Mother with Chronic Hepatitis B - Treatment Options?

Updated on December 07, 2009
H.N. asks from Lynnwood, WA
4 answers

I have a mother who has chronic Hep B. She probably has had it for 20+ years now. Luckily she hasn't had any new active episodes yet. I didn't realize the serious nature it can cause on the liver until recent research on the internet. Lately she's been having some side aches x several months. MRI, blood work, colonoscopy are all normal. She recently saw a liver doctor and so far no schirrosis or signs of cancer which Hep B can cause. I will be meeting up with him in two weeks to help my mom decide what to do, and it sounds like the options were to monitor every 6months or start on some meds that has only a cure rate of 5%. I would love to hear from any others who could help us decide on options to treat or not and which meds work for them. My mother is a healthy person overall, she's practically vegan, no smoking, no other meds taken.

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So What Happened?

Marda, thank you so much for your response and everyone else's. It's so true about side effects with meds. It's reassuring to hear your words. Yes, she is in remission from Hep B for 15 to 20yrs now. This onset of side aches just triggered a battery of liver tests for schirosis, cancer, colonoscopy, which so far are normal. I am going in to see her liver specialist in a couple weeks and see what he has to recommend. Despite remission, the virus is still in her (like shingles for chickenpox virus) but can cause cancer. Majority are immuned to Hep B virus and will never get it again, but she is not immuned to it. Thus the medication or monitor.

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

I notice that no one has addressed your question of which to do; monitor every 6 months or try meds with a 5% cure rate. I'm not sure what you mean by cure rate. And is your mother's hep b in remission now?

Based on my several experiences with monitoring I'd recommend the monitoring. 5% seems like such a small amount that it doesn't seem worthwhile to me if your mother's illness is in remission. She would still have to be monitored. Meds have side effects which I would consider before taking any medication.

I wonder if there could be some other cause for her pain. I have had abdominal pain, including some in the region of my liver. My pains did start when I was young. Eventually I had exploratory surgery which revealed that I had endometriosis. Endometrium, the uterine lining, can migrate throughout the body and cannot be seen without surgery. Especially if your mother had pain with her periods I would consider that a possibility. Even tho I've gone thru menopause I still have some abdominal pain. The endometrium still responds to changes in hormone levels which continue to happen.

Another possibility is a sprained or strained muscle. I get a pain in my lower left side which does not seem to occur with any particular activity. I've had numerous tests, including those for heart difficulties and a CT scan and the doctors have suggested that it could be a muscle or adhesions from surgery.

Pain, especially when we have dealt with a serious illness, is scary. I've found that I have to accept that I have pain without knowing it's actual cause. It is easier for me to do this now that I'm in my 60's because I've "survived" many times when I worried about serious possibilities that never occured.

I hope that you and your mother are able to find peace with whichever decision you make.

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C.M.

answers from Seattle on

Check out www.LongevityMedicalClinic.com (in Kirkland). Their staff has expertise in treatment of chronic illnesses and illness prevention; I would like to just go have an assessment sometime to find out what I should be doing (that's practical and do-able) for overall body and mental health. They have regular free informational seminars around the area.

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N.I.

answers from Portland on

Hi H.,

I have a natural treatment that I think will work. Shaklee has a product called Nutriferon. Nutriferon has been known to take care of Hepatitis C so I think it will work on any of the hepatitises. Also, we have a LIVER DTX which will rebuild your liver. I would try that for six months then get a blood test and I think you will be surprised.

The cost of Nutriferon is Retail: $45.90 per month or Member: $$39.00 Membership fee is $19.95.

For Liver DTX the cost is Retail: $43.80 / month or Member $37.25.

That is such a small amount to fix the problem and I have additional information if you would like it.

To order you may go to: http://nutritionproducts.myshaklee.com

N.
Wellness Coach

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B.W.

answers from Richland on

My husband was diagnosed with Hep B and C several years ago and is in complete remission now. The dr. says it is rare for it to go into remission but it does happen and my husband Kevan is proof of it. He stopped drinking and his liver repaired itself with no meds. so keep faith that all will be ok for your mom also.

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