Lloyd,
App. 1 year ago I contracted Hep. C through sexual contact---
yes ... sexual contact. It happens a lot more than
DR's first thought ... according to the N.I.H. (esp.
in gay men like myself) My primary care Dr.
caught it in the acute stage. I waited 8 months
to see if I would be one of the lucky ones to clear the
virus on my own. Unfortunately, my levels only went
down to 600,000 I/U and stayed there. My Dr. strongly
urged me to go on Pegintron & Rebetol since the cure
rate % was better if you treat within the first year of
treatment. I agreed and have cursed every day since.
After 5 months I still haven't cleared the virus (down
to around 10/K I/U).
Of the known 23 side effects I am experiencing
(weight loss of nearly 20/lbs on a lean body frame
already) I still have managed to work full time.
(I live in SF, disability is not an option here...esp.
with the rents the way they are) However, I
have lost most of my friends due to the mood swings and
currently am losing my partner because of this treatment.
(He is undergoing this treatment also but with not
as many side effects) My DR's office never
told me the full story of the side effects and asked about
my quality of life issues. My pharmacist sat down
and gave me a handout on what side effects to expect and
the follow up care that is needed during this barbaric
treatment.
I understand that there is a slew of new drugs options
in the test stages right now. Do you know of any
other western treatments that does not include interferon?
I heard of a pill that encapsulates the virus and
doesn't let the infected HepC cells get to the good liver
cells. Are you familiar with this?
Signed,
"Wasting away in San Francisco"
Hi:
I have advised several people who have only had hep c
5 years or less. Every time I succeed in 4 weeks to a
few months. They however did not use interferon.
I strongly urge you to try my entire treatment because
I love it when people get well and you sound like a good
candidate, wish you did not use interferon.
Download
the 43 pages submitted to the FDA by schering for licensing.
Now on the first page with my
take on it.
Read them and you will know why it does not work.
It is true that gay men and women do get hep c from sex.
There are several reasons for this and why it does
not apply to the hetrosexual population.
There is no slew of new drugs for hep c that are going
to work. Hep c is as complex as aids and there is
no promising item in any pipeline.
Your immune system is the best healer you have. You
just need to feed it what it needs to help you win the
battle.
I would love very much to put your email on my message
board. I remove names, address etc. if it is OK,
please let me know.
In good health
Lloyd
