Thanks tig xx

Hi Jags,

I missed your question yesterday regarding the dietary links, sorry. The first recommendation I will share is our own Nutrition section. Go HERE to review all of the great stuff. We have some good recipes, links and discussion. The green smoothie thread may be right up your alley, it's on the list. Hope this helps you get started. 

Thanks Wendy very good advice...and yes we must be responsible for our recovery...mine was 30 years ago but still remind myself I can never ever take drugs again. Good that your muscles allow you to work out...mine hurt to much 

thanks again wendy 

I had hesitated on adding to the thread as I didn't want it to turn into a menopause thread. But I will share a tad bit. I too was going thru it and TX on Harvoni. But yeah, not pleasant. My gyn put me on a low dose anti depressant as opposed to HRT and I consulted my cousin who is a breast cancer specialist and he agreed with the gyn's choice. I do need to add I started this after my Harvoni was finished due to when my monthly cycle decided to go away and then return after months. I also take evening primrose oil which seems to help the female stuff. My liver doc said ok. I always read and research meds as once black cohash was recommended and I knew that was a big NO for folks with liver issues. I had stopped drinking BCAA about a year ago and decided to start again after treatment and it does help me with the muscle recovery/fatigue as I work out a lot. Before I buy anything I look up the ingredients and if I am not familiar with them, look them up on different sites to make sure I am not harming my liver. In AA we say we are responsible for our own recovery and I feel that way about my recovery from HCV too.

As far as food, I stay away from rich foods as they have always seem to really wear me down. Have been that way for years. Due to working out as much as I do, I eat a lot of protein and try to keep it healthy and have a cheat day once a week (football games). Salads, fruit, vegs are a big part of my regime and I only drink water, coffee and tea. Once the boys moved out my diet drastically changed and I lost weight and body fat. When it gets cold I enjoy making healthy soups in the crock pot.

Wishing you the best Jaggles  

Thanks tig for your wise advice. I will start a journal....Do you have any dietary links? I am eating good and taking supplements....lots of white meat, veg, and try to eat lots of purple foods and lots of water but wondered if you had any specific nutritional advice to increase energy help with muscle fatigue etc ....

You let us know what you need help understanding and we'll do our best to decipher them!

The fatigue and all of the associated maladies that go with HCV are well understood by all of us here. I can tell you to keep putting one foot in front of the other, fully understanding how difficult it is somedays. Just keep trying. There are some things you can do to mitigate the problems, but ridding yourself of the virus is job one. For decades all I could do was treat the symptoms, it was all I could do. We know now, HCV causes so many extra hepatic problems (manifestations) that weren't understood until recently. Keep a journal of everything you're dealing with, feeling, tests, you name it, write it down. Keep copies of every single test done to you. You never know when the information will benefit you. Had I followed my own advice, years ago, I would've qualified for a Harvoni or Sovaldi trial. Since my old records were destroyed by my old Hepatologist, I couldn't provide proof of treatment or tests related to my first treatment failure. So keep good records! 

Hahaaa so glad everyone likes my word.....but surprised it hasn't come up before ..hugs and many thanks xx

Hiya Canuck, thank you for thinking of me,...havnt been on here so much since I went back to work. you are so right about the benefits actually outweighing the risks but I am stalling the HRT for now as my hand went funny again when I put a HRT patch on. Waiting for cryo globulin tests to come back...and all clear from gynae before I put another patch on ...sick of blood tests lol....have a fear of needles ....so yes my consultant seems to think eppclusa will be available to all especially those with geno 3 ....struggking with fatigue everyday now. 

i am interested in understanding what is what on my results, tig sent the link for abbreviations but I have so many results to match to those abbreviations...fascinating learning all the time good for my determination and will to beat it....lovely catching up with you and will post results in my sig soon. Hugs xxx

Spell check? Here ya go...... Spell Check

It is worth the wait Jaggles! Hang in there. Going thru menopause and hepc at the same time  stinks! I know, I went though it too. I do like the word hepapausal. It should be in all the medical dictionaries!

Hi Jaggles,

Been wondering how you were making out.

hee hee "hepapausal", NOT funny to experience, but, you make me LOL how you phrased it, I know instantly how you are feeling!

Maybe you getting back on HRT will help, all in all, especially as you are guessing that it will, trust your instincts. (In my book, given my own experience, it may be well worth a try, especially being your docs are not trying to dissuade you). They "say" HRT comes with risks, and over the last decades these risks seem to change from the most dire sounding, to not so likely and then old and/or new risks morph back in and out of the pic again! In my family, we have the "incredible shrinking fractured woman" syndrome in many of my Aunts, Grandmothers, Mother, Sister - that "risk" alone motivates me to stay on HRT longer - never mind how I feel with added menopausal symptoms I experience when off HRT, or when I am on too low a dose of it.

Osteo-wise and symptom wise, I am convinced I am better off "on it", and not at the "minimum" dose either, but I think maybe for some, even just a little dab 'il do ya. If you do go back on it, I do hope it helps a bit in how you are feeling.

I was dreading (that for during my drug trial, that they would tell me to be "off" HRT), but they didn't even blink an eye about it, they just made a note of it. I was quite relieved as I was already feeling quite dreadful enough, all by myslef, just packing the HCV. And I knew from previous times being off and/or when trying to reducing HRT doses that I had some associated added symptoms. 

I am glad your fibroscan and your doc are indicating it will be OK to wait for the likelyhood of epclusa coming in 6 months. That would be ideal, rather than being forced to get your own. I hope epclusa opens up widely in the UK soon. I know you are anxoius to get going and whup this thing now, but it won't be long and you will know the comfort of good drugs soon. Until then, just keep on taking very good care of yourslef as best you can.  C.

Where the heck is spellcheck!

Jaggles wrote:

---

Thanks Lisa ...your words give me reassurance. I was only diagnosed last August but realising what a minefield it all is...lots of politics and confusing advice.....I love the information available here, the community have been a great source of support. Fantastic that you have beaten it ...I pray for that day xx

---

 No worries, I found the best place is here also. I went through several heart-attacks reading a lot of garbage on line, and most of it was out-dated rubbish. The most eventful thing that happened to me was dropping a pill down the loo and actually debating whether to fish it out lol. Sanity prevailed and I didn't eat my toilet monster covered pill - yuk! :P

You'll be fine, Geno 3 has it so good these days, its like taking vitamin pills. The only bit is the beginning 12 days as you adjust to the pills. Even that was minor and no worse than a mild cold. Certainly never affected my day to day life. :P

Think happy thoughts of waking up and it being gone, because that day is just around the corner. :D

Thanks Lisa ...your words give me reassurance. I was only diagnosed last August but realising what a minefield it all is...lots of politics and confusing advice.....I love the information available here, the community have been a great source of support. Fantastic that you have beaten it ...I pray for that day xx

Hi Jaggles, 

I waited nearly 2 years for the Sof/Dak combo. It was worth the wait, I had no issues on treatment and cured. Happy waiting days, it will soon be over. :D

Hi Jayne,

Thanks for the update. With that fibrosis level, you have no problem waiting 6 months for a great treatment opportunity like Epclusa.

You mentioned needing help with the viral side of things. If we can help or direct you to that information, just ask and we'll do our best. 

If the title of this thread is still a question, there are links at the bottom of my signature that will help.

hi all, after 5 months they finally gave me my results from bloods taken in October 2016

saw consultant today and he has advised I wait It out for epclusa, likely to be available to me within 6 months and will give me good chance of beating the bugger. my liver score is good with 6.9 but I'm hoping you gurus can help me understand more about the viral side of things from blood. I'm going back on HRT for now as symptoms of both Hep and Menopause ( hepapausal) is making me very low and extremely fatigued. Generally feel feel low and fatigued most days. On that note I'm now going to bed...I do need to get rid of these eye bags. Happy New Year to everyone xxx