Hello.
I
have been reading about Hepatitis C almost non-stop since
I was dx'd 4 days ago. Like many others, I had applied for
higher life insurance and to my shock was denied in a certified
letter that contained my test results. I was also
shocked to see that my liver enzymes, specifically AST and
ALT were high, 77 and 122. Cholesterol was up too,
and I thought I had a healthy diet. It was 255. But
of course that reflects the liver's role in fat metabolism.
For
many years I have felt run down. I am,of course, a believer
in Western medicine and my practice is almost totally Western
medicine but I also practice accupuncture and holistic medicine. The
way I feel is, let's not throw the baby out with the bath
water. Western medicine is a wonderful thing. It's
discipline has helped us conquer many daunting diseases
and problems, but there are definitely areas where it just
throws up its hands. For my "run down" feeling
there just wasn't any doctor that could help me and since
I was thoroughly worked up by a respected internal medicine
specialist in 1988 I figured there was no use in pursuing
a diagnosis. He tested me for HIV,TB and Hepatitis
back then but the Hep C test was not available. My
liver enzymes were mildly elevated then, but I went on a
green drink fast for 4 days, and went back and was re-tested.
The enzymes were normal so I figured whatever it was was
gone. So did he.
Time
passed. I felt worse and worse. I decided to
go totally holistic in my approach. I tried different
diets, herbs, colonics, actually got some help from a psychic
who visualized a "parasite" in my liver. About this
time chronic fatigue syndrome was very much in the news
and I thought that I had that.
I
finally reached the plateau of health that I am on now.
I have good days and bad days. Sometimes I have
headaches. I accupuncture myself and they go away.
No OTC drugs will touch them. I am almost afraid at
this point to see a liver biopsy. I have an ultrasound
and have looked at my own liver. It doesn't look to
hyperechoic (whitish) but my US is a pretty crude one and
it's hard to make fine distinctions.
I
think I know how I contracted hepatitis C. I had a
transfusion during a surgery in 1987. Shortly after
that(6 months?) I had a low grade fever that lasted many
days. I never got jaundiced but that was probably
the beginning.
I
am kind of fuzzy on the exact timing of everything but that
is the best I can recall. So that makes 14 years of
infection.
I
have 3 children. I still don't know if they are positive.
We are waiting for tests. They were all born before
the aforementioned surgery. I am not scared for me,
I can take whatever comes. I have a deep spiritual
center and I will find a way in, under, around or through
whatever comes my way. But for my kids, I just tremble
with fear.
I
have read about the Interferon therapy. It is not
for me and the reason is simple. If I have any more
days of feeling worse than I do on my bad days now, life
will just not be worth much. Also, I am impressed
with the work that a local Chiropractor has done with my
health. I am so much better since starting to see
him 7 years ago. He does nutritional and herbal therapy.
He makes me hold out my arm and then pushes down on
it to " test " things on me. If I am strong, they
are good for me, if I am not, they are not. I thought
he was off his rocker at first, but, damn it, the "tests"
work. Through the years he has helped me through a
lot of conditions. I think that shows that my body and my
energy respond to this kind of thing better.
I
wanted to share my story with you.
Probably
best not to put my real name, address, etc. on the message
boards but OK to put this up if you want. I am very
impressed with your approach. You certainly have persistence. Is
it OK if I send test results and ask questions?
Sincerely,
Dr.G
