I NEED medical information>>>>

[ablbodyed]

I have a condition where the only therapy offered by traditional medicine is interferon and ribovirin.
The side effects are numerous:

Guaranteed: 1)mild to severe flu-like symptoms and
2) constant fatigue for the 48-week course of treatment

Possible side effects range from bleeding eyes, and blindness to severe depression (many cases BTW) and suicidal tendencies (and there HAVE been suicides) to cardiomyopathy, among others.

There is no guarantee of success since only 50% are cured, and there is a 15% chance of spontaneous elimination of the virus.

There is a chance to participate in a study with free medicine: half the patients would get the normal dosage, and the other half would get a higher dosage for the first 12 of 48 weeks.

The troubling aspect of this is that the lead doctor is at an ARMY hospital. I have a fairly good grasp of history and I know that the well-being of the participants of any government-run study is a very low priority. And I hesitate to have the thugs in THIS government have unfettered access to my medical records. they probably have access now, but why make if any easier?

If some of you out there have some knowledge of this therapy, either from personal experience (I HOPE NOT, though), or through people you know, PLEASE let me know. Any general information is OK in this open forum, but I would appreciate that any more personal info would be through a personal message.

My tendency is to forgo treatment and just hope for the best, But if any know of alternative therapy I like to hear about it.
Thanks in advance

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. Can you tell us your condition? nt

[havocmom]

2. Think I would put questions to Dr. Andrew Weil if I were in your shoes

Dunno if he would answer, but his site has a Q&A feature and he is more open about alternative treatments while valueing traditional methods when they are best.

Here's a link to site page for questions:

http://www.drweil.com/u/AskQuestion/

Wish I had more to offer. Hell, since I'm wishin' I wish I could heal you.

Strength to you
hm

[otohara]

3. I Have A Friend w/ Needs interferon

shot every week - makes him sick the entire next day - he has MS

[juajen]

4. My assumption is that you are talking about Hepatitus C

If so, my hubbie got this virus from a blood transfusion in 1984. He is in remission today and because of other medical conditions, we did not know he had this. He has incurred some liver damage, but his condition is stabalized. He took a good prescription vitamin (I believe it was called Bactrim ?), seriously watched his diet, but mainly did stress relief. It's also important to attempt something to keep you from depression (not meds). He went back to school and finished two degrees. While this may or may not be your "thing", a focus on something besides this virus is necessary to conquer it.

Rest, relaxation, vitamins, good diet and an interest that takes you away from this in your mind, anyway. Of course, a physician needs to keep up with liver action during this time and for the rest of your life. My hubbie's doctor recommends he be tested twice a year.

His is a success story, but there are many out there. This is certainly not a death sentence for a lot of people.

My opinion, FWIW, is that the medicine is worse than the virus.

[NC_Nurse]

5. Bactrim is an antibiotic.

It sounds like either HIV or Hep C or some other viral agent.

Both of the above are chronic conditiuons. The drugs that have been prescribed are one route, there are others. Get a second opinion. Different things work for different people.

Good Luck! :hug:

[Wat_Tyler]

6. There's got to be a better place than DU to ask this.

None of us are qualified to give advice on this sort of thing.

[Moderator]

7. Locking.

Sorry, but DU is not the place to seek medical advice.

Thanks for your understanding,
DU Moderator