[COLOR="Purple"]I just know what I know.
I guess my chemicals were balanced (for the most part
) before I started shooting up with a weekly dose of chemo (interferon - now, some say interferon is chemo and others say it isnt???) and a daily dose of five magic pills (ribavirin) of which I am told - little is really known how they work but they boost the interferon!
The effects were pretty immediate and as suggested: flu like symptoms as the interferon aroused my cytokines - in an attempt to fight off the virus C. I was also told to be aware of my mental stability as this chemical combo most often causes depression.
I think it was around the 8th week of self injecting weekly and a zillion "magic" pills when, while riding bicycle home, it got into my brain that I didnt need to stop at that red light... then I saw a large rig truck coming at me and thought - wow, bet that would leave some mark on me if I didnt stop
Fortunately I was in proper mind just enough to know that I was having these thoughts and so pressed on the brakes at the red light as the truck went on its way.
ADs were horrible in themselves. The sides took away some of my last pleasures in my "flu" sick body but at least they controlled those dark thoughts from returning. I was so happy to be off all that crap when I "cured".
Soooo, from my experience I understood that bad chemicals went in causing an imbalance and then more chemicals were used to bring it all in-balance.
The percentage of patients trying to "cure" hep C with the combo treatment who "turn" depressive is so high that most docs just prescribe ADs a bit before they start shooting up interferon and try to "catch" one before they even take a step toward the other side.
This was my old sig but I got depressed looking at it:
Intensive cytokine arousal for a prolonged period of time is bound to leave its mark on the body, mind and soul.
Now about the sticking of needles into subjects and all... I thought they did do that but also using advanced imaging tools also showed actions and reactions in the brain???
Also, I asked if it was just a comment on mental illness or as a whole as we do understand pretty well when an imbalance happens in the thyroid - well, the endo system as a whole... Imbalances of testosterone may have hit a few members here (or may eventually hit) and that seems to be pretty well understood.
I think, since I went thru, and continue to go thru it all, that it really is fascinating! We dont notice what a fine tuned machine our bodies are until something puts its touch on that delicate balance.[/COLOR]