Can I drink a beer?

[jphits]

I just finished a 24 week treatment for Hep c,- interferon, ribiviron, amantadine, folic acid.  I have type 2 and the virus has been cleared and I feel great! -as of now.  Normal liver function, etc.  For the last year I have stayed away from drinking anything.  So is it ok to have a beer?  My doctor has really hedged when I ask him.  Any thoughts?

[PSP-n-Me]

any Doctor that would say it is okay to drink with liver disease is not one I would ever listen to - And your remark of my "Canadian" Doctor being over the moon was uncalled for and offensive - How arrogant of you!! - Do I say hey Jim Your "American" Doctor is nuts, no I do not - Because that would be rude and argumentative...It has been quite apparent that you try to give EVERYONE on this board advice and in most cases your advice usually contradicts what their Doctor has told them - I remember you when you were treating, you pushed the envelope on all the protocols, most likely drove your Doctor insane and were single handed in scaring the b'jeez outta me with your constant drama of horrific side effects - You have been off tx for over a year now - doncha think it is time to move on with your life - You ARE NOT a Doctor - Do something positive with your life , get a job to start with - or a hobby or a puppy!

And another thing - I see a Cardiologist on a regular basis (ever hear of Lahey Clinic in MA) and Bruce Mirbach my Cardiologist told me anyone with cardiac issues should drink NO MORE than 1 to 2 drinks a week - NOT PER NIGHT - and that applies to those who a healthy heart as well..

You constantly shoot holes in anything I post and it is getting old - Again - I reiterate - YOU'RE NOT A DOCTOR please stop telling people what to do -

[jmjm530]

Willy: Finally....when people ask questions such as as in this thread I think that responders should tend to err on the "safe" side; does that seem reasonable?
----------------
First, thanks for clarifying your sex upfront. I'm also a male, so this can be man-to-man :)

I agree with many of your points and observations. As to responders" err on the 'safe' side', please note that I don't think anyone (including myself) has every suggested anyone drink ANY alcohol. What we have done (in answers to legitimate questions) has been to share what our doctors have told us, shared what we ourselves are doing, and on occasion posted some studies or articles. I think this is appropriate.

As to lack of studies, some have been posted -- both ways -- but the latest I've read, suggests that the earlier studies were flawed because they lumped heavy drinkers and light drinkers together. That study concluded that light drinkers with HCV demonstrate no more liver damage than non-drinkers. Certainly nothing definitive -- studies often aren't -- but that's what it says.

As to the doc, who suggested I drink with dinner, remember he suggested that *I* have a drink with dinner, not you, or anyone one else. I'm someone who is SVR, whose liver seems to be doing quite well, and someone with some signficant cardiac issues.

Be well,

-- Jim

[Willy50]

I thought; "How can this be 90 responses?!?  Let me throw in my 2 cents.

Let me preface my remarks with the fact that I really don't drink but have had a celebratory 4 beers or so since my DX 4+ years ago.  I DO drink coffee and so I scruptuously collect articles which support it's antioxident properties and it's ability to diminish the chance of HCC. (Yes, guys have a higher chance of that; something to do with testosterone)  We all collect the data we want to have on various topics.

Reading about HCV over the few years since DX I have noticed a preponderence of contradictory information about HCV.  I also see lack of information about HCV.  I mean...... yes, there are general studies  but relatively few about the effects of drinking post TX for SVR's or that specifically weigh the health pros (would that be prose in this thread? : )) and cons for people who treated and cured?   Therefore I'd submit that people are speculating a tad on the subject.  They are using a general study to apply to the HCV population.  That may or may not be a sound practice.

I'd also just float out there another "truth" or one as I see it.  We see people who have dramatic lifestyle differences here.  Why do some folks drink and drug and have minor damage where others live "clean" lives and suffer substantial damage?  Why are some folks like MREmeet who treat, clear, and feel great and others suffer long term treatment issues?  Extrapolating the differences onto this thread....... the answer is that we may all experience different results no matter what course we choose; your milage may vary.

Finally....when people ask questions such as as in this thread I think that responders should tend to err on the "safe" side; does that seem reasonable?  To ask how much one can drink in a hepatitiis board almost seems ridiculous.  Any yet it is a very common question.  Do you remember the Woody Allen line from one of his movies?  When he was told as a adolecent that masturbation would make him go blind he responded; "can I do it till I just need glasses?"   One needs to consider when one answers the question; "Can I drink?" the extent of the intent.  IF for some the symptoms and progression of liver damage is silent how does one know specifically when to stop?

Which brings me to the last "final" point;  I think these threads are common because for many of us we are still looking for the "real" or "true" answer for us.  I'd submit that it may not exist and that actually proving it for us may be a ways off.  Until then; we will all try to prove our own hypothesis; either on line or in our lives.  Good luck with it all, but we ARE the data on that upcoming studies (which "proves" as decisively as medical scince can) what will happen to us as a group over the next 5-10 years.  That's something to consider as we make our decisions.

And....don't you ALL look like your high school photos?  : )

best,
Willy

[jmjm530]

Didn't mean to suggest you were a woman. That came out wrong :)

[jmjm530]

Under 20 is very low. Have you considered statin drugs to at least lower your HDL/LDL ratio? Nathan Pritkin posted some older studies of New Guinea natives that suggested that the protective nature of HDL was not needed when LDL was extremely low. This was the case with the New Guinea natives that had low HDL's but also very low LDL's -- probably under 80, not sure.

Don't know how much you weigh, but oft women (because of generally lower bodyweight) are suggested only one drink, while men are suggested two. In any event, our doctors are on the same page. But like yourself, I have a hard time doing the daily drinks with dinner -- also makes me a bit sleepy which sometimes I don't want to be -- so I probably average closer to 1-2 drinks per week. That said, I may buy a case of some good wine this winter and see if I can make it a habit to at least have one good glass of wine with dinner. Outside of alcohol, the only other way to raise HDL I know of are statins (but they don't raise it very much) and exercise.

-- Jim

[desrt]

...and even after 80 some odd posts, that may be oversimplified. I was told (by my primary doc) to have one (not one or two) beer or glass of wine per day post-SVR because, though my LDL was OK (around 100), my HDL was the lowest he'd ever seen (under 20). When I tried it I couldn't hang - felt stupid/lethargic. I've always had a problem with alc, even pre-HBV/HCV. Maybe it was the hep A I had as a kid. Still looking for a non-pharmaceutical way to raise that 'good' cholesterol.