Alcohol Abstinance May Be A Crock in some Instance

Go figure I’d find this place AFTER TX! Sheesh,

Not saying abstinance is a crock but an occasional drink will not Effect TX... just researched the alcohol threds lol and is a total crock of B.S. because I drank a few times in TX and I’m not an alcoholic!  I PASSED the SVR test. Now I don't recomend this to ya'll with bad livers and then off course you'd want to stay off the juice

Seems there wouldn’t be such a fuss maid if ya’ll would just openly admit any consumption and not get scared of getting prosicuted here.  Why  should a support board hold trial anyway.???  Most of the ones probably condeming Alcohol drink secretly…. Just seems something is a skew!

:(

some indiveduals feed off of contraversy! WHATEVER... thot I’d put in my 2cents worth in cause folks need informative factual info,,,, not ignorant scare tacktics!

I am sooo Sorry to hear of some of your storys, I have recently been going thru much mjyself,  I treated HCV & now have a life thretening condition that will now take Precedence.  I TX one thing, now have to TX another!!

Wish I could be of more help but will atempt to offer some support ...  for a long time I put the whole HCV treatment scene behind me and blocked out what parts I do remember. I understand from some folksthat were close to me thot I had a complete breakdown.   So maybe that helps! KNOWING you will get through this mess with little remebrance of it!

Good Luck& I'll keep you in my prayers!

: )

[franke566]

Just out of curiosity are you drunk?  You are slurring your sentences!

[franke566]

Forgive me, that was rude.  Welcome to the forum.  Keep coming back-It works, It works!

[cuisinier_specialise]

aww.... no problemo!

Stupid that I broght it up in first place!!!! lol  

The subject got under my skin ....when reading what a big deal and emphases folks put on it!  

just like the cigerettes .....we picked up some mighty BAD habits and kinda late in the game to rehab.   Rehabs for quitters anyway!!!!!

thanksx :>) for the nice words!

[sturmond_drang]

My doc said he doesn't think that alcohol necessarily accelerates HCV. But he points out that it does cause unnecessary work for your liver, and can cause liver damage. So there's certainly no harm in avoiding alcohol. After all, it's toxic to your nervous system and can can predispose you to peripheral neuropathy, especially if you are taking Inf/Riba, which can also cause peripheral neuropathy. Imagine a scenario where you already have PN and you must take Inf/Riba to save your life. A terrible choice, one that some chess players refer to as Zugzwang - it's your move, you have to move, and whatever you do will hurt you.

[jdwithhcv]

Personally, I could not have gagged down alcohol during tx if I wanted to.  I didn't want to, so I gave it little thought.  

[alagirl]

There isn't a safe threshhold yet established for alcohol use with chronic hcv.  Many doctors will not treat those who also drink.  There is also evidence that former excessive alcohol use has an effect on disease progression.

[cuisinier_specialise]

Hummm, seems that Zugzwang is where I'm at in LIFE!! I gotta move but no matter which way.... it is going to hurt

I personally don't condone, nor recommend drinking.... unless it IS a LOT... but my Last Doc was FULLY AWARE I had an occasional drink

So..... guess its personal patient to Doc situation and they all gonna have different OPINIONS!!


Nothing about HCV, is COOKIE CUTTER nor can TX be standardized!

How is your neuropathy manifested???  My feet been starting to spasm into painful shapes and have to massage them and this was AFTER TX.  I was told that might be something to checkout.   I dunno... seems there's always something

[alagirl]

just because you drank a few times during tx and still achieved SVR does not mean that there is scientific evidence that most people can drink during tx with no ill effect.

[HCA]

Although I agree that those with active Hep C should not drink whether on treatment or not.I think that the effects of alcohol are far more insidious than popularly supposed.
When people say that drinking with Hep C is 'pouring petrol on a fire' or that it 'destroys the medication' I always think 'How do you know?'
There have been studies which have formed an association between alcohol use and fibrosis progression but I am not entirely convinced that a moderate drinkers outcome would necessarily be affected.Additionally individuals admitted alcohol use tends to be understated which could easily skew the data.
I do think that those who drink on treatment are likely to be less compliant,missing doses ect.
Heavy drinking may well be a different matter and certainly there is plenty of evidence on this forum of Hep C alcoholic cirrhotics declining very quickly.
I practice what I preach-I have been dry since I was diagnosed nine years ago.Alcohol is bad with this condition but the downside is often expressed with a fervour which may exceed the reality.

[Rockerforlife]

Heres my 2 cents....not meaning to offend,but why even think about alchol while taking  the TX drugs ...as far as im concerned...if you cannot go without one drink while you are trying to save your life and you know damn well its common sense that booze and liver dont mix....if you drink booze while on TX,,,you have a drinknig problem..at least wait till you save yur A.SS,,then go for it if you want....i for one will have a drink EOT...if i SVR...i dont,,,,i wont drink ever again

[epiphiny]

Zugzwang.  Now that's a great word!  Thanks!

But back to the topic:  I've just found this thread and didn't realize a war has been raging over alcohol.  To drink or not to drink.  Something that has been on my mind of late as I consider life after tx....

I was on a trial and there was definitely no alcohol allowed while on the trial (makes sense to me) and I made a commitment to myself that I would have absolutely no alcohol, not even in cooked sauces or deserts etc, for the rest of my treatment until 6 months post tx when I would reassess the situation.  There is a small amount of alcohol in drinks such as apple juice so I even avoid that!

I don't have long to go until 24 weeks post and I'm already questioning whether to drink or not again.  I'm a party girl from way back, and I do enjoy fine wine with a delicious meal and good company but if there is the remotest chance that alcohol could affect the outcome of my treatment or continued UND status then I really don't care if I never have a sip of wine again....

Incidentally, on my first tx which was not successful, I was told by my medical team that a glass or so of wine a week wouldn't affect the outcome of my treatment.  So I would have a glass of wine with dinner every so often, certainly not every day.  Well, that tx failed.  I can't attribute my non success to a glass or so of wine, but like I said anything that has the remotest chance of having a detrimental affect on my treatment outcome has and will be avoided.

What is drinking alcohol in the bigger scheme of things?  Nothing!

It's a personal choice.  Alcohol or being Hep-free, I know which one I'm choosing...  It's not the moral high ground I'm taking here it's just my deeply considered choice...

[alagirl]

HCA - I happen to agree with you, but unfortunately the studies are not consistent enough to let us know what constitutes "heavy drinking."  

[charm27]

Sometimes by making NO comment at all a person can say so much.

[choprchk]

Well said charm!!!

[GoofyDad]

Does that mean that if you say more you actually say less? And by so doing you're then saying more? So now you're saying less again? Help me, I'm cornfused again :(

[duekah]

I have had Hep-C for 25 years (dormant) and found out about it 4 years ago , I drank in moderation during all of that time , now I drink even less ,no more than 3 beers regardless for an entire evening once a week( I weigh 225) , I am drinking less and enjoying it more . I am well aware of the dangers of alcohol and 2-3 drinks for an entire evening is not considered abuse . Now if I was undergoing treatment different story.

[Marcia2202]

I stopped smoking and boozing 1998 / 99. I didn't know I had HCV then, I just didn't like it anymore. I was glad I did, when I was diagnosed last year.

[mj6000]

In my opinion,"after" TX the virus is gone or it isn't....If you drink in moderation after TX how could that effect your chances of SVR?

[alagirl]

I think people were referring to drinking before and during tx.  Not after.  At least I was.

[Magnum]

For all it's worth, Dr. Robert Gish's assisting doctor said after I asked if i could have a couple of glasses of champagne for my birthday, quote "it's not the end of the world".
However, for the firs time ever, I didn't even have a glass of champagne for New Year's.

Let's see.... I stopped drinking 10 years ago (After being diagnosed, I drank for 5 years as if Prohibition was coming back because the doctors back then said “we’ll keep on eye on this Hepatitis problem”, instead of “stop drinking immediately” as they tell you now).

I probably spent $500 a year minimum on booze in bars and/or buying bottles, so, $5,000 later, I'm richer in the pocket, but yet envious when I'm at a party with friends. However, I'm giving my liver every chance to heal before and soon on treatment.

As for boozing while on treatment? Why? Give me one very very good reason and I'll shut up...

Magnum

[GoofyDad]

The Gish camp suggested to me that non-alco beer should be off the table during treatment. My doc said, "We're doing everything we know how to give you your best possible shot at SVR. Why do anything that might compromise that?"

[jonney4141]

usually people that do not have problems with alcohol or drugs could care less about getting irrate over anothers opionions on alcohol or drugs.... who cares? i personally was told by my doctor that if i ever drink again i will die, plain and simply put. i have a choice today on whether to drink or not to drink, I CHOOSE the later, simply because alcohol did nothing but cause me alot of problems physically, spiritually, and mentally and it ruined my relationships with people whom i truly love, and i am certain that my hcv had something to do with my drinking and drugs, alcohol took me down a road of destruction.

[toohip]

My doctor told me not to drink during treatment but after it is done I can have some champagne to celebrate.  I'm gonna save up for a really good bottle.