About Me

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This blog is a personal space where I can post some of my photos and talk about some of my favorite things. I have many interests, including, but not limited to: The Western Mystery Tradition, Rosicrucianism, Gnosticism, Modern Chinese Medicine, Photography, Music, Chess, Computers, ad infinitum..... I love to read, hate television, but do enjoy good movies. Newest entries are always posted on the top of page.

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Discontinuing the Chinese Medicine for now.

Well, after weighing all the factors I have decided to discontinue Dr Zhang’s herbal protocol for now. I felt great on the Chinese Medicine for about 6-8 months and then they seemed to no longer have any effect. Thus, due to the very high cost of the protocol (close to $300/month) I can no longer justify the expense. Plus there’s the factor of even though I do seem to feel somewhat better at times when I take the Chinese Medicine my liver enzymes have continued to elevate and as Ron Metcalfe commented on my last post, “I felt better when I did TCM. However my ALT's kept elevating and I could never rule them out as the protagonist.”
Thus, for now I’ve decided to discontinue the Chinese Medicine and then have my liver enzymes retested in three months to see if perhaps there is a correlation?
Having said all that, however, I can’t deny the amazing healing effects I experienced with the Chinese Medicine last October/November 2005 when I was the sickest. I felt much better within two weeks of beginning the Chinese Medicine. Maybe, the CM is better for short term healing and not so much for long term use. At any rate, I am glad I gave it a try, as I can say for certain I am much healthier now than I was a year ago.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Is No Treatment Better Than Treatment?

Well, it’s time to admit that treatment with Dr. Zhang’s Modern Chinese Medicine protocol has not had the hoped for results. When I say hoped for results I mean that this chronic viral infection continues to at times interefere with my life, causing me to miss work, cancel social engagements (had to miss my Grandmother’s 84th birthday party this past weeknend which was very discouraging) etc.

On the other hand I am far better off than I was at this time last year when I was the illest I had ever been due to this condition. How much did Dr. Zhang’s herbal protocol contribute to this improvement over the last year or how much was simply the result of the body’s natural ability to heal itself I cannot say?

At any rate, thinking about all of this over the last few days as I’ve once again been feeling ill has led me to the conclusion that for this particular viral illness no treatment at all may in fact be preferable to the current standard medically accepted treatment for Chronic Hep C infection. Consider the following which comes directly from the website of the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;

What are the chances of persons with HCV infection developing long term infection, chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, liver cancer, or dying as a result of hepatitis C?
Of every 100 persons infected with HCV about:

  • 55-85 of persons might develop long-term infection
  • 70 persons might develop chronic liver disease
  • 5-20 persons might develop cirrhosis over a period of 20 to 30 years
  • 1-5 of persons might die from the consequences of long term infection (liver cancer or cirrhosis)

What is the treatment for chronic hepatitis C?
Combination therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin is the treatment of choice resulting in sustained response rates of 40%-80%. (up to 50% for patients infected with the most common genotype found in the U.S. [genotype 1] and up to 80% for patients infected with genotypes 2 or 3). Interferon monotherapy is generally reserved for patients in whom ribavirin is contraindicated. Ribavirin, when used alone, does not work. Combination therapy using interferon and ribavirin is now FDA approved for the use in children aged 3-17 years.

[up]What are the side effects of interferon therapy?
Most persons have flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, headache, muscle and joint aches, fast heart rate) early in treatment, but these lessen with continued treatment. Later side effects may include tiredness, hair loss, low blood count, trouble with thinking, moodiness, and depression. Severe side effects are rare (seen in less than 2 out of 100 persons). These include thyroid disease, depression with suicidal thoughts, seizures, acute heart or kidney failure, eye and lung problems, hearing loss, and blood infection. Although rare, deaths have occurred due to liver failure or blood infection, mostly in persons with cirrhosis. An important side effect of interferon is worsening of liver disease with treatment, which can be severe and even fatal. Interferon dosage must be reduced in up to 40 out of 100 persons because of severity of side effects, and treatment must be stopped in up to 15 out of 100 persons. Pregnant women should not be treated with interferon.

[up]What are the side effects of combination (ribavirin + interferon) treatment?
In addition to the side effects due to interferon described above, ribavirin can cause serious anemia (low red blood cell count) and can be a serious problem for persons with conditions that cause anemia, such as kidney failure. In these persons, combination therapy should be avoided or attempts should be made to correct the anemia. Anemia caused by ribavirin can be life-threatening for persons with certain types of heart or blood vessel disease. Ribavirin causes birth defects and pregnancy should be avoided during treatment. Patients and their healthcare providers should carefully review the product manufacturer information prior to treatment.

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To sum it all up, only 1-5 % of persons with Chronic Hepatis C infection might die from the consequences of long term infection (liver cancer or cirrhosis). Is this small percentage of risk worth the many side effects of the current medically prescribed treatment of choice, especially when the current treatment, ribavirin + interferon, is only effective for up to 50% of patients infected with the most common genotype found in the U.S. [genotype 1]!!!! Is this 50% chance worth all the risks of combination therapy? For myself, I had to answer no. After all, death is not the problem, we're all going to die. Life is the challenge and at this point I don't need the added challenge of combo therapy side effects.

For myself, medical science is going to have to give me better odds than the above. This is why, for now, I choose non-treatment over treatment. I will continue to strive to live a quality life, do what I can to better my health through practical means, good diet, meditation, exercise, positive frame of mind and perhaps more importantly in the words of Warren Zevon, “enjoy every sandwich”.

This is the day that the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it! -Psalms 118:24

Sunday, October 01, 2006

It's Been A Year

Well, it’s been about a year since I decided to give Dr. Zhang’s Chinese Herbal Medicine protocol for Hepatitis C a try. Was it successful? I just had another check of my liver enzymes this past month and the labs showed continued elevation of my ALT and AST enzymes. AST was now 100 compared to 110 back in May, while ALT now measures at 170 compared to 181 back in May. So judging by these criteria there is no objective improvement, but I must admit, subjectively things are much better, especially, compared to last October when I was very ill. I feel much better now, more energy and though I still have bouts of not feeling well, lethargy, malaise, body aches, loss of appetite they are nowhere near as severe as a year ago. I do know I enjoyed a round of golf this morning on a beautiful Fall day and was grateful to be there.
One important point to remember is that lab testing of liver enzymes does not in any way indicate the amount of liver damage, yes, it does show definite evidence of liver inflammation but the only true measure of actual liver damage is the liver biopsy. I have undergone two biopsies in the last 7 years and both of them graded only a 1, which leads me to believe that aggressive treatment with interferon is, in this case, unwarranted. I’m still not convinced that interferon therapy is the answer in most cases of Hepatitis C infection, especially since it can cause even further health problems and with barely a 50% success rate is it really worth the risk?
All I know is that I am able to enjoy today, and really, isn’t that enough?

“17. Also the Holy One came upon me, and I beheld a white swan floating in the blue.

18. Between its wings I sate, and the æaons fled away.

19. Then the swan flew and dived and soared, yet no whither we went.

20. A little crazy boy that rode with me spake unto the swan, and said:

21. Who art thou that dost float and fly and dive and soar in the inane? Behold, these many æons have passed; whence camest thou? Whither wilt thou go?

22. And laughing I chid him, saying: No whence! No whither!

23. The swan being silent, he answered: Then, if with no goal, why this eternal journey?

24. And I laid my head against the Head of the Swan, and laughed, saying: Is there not joy ineffable in this aimless winging? Is there not weariness and impatience for who would attain to some goal?

25. And the swan was ever silent. Ah! but we floated in the infinite Abyss. Joy! Joy!

White swan, bear thou ever me up between thy wings!”

---Liber LXV, Cap. II, vs. 17-25