Re: PLEASE HELP!

[Guest guest]

i myself dont and im sorry but some one here will point you in the right direction and or suffestions, hang in thereroxj112 wrote: My husband has been clean in Narcotics Anonymous for 20 years. We have determined that he has had hep c for longer than that caused from use of needles. His liver tests have been good--so good that his doc has said it is still his choice to treat this with natural medicines and so he has. About a year ago--we found out he has diabetes. At first, they were treating it

with Metformin and amaryl. Then, he began on a natural remedy and controlled it with that and diet until recently. He got a sterioid shot (Prednisone) for the flu and it made is sugar totally uncontrollable. Highs and lows and he feels really bad. He is now on insulin shots 4 times a day and is still having problems. Does anyone have any experience or insight into this? He has had moments when he just feels like he is not going to make it.

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[Guest guest]

Hi Roxj and welcome to the group!Yes, steroids CAN cause sugar imbalances.. so this is not abnormal.. Is he still on the steroids? His liver test are NOT the accurate way to decide about treatment or not, he needs a biopsy to see what the state of his liver is at the cellular level... it is the ONLY way to truely know how much damage he does or does not have. You can have totally NORMAL labs and have cirrhosis because in the end stages of the disease, your liver cells have died enough that they can't leak the fluids that are measured so it looks like the liver is all in the 'normal' range and that can be and is very deceiving... So the only way to know for sure is to have a biopsy.... If he's had hep c that long, he probably does have significant damage so its really really REALLY important to find out... If he waits until he is stage 4 with a fully cirrhosed liver, his chances of treating successfully fall to almost nil.. Yes, I do know several who have treated

with stage 4 and have cleared,, but they are few and far between... Does he know what genotype he is?Is he seeing a gastroenterologist or hepatologist? He really should see a specialist who knows alot about hep c and not just rely on his PCP unless he really is an internest and knows about hep c... He really has to get his sugar under control because if he doesnt, he will have a very hard time successfully treating as well.. So what he needs to do is to really eliminate everything that breaks down into simple sugars.. all white food for the most part, white sugar, white flour, white rice, potatoes, pasta etc... and eat more low fat high quality protein and lots of veggies,, and only a small amount if any of fruit unless the fruit has lots of fiber.. no fruit juice, whole fruit only etc,,,, you know what I mean Im sure....IM sure that with his sugars out of whack, he does feel bad... My husband was diagnosed with diabetes a couple of years ago and we've

changed our diet enough that he is no longer considered diabetic... we added some anti-oxidants to help with his neuropathy which completely cured or eliminated it. He used Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vit C, Co-Q-10 and REAL Vit E ( you can tell the synthetic E because in the name it says dl instead of D by itself, which is not even vitamin E)But he has to get his sugars stabilized so that if he wanted to treat, he might be more successful..AND ,, he really needs to stay away from steroids because they are an immune suppressant and that allows the hep c virus to replicate like mad... They tried to get me to take Prednisone to treat my Sarcoidosis that was caused by treatment and I refused because I knew it was the 'surest' way to relapse.. I've been in remission now for 5 years and I WONT do anything to bring this virus back alive... I'll live with diminshed vision before Ill take ANY steroid.. Anyway, welcome to the group and ask as many questions as you have, we'll

try to help,, One of the things we always suggest to every new member is to get copies of every lab etc and keep them in a file at home for easy reference.. It seems we always have questions either late at night or on the weekend when your doc is not available, lol,, Best Wishes, Jaxroxj112 wrote: My husband has been clean in Narcotics Anonymous for 20 years. We have determined that he has had hep c for longer than that caused from use of needles. His liver tests have been good--so good that his doc has

said it is still his choice to treat this with natural medicines and so he has. About a year ago--we found out he has diabetes. At first, they were treating it with Metformin and amaryl. Then, he began on a natural remedy and controlled it with that and diet until recently. He got a sterioid shot (Prednisone) for the flu and it made is sugar totally uncontrollable. Highs and lows and he feels really bad. He is now on insulin shots 4 times a day and is still having problems. Does anyone have any experience or insight into this? He has had moments when he just feels like he is not going to make it. Jackie

[Guest guest]

Jackie:

Thanks so much for your response. It does give me a little hope to

hear from others. He does have a gastroenterologist and had a biopsy

5 years ago...which was very good. The doc told him that he had no

problem with him continuing treating the hepc the natural way because

he seems to be doing well with it. The last check up he had they did

extensive blood work and an ultrasound and said he was doing really

well. He has elected not to take the treatment because of how hard

it is on your body. He has been very healthy up until the diabetes,

which research has told me is common with long term hepc. Should we

ask for them to do another biopsy? At this point, he is not

physically up to this I am sure. He is seing an internist for the

diabetes who is familiar with hepc. The doc that gave him the pred

shot is a local doc that we go to for simple things. We are in a

rural area and have to drive 100 miles to specialists. He gave him

decadron before which whacked his suger a little. He normally treats

his diabetes with herbs (diamoxal) and diet. This time--his sugar

went really crazy. The doc says he won't have to be on the insulin

permanently--just to give his pancreas a rest after the shot and he

should never EVER take steroids again. I am not sure at the moment

what his genotype is, but have his papers and will look. Thanks for

the part about the diet--that has worked for him. He just has no

appetite--and it is hard to " get " a diet and understand it for a

diabetic that needs to GAIN weight. He has a small frame--no body

fat whatsoever and has always been thin. Since he found out he was a

diabetic--we have been doing the diet and he has 10 lbs over the

first year--andnow since he has been sick--another 10 so he is at 123.

Of course--I keep finding what he loses! Stress makes me gain.

Anyway--any ideas to fatten up a skinny diabetic with no appetite

with hepc? thanks for your post. it cheered me on and I just wanted

to let you know.

[Guest guest]

Oh you are very welcome hon,, thats what we are here for,, to help each other.Yeah, he probably should have another biopsy, they typically do them every 5 years.. the ultrasound will only show 'gross lesions' etc,, or if his liver is very hard and cirrhotic.. My Radiologist put a note on my last ultrasound telling me that an ultrasound is basically worthless as far as telling what shape the liver is in unless you are fully cirrhotic.. What did his biopsy say? What stage and grade did they give him? his stage will be 0-4 and so will his grade.. Stage shows how much damage he actually has and grade indicates how fast it is moving along.. Those are two things that must be considered before making any decision whether to treat or not with standard tx.. IF he has stage 0-1 but has grade 3-4, then it would indicate that he doesnt have a lot of damage yet,,, but that its very active and he will have damage if he doesnt stop it sooner rather than

later...There does seem to be a connection between heppers and diabetes and unfortunately, it does affect tx too but I have know several diabetics who have successfully treated ... What is he doing naturally to treat his hep c? Milk thistle of course is good and especailly good if siliphos bound.. Schizzandra is good for the liver as well. I havent heard of the herb you mentioned and Ill have to take a look and learn about it. I know that mushrooms are good for the liver too,,,Well I need to go and fix dinner but Ill be back later, after dinner,, you take care,, jackieroxj112 wrote: Jackie: Thanks so much for your response. It does give me a little hope to hear from others. He does have a gastroenterologist and had a biopsy 5 years ago...which was very good. The doc told him that he had no problem with him continuing treating the hepc the natural way because he seems to be doing well with it. The last check up he had they did extensive blood work and an ultrasound and said he was doing really well. He has elected not to take the treatment because of how hard it is on your body. He has been very healthy up until the diabetes, which research has told me is common with long term hepc. Should we ask for them to do another biopsy? At this point, he is not physically up to this I am sure. He is seing an internist for the diabetes who is familiar with hepc. The doc that gave him the pred shot is a local

doc that we go to for simple things. We are in a rural area and have to drive 100 miles to specialists. He gave him decadron before which whacked his suger a little. He normally treats his diabetes with herbs (diamoxal) and diet. This time--his sugar went really crazy. The doc says he won't have to be on the insulin permanently--just to give his pancreas a rest after the shot and he should never EVER take steroids again. I am not sure at the moment what his genotype is, but have his papers and will look. Thanks for the part about the diet--that has worked for him. He just has no appetite--and it is hard to "get" a diet and understand it for a diabetic that needs to GAIN weight. He has a small frame--no body fat whatsoever and has always been thin. Since he found out he was a diabetic--we have been doing the diet and he has 10 lbs over the first year--andnow since he has been sick--another 10 so

he is at 123. Of course--I keep finding what he loses! Stress makes me gain. Anyway--any ideas to fatten up a skinny diabetic with no appetite with hepc? thanks for your post. it cheered me on and I just wanted to let you know. Jackie