re: Hepatitis C Reconsidered

elizabethfaraone — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 03:38:33 GMT

Very interesting. I think it is possible that the Hepatitis C virus does not exist and that damage to the liver may be due to toxins. I once read that an entire prison population tested positive for HCV. Why would that be? I often wonder what we would find out if we tested the entire population for HCV. I think those who have been tested without showing symptoms are the very poor, drug addicts and medical professionals.

I tested positive for HCV in 2001 when I used the services of a medical van that catered primarily to drug addicts and the very poor. I also tested positive shortly after when I was tested by a doctor in a homeless shelter. A few years later, I tested negative. I haven't been tested since, but I should get tested because I am curious. My liver function tests are normal and sonogram results are normal. I haven't had a liver biopsy. My viral load is low.

I refused interferon treatment after the first dosage because the side effects were too strong and I was afraid of a lung collapse (I had spontaneous pneumothoraxes whenever my body was severely weakened & and my lungs are emphysemic - I was never a smoker).

I do know that I have done some damage to my liver because I needed to take high dosages of ibuprofen two days out of each month for over 20 years (I had intense menstrual pains equivalent to the pain of a miscarriage and I dulled the pain with ibuprofen). I also used high dosages of ibuprofen for a month after I had surgery on my left lung. I no longer have the need for pain medications (my menstrual pain was cured with a 3 month course of Lupron Depot - what a relief). I also no longer have chest pain from my SPs as I was patient and used no pain medications for two periods of three years. I wasn't sure if I was making the correct decisions by refusing pain medications and treating myself very gently, but now I'm glad that I did.

Keep on researchin' - I know your intentions are good. We're all just learning.