New to the forum

[raduzhok]

I was diagnosed in 2008. I don't know when I contracted HCV. My genotype is 1a.
I chose not to do treatment at the time. Finding out I was infected came at the same time as being told I was pre-diabetic. I got info on losing weight, and within that year lost 25lbs. Between 2009 and 2014, I kept working to lose the next 25 lbs and finally managed during 2014. Between 2008 and 2014 my labs show slight elevation in liver enzymes. In 2014, my enzymes went up to very high (both alt and ast) but all my other lab work was within perfect range. My WBC was low.
I began looking into natural ways to support my liver health. It took a year for me to get info on the best supplements. Just started taking NAC, and have several other liver protectant products. I eat pretty much exactly how it is recommended in the books for a HepC diet. Vegetarian, but do eat eggs and salmon, eat only whole grains. Organic when possible.

My partner has been reading up on Harvoni, and is hoping I'll consider it. I'm still researching it. I don't smoke, drink, and only take two regular medications daily.
I'm hoping to get answers to some of my questions about diet, treatment, and other things to do with living with HepC

Rad

[TexasC+]

Do your homework on the Hep C geno 1,  drug and treatment options.  Talk to your doctor and do what YOU feel is best for you. If you do not seek treatment that is your right.
There is a very high cure rate with Harvoni with that Geno type.

[dragonslayer]

Rad,

You were diagnosed at a 'good' time, assuming there is such a thing... Most people who take Harvoni experience only very minor if any side effects, and the cure rate is high... 

As Im sure you know, HCV is a progressive illness with many increasing extrahepatic symptoms.  People progress at different rates, but liver disease is nothing to fool around with.

Diet and supplements have not been shown to be effective against  against HCV, liver enzyme tests as well as viral load results dont correlate well with liver damage, so Id strongly suggest you investigate with your doctor current treatment options.

[raduzhok]

Do your homework on the Hep C geno 1,  drug and treatment options.  Talk to your doctor and do what YOU feel is best for you. If you do not seek treatment that is your right.
There is a very high cure rate with Harvoni with that Geno type.

thank you TexasC+ for answering. I have spoken with a GI doctor who has treated about a dozen people, and of course he recommends Harvoni. I came here to see if I can learn about how Harvoni works, and to see the problems and the progress of EOT.  I hope that talking with people who have gone through the treatment, will help me understand what I will be faced with.

This is the beginning of my homework. I know I have a long road ahead of me.

[raduzhok]

Rad,

You were diagnosed at a 'good' time, assuming there is such a thing... Most people who take Harvoni experience only very minor if any side effects, and the cure rate is high... 

As Im sure you know, HCV is a progressive illness with many increasing extrahepatic symptoms.  People progress at different rates, but liver disease is nothing to fool around with.

Diet and supplements have not been shown to be effective against  against HCV, liver enzyme tests as well as viral load results dont correlate well with liver damage, so Id strongly suggest you investigate with your doctor current treatment options.

Thank you, Dragonslayer for answering my initial introductory post.  My actual Dx was seven years ago. I started working to lose weight. It's been successful. I dropped most of the foods which are not good for people with HCV and I'm still learning about what is and is not recommended. 

I have come here to learn more about things like the extrahepatic symptoms. There are things which I've never looked at as being connected to HCV even after being diagnosed. I have Fibro Myalgia. I only learned recently that is one of the conditions which those with HCV can develop.

The diet and supplements I have begun working with are simply to keep my liver less stressed, while I look at what is the best treatment option for me.

So much of 'other symptoms' I experience may or may not be related, but I'm finding that so many things which people experience have been shown to be a consequence of HCV. I'm trying to get a better picture, learning from others experiences, understand as much as I can, be as educated as I can be.

My greatest resistance is that the Harvoni tx has not been studied long enough to know what may or may not really work. Initial good results are definitely encouraging. So while I'm trying make sense of everything - with a doctor - I am seeking to not stress out my body and liver. While I'm aware that diet and supplements are not the 'cure' they can't hurt, according to my doctor. So  now I concentrate on talking to as many people as I can to understand and learn.