Accupunture

[NewYorkDoll]

Hi everybody. Last September, I had my viral load checked. It was undectectable. My Dr. was incredulous despite the fact that she does believe in alternative medicines. She asked what I had done. I had taken an alternatie combination of herbal tinctures, meditated, and tried improving my eating habits.
Then over the course of the past year, I began to feel really, really sick. I am a student and I'd show up to class late, if at all. If I was in class, I usually had my head on my desk. I couldn't think. I had the chills. I always wanted to sleep. Thank God I had understanding profs who let me complete the course work at my own pace.
I never attributed my symptoms to the HCV. I thought once I was undetectable that I was "cured'.  I went back to my doctor and she tested me for hypoglycemia which I showed signs of so I thought to myself...Ahhh that's what's wrong with me. I changed my diet to accomodate the hypoglycemia to no avail. I still had the worst fatigue, dizziness, chills, you know what I'm talking about....
Well, I went back to have my viral load checked and surprise, surprise, my viral load was 3,200. I went back a month later to have it re-checked and it's climbing to 9,800. On Sept 4th I go back to have it re-checked again.
My Dr. knows that I wont take the Peg. treatments. they'd never psychologically clear me anyway; I've been on anti-depressants for 12 years and have suicidal ideations.
My Dr. reccommended that I continue to take the herbal treatment but also try accupuncture. I have used accupuncture in the past for stress relief and it worked great. I loved it; I'd always be the last one out of the clinic.  That was when I was actively using (I have been clean and sober for 5 years this Dec) and I don't have access to the clinic anymore; it's part of a needle exchange program.  But I digress...
But for HCV? Has anyone heard anything about what accupuncture might do to alleviate the symptoms of HCV?
I start school on Sept 3rd and I am so scared that I won't be able to get out of bed. I am willingto try any alternative treatments.  I can't stand staying in bed any longer. I feel like I'm going crazy
If anyone has any other suggestions, I'd be deeply greatful to hear them.
~~~loving-kindness~~~
Mary

[Jackie]

Mary, Welcome to the board. I am glad to see your post. I have no first hand knowledge on accupunture but suggest to email shawn here. He may post to this but email is faster I think.

Understand about school, I am taking 2 classes this fall.....whew lord help me through!!

Have a great weekend!

Jackie

[Shawn]

I do treatment with accupuncture...

It works, but it's only part of my treatment - I like it because it causes the body to relax and detox. Had a great session today...the more relaxed you get, the more healing you receive.

My accupuncture doc treats me for HCV specifically with it. Did you have any specific questions about it in general. I have been doing it ever since I started treatment.

Shawn

[phonenix]

  Hi, I also am using Acu. for my Hep.My Primary has started w/ 6 treatments, 1 per. wk. It feels great, it helps w/pain and nausia, ect.... Also I am getting Reiki treatments.But don't do this on the same day. Doc says it'll put ya out.Also my Nat-path Dr. wants to do a new F.D.A. approved therapy called Cold lazer. It's suppose to speed healing up to 30%. He want's to do that 2 times a week. May be that can give you some options.   Take care.......Phonenix    

[todd]

Hi Mary. I don't know a thing about accupuncture either, but wanted to add my voice to the welcome.
Please let us know how you're doing.

[straighten_up]

Acupuncture is being used world wide by many hcv people as an alternative means to promote whole body health, boost the immune system, and promote general well-being. Long recognized in Eastern cultures to have legit benefit, it has recently gained acceptance in Western cultures as an effective means of dealing with one's health issues, in conjunction with other therapy.

However, it is extremely important to find a qualified practitioner who has the proper credentials and experience.   There are a number of chiropracters  and other people,  for example,  who have taken a few standardized courses in acupuncture,  and have no real depth of understanding how to deal with something as complex as hcv (or anything else)  and can actually leave a client with a bad experience.  You must ascertain what schools or training they have accomplished,  and do some comparison shopping.  In my opinion,  educate yourself before signing up.  

In regards to the pcr test, few people understand that a low viral load does not neccessarily translate into good health.  In the first place, "undectable"  does not mean "eradication." or "clear."  The virus pesists at low levels that have fallen below the tests ability to detect,  at  that particular moment of time.

To help illustrate this point,   this test tends to be more sensitive to some strains of the virus than others, and the viral load comparisons between people with differing genotypes are not reliable. There is also the possibility that some quasi species variations are not picked up at all.   Hcv levels in the blood fluctuate greatly so the results have a certain hit or miss quality about it.  Also, this test is subject to interpretation, depending on what method of calculation that particular lab is using.  You can test 156,000 at one lab, and test 5,000,000 at another lab.  The National Institutes of Health considers quantitative PCR/branchedDNA tests to be of "unproven"  value, and furthermore,  viral load tests have not even been endorsed by the FDA as a diagnostic procedure.  They were supposedly going to standardize the test everywhere, but who knows if they ever did.  Tests would seem to have relative value only, in that  you started at point A and got to point B, as long as the same lab was being used.  Too bad they don't have a better test.

hcv is an cytopathic and immunuopathic virus.  It can cause liver damage and also cause damage to the immune system. From pathological studies, we know that most liver damage is due to inadeqaute immune response. The damage done directly by hcv replication is minimal.  In short, viral load is not closely related to liver damage.
Sometimes you will see your liver enzymes levels improve or normalize, even though your hcv load may be very high.   Another way of saying it is, you can have a low count, or be "undectable"  and still be very sick.  

This makes the case for alternative therapy as it pertains to the whole body health approach.   This philosophy is, the virus cannot hurt you if it is rendered harmless, and has nothing it can attack to any effective degree.  Achieving a low viral load will not heal your body in and of itself,  if it is sick and cannot repair itself .   To do that, one must approach the entire body and take appropriate measures in terms of diet, exercise, and whatever one chooses  to use to re- build good health.

In this scenario, acupuncture,  in conjunction with the concept of getting every system in the body to function as optimally as possible really makes sense.

source material:  The Hepatitus C Handbook, by Mathew Dolan,  Healing Hepatitus C with Modern Chinese Medicine by Qingcai Zhang, M,D.
 

[catsRus]

"It can cause liver damage and also cause damage to the immune system"

Well said SU, have to agree the immune system is the key; with out it you are open to all sorts of problems. I will embark on the rest of my natural treatment to boost my immune system in a week or so. I am much less worried about the hep as I am the sick I feel all over and I know it is not the hep per se. My body is losing its ability to fight even simple stress, and that has cost me many things very important to me and will continue to do so.

That's why I really wont have time to do allot I was doing before, there is so much to do including the treatment; exercise, seeking inner peace and relaxation. The whole system must work in harmony and that will be hard for me I have a very cynical nature. But all things can be overcome and I will succeed.

Thanks for the great post SU, I am going to look into starting a natural/whole wellness site in the future (not just HCV) I sure hope you will join us.

[Penney]

Hi Mary!  I am from New York also.  I live in the mid-west now for about 2 years.  I was born and grew up in Brooklyn.  It is also where I got clean in another 12-step program...saved my life.   Received my 8 year coin last night at a local meeting...I miss the Brooklyn and Manhattan meetings...

I just wanted to say hello and let you know that this site is a fabulous place to share and to find caring people who are going through exactly what you are!  HCV brought you to this site....get everything you can out of it  

Congratulations on your miracle 5 years......soon....And I was told that it is on your 5th year anniversary that you get your 'brains' back !  

Welcome to this site and I look forward to reading more of your posts.....

hugs,
Penney

[straighten_up]

I'd be honored to be part of that site,  catsRus,   and hopefully make intelligent contributions in any way I possibly can.   Good luck on your  treatment plan;   from what I've been able to tell,  I think there's more than one way to do it.  

 In my humble opinion,  detoxification,   eliminating stress as much as possible,   getting sleep,   nutrients,   etc.  goes a long way towards feeling better and building the immune system.    When that happens,  one's whole outlook on life can change for the better.   There's nothing to lose and everything to gain, no matter what treatment plan you're on,   I've come to believe.  
  One may often feel worse before one feels better as the toxins leave the body, and the brain. And  one has to evaluate exactly what is going into the system (drugs included)  so as to help the body along.   But, I believe it gets easier as time goes on.   Thanks for the invite.   I'll be there.  

Keep up the good fight,  NewYorkDoll, and good luck with acupuncture if you so choose to go there.  

[lbkathi]

 Hi Mary,
    Kathi here, also a fellow NewYorker.  Welcome to the site . Alot of informative people here. A good place to visit every chance you get.
    Again Welcome , hope to keep hearing from you.

Kathi

[phonenix]

 Hi It's Phonenix again, What Straighten-up said about feelin' a bit worse While under this treatment is true in my opinion, Cause I'm into my 2nd Wk. of Acu. & Reiki and I am havin' a case of the detox Blues. Funny, My Reiki therapist told me last night after treatment that I should take it easy this weekend, that she felt my body was pretty tired and needed rest to fight this during treatment.(She know's how hard it is to slow me down). And It shurley has. But the Advantage's of doing this VERY outweighs the slowing down of the old bod.  I Love the benifits it gives me, since I'm not a good candidate for the Tx. @ this time. So Tttthhhhaaatttsss AAALLL FFFOOOLLLKKKSSS.   Phonenix