Blood tests while on Alternatives

[willy]

Hi guys;  I am seeing a DR on Monday to get my blood work done.  I haven't been seen since August when I was diagnosed.  I have made some diet modifications, started taking Nat Cell in January, and recently started taking 4-life transfer factor as of a few weeks ago.  I have also started doing Raiki and have done some Yoga as well.  I want to get some tests done to see if I've improved.  I don't have super insurance so I don't want to test for everything under the sun.  Any suggestions?  The doctor under whose authority the tests are done is just an internal medicine guy and not all that knowlegable about hep.  I'll probably switch to another specialist but thought I'd ask the question; what sort of maintinence testing do you have done, and also yearly or twice yearly?  I'm feeling like if my ALTs / ASTs liver scores have come down this might be good enough proof to continue the expense of the Nat Cell.    Should I do a viral load too?  And also add any of the other tests for areas that I tested outside out of the normal range?  I also suppose that I should get my HEP A and B immunizations.
         Replies to this question might also be useful to other people that are not on TX but wanting to monitor their status.  I'm sure the doctor will have a recommendation, but I thought I'd ask here before I went in.

Thanks,
Willy

[retired]

Willie:  I was diagnosed in August and have had tests done every 3 months.  It is very important to get shots for hep a and b.  Getting hep a on top of hep c can kill you.  I have decided to go the alternative route like you have.  I am taking many simple supplements and they seem to be working.  My tests showed improvement between December and March.  ALT 61 to 43, AST 43 to 33, white blood count 4500 to 5300.  I feel it is important to get tested regularly to see if alternatives are working.  This is especially good if you are using expensive supplements.   Viral load tests are expensive.  My doctor recomments yearly testing.  Most people want a liver biospy.  This is important if you want to go the interferon route.  Good luck.  

[iftoc]

I wouldnt worry to much about the viral load there are many  studies demonstrating there is no correlation between viral load and liver damage (its an immune system thing).

Just get the liver panel. You can get this straight from a lab if you get the order from an online source. It costs about 50$, less than your doc would charge you.

Will look for and post a link for the online lab site if you cant find it, you do need a dr note to get the PCR quantative and you will pay more than the doc does for it (about 300$).

[Helen]

How often should the liver panel be done? I though every 6 months was sufficient, no?
Willy, Please keep us posted, I am also going the alternative route, making my way slowly, learning as I go, right now I am only on Maximum milk thistle, and try to do the lemon thing often, looking into vitamins and a few other things, just kind of feeling my way thru.
Take care and God Bless, Helen

[alley-oops]

Helen,make sure your vitamins don't have iron in them okay?

Willy , the virul load test is for measuring (and justifying) during interferon treatment.  I have heard of it jumping all over the place without making the person feel either better or worse, so save your $$ on that one.
I usually get a liver panel  every 3-6 months. As you said it's the AST/ALT that show liver degenoration, so they'd be the best for keeping you informed about your alternatives.
hope you feel well,
alley

[willy]

Thanks guys!!
         I go in tomorro at 10:30.  There are things that I "know" but that if the Doc pushed for I might give in, like the PCR test.  I'd rather spend it on alternatives than on him or on an unnecessary test.  I have not had a biopsy because right now I can't lose a week of downtime on construction work.  Furthermore, I'm not sure that it would convince me to go on TX anyway.  If the regimen I'm working on shows that I'm not responding I will probably refine it further instead of doing TX.  In another 6 months if THAT fails I will look closer at TX.  I have deliberately put off a biopsy and the hep A and B vacinations so I can get a better sense of how the diet changes and supplents are working.  I hope to know that very soon and will probably get the vacinations tommorro and the biopsy in the next few months.  Iftoc, how does the online thing work?  They grant the authority and have a local blood draw?  It sounds convenient and would save money; sounds good.  LINK?

         Thank you for your input, and I will let you know how I'm doing in about 7-10 days.

Best,
Willy

[iftoc]

This is the lab I have used. What they do is have a doc in house that sends you an order to take to your local lab. Thats why they dont get into the more serious tests their doc cant really do a good job diagnosing your ailments over the net.

Also look at their packages you can get some other basics done for about the same price. Cardio plus is 59$ and you can get a free ironlaod with TIBC test this month (all heppers should have this). Cardio plus is:
Chemistries:
Glucose
Uric Acid
Bun
Creatinine
Bun/Creatinine Ratio
Sodium
Potassium
Chloride
Calcium
Phosphorus
Portein
Albumin
Globulin
Albumin/Globulin Ratio
Bilirubin, Total
Alkaline Phosphatase
LDH
AST (SGOT)
ALT (SGPT)
GGT
Iron
Lipids:
Cholesterol, Total
HDL
VLDL
LDL
Total Cholesterol/HDL Ratio
Triglycerides

The complete wellness at 89$ is also a great deal.

I have to go to the lab in the big city but it is much faster than the doctor (takes maybe 10-15 minutes) and i usually have my results in 3-4 working days, they send me the printout so i can keep a history of all tests.

http://www.directlabs.com/

[Rob]

Hi Willie,
I wish you the best tomorrow and will be thinking of you.
My doctor hasnt' mentioned the A & B shots, yet, but I read here that they are recommended because if either one of those strains is contracated while having Hep C it can be very serious. So it's good that you plan on getting them. I plan on mentioning them to my doctor, too.  Just wanted to let you know I'm thinking of you.

Take care, Buddy,
Robin

[iftoc]

Forgot to say the basic liver panel is 37$ Even with my insurance if i value my time at all this is a lot cheaper than the doctor. 15$ X 2 co pays (got to go back to doc to get results) plus an hour+ at doc and an hour+ at their lab reading crappy magazines  VS 37 dollars and 10 minutes at the lab. Plus if the doc wants they can charge for the lab documentation, which i get directly the internet way.

Also this is new i have not seen this on their site before.

Acute Hepatitis Panel  DLS Price    $225
Retail $325  You Save $100  
Hepatitis is a liver disease. There are two kinds of hepatitis – those caused by viruses and those caused by chemicals or drugs. The liver performs many functions in the body, including processing the body’s nutrients, manufacturing bile to help digest fats, and breaking down potentially toxic (harmful) substances into harmless ones that the body can use or excrete. When the liver is damaged, these functions are impaired to some extent and the potentially toxic substances accumulate. The hepatitis virus reaches the liver through the blood stream, multiplies in the liver cells, and is released into the bloodstream, the bile duct, and feces; in this way, it can be spread to other people. This test includes:

Hepatitis A Antibody, IgM
Hepatitis B Core Antibody, IgM
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen
Hepatitis C Antibody

[iftoc]

Helen

Every 6 months is fine just to keep an eye on the beast. Some of us do it more often so we can try to get an idea if our regimens are helping or not.

[willy]

Well now;  This is like Christmas!  Thanks for the responses, hellos, and great information.  I forgot to mention that iron test, and so I'm glad you brought that up IFTOC.  I think that I may just print this off and take it with me tommorro and copies of my old test records.  The online service, Directlabs, looks great and I expect to use them in the future.  Of course I understand that they won't replace a flesh and blood doctor or good clinic but I'm almost asymptomatic and only had a few tests outside of range last go round.  Thanks again for all the info and the link.
        Robin you're right about the Hep A and B test.  I deliberately have not done them or the biopsy because I wanted to be able to assess my health and the effects of the diet changes and alternative therapies that I am trying.  The vacinations and the biopsy have the efffect of raising your viral load.   I wanted to check the results before adding something else that could muddle the results.
         Well, it's 12:40 here and I'd best start sawing logs.  Thanks again everybody.

Best,
Willy

[todd]

Hey Willy, hope things go well with your tests.

Are you sure that the a and b vaccinations, and the biopsy, increase viral load? The reason I ask is that I've heard both answers to that question.

Got the bill for my last pcr the other day, $325.

Take care buddy, sounds like you've got a real good plan working for you.

[Rob]

Does the viral load increase mean I can cancel the biospy today? Just checking.  I know, I know.  You guys all spent all that time reassuring me and now I'm trying to get out of it.
Seriously, now I know if there is an increase that there is a reason and won't panic. Thanks.
Well, here it goes.
Well, out that door an I am taking warm thoughts of all of you with me.
You guys are so great.
Take care,
Robin

[Helen]

Thank you all, I did know about the iron, but Im still really confused about what I SHOULD take exactly, have alot of research to do, and want to be carful not to overdo the vitamin thing, I was thinking maybe just a multivitamin with no iron along with the Milk Thistle and the alpha lipoic every other day for now. Any suggestions?

Helen

[Helen]

Forgot to say good luck on your biopsy Robin, want to tell you mine was a pc. of cake, only had a local and had NO problems whatsoever, didnt even need a Tylenol after, just took it easy the rest of the day, was tender there for a few days, went to work next day, no problem, hope its the same for you.  
God Bless, Helen