Aa
dinking alcohol
I have been recentley diagnosed with Hep C. The only one that knows besides me is my fiance. Last weekend I was at a family party and had a couple of glasses of wine. I don't want people asking questions so I had a couple of drinks. I know it was not a good idea, but how bad of an idea was it. Can I have a drink or two once in a long while.
I hear ya on that, there really is no way to tell how it will ultimately play out. My dr told me that most (not all) of his patients that ended up with cirrhosis usually were heavy drinkers.
And no one deserves Cirrhosis!!
And no one deserves Cirrhosis!!
I think a shot of vodka has 14 grams, so that would not make you a "heavy" drinker per the study posted.
I will confess that during the five months between diagnosis and treatment, I had three or four glasses of wine in total. Being a major wine enthusiast, I'd already signed up for a couple of tastings at our local L.A. winery (San Antonio Winery, which is great BTW) and I'd paid for them so I just figured, "What the h*ll." But it was probably pretty stupid of me. Of course during tx and the year following I will abstain completely, but if at that point I remain SVR (which I've been since week 4), I have made the decision that life's short anyway and I'm going to very occasionally have a glass - maybe one a month. But NEVER during tx and NEVER until I receive that one-year clean bill off health. And I've reconciled to never again having the daily glass of red with dinner, which I thought was good for my heart. Speaking of which, does anybody here know anything about Reservatol?
On treatment the alcohol can negate the effects of the medicine - so it was much easier for me to not be tempted during that time.
As a hard core alcoholic that I am - I finally realized when I found out just how bad my liver actually was, what I'd done living in my little world with my head in the sand.
This is usually a hot spot topic on here. A few peopel think it's perfectly fine to drink after or before treatment.
But use your head. Just asking the question means you already know the answer.
It would be like having lung cancer and saying "can I smoke a pack of Lucky's a day instead of 2 packs". Same thing.
IN MY EDUCATED HUMBLE OPINION.
(Just a disclaimer trying to stop any fight that might come up)
Debby
As a hard core alcoholic that I am - I finally realized when I found out just how bad my liver actually was, what I'd done living in my little world with my head in the sand.
This is usually a hot spot topic on here. A few peopel think it's perfectly fine to drink after or before treatment.
But use your head. Just asking the question means you already know the answer.
It would be like having lung cancer and saying "can I smoke a pack of Lucky's a day instead of 2 packs". Same thing.
IN MY EDUCATED HUMBLE OPINION.
(Just a disclaimer trying to stop any fight that might come up)
Debby
Erod: Can I have a drink or two once in a long while.
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As NYGirl accurately states, this is a hot topic here, so I will follow her lead and measure my words.
If the question was asked to a liver specialist, some would say "yes" and some would say "no". A lot would have to do with your complete medical history, including how much liver damage you have; how much they believe you when you say "once in a while"; and also their personal take on the HCV/alcohol issues.
That said, if you decide not to drink alcohol, I wouldn't temper that decision by any sort of social pressure. Lots of people who don't have Hepatitis C choose not to drink. Trendy in fact in some circles. So don't be apologetic, be a trend setter if that is the path you choose.
All the best,
-- Jim
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As NYGirl accurately states, this is a hot topic here, so I will follow her lead and measure my words.
If the question was asked to a liver specialist, some would say "yes" and some would say "no". A lot would have to do with your complete medical history, including how much liver damage you have; how much they believe you when you say "once in a while"; and also their personal take on the HCV/alcohol issues.
That said, if you decide not to drink alcohol, I wouldn't temper that decision by any sort of social pressure. Lots of people who don't have Hepatitis C choose not to drink. Trendy in fact in some circles. So don't be apologetic, be a trend setter if that is the path you choose.
All the best,
-- Jim
I had been drinking scotch on a daily basis and rum/wine/gin on the weekends for the past 8 years before I got diagnosed with hep c six months ago
Evry site I visited to gather info on hep c cautioned me against drinking alcohol which was like adding fuel to fire
I stopped drinking overnight and have not had a drink for six months now though I wont deny that the craving is still there sometimes
We are already aware of the possible negative consequences of having alcohol if we have hep c so why choose that path?
Controlling drinking,like smoking, is just mind over matter and can be done if we are determined enough and would strongly suggest to give up the thought even if you plan to have it occasionally
Best Regards
Evry site I visited to gather info on hep c cautioned me against drinking alcohol which was like adding fuel to fire
I stopped drinking overnight and have not had a drink for six months now though I wont deny that the craving is still there sometimes
We are already aware of the possible negative consequences of having alcohol if we have hep c so why choose that path?
Controlling drinking,like smoking, is just mind over matter and can be done if we are determined enough and would strongly suggest to give up the thought even if you plan to have it occasionally
Best Regards
Well said. The vast majority of experts caution people against any use of alcohol. Studies have shown that even small amounts of alcohol can be dangerous. I just read another article on this published in 06, unfortunately I can't figure out how to copy it from the file it's in! Im sure it's simple but I can't figure it out, it would be very good for people here to read. It shows how small amount can do harm, I'd stay away from it.
Eating a poor diet and processed foods and refined sugars are very hard on your liver too. So is being overweight. I think everyone focuses on alcohol because it affects us socially ( or so we think before we stop)but there are other ways to cause continuing damage to your liver, like a crappy diet. Fibrosis is like a stone rolling downhill gathering moss, once it starts down the hill ie. once the fibrotic process has begun, it builds on itself and will advance faster. Any assault, be it alcohol or medications( the worst offenders) bad diet, smoking, lack of exercise or being overweight, they all will hurry the disease process along.
Stopping alcohol is the number one recommendation by virtually every doctor or website I have researched, and I have researched plenty of them. Doctors foolish enough to tell patients it's ok to drink even small amounts should also add that the jury is still out on this subject and the patient is taking a big risk drinking at all in my view. If you have NO liver damage, it seems to me once you clear the virus, social drinking would be no worse on you than the next guy. However, if you already have fibrosis and the process has begun, you'd be well advised to stay away from it completely.
Shastri, I hope you are doing well and things are improving for you and your family and friends after being affected by the recent floods. Take care.
Eating a poor diet and processed foods and refined sugars are very hard on your liver too. So is being overweight. I think everyone focuses on alcohol because it affects us socially ( or so we think before we stop)but there are other ways to cause continuing damage to your liver, like a crappy diet. Fibrosis is like a stone rolling downhill gathering moss, once it starts down the hill ie. once the fibrotic process has begun, it builds on itself and will advance faster. Any assault, be it alcohol or medications( the worst offenders) bad diet, smoking, lack of exercise or being overweight, they all will hurry the disease process along.
Stopping alcohol is the number one recommendation by virtually every doctor or website I have researched, and I have researched plenty of them. Doctors foolish enough to tell patients it's ok to drink even small amounts should also add that the jury is still out on this subject and the patient is taking a big risk drinking at all in my view. If you have NO liver damage, it seems to me once you clear the virus, social drinking would be no worse on you than the next guy. However, if you already have fibrosis and the process has begun, you'd be well advised to stay away from it completely.
Shastri, I hope you are doing well and things are improving for you and your family and friends after being affected by the recent floods. Take care.
Well, so much for "fair and balanced" on this issue. LOL.
Given the above posts, I'll say my peace in short and then head for the hills...I mean the gym :)
All these studies you hear about were done on HEAVY drinkers -- not moderate or light drinkers. And in many cases, the recommendations by doctors -- or dated info on the net -- are based on these older studies which is not surprising, since the field of HCV has more information than anyone can imagine, and that includes doctors.
All three of my hepatologists allowed me to drink prior to treatment and after achieving SVR. In fact, my current doctor WANTS me to drink some red wine for its cardio/anti-inflammatory benefits. What's more, Dr. D, one of the most respected in the field of Hepatology has stated over at the HIV/HCV web site that he does not categorically ban alcohol from his HCV patients. Another famous internet doctor says the same and according to reports from the Janis site -- as well as someone here -- a very eminent Miami doctor also allows alcohol.
Sorry this turned into another one of those debates but some things don't seem to change.
More reading here:
http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/hcv/litreview1.htm (fifth article down)
Some exerpts:
"...Conventional wisdom in the field of hepatitis is that alcohol and viral hepatitis B or hepatitis C simply do not mix.... This advice is based on a number of studies from the late 1990s, which show a clear association between alcohol intake and the degree of fibrosis on liver biopsy....
...Most of these studies, however, use a rather high intake of alcohol (eg, 40 grams per day) as a threshold for the definition of drinking....
...The results (of the newer Monto study)were surprising. Overall, very little effect of alcohol intake on degree of fibrosis was identified. Only the highest amounts (more than 50 grams per day) of alcohol intake were positively associated with fibrosis...
...What does this mean for our patients with HCV? It seems to this reviewer that the stern warnings we have previously given about the possible dire consequences of even modest alcohol intake now must be tempered. Alcohol abstinence may be the safest course of action, but an occasional drink appears not to harm the liver in those infected with HCV."
Given the above posts, I'll say my peace in short and then head for the hills...I mean the gym :)
All these studies you hear about were done on HEAVY drinkers -- not moderate or light drinkers. And in many cases, the recommendations by doctors -- or dated info on the net -- are based on these older studies which is not surprising, since the field of HCV has more information than anyone can imagine, and that includes doctors.
All three of my hepatologists allowed me to drink prior to treatment and after achieving SVR. In fact, my current doctor WANTS me to drink some red wine for its cardio/anti-inflammatory benefits. What's more, Dr. D, one of the most respected in the field of Hepatology has stated over at the HIV/HCV web site that he does not categorically ban alcohol from his HCV patients. Another famous internet doctor says the same and according to reports from the Janis site -- as well as someone here -- a very eminent Miami doctor also allows alcohol.
Sorry this turned into another one of those debates but some things don't seem to change.
More reading here:
http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/hcv/litreview1.htm (fifth article down)
Some exerpts:
"...Conventional wisdom in the field of hepatitis is that alcohol and viral hepatitis B or hepatitis C simply do not mix.... This advice is based on a number of studies from the late 1990s, which show a clear association between alcohol intake and the degree of fibrosis on liver biopsy....
...Most of these studies, however, use a rather high intake of alcohol (eg, 40 grams per day) as a threshold for the definition of drinking....
...The results (of the newer Monto study)were surprising. Overall, very little effect of alcohol intake on degree of fibrosis was identified. Only the highest amounts (more than 50 grams per day) of alcohol intake were positively associated with fibrosis...
...What does this mean for our patients with HCV? It seems to this reviewer that the stern warnings we have previously given about the possible dire consequences of even modest alcohol intake now must be tempered. Alcohol abstinence may be the safest course of action, but an occasional drink appears not to harm the liver in those infected with HCV."
I drink wine. Well I "drank" wine up until just over three weeks ago. The day I was diagnosed, of course I stopped. Interestingly, the desire is gone - - perhaps it was just a ritual? I drank wine with almost every evening meal and have done so for many years. (I wonder what my upcoming biopsy results will reflect?) Whether it is okay or not, I don't see myself having another glass. The desire went out the window with the diagnosis. Although traveling often, and dining out frequently I don't see myself, or others, now or in the future taking notice whether I do or do not. It is a personal choice. Many people choose not to drink for various reasons. If it was important I suppose I would rationalize the risk/benefit ratio of that glass of wine.
~Breeze
~Breeze
No, no. I just wanted to figure out the portion size in grams coz I never understood it. (as you may know, I'm mathematically impaired. hahahahah)
And then I wanted to compare it to what I used to drink, pre TX - which was 1 or 2 shots of vodka per night and maybe three margaritas on Fridays, just to know if and how excessive it was.
According to your conversion, 2 shots of vodka would be like 20 grams, right?
REALLY! JUST retrospectively CURIOUS!
And then I wanted to compare it to what I used to drink, pre TX - which was 1 or 2 shots of vodka per night and maybe three margaritas on Fridays, just to know if and how excessive it was.
According to your conversion, 2 shots of vodka would be like 20 grams, right?
REALLY! JUST retrospectively CURIOUS!
At the risk of getting into a war here I will say this.
My doctor did not have a problem with me having an occaisional glass of wine prior to tx. When I say occaisional I meant a glass of wine once a month or so.
I have had HCV for at least 20 years and I do not have liver damage, doc says he believes because I was not a heavy drinker. Now hubby on the other hand was a heavy drinker (6 to 12 beers during an outing) and he has cirrhosis.
So I believe it depends on
1) How much liver damage do you have?
2) How much do you honestly drink? (dont kid yourself)
My doctor did not have a problem with me having an occaisional glass of wine prior to tx. When I say occaisional I meant a glass of wine once a month or so.
I have had HCV for at least 20 years and I do not have liver damage, doc says he believes because I was not a heavy drinker. Now hubby on the other hand was a heavy drinker (6 to 12 beers during an outing) and he has cirrhosis.
So I believe it depends on
1) How much liver damage do you have?
2) How much do you honestly drink? (dont kid yourself)
Hi Kalio,.We are fine bere
Jakarta is back to normal and all of us are back to our routines as if nothing had happened! Thats city life!
Thanks for your thoughts
Keep well
Best Regards
Jakarta is back to normal and all of us are back to our routines as if nothing had happened! Thats city life!
Thanks for your thoughts
Keep well
Best Regards
So I believe it depends on
1) How much liver damage do you have?
2) How much do you honestly drink?
It would be nice if things were fair like that. I was talking to another hep c victim who has liver cirrohsis. I'm stage 1 grade 2, we're both geno 2. She was a light drinker and I was the couple of drinks every night right up to tx. My doctor says moderation is no more than two drinks a week. I'm the one who "deserves" cirrohsis.
I had no problem quitting BTW, and didn't consider it doing damage to my family, job or anything except my liver and that's minimal. Go figure!
1) How much liver damage do you have?
2) How much do you honestly drink?
It would be nice if things were fair like that. I was talking to another hep c victim who has liver cirrohsis. I'm stage 1 grade 2, we're both geno 2. She was a light drinker and I was the couple of drinks every night right up to tx. My doctor says moderation is no more than two drinks a week. I'm the one who "deserves" cirrohsis.
I had no problem quitting BTW, and didn't consider it doing damage to my family, job or anything except my liver and that's minimal. Go figure!
40 grams is about 4 Budweisers a day, every day. Also, keep in mind many doctors are cynical of how accurately people report their drinking habits. So, if people are reporting 4 Buds a day, it's probably closer to eight Buds a day that correlated with liver damage. That's a lot different from the occasional drink or even one or to drinks a day on a regular basis as part of the damage seems to be how well the (or not so well) the liver can process the alcohol at any one particular time. In other words, eight beers in a sitting potentially will do a lot more harm than let's say one beer a day for eight days in a row. Just to be clear before someone mischaracterized what I've just said, I'm not recommending anyone drink one beer a day, just answering your question and relaying what I've been told by liver specialists. Like I said, my doc thinks a glass of wine at dinner might help my lipid profile.
-- Jim
-- Jim
Drink to your hearts content. Your liver may not like it, but hey at least it won't hurt as much if you consume enough.
Odd that one has to drink to remain acceptable. Sure glad jumping off cliffs is not a fad as I would have to remain an outcast then too.
Odd that one has to drink to remain acceptable. Sure glad jumping off cliffs is not a fad as I would have to remain an outcast then too.
As a former margarita maven, I hate to break this to you, but what I've read about alcohol's effect on the virus is that it's akin to pouring gasoline on a raging fire.
I stopped when I started TX, 9 weeks ago.
I stopped when I started TX, 9 weeks ago.
Well, just by having HepC, it means your liver is already stressed, and not able to process toxins and eliminate them from your body as it would if it were healthy.
Alcohol is one of the more difficult toxins for your liver to process. Why would you want to stress your liver more and possibly have it degrade more quickly?
If you are concerned about people asking questions because you aren't drinking, order a club soda or ginger ale with a lime wedge and one of those little "drink straws" in it. Nobody will be the wiser.
Alcohol is one of the more difficult toxins for your liver to process. Why would you want to stress your liver more and possibly have it degrade more quickly?
If you are concerned about people asking questions because you aren't drinking, order a club soda or ginger ale with a lime wedge and one of those little "drink straws" in it. Nobody will be the wiser.
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