It’s not really a strange symptom but I think almost everybody is scared when they are diagnosed with hepC. I learned via a phone call from my GP, and remember feeling like a Hiroshima bomb had gone off in the room. I was gripped by terror for weeks afterwards, sitting up late into the night studying the disease and possible cures. Virtually my only solace was a blog written by somebody who had gone down the road already and had actually been able to write about it on the way. Then I found the forums and other people in various stages of dealing. Coming to terms with my possible future was a slow and angst-filled process, not helped by the hospital dragging their feet about the tests and not knowing for weeks whether I was good to go for a while or near to death’s door.

But those days were before we had a CURE. There’s no need now for fear. There’s no need for stigma. It’s just an infection, like any other infection that we’ve learned to get on top of. It is going the way of all the other feared infections – TB, pneumonia, etc. that used to routinely carry people off. All that remains is to get our heads round that, get tested, get cured. Easy as ….

dt

What if your fibroscan is not so bad? Does that mean your decision will be to wait until it is?
Are you bipolar?

dt

I feel obliged to step in and say something here in relation to Bloats experience as I have understood it.
I trust it will be taken in good faith.

In my 30 years of Hep C experience there has been 2 quite distinct MORAL messages ( as opposed to scientific or rather based solidly on empirical data) that I have repeatedly received from medical professionals as well as others.
I personally have never found them helpful.

They are as follows:
1. You must never drink ever, it is bad (evil) and bad things will happen to you.
2. The method by which you contracted the disease was a bad thing to do (evil) and in some way you deserve all you get.

After all of these years; numerous medical professionals, failed interferon treatment, sentenced to death at 30 if I continue to drink (now 55) various symptoms etc….. I feel I have never benefited from receiving these messages. No matter how well the intention.

I actually think moralizing health issues is dangerous in and off itself.
This is a health issue not a moral one. (my belief)
Any research I have ever read suggests that statistically your odds of recovery are significantly improved as a correlation to reduction in alcohol consumption. However this does vary a lot from individual to individual.
Given this it is probably a good idea to reduce alcohol consumption quantities however don’t stop enjoying life (this one is not a dress rehearsal).
And had there been clean injecting equipment available when I was experimenting in my curious youth I probably would have never contracted the disease in the first place. It would be a damn good idea to ensure clean injecting equipment is made available to the next generation of curious youth.

Ok Got that of my chest, now I might have a glass of white because I enjoy it.

Agree with you crisp. Its the whole rationale of the model of harm minimisation…moralising is not going to be helpful, and people have to make their own decisions after being informed.

FYI clean injecting equipment has been available in Aust since the 80s and the first HIV scare – being pre-Hep C it was only brought in by a very forward-looking Govt (if you think that the US has still not followed suit, almost 30 years later) in response to HIV/AIDS.

Bloot.
The mixture I use ,in favor of alcohol,is to put in a blender,A handful of spinach leaves(for iron),a handful of kale leaves,paw paw,banana,water melon and pineapple,with a couple of tablespoons of yogurt and water and mix it all up.That gives me about 5 glasses a day.I put in the pineapple because my partner does not like it,and it stops her stealing my mix.Probably a good idea not to drink it just before bedtime,it is high in fructose..But with this mix you are getting just about every vitamin and mineral you are ever going to run short of,and you”ll really fire up on the track.

Hi Miko,

Just a thought, all those vegies & fruit sounds very healthy & a good idea, but for those who have the virus, it’s a good idea to stay clear of Iron, this is bad, the hep loves it.

So maybe go easy on the kale.

The rest sounds GOOD
x

Hmmm…on the iron, what if you’re already deficient? I’m vegetarian and taking vit B12 & iron tablets

And eating spinach lol

I’ve always been careful with iron when I had the virus, I was led to believe that a hep liver accumulates iron more & it can make liver worse.
Probably mainly if you take iron sups, and if the liver is cirrhotic.

Also Vit C helps absorb iron so if having foods rich in iron best not to have vitC rich foods with it.
Wait a while then have them.

Also many hep people need to take VitD3 as we are low in that.

Have you been told your low in iron?
best for people to get tested for iron & vitD.

I just know over the years, I’ve always been warned on various forums to avoid iron.
Also to try to keep to a low GI diet as people with the virus are more susceptible to diabetes.

Hope this helps, didn’t mean to worry anyone.
x