Dear Lloyd,

I'm visiting my parents in Arizona from Germany.

I have evidently had hepatitis C for at least 25 years. My liver values have seemling always been "slightly elevated", however due to the lack of PCR/NAT testing nobody could ever tell me why and to be honest, I never worried or even thought much about it. Like you, I wasn't an alcoholic, did drink a beer a couple of times a week to unwind and realized that the alcohol must have been doing its job on my liver and chalked it up to that. I never dreamed or even thought about the 2 blood transfusions I received when I was 16.

At the ripe old age of 40 I was sent to a "Kur" for rehab and the news of my suffering liver reached me once again. The doctor said the values were just slightly above normal but that I should seek treatment immediately once I arrived back home in Frankfurt. I did this. At least I tried.

Having called the patient walk-in liver "Ambulanz", I was given an "appointment" at the earliest possible date about 4 weeks later. I arrived for the appointment a little early only to find that I had to stand in line for about a half an hour to "register". I registered and then had to stand in another line for 20 minutes to "classify". Finally, my feet were killing me and I was glad to sit for a while. I read a book. I fell asleep. I woke up and read some more. I had only just punched out at work and was beginning to wish I had taken the whole day off because this was turning out to be a 5 hour affair and I hadn't even seen the doctor yet. This "appointment" business was a real joke. One of the many "they" play on you to put you in your place and cause you to succumb to their subtle manouverings.

By the time Frau Dr. Adler finally called I was somewhat livid, though relieved. I wanted to discuss this thing in detail. I wanted to find out all about this interferon treatment that was going to save my liver and eradicate the hepatitis c virus from the corpus altogether. Actually, I was thrilled that I was taking the responsibility, that I had gotten through the lines and the too-long wait to see this woman who turned out to be a most beastly creature.

Frau Dr. was short, curt and unluckily for me - out of time. She asked about medical history. I told her I'd had surgery for scoliosis at 15 and that autologous transfusions were taken and administered. At 16 they found cancer and filled me full of chemo and radiation. My blood count was low and I had to be admitted again - I was given 2 transfusions to boost my values. I made sure they were both AB positive. Unfortunately I was unable to do the NAT testing myself on blood that turned out to be HCV-positive.

(I had the usual jaundice and yellowing, which, in my horrible, sadistic doctor's opinion was due to the chemo. Later I developed gall stones, which still plague me, especially when I am upset, which seems to be most of the time of late.) Considering everything, even the 2 transfusions, I have come to the conclusion that chemo causes hepatitis-C, too. If that came out, though, doctors would be made responsible and doctors and responsibility just don't jive. And so, they blame it on transfusions, or just bad luck - it's YOUR problem, so deal with it - but please, when you deal with it, do it OUR way.

Before she threw me out, Dr. Adler (or was it Dr. Vogel? She was a strange and tough little bird) mentioned that , in light of my "background" with cancer, Interferon was most probably out of the question for me as a treatment option, but ordered that I should stand in line for a liver test anyway. She told me to get back into the registration line I had stood in at the outset of my "appointment".

She had sent me to the wrong line but thank goodness she did because in it I became acquainted with a young man. This young man was more or less bald and as it turned out had just taken his last treatment for hepatitis C. What he was standing in line to be registered for I'll never ascertain. What he told me, though, was most interesting. The Interferon, he claimed, was a synthetic drug with barbaric side effects. Hair loss and visual impairment were accompanied by nausea, headaches and fever. His testimony was enough for me. If it didn't cure me of the hep-C I was at the very least cured of the idea that interferon was the wonder drug I was looking for.

I nevertheless stood it out in line but when the receptionist told me that Frau Dr. had sent me here and not "upstairs" to the appropriate person, I left the "liver ambulanz" and the Uni-Clinic - FOR GOOD. Why should I let them skim my liver? Especially people who obviously could not care less about my welfare or wellbeing.

I did, however, visit a local internist for info and a little check-up, just to be thorough. Dr. Mondorf took blood and examined my organs via ultrasound. He said the liver looked good, just like it should.
When I went back to Dr. Mondorf several days later for the test outcome, he said my viral load was 3 million and my genotype who-knows what. I can never remember that genotype - 1 b, I think. Whatever it is, I would statistically-speaking wind up as a non-responder. Knowing this, why would I blast myself with interferon? Do I want to lose my job, my mind?

Dr. Mondorf was a level-headed and rational doctor and man, I thought. I rather liked his prognosis that if I ate right, and excluded alcohol altogether and took Marien Distel (milk thistle), which is known to support liver function, then he would like to see me in a year. I felt that this was the best possible prognosis and was satisfied with both it and him.

Approximately 1 1/2 years later I went to Mondorf again, but only at the prompting of my family doctor (Fr. Dr. Nowak), who more or less insisted fervently that I inquire again about interferon treatment, as this was "the only way to rid my body of hepatitis C forever." This bit shocked me - was she for REAL? I countered that I had the genotyp that generally does not respond to interferon. She said "it's worth a try". I argued that because I had had cancer and that the interferon for that reason alone was out of the question. Fr. Dr. replied - unphased - "oh, but that was so long ago". I could not believe my ears. Even my mentioning the severe depression and flu-like symptoms linked to interferon could not daunt Fr. Dr. The chance or even the liklihood of me losing my job couldn't rile her out of a state of childlike naivete concerning the ravaging effects of this manmade drug. It was disconcerting, to say the least. How could this woman and doctor whom I respect(ed) have so little respect for me?

So I went back to Mondorf. It was upsetting, that he, too, had obviously changed his tune regarding me and interferon "treatments". The viral load was still at 3 million. The genotype was of course unchanged - as was my "background" of bone cancer. Why then, did Mondorf now insist I go on interferon? Why did he seem so excited about the prospects? I challenged him with the fact that it was HE who had first led me to believe that interferon wasn't an option. It was HE who berated the drug because of its mind- and nerve-deadening effects. Why the sudden change in attitude? Dr. Mondorf then proceeded to "lay into me" that with that kind of attitude I would never be healed - after all, if I didn't try it, I'd never know for sure and would certainly regret that later.

I felt betrayed and realized that with Mondorf I was no longer in the best of hands as far as a doctor's care is concerned. It scared me - not only for myself, but for others who I was sure would be lured in by his certitude of healing - regardless of what the statistics - THE FACTS - tell us. I was appalled at his change of mind and course - he was no longer rational. He was sold on interferon and in my opinion no longer to be trusted.

I asked him about research in this area. His answer was that research is unfortunately "at a standstill". What he knew but didn't consider was that, working with the mighty doctors for years, I also know that they are busy "researching" everything else under the sun - so why not Hep-C? What he didn't know I know what that there is a grandiose group of doctors who have masterminded the so-called "Hep-Net" in Germany, which exists - supposedly - for the sole reason of helping those afflicted. Without further ado I have to pronounce, like you Lloyd, that it appears to be, as always, all about the money, the prestige, the power that accompanies those who wear white coats and stethascopes they never use and who goad and otherwise mistreat and torture poor animals and people for a living - never considering the long-term consequences for us or themselves.

I have gone on and on here - like most people who have been so unfortunate as to have had extended and intense contact with doctors, the majority of whom are quacks and snakes. Uncaring, calloused - and yes, stupid. Uncommonly blinded by money and power.

That is why books like yours are so important. I was thrilled to have found pages and pages of rampages against interferon on the internet, too. Not that I am "negative" on the drug - if it worked or even appeared to work without the horrible side-effects what normal-thinking person could be against it? What I hate and cannot stand are those enslaved doctors who would just as soon see you enslaved, suffering, dead - who cares? The main thing is, they get theirs - social prominence, prestige, power - and of course money. Those doctors who either beguile or belittle us into letting ourselves be hurt by them. It's really a crime, if you think about it. And they will not go unpunished. Until they are, its our job to take responsibility for ourselves and speakout against those who have forgotten their responsibility - to wake them up out of their complacency and especially from their greed. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I also wanted to ask you about the NatCell thymus. Can you send it to Germany? How much does it cost?

Please let me know. My address is: .......

Thanks!
kristine E .