Aa
Close to finishing treatment and relapsed a second time
I was an i.v. drug user and obtained HCV through sharing needles. Upon finding out, I decided not to wait for treatment, I entered sobriety for the umpteenth time, but this time it was finalized. So after 4 months of honest sobriety I started triple therapy; interfuron, ribavarin, boceprivir. I'm also on suboxone.
The treatment I'm the beginning wasn't as bad as anticipated, but it wasn't pleasant. Either way I made a decision to save my life so I followed through with it.
Two months in I relapsed on heroin and cocaine. It was one night of use, didn't tell my doctor, but weeks after - the blood results were still stable.
This past weekend, at exactly 100 days clean again, I went to the club and had about 6 ounces of vodka and a little ketamine. Then today, I had 1 beer with dinner.
Mind you, I have not drank alcohol in over three years. Although it may be my new girlfriend (she's Russian), I will not blame her, nor am I asking you guys for marriage counseling. I am focused on my recovery, and it may not be 100%, but it is certainly over 90%.
I am just concerned. Obviously I am smart enough to realize I should be abstaining from all substances in this condition. But it is just so freaking hard battling addiction on top of the hepc treatment.
Before treatment my viral load was only 160,000. It was undetectable at 4 weeks, and still was five months in two weeks ago. I have another six weeks left of treatment, and I am dead set on finishing this treatment and beyond, sober..
I am here to just ask you guys if this last weekend of minor debauchery should be of major concern, or what? Is my whole treatment in jeopardy, or if I sober up do I still have a solid chance? Is it really the end of the world, or can I look forward to a happy successful recovery, so long as I stay sober here on out? Should I tell my doctor?
Thanks you guys.
The treatment I'm the beginning wasn't as bad as anticipated, but it wasn't pleasant. Either way I made a decision to save my life so I followed through with it.
Two months in I relapsed on heroin and cocaine. It was one night of use, didn't tell my doctor, but weeks after - the blood results were still stable.
This past weekend, at exactly 100 days clean again, I went to the club and had about 6 ounces of vodka and a little ketamine. Then today, I had 1 beer with dinner.
Mind you, I have not drank alcohol in over three years. Although it may be my new girlfriend (she's Russian), I will not blame her, nor am I asking you guys for marriage counseling. I am focused on my recovery, and it may not be 100%, but it is certainly over 90%.
I am just concerned. Obviously I am smart enough to realize I should be abstaining from all substances in this condition. But it is just so freaking hard battling addiction on top of the hepc treatment.
Before treatment my viral load was only 160,000. It was undetectable at 4 weeks, and still was five months in two weeks ago. I have another six weeks left of treatment, and I am dead set on finishing this treatment and beyond, sober..
I am here to just ask you guys if this last weekend of minor debauchery should be of major concern, or what? Is my whole treatment in jeopardy, or if I sober up do I still have a solid chance? Is it really the end of the world, or can I look forward to a happy successful recovery, so long as I stay sober here on out? Should I tell my doctor?
Thanks you guys.
To get back to your questions in your original post :
"Is my whole treatment in jeopardy"
No, your whole treatment is NOT in jeopardy.
" if I sober up do I still have a solid chance?"
Absolutely, you have a solid chance for successful treatment and cure. It is not the drugs and alcohol per se that jeopardize treatment. It is the possibility that by using the drugs and/or alcohol you will forget to take your Hep C meds on time and consistently. Missing doses is what jeopardizes your treatment.
"Is it really the end of the world"
No.
"or can I look forward to a happy successful recovery, so long as I stay sober here on out?"
Absolutely. If you stay on treatment and take your drugs consistently and on time, then you have an excellent chance for successful treatment.
Of course, as I said in my earlier post, in addition to adhering to your Hepatitis C treatment schedule, staying sober is also the best and healthiest route to go.
Best of luck to you.
"Is my whole treatment in jeopardy"
No, your whole treatment is NOT in jeopardy.
" if I sober up do I still have a solid chance?"
Absolutely, you have a solid chance for successful treatment and cure. It is not the drugs and alcohol per se that jeopardize treatment. It is the possibility that by using the drugs and/or alcohol you will forget to take your Hep C meds on time and consistently. Missing doses is what jeopardizes your treatment.
"Is it really the end of the world"
No.
"or can I look forward to a happy successful recovery, so long as I stay sober here on out?"
Absolutely. If you stay on treatment and take your drugs consistently and on time, then you have an excellent chance for successful treatment.
Of course, as I said in my earlier post, in addition to adhering to your Hepatitis C treatment schedule, staying sober is also the best and healthiest route to go.
Best of luck to you.
as you can see, there is no concensus on your question, except that intervention could help. during tx we become vulnerable to drugs that can be abused, because they help with side effects, including depression and anxiety. careful !!!!!!!
barry
barry
I know of a clinic that first deals with the addiction first, then treats the hep C.
You cannot do treatment and take drugs such as cocaine and heroin.
In fact you can't do it and drink alcohol either.
I wish you luck in dealing with this very difficult situation.
You cannot do treatment and take drugs such as cocaine and heroin.
In fact you can't do it and drink alcohol either.
I wish you luck in dealing with this very difficult situation.
You've gotten great advice and I see nothing I can add to it but I did want to ask you to please check back now and then to let us know how you are doing. When you post a question here you might get 3-5 people responding, but there are usually another 10-12 people (or more) who have read it and are concerned enough to be really hoping things work out for you. Come back and let us know!
Stay on your treatment, but get help for your addictions, so that you can protect your liver from additional damage now and after you SVR.
Advocate1955
Advocate1955
thank you all very much for your help and support.
special thanks to can-do-man.. you relieved my nerves a little bit. i just didn't want to get into the mentality that i completely compromised my treatment and that it would be a waste to continue!
hepcat, i know that i am compromising my chances for svr, thank you for your input
actingbrandnew, thank you for your support. i feel as though i have a grasp on my recovery, just not a firm grasp! lol that being said, more work needs to be done! thank you for your help.
special thanks to can-do-man.. you relieved my nerves a little bit. i just didn't want to get into the mentality that i completely compromised my treatment and that it would be a waste to continue!
hepcat, i know that i am compromising my chances for svr, thank you for your input
actingbrandnew, thank you for your support. i feel as though i have a grasp on my recovery, just not a firm grasp! lol that being said, more work needs to be done! thank you for your help.
In no way am I suggesting you continue doing this as it is not a very good ideal, that said.
http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/provider/guidelines/2006HCV-groups.asp
Patients with Ongoing Alcohol Use
in those who completed HCV therapy, SVR was similar in drinkers and nondrinkers . Thus, alcohol users should not be excluded from antiviral therapy but treatment adherence should be stressed
Patients with Ongoing Alcohol Use
Alcohol is an important cofactor in the progression of HCV disease to cirrhosis and HCC (43) . Thus, patients with hepatitis C should limit or abstain from alcohol consumption. Limited data suggest that heavy alcohol consumption of >80 g/day (approximately eight drinks or more per day) reduces HCV treatment response. It is unknown whether consuming less alcohol compromises HCV treatment response (44) . In patients with recent alcohol consumption, there were higher treatment discontinuation rates; however, in those who completed HCV therapy, SVR was similar in drinkers and nondrinkers (45) . Thus, alcohol users should not be excluded from antiviral therapy but treatment adherence should be stressed (9) .
RECOMMENDATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH ONGOING ALCOHOL USE
1. Patients should be encouraged to decrease consumption or to abstain (III).
2. Patients should be referred for behavioral intervention to reduce alcohol use (III).
3. Antiviral therapy should be offered to patients regardless of prior alcohol use who otherwise meet criteria for therapy (II-2).
4. Alcohol consumption should be discouraged during antiviral treatment, because alcohol reduces adherence and treatment response (III).
http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/provider/guidelines/2006HCV-groups.asp
Patients with Ongoing Alcohol Use
in those who completed HCV therapy, SVR was similar in drinkers and nondrinkers . Thus, alcohol users should not be excluded from antiviral therapy but treatment adherence should be stressed
Patients with Ongoing Alcohol Use
Alcohol is an important cofactor in the progression of HCV disease to cirrhosis and HCC (43) . Thus, patients with hepatitis C should limit or abstain from alcohol consumption. Limited data suggest that heavy alcohol consumption of >80 g/day (approximately eight drinks or more per day) reduces HCV treatment response. It is unknown whether consuming less alcohol compromises HCV treatment response (44) . In patients with recent alcohol consumption, there were higher treatment discontinuation rates; however, in those who completed HCV therapy, SVR was similar in drinkers and nondrinkers (45) . Thus, alcohol users should not be excluded from antiviral therapy but treatment adherence should be stressed (9) .
RECOMMENDATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH ONGOING ALCOHOL USE
1. Patients should be encouraged to decrease consumption or to abstain (III).
2. Patients should be referred for behavioral intervention to reduce alcohol use (III).
3. Antiviral therapy should be offered to patients regardless of prior alcohol use who otherwise meet criteria for therapy (II-2).
4. Alcohol consumption should be discouraged during antiviral treatment, because alcohol reduces adherence and treatment response (III).
DON'T drink or take drugs while on treatment!
Your liver is being attacked by the treatment drugs -- don't overload it with recreational drugs while it's in this HCV fight!
You're compromising your chances for SVR...
Your liver is being attacked by the treatment drugs -- don't overload it with recreational drugs while it's in this HCV fight!
You're compromising your chances for SVR...
Whats up man! Keep on with the treatment. Dont let the relapse set you back! I beat Hep C and have been clean from IV heroin use for 3 years 9 months. I participate on this forum and the addiction forum Pooh gave you the link too. Theres a lot of folks over there that share in your situation and can help you. Your 27 and have a lot of good years ahead of you if you can get a grasp on your recovery and beat the Hep.
Look....not trying to preach here to you but you REALLY need to have a grasp on your recovery in order to stay Hep free. You may finish treatment and whatever caused you to relapse this time could be the same in the future. you dont want to end up with a re-infection...or worse, a super-infection. (having more than 1 genotype) which is common for us IV'ers.
Come on over to the addiction forum...post an intro and meets some folks.
Good luck
Look....not trying to preach here to you but you REALLY need to have a grasp on your recovery in order to stay Hep free. You may finish treatment and whatever caused you to relapse this time could be the same in the future. you dont want to end up with a re-infection...or worse, a super-infection. (having more than 1 genotype) which is common for us IV'ers.
Come on over to the addiction forum...post an intro and meets some folks.
Good luck
Welcome to the forum.
I agree with everything Can-do-man said.
Also, congratulations on your efforts to stay clean. I know you did not ask this question, but I will give you the link to the MedHelp Addiction Forum. There are some very good people on that forum and they may be able to help you in your quest for sobriety. They have a lot of experience and they are very supportive and helpful.
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Addiction-Substance-Abuse/show/77
Best of luck. Wishing you both SVR (cure from Hep C) and sobriety.
Best
I agree with everything Can-do-man said.
Also, congratulations on your efforts to stay clean. I know you did not ask this question, but I will give you the link to the MedHelp Addiction Forum. There are some very good people on that forum and they may be able to help you in your quest for sobriety. They have a lot of experience and they are very supportive and helpful.
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Addiction-Substance-Abuse/show/77
Best of luck. Wishing you both SVR (cure from Hep C) and sobriety.
Best
If one continues taking all their meds on time then this should not effect ones outcome... The real problem begins when people either forget or skips taking them.......... Good luck all the way around. Hang in there.
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