I use Gentian extract to boost my low stomach acid…fifteen minutes before eating. I put Gentian root into vodka for a month and drink a teaspoon of the resulting brew. It might also be possible to buy it ready made, especially in a huge city like London. Its similar to Bitters.
There are probably other ways…I’ll have a research when I get my fast internet back.

Well folks, how to I get that stomach acid going?

If you were not on tx I’d suggest a supplement like “Betaine Hydrochloride with Pepsin”. That is more or less straight hydrochloric acid into your stomach to supplement what you already have. As you are on tx I’d have to say to run it by the doc first. I have no idea if it is a valid way to increase stomach acid while on tx with led.

Also, there’s a right way and a wrong way to use this supplement.
Have a read here and google it for more info.
http://scdlifestyle.com/2013/10/4-common-betaine-hcl-mistakes/

dt

On a further note to the usage of the betaine hydrochloride, it’s not for taking on an empty stomach. It’s best for taking near the beginning of a full meal with protein. So if this supp. looks like it might work for you then you need to move your meds, probably to your largest meal of the day. Led is not affected by taking it with a large meal. Dac is – but for the dac you don’t need the acid in the first place.

well, yes dt, I will do 24 weeks, but if cirrhosis is there it could be more thoughts on which meds,
Riba has been suggested eg

I see. Thanks for explaining that. So long as you have the time I think it’s fine to wait. If it happens that the time is running short then I think you should order the dac/led right away and order the riba later when you decide. It won’t make much difference if you start the riba a few days late, but if you miss a few days on the dac/led ….. well, just don’t do that!

dt

You couldn’t get the riba from your NHS consultant, could you? They have piles of it in their pharmacies and it’s cheap so I don’t see the problem, unless there’s some stupid red tape thing with mixing private and NHS meds. You never know what those jokers will come up with.

dt

and my rather large amount of coffee drinking in the morning with meds, I actually think it’s very possible I’m not absorping most of the tablet

If you are washing your meds down with a large amount of coffee, any fluid actually, and especially on an empty stomach, then I think you are washing away the stomach acid that you actually have. The stomach secretes acid in response to stimuli in expectation of receiving food to digest. You then eat the food and the acid gets going on it. To maximize the acid effectiveness, ie. not dilute it, it is good to refrain from drinking much fluid for at least 20 mins after the food goes down.

So I think that one thing you could do right away without adverse consequences is move your meds to one of your mealtimes, the one where you are most likely to feel hungry and up for it. Don’t drink with the meal other than a few sips to get it down. Do that for the first hour after the food goes down. Just my 2 cents worth on digestion. I’m no digestion expert but I’ve had my ups and downs with it over the years.

dt

I am happy for you!
No more F4 panic is important
46 days= 6,5 wks VL 68
Still have 1,5 wks to the 8wks on tx.
Wish you 8wks viral load UND!

Good luck with the MRI scan.

Hi LG,

That’s the machine that goes “Bang, Crash, Rat-A-Tat-Tat, Bang, Crash!”.

It doesn’t hurt but it is noisy, cramped and loud……..oh, and did I mention it was noisy?