[Alan1]

Need some help!
Have suffered with severe rumatic symptoms for 5yrs, also have hep-c, have had liver byopsy which returned with no immediate danger or sign of cirroesis... treatment deferred for 5yrs due to this finding. Still suffering the severe symptoms of rumatoid arthritis and are being treated with steroid injections and infusions as well as sulfasalasine. Have now had bone density scan which shows signs of bone thining and signs of the
Pre-osteoperosis stage in my spine. Given calcium and vit -b suplaments. Doctors appear to be struggling to prioratise what to treat as priority, and what specialists and treatment should be the priority... Have been told by jnr specialist that hep-c can and does create symptoms of rumatoid arthritis. I feel like for 5 yrs I've been going round in circles and being passed from pillar to post... Not blaming anyone just struggling to find solution and or priority. Any ideas or suggestions please?:

[N0help4u]

Some things that might help you BUT you do need to check if they are safe with your medications.

The dietary supplement lactoferrin — although not an herb — has shown a bit more promise as a treatment for hepatitis C. A few small studies suggest lactoferrin may reduce levels of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the blood and improve liver function. Also, the combination of lactoferrin and phosphatidylcholine, another dietary supplement, has been shown to reduce liver enzymes. Although intriguing, these results indicate the need for more definitive studies to determine what role, if any, lactoferrin may play in the treatment of hepatitis C. ---Mayo clinic

Milk thistle How One Man Uses Natural Remedies to Live a Full Life with Hepatitis C

Diet for hep c and liver support http://69.6.209.218/Website%20Files/...er_Support.pdf

I have been taking these (at bedtime) for my osteo and it has helped a lot
600 mg cal
250 mg magnesium (check interaction with meds)
Potassium
vitamin D
Hylaronic acid

Checking with an alternative medicine doctor might be a good idea because if you find a good one they can get to the root of the problem rather than treating a snowball effect of medicine side effects.

[inthebox]

What kind of "infusions" are you talking about?

Remicade, enbrel, humira, atabacet, kineret?

These classes of anti rheumatics, may help reduce or eliminate chronic steroid use that is contributing to your osteoporosis. However, like steroids, they suppress your immune system and that makes one prone to infections.
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Personally the RA should be prioritized first because

1] this is your immune system is constantly destroying your joints - no going back once the damage is done.

2] You describe your liver biopsy as "okay" - Hepatitis C's damage - cirrhosis, a higher risk for primary liver cancer - is decades down the line. Current therapy is not 100 % curative and interferon has plenty of potential side effects. Respose to therapy also depends on the genotype of your Hepatitis C. They can follow your liver function tests to see if they stay normal or get worse.

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Older RA drugs like methotrexate or imuran are potentially damaging to the liver and should be avoided since you have Hepatitis C.