Hep C Discussion Forum

I had my second liver biopsy (Ihave had 5 total) with my current Hep C doc in 2002.

The biopsy came back with minimal fibrosis and imflammation but showed I had toxic levels of vitamin A in my liver.

At that time I was not taking any vitamin supplements. I simply ate alot of fruits and vegetables. My hep C doc scolded me and said he had never had a hep C patient (after several hundred) which showed this on their biopsy.

So I had to cut back on my fruits and vegetables.

My next biopsy did not show toxic levels of vitamin A.

Sometimes it just seems like you can't win no matter what you do!

Hi  Sandy, thanks for your input that is very important for me. I will also give up red meat and keep my eyes on iron content

I don't worry about it again. 

keep fighting 

ucbgal wrote:

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lucy,

     i concur w/neil. my ferritin level is 2000. had it checked for genetic iron overload , tested negative and don't qualify for chetalation/blood letting.

i personally reduced my saturation of iron from 90% to 49% just by stopping iron supplements,high fiber cereal w/25% iron and starting triple.

     i wouln't worry too much about your iron. my dr. also said the treatment will resolve the issue. unfortunately the virus makes extra iron . i'd definitely give up red meat and watch the iron content in cereals. finally i'm t4 free as well.

     keep up the great work,you're almost there!

sandy,ucbgal

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My Dr. told me that what I ate would not affect my iron/ferritin levels. My hematologist

wasn't concerned with the levels 6 months ago and wrote it off to the Hep C. He said it

was normal to have high levels with the virus. I saw him again this week and my ferritin

dropped from 1200 to 800 since I saw him last so he wants to see me again in another

6 months. The nurse that oversaw my Tx recommended vitamins with no iron but that might

have just been precautionary. The hematologist told me not to worry about it and now

with UND at EOT he's expecting it to continue to drop.

I just talked with my Dr. He told me I need not worry about ferritin level. it is high due to Hep c .

my blood work test shows me: Free T4 14.9 [9.0-23], Free T3 4.2 [3.5-6.5], TSH 0.04 [0.2-4.0]

About very low TSH level. my Dr said don't care about that because my free T4 and T3 are in normal range

So from today, I decide to restrict my daily diet in order to control Ferritin level

Almost done with my treatment, only 3 shots to go, keep fighting :)

-- Edited by lucy on Thursday 11th of July 2013 04:10:16 PM

We spoke about this briefly yesterday. Another member spoke about a treatment he called "Phlebotomized", or blood collection to reduce iron or ferrite levels. There is also a process called "Chelation therapy". A substance is infused which aids in the elimination of iron via the liver and kidneys.

Red meat, egg yolks, dark leafy greens, dried fruit prunes, raisins), iron enriched cereals and grains, oysters, clams, scallops, turkey, beans, lentils, chick peas, soybeans, liver, artichokes, squash and pumpkin seeds, nuts, dark chocolate and cocoa powder and tofu. These are many but not all sources high in iron, but I hope it helps you track down some of them! Good luck!!

Lucy, sorry  but I miss read your post, darn treatment does that to me. I suffer from High ferritin/ iron a disease called Cutaneous porphyria's. It presents it self with skin manifestations often after exposure to sun due to the accumulation of excess porphyries near the surface of the skin. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porphyria

the only thing you can do is to blood let to lower the Ferritin/iron levels. This is a side effect of Hep-C. So see a doctor to discuss treatment. It took me 3 years of monthly blood letting to lower and control my Ferritin/iron levels. if you suffer from low iron take iron pills to get you back to normal range 50-300

-- Edited by TeddyTrout on Wednesday 10th of July 2013 09:00:42 PM