| What
should I do to take care of myself if I have hepatitis C?
* Make sure you have received an accurate diagnosis.
Hepatitis C can be diagnosed reliably only through sophisticated
blood tests used in conventional medicine. This is one of the areas
where conventional medicine can be very helpful.
* See your health care provider regularly. Choose
a doctor, accupuncturist or herbalist that you feel comfortable
with and be sure they specialize in Hep C treatment. Report to them
your body signals, energy levels, any improvements.
* Discuss treatment options with your provider. Ask
any questions you have to make sure you understand any treatment
and possible side effects. Have an attitude of being ready to fight
for your health. Anything is possible in this world if you are open
to it and willing to fight. Follow her recommendations for any changes
to your diet and/or lifestyle.
* Tell your provider about any herbal supplements,
other dietary supplements, or medications (whether prescription
or over-the-counter) that you are using currently or considering
using. This is important for your safety. Even if your provider
does not know about the actions or interactions of an herbal supplement
or other CAM treatment, he can access the most current medical guidance.
* Get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B. Infection
with hepatitis C does not prevent a person from becoming infected
with other types of hepatitis; if this happens, it can be serious,
even life-threatening.
* Be an informed consumer. Seek high-quality, science-based
information on any CAM modality that you are using or considering.
There is free information from NCCAM, the National Library of Medicine,
and other Federal sources to help you distinguish science-based
information from other types, including word-of-mouth and manufacturers'
claims.
* If you decide to use alternative or herbal supplements,
do so with care and educate yourself, there are many options and
form of treatment. Colloidial Silver for example has been effective
for many as a way to control Hep C. |