Philostopher wrote:
A lot of people in the late 80's were unknowing victims of this same situation deuce. I do want to clarify something. It was about 20 years before I found out I had this disease. I wasn't just sitting around killing beers knowing that I was committing a slow suicide.
Back in the 70's & 80's I had 5 back surgeries. I didn't find out until 2002 that I most likely have some form of hepatitis or hep-c, which is a misnomer. (blood in urine gave it away) So now, I drink a few beers on the weekends and once in awhile at a concert. No drinking at home or during the week and never hard liquor. I quit completely for 5 years, had a liver biopsy and the docs were shocked I was still producing t-cells and platelets and all that good shit. I wasn't even offered a spot on the transplant list. Fuckers thought I was a drug, dope smokin' addict who was still drinking and gonna drop at any second. Not a "good candidate". I was profiled by assholes who played god and thought I wasn't worth saving is what happened. I'm basically healthy and have a clean colon too! I've always taken Saw Palmento, Milk Thistle, the right vitamins, herbs and supplements and I eat right with no red meats and lots of greens. My mom was a vitamin freak and passed it on to me. Everything in moderation though is key. The liver specialist asked me if I've ever turned yellow, they acted like I was gonna check out any moment. They're all full of shit! 80-90% percent of Americans have some kind of hepatitis from blood transfusions. If you had an operation before 2000, you most likely have some sort of form of that disease. They just call it hep-c. It's just a catch all phrase for all that group of stuff they haven't figured out yet. I might have hep-z, which, with being a ZappaFreak is more likely. I'm going to live to be 120 or so, I can see it. I've always pictured myself as a cool old Ben Franklin kinda guy ever since I was a teen. I have no problem with it either. The docs do! I was told by numerous docs I'd be in a wheelchair by the time I was 35 when I busted my back at 15. They didn't think I'd ever walk. A month later I was up. I'll be 60 this year and can out dance all you Mo-Fo's! What do docs know? Not freakin' much man. I do have a twisted back (scoliosis) that I hide well and it always hurts but years of pain make you get to where you can take it more than mere humans can. I look and feel healthy, so I get no respect from the docs or uneducated folks when I am having a painful spasm or my spinal cord nerve starts trippin' out. I did hook up with a pain clinic with a doc that's also become a friend about 20yrs. ago. He likes Zappa a lot too. Even saw DZpZ when they played here and took his wife! The other docs forget to tell you that the liver is an amazing organ that can rejuvenate itself given the chance. I gave it a chance is all and I feel pretty damn good for being told I might have 3- 5 years before total liver failure back in '02. I don't plan on going gently into that good night and I'll never walk towards any fuckin' light! That's the wrong way bro'! So start giving yourself a break, don't believe the docs, believe in yourself and eat right. I also believe that you can project yourself into the future as time is nothing but continuous motion. Ya just hop on board and try not to dump your ride. Like riding a bike, just go out and live like your like your fine and start believing it. Some lifestyle changes are always happening, so go with the flow but float, don't let it drown you. And worrying about it all the time will just give you ulcers and high blood pressure. Life's great and full of neat surprises... like me and cal. Right cal? I'm sick with worry about his toe too! Where the Maalox?

Well I hope ya got the idea anyway, don't let the bastards get you down, cause they don't know fer sure either what's really gonna happen. They just think they do. That and they're goddamn god complex can really kill a person.
Good luck to you Philo bro'!
