Here is another alcohol question.

[jacksonpotter]

Is so called non alcoholic beer, (0.5% alcohol per bottle) okay?   I have heard it's okay.  Have heard no alcohol whatsoever! Opinions?

[Kalio1]

My doc says they are fine, there is so little alcohol in them. Did you ask your doctor? There are some with no alcohol at all I hear. It's such a tiny amount, I wouldn't worry about it.

[FlGuy]

For most people, and to varying degrees, the diagnosis of hcv is a life-changing event.  The full picture of where you are will develope as you have further testing and consults with your doc.  Drinking is a good example of a life change that hcv brings.  You probably should not drink at all. Rather than wondering if NA beer is ok, mabye the thought process should be more like abstaining from anything that is related to, hints at, looks like, antything that does not make you healthier or could compromise your liver's condition.  You'll know that you have realized the life changes you need to deal with when you open a thread asking people what you should put into your liver-friendly protein drink for which you just invested in a new blender instead of seeking approval not to change existing habits too much.

[crazycanuck]

as far as i am concerned it is more like lays potatoe chips. it is hard to eat just one! no sense in teasing yourself. none is better.

[jakish]

What do you consider to be a heavy drinker?

[Forseegood]

good advice, sometimes, it's the "mindset" you have to deal with (really well said Flman) if it's hard for you to give it up completely, (while youre still sick with this virus) maybe get some help with this, there is no shame in asking for help, the shame, to me, is lying to ourselves about situations...if it's not such a problem for you, then you'll be okay to reframe while youre ill with this...

[jakish]

Thats right its the mindset, I remember asking my doc the same question about n/a beer, he said it was fine, but for some reason my mind said dont do it so i didnt, when you are in a comfort zone such as I was before I was diagnosed having a beer or two every night it was just part of life just like around 9.00 am I am dying to have a 20oz coke, for me it was one of those pleasures we all have in one form or another taken away and for me it sucked because I enjoyed that relaxing beer after a hard day, anyway moderation is the key, heck broccoli is great for your body,but if you eat 5 pounds of it you are going to throw it up.

[NYgirl]

If you like beer more than a healthy liver - drink beer.
If you like alcohol more than a healthy liver - drink alcohol.

Everyone knows that for most "heavy drinkers" - the "fake beer" will just lead straight to the real beer.

I used to be quite a "heavy" drinker and now realize - the damage I've done to my liver and the chances I took were my fault and really not "chances".....alcohol kills the liver, it IS poison to it - so where is the "chance" in all of that?

Will you die after one beer? Heck no - but the "habit" of drinking, unless it's completely broken more than probably will with this disease and there really is no debate about that.



Would you take just a little bit of arsenic?  Same thing.

The actual "fake beer" wont kill you but your habit will.

[jakish]

I didnt know alcohol in moderation killed the liver, not trying to start an argument or anything, can you back it up with facts?
Like I said moderation is the key for almost everything.

[amicraxy]

n.y.girl said it perfectly

[jacksonpotter]

Thanks for you opinions.  I don't have a problem not drinking.  Occaisonally if I am at a Nascar Race or playing Darts on my Dart leaque or at a football game I have thought about having a NA beer.  I do like the taste of beer.  My drink of choice used to be  rum.  Right now all I drink in green tea and lots of water.   I was just curious.  Heavy drinking for me was a drink or two after work and at a party on the weekend.  I have heard that Dr's consider that heavy drinking.

[Forseegood]

moderation in alchol drinking WHILE STILL HAVING THIS VIRUS IN YOUR SYSTEM is no longer moderation...and I think I'm gonna step out on this one while I'm still ahead...unfortunatly, this topic always causes heated debate...if you want to see very comprehensive debates on this topic, I'd suggest you look for some alcohol threads in the archives, there are plenty!!!! good luck to you...

[jakish]

I was talking about moderation without liver disease BTW

[Forseegood]

oh sorry, then of course, moderation in all things except, of course, movie watching and internet shopping, two little monkeys on my back, ha ha!

[jakish]

Like I said in my in my thread earlier, "almost everything"

[NYgirl]

I'm not saying another word but - anyone with reason has to look at their OWN personal liver condition (no damage - won't kill you but stage 3 like me is a different story and I'd be a FOOL to have even an occasional drink).

As always - up to the individual which they prefer to protect, the right to drink or their liver.

end of that one dont wanna get in a brawl but I won't ever COWER I can tell you that. God gave me brains and common sense and I use them both.

[jakish]

No doubt you are right!!!!!!!!! in your case, But sometimes you come across like you speak for everyone.

[jacksonpotter]

Not sure if I even want to go to archives on this one.  I had heard so many different opinions about the NA beer from freinds, family, other web sites, like I said I was just curious.

[Forseegood]

hi Jakish, this is just my opinion, but sometimes people can come off a little short, or curt, whatever...Also, this is the internet so we don't have the benefit of facial expression and voice inflection, so sometimes bare writing on a post may come off differently then was intended, etc....I come off like this too at times, and I'm not even on the drugs yet....I can blame menopause and the virus itself, it can make you a little irritable and short sometimes...

I can't even imagine how I would feel like if I took these drugs for over a year like some of the members here....so I cut them slack, just like I hope they cut me some slack when I'm on the meds, people treating are under a tremendous amount of stress from the drugs itself....course, if the behavior is really bad, that's another story...I don't know if youre on them yet or not, but I just thought I'd throw this in there...no offense to anyone...have a good weekend...

[jakish]

No I am not on the meds anymore and that was a good point you made, enough said.

[cuteus]

mild liver damage, hcv free, no hx of alcohol abuse, enjoy your beer "al dente", moderation in alcohol drinking should not accelerate liver disease faster than in the non hcv infected.  there are many, many threads on this in archives with all sorts of opinions.  I choose to have an occassional beer, my choice.  Now that I am HCV free, I see no problem with indulging.

[Pauly Boy]

Easy pal, we're on the same side. I made no accusations only posed a question for your query: regarding the difference of the term moderation as it pertains to people universally and us with HCV collectively. Don't you think there is quite a difference between the two?   Pauly

[Pauly Boy]

Hey Deb, please stop talking for me, will you? You're still doing that, are you? I would have thought you would have been perfect by now... I guess as humans we'll just have to meddle on thru it!!! eh?!!!  Keep killin' those little critters!!! Hey, my test are in next week, light a candle or eat some ice cream or something, will ya... Thank you,     Pauly

[jakish]

Was there anything I said that would make you think otherwise? If so please point it out.Like I said about 10 threads ago moderation is the key for ALMOST everything.

[Pauly Boy]

Non alcoholic beer contains alcohol. I have not seen one yet that doesn't, but who knows. So you need to decide what is more important in your life: drinking some watered down, donkey pee they call: NA BEER, OR HAVE A NICE COLD GLASS OF MILK!!! When my doc told me how my liver functions and how      alcohol acts on the liver, it was a no brainer. I looked at it this way: maybe drinking a beer will not hurt my liver but maybe it might bring on chirohsis SP? or even better the need for a transplant!!! After thinking about it that way having a beer didn't seem that important. Hey, we all make our own choices in this life and right or wrong we and our loved ones live with the outcome. Hoping your choices are healthy ones. Stay well!  Pauly

[Pauly Boy]

Moderation is a good benchmark to follow for all things in life, however that does not mean that in particular situations abiding by that logic may not be enough to kill you! Having most diseases like ours would certainly fall into that category. If I had diabetes and had just a couple of moderate pieces of sugar laden cake, using that logic might be my undoing. I think that a disease like HCV would come under that banner,too. Don't you?        Pauly

[jakish]

I chose not to drink while on tx and never did until 6 months post tx knowing I was clear of the virus. lET ME MAKE IT CLEAR I NEVER ONCE IN ANY THREAD SAID IT WAS OK TO DRINK IN MODERATION NOT CLEAR FROM THE VIRUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[giddyup]

I've made lemonaid my drink of choice when going out, there are a lot variations of lemonaid, my new wine. My doc said a drink every few months wouldn't be a problem but to keep in mind that there is linear progrssion of liver disease and alcohol use. I'm stage 4.Na beer is horrible and does contain small amounts of alcohol.

[jacksonpotter]

My favorite is diet 7up and cranberry juice when I go out. Just had a simple question about the na beer.  I think enough said.

[amicraxy]

Denial seems to be able to twist the most obvious reallity.  I'll bet most of us on here got hep-c through denial. And I look at it is if you question, like weather to drink or not, chances are you should not

[honey11]

If you have cleared the virus, occasional drink should be fine. Everyone knows there limit and if you are an alcoholic,,,it only makes good sense to not get started.  
And yes NY does speak out for forum on drinking but if she was so worried about her liver as she says,,,,She probably would quit smoking also.  Smoking also increases liver damage.

[jacksonpotter]

I quess that alcohol is a sore subject on this website.  I am new to this site.  I didn't mean to get some people all riled up over NA beer.  I have made instant and major lifestyle changes.  Overnight changes in your lifestyle for anyone diseased or not is a difficult thing physically and mentally.  There is a grieving process and depression that sets in.  I am coping one day at a time.  I am reading everyday about diet, excercise, herbs, what to eat, drink, think.  Sometimes overwhelming. I try to limit my stress.  Sorry to stir the pot.

[Forseegood]

I like fizzy water with a shot of fruit juice...

I know what people mean when they talk about asking a specific question and it's not always read properly...guess it depends on how incendiary the subject is and how much people get "triggered" by it....I remember answering in an alcohol thread, that once youre SVR, and you don't have severe liver damage, you can drink very moderately, but not while having this disease...

So many members jumped all over my post, saying I was anti-alcohol and "fun", etc etc...that they were SVR and drinking very occasionally and it's perfectly okay...well, I said that much in the first place...I guess this phenomenon goes with the territory in forums, not all members are going to read posts carefully all the time...including me sometimes...but I try...

[Moniker]

DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL WHILE ON TREATMENT. This means none at all. Not a drop! Alcohol compromises the effectiveness of Interferon, and even a small amount will cause a gap in the treatment where the virus can breed and recover. Explain politely to the idiot who insists that you should have a drink that you have no intention of throwing away all that you have been through, and that you will gladly join him for a beer after you finish treatment and are clear of the virus but not before! Alternatively, if you have abstained while on treatment why start again? Your liver will be a lot better off without it!

[jakish]

Who is the idiot that said you can drink while you are on treatment?

[honey11]

LOL I hope noone is drinking while on tx,,,,,that would just cancel out the meds big time.

[jakish]

Huh?

[honey11]

Jakish,,,,Huh??  To me?

[jakish]

noon or none?

[amicraxy]

drinking at noon or none at noon ? hope he is or hope he isn't ?and I thought tx was for texas

[jakish]

That was a good one.

[honey11]

haha Ok,,,my message was clear to me!  LOL  In a nutshell,,,,I hope that NO PERSON is hitting the bottle while they are doing the treatment!  Why would anyone want to spend all that money and time to take the chance??

[Kalio1]

It sure is easy to be misread on the net! Jakish, I use that one too for my "drink" I just don't feel in the "party" mood at all! Hope things are good for you.
Forsee, you are so right, inflection, tone, mannerisms being able to "see" a person changes what we say in a major way. How are you feeling anyway?

Honey, I hope you are doing well and life is treating you good, I always enjoy your posts.

[honey11]

Hi Kalio and thanks so much! I'm doing great these days and in fact my youngest daughter is getting married next weekend! So as the week rolls on,,,I'm sure I will be having an anxiety attack haha  I never knew there was so much to planning a wedding and hope my other 2 daughters give us much needed break after this one! lol
Yes,,,the forums and internet is so nice to have especially during tx to talk with others but sometimes it does tend to backfire when we are all misunderstood.  I almost lost a dear friend while we were both going through tx as we both misunderstood a situation and before you know it,,,,the friendship was going downhill fast.  Just being on internet and then adding some interferon to the mix and of course it only makes sense that so often not seeing the persons face or smile when saying something that was suppose to be funny can turn sour quick!  Otherwise,,,,Medhelp has helped so many and given us the opportunity to meet others in our exact situation,,,,I wouldn't have traded it for the world.
How you doing these days?  I know you said you are running low on energy and I do remember at times just knowing what its going to be like for us when we reach our 80's and 90's and maybe walking at a snail pace! LOL  I promise,,,once you get off meds that you will slowly regain energy and be so glad that you have finished your tx up!  Take Care!

[PasoPerson]

I am a recovered alcoholic, sober 27 years.  Which will explain my post to you.  And please know, I post out of caring concern.

<b>Why, if alcohol is damaging to your liver, would you even THINK of drinking alcohol again?</b>

I would never drink the "non-alcoholic" alcoholic stuff.  It may only contain a percent or less of alcohol, but it does contain alcohol.

Please just think about all the beverages out there for us now; please rethink your penchant for wanting the "non-alcoholic" alcoholic stuff.  

From one who cares,
pasoperson

[Russian]

For someone who has no history of alcoholism, drinking from a bottle that looks like a beer bottle but does not contain beer creates no threat of increased addictive alcohol consumption.

The only remaining question then is how much alcohol is in an NA beer, compared to the alcohol in an orange or french toast containing vanilla extract?

Alcohol content of NA beer varies by legal definition.

A reference I found quickly by Google-search indicates that O'Douls is 0.4% alcohol.  That means:

12 oz = 360 ml
360 ml * .004 = 1.44 ml of alcohol in an O'Douls

Now take this reference:

"Additionally, according to a report published by
Indiana University, a standard glass of orange
juice contains between .2% and .5% alcohol"

Therefore, assuming these quick-searched citations are correct, an NA beer most likely is comparable in alcohol content to a glass of orange juice.

Score 1 for the scientists, 0 for the zealots, and let the guy enjoy his one NA beer on the weekend.

[Russian]

... oh yeah, and for the rest of us, let's go easy on the OJ... <smile>