they are suggesting you go for surgery for a lapband or gastric bypass? Don't you have enough problems trying to absorb protein already? I mean really... ! pfft! I also have some fatty liver w/my stage 4 & any abdominal surgery like that would give my hep doc a heart attack if I said I was going to do it. Why place yourself at more risk mucking around with our gastro system when it's already compromised. I don't get their reasoning at all. I'm overweight too, but it would be the absolute last thing that I would do. I was told that I only had 5-6 yrs to live 10 yrs ago..and I'm still holding on, despite this dragon trying to kick my arse everyday. I'm very familiar with the "lose weight, cure all" mantra from docs. I don't believe it anymore. I've been 100 lbs & I've been 275 and the only real difference was my comfort level. Right now I'm at 160 & I'll probably start bouncing downward again soon. Seems to fluctuate when it wants along with the fluid retention, but my fat butt is still always there. I'm glad that you're back here in the group. I was hoping that I didn't join to late & that I would never have the chance to meet you. Well met my friend & lots of hugs to you. Josi

Hi everyone, I had got late on my blood work and was overdue and went and got it done almost 2 weeks ago, All must be holding it's own as there have been no phone calls which I get right away if there is a problem. My last bout with treatment was Pegatron and ribavirin, it damn near killed me, but was responding fine till they had to take me off it and then they put me on pegasis, but with it I quit responding, I lost a hundred lbs in 5 months and became so run down that a 100 yard walk forced me to sit down somewhere along the way.I have been feeling good ever since it was over, but have been eating milkthistle, Alpha lipoic acid and acetly L-carnitine daily since along with vit. C and E, Together they are supposed to kill free raticals, Hep-C virus..

Glad to make your acquaintance. I was going to look you up but I see your comment here. I was looking into alternative tx. I have been doing milk thistle, tho not as religiously as i should. Also Liv.52. did not know about the alpha lipoic acid & acetyl L-carnitine. into that and thanks for putting it out there. Due to articles on hepatitis-central.com I have been trying to like oatmeal which will help remove the bad lipids that hep needs to keep replicating itself also they suggest grapefruit juice for the same reason. interesting articles, interesting newsletter check it out if you haven't already. I also do energy healing work altho i have to say i am more likely to treat someone else than i am to treat myself. i know i treated a great dane who was going into liver failure and all the docs said she would die within months. i treated her nearly everyday. the times when i missed a few days she would start vomiting and get very lethargic. this was the only treatment she would go thru except for a diet of brown rice, sweet potatoes and raw chicken and garlic, it was the only thing she could hold down. at times when she was really nauseous i would give her oatmeal as it was gentle but stuck to her ribs. while it is, at this time, my intent to go thru the interferon/ribavirin & HIV med tx i plan on using alternative therapies to aid in a cure. i have a few months before beginning tx. it is my plan to start eating a lot better than i have been. due to the way i feel about animals i would love to go vegan or vegetarian but i bruise when i do. does anyone in the group know of anyone who has gone meatless with hep and done well? i would like to get some info from them if anyone knows anyone.

Interesting that your inserted photo mentions the war against hepatitis. I was taught a blank wall meditation some years ago which is exactly that, you stare at a blank wall to see where it leads you. I know have a battle sword meditation. I use the sword as a symbol of cutting out the disease and damaged cells from my body. I also use it as a symbol of the fight against the invader, an army of disease that i will not let vanquish me. Hey guys, I'm a double Gemini, I was born to talk. I even have a job where they pay me to talk!!! Well I'm going to go and drum and dance thru my living room just cuz i feel like doing that. See y'all later.

Hi...I am Mike,and I was diagnosed with hep-c in 1998. They did nothing until my feet became swollen,and I thought I may be diabetic...it was hep-c chronic.  They gave me the injection,and  the pills,and I tool all of them,and also took milk thistle,and I started feeling better. I continue to take milk thistle,and just had lab work done on cinco de mayo...and the va said my count was so low,do not worry    I am moving in 1 more day,and do not know for sure when I will have internet service,I am hoping asap. I just wanted to say thanx,and Bright Blessings to all

boy i haven't been here for some time. i am sorry. i've been so busy going to docs.finally caught a break from most of them. went this morning for an epideral, my second one. this one was alot different. put me on my couch where i should be now but i am so far behind with everything on this darn computer. ya, interferon not very good for the old body. i found out i degenerative bone disease,osteopenia, my scoliosis is worse, herniated disc in my neck and two bulging ones,and last but not least chronic pain. finally found out that i also have copd and chronic bronchitits after all these years of coughing.they have me on lyrica but i think myabe it just makes me high instead. it takes the edge off is about it. so enough about me. and ss turned me down so it's time to appeal and now its time for hardball. i' read everyone elses stories and we all sound about the same. my viral load was 0 even in my second month but i did the pegasys treatment for 6 months. i have to go back june 11 for a check with that doc. it's bullshit when they tell you you are going to fine. waht about what the crap does after? i pray that i don't have a viral load again with all the other things i have going on. and laurie, i wouldn't let that doc touch me with one of his cures for fatty tissue. this is a disease that realy affects your life alot more than what they tell you. it's ashame that they just can't be honest but that's not the way it's done. we just have to find out for ourselves and then it's too late. no matter, we have to live with it everyday even if we aren't on treatment cuz then we get all the after effects. so because ss thinks i can work, i am looking for a job. i won't last long at any because of the meds i take and i just can't physically do too much. going to go back to voc rehab and see if they'll help me again but that's a process too. all the folks up in ss must be in perfect in health or else they'd understand us. don't want something for nothing, i worked 33 years for it. i pray for you all and love you all even if i don't know you all. mike, good luck with your move and get back to us when you can so we know what's going on. alrighty then, time to lay down again. i'll be back and we'll keep this quiet little group going and maybe add a bang. God bless you all and peace. kimi

well, i see we are really busy here but with all feeling like crap it's not the easiest group to keep exciting all the time. well, the doc gave me good news on friday. this was my six month check up and my viral load is still 0. it was zero since the second month. i went for healing at church that second month. i believe that God had alot to do with the zero thing. so for 4 months i took my shots once a week and all the blood work stuff and all the sickness and maybe i'll never see the dragon rear its' ugly head again. doc says i shouldn't have to worry and that there is a God. i don't want to preach, but if you can, go for a healing at a good church, not a benni church, and have faith and let it happen. it worked for me, so far so good. you don't have anything to lose except the hep c. now granted i've got other things wrong that stemmed from the meds and i'm just waiting for the same little church to have a healing going on and i'm going. i'm already tired of the meds and the pain. if it worked for one illness, it can work for another. God doesn't draw the line anywhere. so i will let you all know and please think about what i said and i'll be praying for you. God bless, kimi

Well I just typed a long letter letting everyone know what's been happening my my interent cut me off.

I am sorry

I will repost it later

I am very tired but may you all have a blessed week!

Laurie

Hi all,

I haven't been here for sometime, I'm Sorry. I don't have HC & other than those of you in here I know no one personely that does. To be honest I find it all just a little scary & some of your post's re what you go through day to day and your very discriptive treatments (((( YUK )))) it's all a little too much for one not effected to take in. I came to group through invitation, with a view to raising awareness for myself & others who maybe as IGNORANT as I & I hoped that the members here might post to me articles / news etc that I could read and forward.

I am here, willing to help however I can in this virtual world, but I can only serve with your guideance, in or out of this room. Kim said "not the easiest place to keep fun or exciting" ---- How true, very scary, Help me to help you!!

Blessings & Prayers with you all.

But not to Hep C.... Oh BTW...I'm Kat Yazzie. I don't live in Arizona any more, but I was tested (positive) many years ago. Right now my doctor says I have to have my gallbladder taken out...YIKES! They're gettin' me one piece at a time, folks!


Anyway, I am really happy to become a member here...although I'm sorry about the REASON! Thanx for havin' me.


Oh, and just so you will know...I have a bizzare sense of humor, and I often use that as a defense, so if I get out of hand let me know, OK? There won't be any hard feelings here. Sometimes I act out of that "quiet desparation" that Thorou (sp?) talks about.


Feel free to drop by my page and see me any time!



Kat (Mosi' )

Hello Kat, Welcome to group, so sorry no one has answer you, hope that doesn't make you feel un-welcome.

We are sadly without host at presant, as she (Laurie) has been suspended from site due to the actions of another, rather than something she actually did.

I have been heree awhile but have not had much time to post, but trying now to bring a little life to group, so if you or any would like to share / chat .... please post away, you will get an answer

Hiya Kat,
Welcome to the group. Glad to have you with us, though sorry about the reason for it. Hope you find some measure of comfort from being connected to us & being able to speak your mind freely as you feel. I also have an odd sense of humor that others don't always get. So we'll probably get along just great!

I had my gallbladder (and 4 other surgeries combined) done in '91. So I know surgery can be a scary thing to go through. Especially if you have never had one before. I assume that they will be doing it the less invasive way through laproscopy (sp?) then the way that I had mine done in the old days. You should do wonderfully. My abdomen looks like a city road map from all of the surgeries that I've had, so don't worry too very much. You'll be in and out in no time and feeling 100% better than you have with those gallstones and a yucky gallbladder! *HUGS*

If you have any questions or worries, feel free to ask. Most things I've been there and done that.. so I'll try to help as much as I can.

Anyway, take good care of yourself and a big huggin' welcome to ya!

Josi/357Lady/Jolynn G

Thanks for making me feel welcome to the group, you guys! I'm going to see my doctor in just a while and we'll see how things stand. Since I was last here I spent a couple of days in hospital...my potassium level was way down and I was havin chest pains...thought it was a darn heart-attack! Anyway, we'll see if now I am right to have the gall-bladder out. I'm glad to hear it's not a big deal, Joylnn...this is first surgery for me now. OK...gotta go for now. Will talk to you guys later...thanks again!

kat (Mosi')

Well, Kat. Yikes! Hospital trips are no fun. I just had one a couple of months ago. I also thought I was having a heart attack, but mine turned out to be a clot that passed through my lungs. Glad you're doing much better now & that you didn't have one!! You have to watch that Potassium. You can have heart problems if it becomes too low, so make sure your Dr. keeps an eye on that. It seems to be something that we have to monitor consistently in order to keep it in the normal range, along with all of the other hoopla!
(though I'm not one to talk. I constantly let things slide, just because I get tired of seeing the docs all the time).

So what did your Doc have to say when you went and saw him yesterday?
Hope you're all good to go!

And you don't have to say thanks.. Just know that you're always welcome.
**HUGS**

Josi

HI KAT, WELCOME TO OUR LITTLE GROUP. I DON'T GET HERE MUCH AND NOW LESS CUZ I AM GETTING READY TO MOVE. I FEEL FOR YOU AND ALL OF US BUT MAKE SURE YOU RESEARCH AND ASK QUESTIONS, DOCS AREN'T ALWAYS RIGHT AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF #1! SO WE ARE HERE IF YOU NEED US AND WE'LLL HELP ANY WAY WE CAN. YOU'RE IN MY PRAYERS, GOD BLESS, PEACE, HEALING, KIMI