RE: liver issues?

January 13, 2003

Doc and anyone else who wants to try this one, <G>

I think I have mentioned before that I was diagnosed with Autoimmune

Hepatitis almost 8 years ago. What IS Autoimmune Hepatitis?* Well,

probably something the doctors made up to explain a condition they

couldn't otherwise explain. My liver was horribly inflamed (to the point

of developing cirrhosis) although my (repeated) blood tests were

negative for any of the known hepatitis viruses. I was treated with

Prednisone. For about a year they also had me on Imuran (an

immunosuppressant like is given to transplant patients), but I started

having pancreatitis attacks so I was removed from the Imuran. They kept

me on the Prednisone though (following a UK treatment that was

considered radical here in the US, this is all terrifying stuff, I tell

you!) So I was on Prednisone for about 7 years, slowly lowering my

dosage so my body would slowly adjust and begin making natural steroids

again). As of about 8-10 months ago, I was on a 2.5 mg a day dosage and

during a stressful life period I spaced and didn't take any for about 2

weeks. Well, I didn't want to restart them after that so I didn't and a

month or so later when I went to see my internal specialist for my

regular 6 month blood work (which has been normal for about 5 years

btw), he agreed that no I should not restart them. Hurrah for me, and oh

wow, scary to do without them after so long (crutches are hard to throw

away, you know). Anyhow, the studies done on other people with my

condition have shown that ALL patients who were completely removed from

medication relapsed horribly within a year. Well, my one year mark is on

the horizon, so I am nervous.

I haven't tried any of the Cleanses or anything yet. Some of the

recipes I have read through and then tried to figure out A) where I'd

get some of the ingredients and B) How on earth I'd afford stuff I'd

never heard of. I am past due going to get blood work done again (I hate

it, and I put it off as long as I can, usually until someone guilts me

into going,) BUT my crisis is this: I am starting to be very worried

about my liver/gallbladder/pancreas. I am having some pain in my

pancreas and gallbladder areas again off and on and my bowel movements

are odd colored lately. Very Yellow. So naturally my first (paranoid)

thought, is oh no I am throwing off bilirubin. My urine isn't orange or

anything, so that's probably not the case, but I am still pretty

worried. So, I am guessing I should probably try the Cleanses, and maybe

follow with the liver formulas?

Comments, suggestions, help? Please?

Rowan

*For your amusement (and horror) the explanation of Autoimmune Hepatitis

I got was this...(Seriously), It's NOT contagious, it's LIKE Lupus, but

it's not Lupus. The immune system goes haywire after fighting off some

form of Hepatitis (any form, it doesn't matter which), and continues to

attack the liver. So the liver continues to be inflamed and dies causing

cirrhosis. This is normally caused by being an alcoholic, but they have

NO reason for why the immune system randomly over attacks in some cases.

I was never a drinker, so they don't know why it happened to me, EXCEPT

that diabetes runs in my family and diabetes is an immune system

dysfunction and since Autoimmune Hepatitis is also an immune system

dysfunction, having these dysfunctions must be hereditary within my

family. It's pretty uncommon, but most cases are treated with Prednisone

AND Imuran for a short period of time, with the Prednisone being reduced

and removed slowly. Finally the patient is treated with just the Imuran

until their death, which is usually caused by Cancer, which is usually

caused by....the Imuran!! I swear this is what they told me!! And people

wonder why I wanted to study herbal remedies..... R.

January 16, 2003

Dear Rowan,

You most emphatically should do all the cleanses with extra emphasis on the Liver = an extra month or two on the Liver / Gallbladder Tincture. You should also be doing all the nutritional tips in my cassette lecture. You've got a row to hoe here, but it can be done ;o)

Love,

Doc

Ian "Doc" Shillington N.D.505-772-5889Dr.IanShillington

-

Janece Suarez

herbal remedies

Monday, January 13, 2003 3:15 PM

RE: [herbal remedies] liver issues?

Doc and anyone else who wants to try this one, <G>I think I have mentioned before that I was diagnosed with AutoimmuneHepatitis almost 8 years ago. What IS Autoimmune Hepatitis?* Well,probably something the doctors made up to explain a condition theycouldn't otherwise explain. My liver was horribly inflamed (to the pointof developing cirrhosis) although my (repeated) blood tests werenegative for any of the known hepatitis viruses. I was treated withPrednisone. For about a year they also had me on Imuran (animmunosuppressant like is given to transplant patients), but I startedhaving pancreatitis attacks so I was removed from the Imuran. They keptme on the Prednisone though (following a UK treatment that wasconsidered radical here in the US, this is all terrifying stuff, I tellyou!) So I was on Prednisone for about 7 years, slowly lowering mydosage so my body would slowly adjust and begin making natural steroidsagain). As of about 8-10 months ago, I was on a 2.5 mg a day dosage andduring a stressful life period I spaced and didn't take any for about 2weeks. Well, I didn't want to restart them after that so I didn't and amonth or so later when I went to see my internal specialist for myregular 6 month blood work (which has been normal for about 5 yearsbtw), he agreed that no I should not restart them. Hurrah for me, and ohwow, scary to do without them after so long (crutches are hard to throwaway, you know). Anyhow, the studies done on other people with mycondition have shown that ALL patients who were completely removed frommedication relapsed horribly within a year. Well, my one year mark is onthe horizon, so I am nervous. I haven't tried any of the Cleanses or anything yet. Some of therecipes I have read through and then tried to figure out A) where I'dget some of the ingredients and B) How on earth I'd afford stuff I'dnever heard of. I am past due going to get blood work done again (I hateit, and I put it off as long as I can, usually until someone guilts meinto going,) BUT my crisis is this: I am starting to be very worriedabout my liver/gallbladder/pancreas. I am having some pain in mypancreas and gallbladder areas again off and on and my bowel movementsare odd colored lately. Very Yellow. So naturally my first (paranoid)thought, is oh no I am throwing off bilirubin. My urine isn't orange oranything, so that's probably not the case, but I am still prettyworried. So, I am guessing I should probably try the Cleanses, and maybefollow with the liver formulas? Comments, suggestions, help? Please? Rowan*For your amusement (and horror) the explanation of Autoimmune HepatitisI got was this...(Seriously), It's NOT contagious, it's LIKE Lupus, butit's not Lupus. The immune system goes haywire after fighting off someform of Hepatitis (any form, it doesn't matter which), and continues toattack the liver. So the liver continues to be inflamed and dies causingcirrhosis. This is normally caused by being an alcoholic, but they haveNO reason for why the immune system randomly over attacks in some cases.I was never a drinker, so they don't know why it happened to me, EXCEPTthat diabetes runs in my family and diabetes is an immune systemdysfunction and since Autoimmune Hepatitis is also an immune systemdysfunction, having these dysfunctions must be hereditary within myfamily. It's pretty uncommon, but most cases are treated with PrednisoneAND Imuran for a short period of time, with the Prednisone being reducedand removed slowly. Finally the patient is treated with just the Imuranuntil their death, which is usually caused by Cancer, which is usuallycaused by....the Imuran!! I swear this is what they told me!! And peoplewonder why I wanted to study herbal remedies..... R.