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Comment by diath | Hacker News Reader

Last year I was hospitalized and quarantined for Tuberculosis, which is fairly strong against antibiotics so the antibiotic therapy is 6 months long (minimum), and that's precisely how I was treated, by combining first 4 then 2 antibiotics in order to prevent the bacteria from developing resistance, but you're right, it's super bad for your liver, I've seen heavy alcoholic patients in the same ward that were refused treatment because "we would destroy your barely functioning liver and kill you", and watched them just die, but I don't think it completely prevents the bacteria from building resistance, it just minimizes the odds to a significant degree.

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Can I inquire where that was? If you don't want to share the location, maybe you care to share more about the story? Looks interesting.

What's the best way to allow the liver to recover after such heavy medication?

Don't drink alcohol. Drink water. Eat healthy, not too much, mostly plants.

> mostly plants.

This is in general good advice, but in the context of healing the liver plants are generally the type of poison your liver exists to filter in the first place, so a meat heavy diet is likely better. Of course you are trading longer term cardiovascular health for short term liver healing so don't do this for long, but if your liver is very damaged avoid plants as well for a short term.

That may seem logical, but actual testing shows a largely plant based diet is actually better for the liver.

Enterohepatic Recirculation is heavily influenced by diet which is why fiber and specifically leafy greens seem to be helpful for liver heath. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterohepatic_circulation

This is also one of the reasons activated charcoal is useful after ingesting a wide range of harmful substances.

> This is also one of the reasons activated charcoal is useful after ingesting a wide range of harmful substances.

I don't see the connection to what you wrote before it; would you mind to explain?

The primary method of action for activated charcoal is to bind to a substance in the digestive system and prevent its absorption into the body.

Unfortunately there can be a significant delay between ingesting the toxin and activated charcoal. However, substances can pass in both directions. So by lowering the concentration in the intestine it also increases the amount that diffuses back into the intestines after having entered the bloodstream.

Thanks, now I understand.

Aside from the other comment on fiber (which can always be supplemented without fresh greens if concern is phytotoxins)... Given the evidence for impact of neu5gc on liver, maybe watch out what types of meat you are consuming too, and avoid mammals.

A question for a doctor for sure.

But Wikipedia has a long article on Hepatotoxicity[0] and that suggests discontinuation of the drugs involved can allow the liver to heal (if discontinued early enough).

As a patient, you need to be conscious to ask questions and retain at least some control over your treatment whenever you can. If you're overwhelmed by what you are being told or concerned about the planned course of treatment, always ask questions, especially about long term implications and risks and how those are addressed. Generally doctors like being asked about medical things and are willing to answer when they are able. [Individual experiences may vary etc.]

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatotoxicity

doctors don't always answer questions though, most of their line of work involves infantilising patients

AFAIK once the liver is that gone, only a liver transplant can save you.

You need to get very significant amount of liver damage to the point scar formation already occured. Without constant damage and scarring liver tissue heals over time.

I was prescribed a drug that's sold under brand name Heparegen over here that I had to take for months, apparently the active compound is called Timonacic: https://drugs.ncats.io/drug/E5913T3IBL We also had to take these pills twice a day throughout my hospital stay under the supervision of nurses who would ensure we actually take all of our medication.

Also, a few months later of taking this drug, my liver is perfectly healthy (results from around two weeks ago): https://i.imgur.com/WMpH4t9.png

> Dietary timonacic slows the aging process in mammals and prolongs their life span.

That's quite an interesting molecule :)

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