Re: Digest Number 69

[Guest guest]

I hope the doctor tells him to stop, but as you know it's a stressful time to

try and tackle more than one thing at a time. Not smoking will surely help.

Has your husband or friend (whoever has the hepC) been thru treatment

already??. The swelling in his abdomen hopefully will continue to go down as

he gains more sobriety, but it all depends on the amount of liver damage he

may have both from the hep C and the drinking..if thats the case. I dont mean

to get people mixed up, but from your note i wasnt sure who it was exactly

that was sick. Anyway..let me know..and feel free to contact me if I can

help. I am not an expert in hep C, but I do a lot of teaching, and having hep

C myself currently I have done all the reading I can. Take care..peace..peggy

[Guest guest]

Peggy, My husband and I have a friend staying with us. he had 18 years

sober 3 years ago he went back out. He has had hepc for 24 years. He has

a doc apt. next mon. His eyes are still a little yellow his stomach has

gone down. He has been sober 30 days today. I but him on milk thistle

amino fuel and a vitamin (no iron) is their anything else I can do? The

thing I am worried about is he smokes like crazy. I am hopping the doc

will tell him to stop. Take Care Jessie

EZ-DOES IT

[Guest guest]

Peggy, this is our friend of 24 years with hepc. My husband does not

have it.(thank god) We have been married 23 years an he has been tested.

Our friend has not been on treatment yet, but if he is able to go on

treatment, we will try to get him on it. Amino Fuel helps with you have

a little energy. I checked with the be in charge nurse before I took it

, she said it was ok. Take Care Jessie

EZ-DOES IT

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/14/00 3:21:23 PM Central Standard Time, Ltb3105@...

writes:

<< How can I convince this man? Should I just try it " on the sneak " and wait

and see if there's a change in ?

>>

Sorry, , that I'm just now getting to your post - I'm so far behind

because of being in the hospital.

I don't know what to tell you to do. Even if you try it " on the sneak " and

it works, your DH may feel you've broken the trust between you. Have you

printed copies of all the positive posts on Risperdal to show your DH? I've

talked to so many parents that swear by this drug for their kids - I know it

doesn't work for all, but it seems more kids do better on it than worse or no

change at all. just started on Risperdal three nights ago - I'm

praying for some positive change - she's been through so much. After a week

or so, I'll post about how she's doing on it. I know what you mean about you

and your DH getting stressed out over 's behavior and ending up fighting

with each other or not talking. This happens to Bob and I more frequently

than I'd care to admit. It is just so damned stressful living like this!

That's why we're trying the Risperdal. With all of 's behavior

problems and medical problems (this was her 12th surgery), we feel so

overwhelmed so much of the time. Like you said, this is no way to live. I

wish I could give you some good advice, but I'm not sure what to tell you.

It's really tough when two parents want to do something different for a

child. How does one overrule the other? I know I haven't been much help,

but I will let you know how does on Risperdal. Hang in there,

Maureen

[Guest guest]

Dear Dixie and All,

Frustrated wryness aside, I do agree with the 'variety' approach (spread

those toxins!) except for blueberries, green tea, cooked tomatoes, broccoli

or cabbage, and yoghurt which I eat everyday.

Maybe food should be conceived of differently; as a double edged sword- life

sustenance and toxin.

Perhaps we should be social when we are social and not need to stuff our

faces during encounters. Really concentrate on the people, the situation,

the fun at hand without needing to grease the conversation with either

ethanol or food. A bit Zen perhaps, but why not?

Food as toxin:

It really is, if one considers that 90% of oxidation takes place during

digestion. We really do pay for each mouthful with our lives.

Though we all love gourmet eating, perhaps small tastes are enough with

memory of the taste and experience being enough to repeat the

pleasure-experience in the brain? Like remembering great times. Taking time

between bites to savor and remember what we just ate instead of rushing to

the next bite...

Maybe the comercialization of Food as Fun (and substitute life) should be

re-examined. Food is not sex, is not entertainment, is not a cover for

emotions etc etc etc. It is for energy. punto e basta. That it can be ALSO

all of the above in subliminal forms should not be a daily habit, IMHO.

Reactions? Tomatoes?

Happy, Healthy, and many New Years for all. Thanks to Francesca and everyone

for such a great list!

MM

_________________________________________________________________

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Claudine,

Thank you, your message was reassuring. I didn't want to panic and

assume I am at end stage, but I just tend to assume the worst, that way,

if it turns out to be better news than I thought, I am thrilled.

But I will deal with it, either way. I just like to try and put things

together in my head, hard to do with all that dern brain fog.

Take care Claudine and all,

I am going to try and go to sleep, I feel insomnia setting in!

I am thinking good thoughts for all of you.

Hope you have a great Thursday.

Love,

Sher

wrote:

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hello ALL,

After reading Digest Number 69 I took a few notes and thoughts and I have

a little input to spred to all the wonderful people here.

First of all, are any of you that are undergoing treatment or that have

done the treatments and failed them either Active Duty Military or Retired

Military and/or Dependents?? If you fit one of these categories of people

EMail me for some further information and possible treatment options.

Second, Alot of you seem to have experienced or are currently fighting the

" Brain Fog " or as it is termed Encepholopathy. This is not only caused by

the ammonia buildups you have but also fluid/water retention. A quick self

test you can do for checking the water retention is to take your index

finger and place it on the direct front of the " shin " bone(lower 1/2) and

press in towards the front of the bone. Press with constant pressure for a

few seconds and then take your finger away. Look at where the finger was

and if there is a indentation there start counting by 1000's ie, " one one

thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand etc " . When the (in my case)

crater disappears stop counting. Mine will take to about nine one thousand.

This is testing for what is called pre-tibial edema. You need to make

your MD aware of the edema. Of course he will re-check it. One, two and

three second return to normal skin (No Crater) are known as either

pre-tibial edema of 1,2 or level 3. Four seconds or more is known as +4

edema. If you are experiencing this the MD will probably prescribe

Lactalose or Generlac. Both are the same stuff. Also the MD will probably

prescribe furosemida

(Lasix) and or Spironolactone and Potassium CL (K-Dur) 20 Meq 2x's a day.

The Lactalose (A real sweet syrup) aides the body in binding up the amonia

for elimination from the body. Most notable side effect is about 10 trips

to the " Thrown " a day with EXTREMELY loose bowels. The Lasix and

Spironolactone are both diuretics. They will help to get the excess water

out of the body. The Lasix will also rob the body of Potassium to the point

of agonizing muscle cramping! That is where the Potassium CL (K-Dur) comes

into play. It replaces the lost Potassium taken by the " Water Pill "

actions. The Spironolactone does not deplete Potassium! Most notable side

effect.......the Water Pills wil cause prequent Urination. It is pretty

fast acting. So when you take it don't be far from the Thrown Room! DO NOT

UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES just Ignore the water build up if you experience it!

The water build up in its' self can cause another serious medical problem

if it goes unchecked. I AM NOT TRYING TO SCARE ANYONE HERE AT ALL. If the

water build up goes unchecked if it is happening to you can cause the water

to back up in your body and eventually get into the base of the lungs and

possibly put you at high risk for CHF (Congestive Heart Failure).

Third, Anxiety/depression is felt by all of us I am pretty sure. Along

with this goes MANY sleepless nights! I have tried just about all the

current light anti-depressants that is in the pharmacy. The most recent

prescription I am taking seems to be doing real well for me. It is

Trazodone. It is keeping me on an even keel. I feel pretty good with it at

the 100 Mg dose level.

Fourth and last, (I don't mean to tire you eyes, but do want to share it

all with you. The abdominal pains that you are either having or have had

the it goes away and comes back. They hurt.....I rate it at about6-7 on the

1 - 10 pain scale 10 being the worst. My local MD prescribed Codine 30 Mg

tabs 2 in the AM and 2 in the PM as needed. Now we are talking about drugs

that scare me because of the addiction possibilities. Let's look at the

origin of the pains. If you have recently had a biopsy you will experience

a pain that usually runs up the right side to the shoulder area. It hurt me

so bad the thought of just ripping my arm off my body sounded appealing IT

HURT, 10++++++++++ on the pain scale. It did pass by the end of the day

when I got home about 4 1/2 hours later. Other pains that you may get in

the abdomin is from the Ascites (Fluid Build up) in the sac that surrounds

the liver and the liver expanding due to the chirrosis. In either case

these actions cause the outter layers of the liver to expand. This outter

layer is highly innerviated so when the expansion happens the nerves cause

pain to go in several directions. to the right hip crest area. The right

shoulder across the abdomen. My latest trip to MY MD last week was due to

the depression kicking me hard. I felt like I was in a pit I could not get

out of. Well he inquired as to my number of Codine tabs left. I had run

out last Friday. I asked him if there was not another pain med I could take

so that I could get away from the Codine for awhile. He looked at what was

carried in the Base Hospital and told me no. Most pain meds have either

asprin or tylenol in them or are HIGHLY metabolized in the liver. Well I

went to the pharmacy to pick up my meds. While at the counter I asked the

Pharmacist if he was aware of any pain mad that fit what I was taking about.

He told me that most of the alternates were morphine based! That is not

the way I was looking to go! He told me to hold on a sec and pulled out the

book on meds and told me of one, OXYCONTIN 20 Mg. I had to get it at a

pharmacy in the city and my insurance co pay was $9.00. When I did all my

own reading I always do about any drug I have to take. I took one cap and

about 30 minutes later I was feeling pretty good. Not a " zoned " or high

feeling, but more like ME...my normal self. The Oxycontin is a med you take

in the AM. It is time released over 12 hours. So one and ONLY one a day!

Damn that was a great day, I think I actually smiled a couple times!!!!!

Well here it is....I will quit typing and get in bed where I belong at

3:08 in the morning. To EVERYONE take care and always remember that I am

here for you and myself. We are all here on this site and through this

forum to try to get educated about our " Dragon " !! I will give input as I

run across it or as people ask concerning thedisease!

Sincerely,

Ken Boucher

juvoff@... or

glide_rider@...

_________________________________________________________________

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

[Guest guest]

hey ken its hank here

ive been taking oxycodne(roxycodone) for 3 years now and i too am concerned

about the addiction

i take 3 tabs 5mg each per day

i have ran out and the withdrawls are very very uncomfoftable to say the

least so whatever you do dont miss a dose or leave home without them

i take them for severe periphreil (spelled wrong im sure lol) neuropathy in

both of my feet and with out the meds i get to where i cant even walk the

pain gets so bad

anyway the point im gettin at is if you take opiods be sure to take them as

directed and dont leave em where they can be stolen as drs tend not to

believe that story and they are hard to get replaced

anyone with ?s about life on painkillers feel free to ask me i am living

proof you can be an addict and live a good life

hepper hugggggsssssssss hank

[Guest guest]

>

>>>>Alot of you seem to have experienced or are currently fighting

the

> " Brain Fog " or as it is termed Encepholopathy. This is not only

caused by

> the ammonia buildups you have but also fluid/water retention.

******** writes:

>>>>I wanted to comment about the fluid retention,,,and I had no idea

that fluid retention had anything to do with Encepholopathy, so I

appreciate the input about that Ken. I wanted to mention something

that helps the fluid retention in myself,,,and I have " always " had a

problem with it...drinking lots of water seems to wash out the excess

sodium in my system and it helps me to lose some of the bloatedness

in my body,,,and plus water is natural, which is an added plus to me.

I have little red pimples on my face and on my body since I did the

Rebetron, and I believe that drinking lots of water will speed the

process of those toxins that are still coming out. Some people

say " not " to drink lots of water, yet they'll drink sodas like

they're going out of style and sodas have " tons " of sodium in them. I

haven't totally kicked my soda habit, but I'm trying to drink a

gallon of water a day before I touch a can of soda,,,that way I'm

rewarding myself and doing myself a favor at the same time! *And

here's what I decided to do that's helping with the H2O

drinking,,,when I grocery shop for the week, I buy 7 gallons of

distilled water and with a black markselot(msp!), I write a day of

the week on each gallon so that I don't forget to drink the whole

gallon each day of the week!! I'm trying to think of a nice way to

reward myself at the end of each week as I successfully make it 7

days!! I figure that I'm my body's own best friend, why not treat it

well? Ya'll (I say " ya'll " in Texas), have a great Easter!!

Hepper Hugz back at ya,

[Guest guest]

,

The idea of " flushing out " your system with alot of H2O is a good thought!

But you do have to watch just how much your individual body can eliminate.

You do not wanna overtax your kidneys with everything else that is

stressing your body out. I was recommended to try to keep it close to about

8 - 8oz glasses a day. Along with the Lasix or Spironolactone this should

keep your fluids on an even kilter. In that we are all not the same in

metabolizing things and eliminating the waste of our bodys, you may wann get

your Md's input for the starting block and add or subtract from there to a

level that works well for you!

Hugs to All,

Ken

_________________________________________________________________

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

[Guest guest]

> ,

>

> The idea of " flushing out " your system with alot of H2O is a good

thought!

> But you do have to watch just how much your individual body can

eliminate.

>

>

>>>******Ken, You are so right,,,I had the worse headache today and I

felt lousy with all that water drinking,,,it does make me feel

awful,,,but I know that it's good, as long as it's not too much like

you said...and everyone is different. Thanks for responding,

[Guest guest]

Good Morning All

Hope that everyone is doing ok! I am better today. Thank you

all for welcome backs and prayers. You have all been in mine.

Terri