Posted 8/31/2014 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
I'm Gen3, doctor says my cirrhosis is stage 5/6, which is basically the beginning of stage 4 using a scale of 1-4, but compensated, and was treatment naive when I started. 1400mg/day Ribasphere (Ribavirin) and 400mg Sovaldi. Symptoms: brain fog, depression, short term memory loss, bouts of arthritis-type pain in joints/feet, slight "Riba-Rage" symptoms, massive fatigue, occasional rashes, pruritis. I'm also a Recovering Alcoholic (several years sober), and have hemochromatosis, all which contribute heavily to cirrhosis. I have one tough-*** liver which I have abused for decades which I have a new respect for and now treat with kid gloves.
I'm on my final week of a 6 month treatment regimen. I've been able (somehow) to continue working through treatment (fake it 'til you make it). I drink a killer veggie/fruit juice daily, eat lots of raw veggies/fruit, substitute beans/legumes for red meat protein, but still have occasional fish, chicken, and turkey. I 'm fortunate my insurance has covered most all of the costs with the exception of a monthly co-pay of $100.
During the first week of treatment, my viral load fell from 200,000 to 45, then was undetectable after 2 weeks (RNA Quant, PCR 2.0) and has been ever since. Iron/ferritin levels have not increased significantly, enzymes, CBC, CMP are normal except for elevated MCV and low platelet count (148 as the lowest). I'm ready to not only slay this dragon, but chop it up into bits and leave its' carcass rotting for the buzzards. I don't think I could go through this treatment again. I was fine until about 3 months in. There were days the symptoms were so bad, that I reduced Riba from 1400 to 1000, which my Hepatologist said was okay, just don't drop less than 60% of recommended dosage, and never reduce Sovaldi. The cirrhosis will remain, but it's up to me and my maker to make sure it doesn't get worse, though there is research on meds that can reverse fibrosis, like sulfasalazine.
Sometimes, it's hard to stay positive, but I have prevailed and I'll feel more confident after 12, 24, and especially 48 wk SVR. Suggestions: rest, but keep active each day by at least walking, eat, sleep, and hydrate well, stay 'regular' by juicing/diet. My juice usually contains spinach, kale, green apples, beets, ginger and tumeric root, garlic, carrots, celery, cucumber, watermelon, asparagus, squash, basil, cilantro, tomato jalapeno/serrano peppers (for a Tex-Mex zest). I make up several gallons once during the week, freeze in mason jars, then drink 32oz each day of the week. It really does make me feel so much better. It costs less than $30/week to make that much juice. I spent more than that each night when I was doing the bar scene. I repeat, juicing works. Experiment and change the flavor slightly each time by adding a different veggie. Just use minimal fruit so your glucose levels don't spike. After the juice is thawed each day, I grind 2 tablespoons of flax seeds and add them along with a tablespoon of psyllium husk, and a tablespoon of Bragg's apple cider vinegar.
Also, do research on this disease (both Hep and cirrhosis). I get every copy of my labs and have a comparison sheet in Excel. I calculate my MELD (6) and Child-Pugh (5) scores (lower is better), and most importantly: I pray once a day, every day, all day long. The dragon sucks. Death to the dragon. The dragon is the ISIS of the human body/spirit and the only way to deal with it is to eradicate every trace of its' existence (hint, hint, Barry)