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Comment by Laurel on June 4, 2012 at 11:31pm

Thanks for the feed back. If you can get what you need from the actual food then go for it. If something goes wrong with a highly regulated drug you have recourse. You have none with the supplement industry. The drugs I take have side effects but I am alive because of them. I have never heard of some one who can prove they are alive by taking supplements.I would not spend one dime unless a few doctors concurred. Mainly doctors go along with it because they do not do much harm. It could be a placebo effect. When they are tested and approved I will take them. I have never even heard of a clinical trial for supplements.

My neighbor is dying from prostate cancer. He tried a special diet, supplements and herbs. He made a huge mistake. Huge and he admitted it. He has only a few days to go now.I think he is 50. Too bad.

Comment by Ono on June 3, 2012 at 11:07pm

Laurel,
You state  herbal supplement suppliers are just out for profit. What do you think the pharmaceutical companies are doing? They are making huge profits on their drugs.
They also have a reason to want to sway the public from using supplements. If we can use something to help us that is as simple as buying a common spice at the store, or drinking more coffee, why would we purchase their expensive drugs ?

As with anything read online, we must all take personal responsibility for our actions.
 I share what works for me, which doesn't mean it is for all.

Please note the following link taken from, just one of many articles about the benefits of curcumin, the active property of turmeric.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3253779/

Curcumin Prevents High Fat Diet Induced Insulin Resistance and Obesity via Attenuating Lipogenesis in Liver and Inflammatory Pathway in Adipocytes

Long term dietary curcumin supplementation prevents HFD-induced obesity and fat mass.

Curcumin supplementation improves glucose disposal and insulin sensitivity.

Comment by Ono on June 3, 2012 at 9:17pm

Laurel and Linda:

I'm aware of the overuse of supplements and approach such things cautiously.

A good friend spent thousands on what I think of as snake oil to cure her cancer. It'd did nothing but lighten her bank account.

I'm very careful when it comes to supplements of any kind, leaning towards the benign.

Turmeric is a wonderful spice used in curries.

Ginger or peppermint tea is great for an upset stomach. Although available as supplements, they are spices used for food.  In my opinion, it's always healthiest to get our nutrition from our food.

 I use a much, much smaller quantity of the sweetish bitters,than suggested. They are primarily made from turmeric and milkthistle.

My hepatologist told me once, when I asked,that  he has no problem with milk thistle.

Currently I'm wondering if my digestive issue isn't related to not having a gall bladder. The man at the health food store suggested digestive enzymes. Searching online I found the enzyme used by the gall bladder is called betain. Although it's available in supplement form, it is present in beets. So my current plan is to begin eating more beets.

When I had canker sores, lysine was advised. I found out it's present in parsley. By eating fresh parsley omelets, I got rid of my canker sores. While on hep c treatment though I had to use something stronger. My doc gave me a prescription

It's sad, in my view, that health care is not integrated, as I believe both allopathic medicine and so called alternatives are beneficial.

Comment by stu on May 31, 2012 at 10:32pm

I am still on treatment.   I went off for a month last June and the virus returned. I went back on in July 10, and went undetectable in sept. 10.  I am due to come off again 1 year after going undetectable in September,  I just hope it doesn't return,  If it does I will probably try the trio.  I am fortunate that going on 2 years of treatment I don't really have any terrible side effects,  none that I feel  anyway but some fatigue.  It's just getting old after two years of labs and meds.  I hear great results from the new treatment.  So I wish you well. I am 1A also. 

Comment by Laurel on May 30, 2012 at 11:55pm

Thanks Stu. What is next for you? Since you still have the Hep C are you going to try the treatment again?

Comment by stu on May 30, 2012 at 10:28pm

Hi LaureI, I am 3 3/4 years out and was a non responder prior to transplant.  I had to come off treatment before due to low platelets.  I have been responding since transplant but got discouraged after being on treatment for a year then due to an unrelated platelet issue had to come off,  the virus returned,  I m hopeful it stays that way,  i WISH you luck with the new treatment.  

Comment by Laurel on May 30, 2012 at 10:03pm

 Jerry and Stu; I should be starting the triple therapy next month. I am now stage 2/grade 3. I have had my new liver for 2.7 years.The first 18 months were good. I do not feel bad. The lab tests and biopsies tell the truth. I have geno type 1A and I am a non responder with the two drug therapy which I did in 2004. Let's keep in touch.

Hi Linda. I know one dead guy and one dying who tried to help themselves with supplements and special diets. You just do not know what you are getting or how much. I am a strong believer in medical science.These companies are out to make money. They do not know you or care about you. You most probably could not sue them because they put disclaimers on their products. What does natural mean? Like aspirin because it comes from tree bark? Good luck to you but until they do long and thorough studies I will not take any of them.

Comment by stu on May 29, 2012 at 9:41pm

Hey Jerry ,  I had a similar return to fibrosis and straited the peg/riba treatment when I was stage 2/3, so far it has been working but that was 2 years ago,  My liver enzymes  are normal and I am undetectable for the the HCV,  but I did have a return to detectable and have to stay on treatment until it's been 1 year undetectable which will be September.  I am not confident it will remain that way.  My hospital has been using the new treatments since January, I am told with great success .  I wish you well. 

Comment by Linda Jacobus Toscano on May 25, 2012 at 12:52pm

About the turmeric and other supplements: Ono, I was wondering if your doctor knew about the Sweetish Bitters. I give my daughter some supplements to help her overcome chronic rejection, and one thing that holds some promise is turmeric (curcumin). Some studies show that it reduces rejection of transplanted organs, and that it also reduces kidney damage from immune-suppressants. I had concerns about interactions with her other meds, and the possibility that it can cause bleeding, so I haven't suggested it yet to her docs. Right now, she takes fish oil, COQ10, probiotics, and some vitamins. These things were all approved by docs.

Laurel, very interested in the article you posted, although it was pretty general. Would like more specifics, guess I could google around. I generally stay away from herbal products because they are very potent, just like medications really, only less studied. It is easy to believe that herbs (especially high doses) could cause liver damage. But I don't think we should be scared away from all supplements. Some hold a lot of promise, and can be much less toxic than the drugs we get from the pharm companies. Because many are natural substances that the body is already equipped to handle. Problem is that they are not studied enough, because no one can patent a natural substance, therefore they cannot make money off of them.

Comment by JERRY on May 25, 2012 at 12:44pm

Hello all, been away for a while. Just finished my 2nd annual check up. Post liver hep c tranx. patient. Everything was going great until the biopsy results came in. Stage 3/4 fibrosis . Such bad news!. Last year I was stage 1/2. Mayo team fought with insurance to approve new triple therapy meds (telepavir). They said only FDA pre tranx. approved at the time and turned me down. After this 2nd biosopy they tried to get insurance to approve triple therapy again, and after no, after no, they finally got a YES!!!!! I start the 5-31-12. Just wondering how others are tolerating treatment, side effects ect. Especially if later stages of fibrosis is present. Happy trails, Jerry

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