I'm Hep C pos, always been asymptomatic. Now I am just sooo tired all the time. And no appetite whatsoever.

I'm only 47. What is this? Is it the hep C? Menopause? Taking care of my 3 small Gchildren, 4, 6 %26amp; 8? Please no scolding. I did dumb stuff in the '70's. Just info and knowledge and advice please.


Peace,


Laurie

I'm Hep C pos, always been asymptomatic. Now I am just sooo tired all the time. And no appetite whatsoever.
Well, my husband is Hep C positive and I have learned a lot of symptoms by being around him. He does get tired easily some times but his appetite has never been off.


If you think you are going through menopause you could try the natural herb, Black cohosh. It really is a miracle! Stuff will even out most of the menopause symptoms. You could try upping your intake of B12 and iron to see if that helps also, as long as you are not sensitive to iron supplements. Sounds weird, but if you get some black cohosh tablets and take pre-natal vitamins for 2-4 weeks you might see a whole new lady! I am through menopause due to surgery and this is what I take all the time and feel like a 20 year old! You might just give this a try and see how you feel - you might also get another check on your liver to be sure your enzymes have not sky rocketed.


Best of luck!!!
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Reply:DO NOT take BLACK COHOSH!!!!! VERY DANGEROUS IN THOSE WITH HCV!





Now, your answer is yes, HCV can cause lethargy. Menopause can cause an issue as well, but I can bet on your fatigue as HCV related. Stress can certainly play a role in how your body responds as well- but having HCV your stress levels don't have to be all that much in order for your body to be consumed by lethargy.





You really should of treated your hcv already as those who do so sooner have a better response to treatment.





I highly doubt you've been without symptoms-there are well over 150 documented bi-directional diseases that your run of the mill doctor will treat as seperate diseases.





But, there are few that say they've not had an issue and then it seems in one day they can no longer function properly. Fatigue usually is noticed when the liver is beyond stage and grade 2.0- but everyone is different.





I was infected at age 8-my first symptom was a red rash like area on my upper chest-it is now common in those with HCV-spider nevi. By 12 my joints and bones hurt, by 13 i was seeing a pscychologist. By 23 I had a hard time focusing-which kept me at low paying jobs. By 27 I was sleeping 18 hour days. More rashes, more tooth decay, hair loss, heart palpitations-you name it, it seemed i had something new on a regular basis. I even fought a rash for 5 years that caused my hand to have tiny cluster like blistering, burning and itching, scabbing over and rough skin-that went away by the third month of treatment and has not shown face since.





You really need to jump on the antiviral chemotherapy wagon ASAP. Your kids need you-someone who has energy.





*sorry for yelling about the black cohosh, but DO NOT take anything but Milk Thisle and a multi-vitamin with NO IRON.





Black Cohosh can be life threatening on it's own-highly dangerous for those who don't have liver disease, imagine what could happen in your case.





*****FOLKS- HCV is VERY complex! DO NOT EVER suggest herbs that are dangerous or have NO benefit to taking them!********





HCV %26amp; CAM:


Dietary Supplements to Avoid


“NATURAL” DOES NOT MEAN SAFE. The following contains some natural substances that are potentially harmful. This list is by no means exhaustive. Supplements that are specifically associated with hepatotoxicity (liver poisoning) are designated with an “*”. Substances on this list are referred to in their oral form only.


Any herb containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids should be avoided by those with liver disease. It is important to use supplements from trustworthy sources. All sorts of contaminants have been found in Chinese herbs, such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury (sometimes in the form of calomel or cinnabar) and thallium.


Ackee (Blighia sapida)*


Aconite (Aconitum carmichaeli and A. kusnezoffi)


Aflatoxins*


Amanita Phalloides, also known as “death cap mushrooms”*


Androstenedione


Aristolochic acid, also known as “mu tong,” “guan fang ji” or “snakeroot” 1


Arnica (Arnica montana)* 2


Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)


Belladonna (Atropa belladonna)


Bilberry (Myrtilli folium)


Birch oil (Betula lenta)*


Bitter Orange (Citrus aurantium)


Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara). See “Nightshade”


Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)* 3


Black Root (Symphytum officinale)* 4


Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus) 5


Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) 6


Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)


Blue-green Algae (Spirulina)*


Boldo (Peumus boldo) 7


Borage (Borago officianalis)*


Boran, also known as “boric acid” and “borax”


Bryony (Bryonia alba)


Buckeye (Aesculus hippocastanum), also known as “horse chestnut”*


Bupleurum (Bupleurum chinense, B. falcatum, B. scorzoneraefolium)* 8


Bush Tea (Crotalaria)*


Butterbur (Petasites hybridus)*


Calamus (Acorus calamus)


Cascara Sagrada (Rhamnus purshianus)*


Celandine (Chelidonium majus)*


Chaparral (Larrea tridentata)*


Chaso* 9


Colloidal Silver


Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)*


Comfrey (Symphytum officinale, S.asperum and S. uplandicum)*


Creatine*


Delphinium (Delphinium consolida)


DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone, 5-androsten-3)*


Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum)


Elder, Elderberry (Sambucas nigra) 10


Ephedra (Ephedra) 11


Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)


Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys)*


Ginkgo seeds and fruit pulp (Ginkgo biloba) 12


Glue Thistle (Atractylis glummifera)*


Gotu kola (Centella asiatica)


Groundsel (Senecio jacobea, S. vulgaris, S. spartoides, etc.)*


Heliotrope (Heliotropium)


Hemlock (Conium maculatum)


Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger)


Hepatica (Hepatica triloba)


Herbal Ecstasy*


Holly (Ilex paraguayensis)*


Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)*


Horsetail (Equisteum arvense)


Hound’s Tongue (Cynoglossum officinale)*


Lucinda Porter, RN


HCSP • VERSION 1.0 • August 2005


1


Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)


Senna (Cassia Species and Senna alexandrina) 22


Shark Cartilage*


Sho-saiko-to, also known as “Xiao Chai Hu Tang.”* – See “bupleurum”


Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)*


Snakeroot (Aristolochia serpentaria)


Spirulina, also known as blue-green algae*


Stephania (Stephania tetrandra), also known as “han fang ji”


Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis)


Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare, Chrysanthemum vulgaris)*


Tansy Ragwort (Senecio jacobea)*


Tiratricol, also known as “triiodothyroacetic acid” or “TRIAC”


Turmeric (Curcuma longa)* 23


Tu-san-chi (Gynura segetum)*


Usnic acid (Usnea Lichen)*


Uva Ursi (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)*


Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)* 24


Vitamin A* 25


White Chameleon (Atractylis gummifera)*


Woodruff (Asperula odorata)


Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)


Yerba Mate Tea (Ilex paraguayensis)*


Yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)


Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe)*


1See FDA website for a list of botanicals that contain this substance:


www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/ds-warn.html


2Diluted homeopathic and topical forms are generally safe.


3There have been at least 5 reports of severe hepatitis linked to black cohosh use. Two of these cases resulted in liver failure requiring transplant surgery. These cases involved the use of herbal blends mixed with other ingredients besides cohosh. Experts do not know if the problem was due solely to black cohosh or the combination of ingredients.


4There is at least one other herb called “black root.” The comfrey variety is toxic.


5Contains tannins and may be hepatotoxic if large amounts are used.


6Diluted homeopathic form is generally safe.


7Essential oil and leaf distillates are toxic.


8Bupleurum has been linked to at least one case of hepatotoxicity. When used with interferon, it has been associated with at least 74 cases of interstitial pneumonitis, with at least 16 of these resulting in death. However, these


2


HCSP • VERSION 1.0 • August 2005


Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria, I. oblongifolia) 13


Iron* 14


Jimson Weed (Datura stramonium)


Jin Bu Huan (Lycopodium serratum)*


Kava (Piper methysticum), also known as “kava kava”*


Khat (Catha edulis)


Kombucha mushrooms and tea*


Lepiota Helveola mushrooms*


Life Root (Senecio aureus)*


Lily of the Valley (Convalleria majalis)


LipoKinetix*


Lobelia (Lobelia inflata)*


Madder root (Rubia tinctorum)*


Ma Huang (Ephedra)


Male Fern (Filicis maris)


Magnolia (Magnolia liliflora)


Mandrake, American (Poduphyllum pelatum)


Mandrake, European (Mandragora officianarum)


Margosa Oil


Marsh Tea (Ledum palustre)


Mate (Ileus partaguayensis)*


May Apple (Poduphyllum pelatum)


Mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum, Viscum album, V. coloratum) 15


Monkshood (Aconiti tuber)


Mu Tong (Clematis armandi)


Niacin, also known as “vitamin B-3,” “niacinamide,” “nicotinic acid”* 16


Nightshade (Solanum nigrum)


Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) 17


Nux Vomica (Strychni semen) 18


Oleander Leaf (Oleandri folium)


Onshido* 19


Paraguay tea (Ilex paraguayensis)*


Parsley Seed (Petroselini fructus) 20


PC-SPES 21


Pennyroyal (Hedeoma pulegiodes, Mentha pulegium)*


Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)*


Peppermint Oil (Mentha piperita)*


Petasites leaf (Petasitidis folium)*


Pleurisy root (Asclepias tuberosa)


Poke Root/Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)


Pride of Madeira (Echium fastuosum)*


Ragwort (Senecio aureus, S.jacoboea, S. vulgaris, etc.)*


Rue (Ruta graveolus)*


Sarsaparilla root (Sarsaparillae radix)


Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)*


3


HCSP • VERSION 1.0 • August 2005


reports are being called into question since bupleurum was combined with other ingredients when administered. Bupleurum is the main ingredient in Sho-saiko-to, also known as Xiao chai hu tang. Until these associations can be verified or refuted, it is recommended that HCV patients avoid concurrent use of interferon with this herb. Also recommended is to use this herb under strict supervision with a licensed practitioner.


9Herbal Weight Loss Aid


10Cooked elderberry as a food source is likely safe. Risk of cyanide poisoning from uncooked berries and the rest of the elder plant.


11The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded that ephedrine alkaloids pose a serious risk.


12Fruit pulp and seeds can be toxic. The leaves have a good safety record when used as recommended.


13Some indigo may be safe and some species are toxic.


14Those with liver disease should avoid excess iron unless directed otherwise by their medical practitioner.


15Mistletoe is being researched in Europe as a treatment for HCV. Mistletoe is toxic and should not be used outside of a clinical research setting.


16There were multiple reports of hepatoxicity when niacin was used in large doses or low-dose sustained-release form. The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of niacin is not only safe, but also a necessary nutrient. The RDA is 13-18 mg for adults.


17Large amounts of nutmeg can cause hallucinations and psychosis. Eating as few as two whole nutmegs can cause death. Safe if used in small amounts as a spice.


18Risk of central nervous system poisoning from strychnine. Pre-existing liver disease increases toxicity risk.


19Herbal Weight Loss Aid


20High doses of essential oil are associated with fatty liver, abortion and other risks.


21The FDA has recalled this botanical blend.


22This strong laxative may deplete electrolytes and lead to cardiac arrhythmia.


23Turmeric (curcumin) is probably safe for liver patients unless taken in large doses. Turmeric (curcumin) is being studied as a possible treatment for hepatitis, but until the evidence is in, avoid or use cautiously.


24May be liver toxic, especially if taken long-term. Some doubts surround other claims of its hepatotoxic qualities, since all the reports used valerian in combination with other herbs. Until safety reports are verified or disputed, it is recommended that people with liver disease avoid valerian.


25Those with liver disease should avoid vitamin A supplementation unless under medical supervision. If the RDA is not exceeded, probably safe for healthy people.
Reply:have your liver checked soon