life expectancy hepc

[rockey]

i was diagnosed with hep c when i was 20 im 25 now i also have gout in the feet im a social drinker on average what would be the life expectancy of a person in my position

[copyman]

hard to say rocky, this disease affects everyone differently. nothing is the same with this disease. one thing is certain , if you drink ANY alcohol you are shortening your life with HCV.

[gazebo1]

Sounds like you should take some critical action steps beginning with talking with a doctor right away. Many factors to evaluate, but should get information now. Waiting longer could be a bad mistake.  Good luck and do not drink any more ever. There is no "social" drinking with HCV.  G.

[big bloc]

I had a buddy that had HCV said TX cost too much and made you tired.He didnt quit drinking said he felt fine. He passed away last feb.Talk about a wake up call

[HepCBoy]

Life expectancy for someone with hep c is just the same as for someone without.

Life expectancy for someone diagnosed with compensated Cirrhosis is around 15-20 years, once you decomp about 1/2 will be dead within 2 years.

The easiest way to get Cirrhosis is to have hep c and drink alcohol.

[SnoWav]

Rock it is not the end of the world or the end of being able to have a fantastic life. I have had hep c and b for around 35 yrs
was a social drinker for 32 of those yrs. I am so greatful that I diden't know I had the virus for 30 of those yrs I might have been too worried about the virus to have had all my wonderful children. Once you know then it is always in the back of your mind. I tried 48 wks of the popular posion It did do me some good but I diden't clear. Holding out for the new drugs,
ROCK ON

[jmjm530]

You can expect more or less a normal life expectancy if you don't develop serious liver damage.

Social drinking should not be a problem per "Monto" article (fifth down) but heavy drinking can damage your liver so make sure you're not deceiving yourself regarding how much you drink.
http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/hcv/litreview1.htm

Most of us here have no medical background, so see a liver speicialist (hepatologist) for medical advice and to diagnose and monitor the condition of your liver. Hepatologist are usually found at your larger, teaching hospitals. They may want you to treat or simply keep an eye on things and wait for newer drugs.

HCV is not the end of the world. I didn't know I had it for over 30 years and had a pretty normal life. Treated last year and now I'm clear of the virus.

Treatment has its risks just like Hep C, so the risks of one have to be weighed against the risk of the other.

All the best,

-- Jim

[Kalio1]

I wish you would stop telling people that "social drinking" is OK if you have Hep C. First off, you have no idea what is meant by "social drinking" You have no way of knowing what "social" means to any given individual. This particular individual who is asking gives NO INFO. on their condition, so suggesting it is OK to socially drink is even more dangerous. if he has Hep C NO ALCOHOL is the ONLY safe way to deal with alcohol.

You always post the same measly article where ONE doctor claims it is OK but never post the 100's of articles saying that NO ALCOHOL for anyone with Hep C or a damaged liver is far superior and you wonder why people think you encourage alcohol use. It would be one thing if you posted a balanced view at least instead of always giving the message that some alcohol is OK when it is NOT KNOWN exactly what a "safe" amount is. There is NO safe amount that can be verified.

You are the ONLY person on this board who tells people it is OK to drink with Hep C. It is not a good idea to drink AT ALL when you have Hep C, as studies show it can hasten this disease.

[Terrylee8]

I am 90% sure that I contacied Hep C in 1968 when I was 21 years old.  It was a year of shooting heroin and 10 days in the hospital with Hep B.  It's now 38 years later and I have moderate liver damage.  I drank alot until I quit 15 years ago.  Everyone is different but if you don't drink and get tested, chances are you have a long and healthy life ahead of you

[SnoWav]

Let me be the second person on the board then that as long as your liver is in pretty good shape thinks and was told by two different docs that a little social drinking is fine. There are risks in everything pick your posion and live your life. Cheers

[HCA]

I can't help commenting on the number of posts I have read stating;
"Alcohol is rocket fuel for hep C!!!"
"Drinking with hep C is like pouring gasoline on a fire"
Where do these experts get there information?
From other alarmists,but not from research.
My personal belief is don't drink,but that 2 or 3 units a week won't make any difference to disease progression.
My doctor says have the odd one,but I don't.
Some authorities suggest that cardiac benefits of a little red wine outweigh the possible downside even in HVC patients.

[ladybug52]

You sound like me! I had hepc for along time before I found out. Actually when I did find out the general opinion between 3 dr.s was not to worry about it, I had good liver enzymes. That was in the 90's and medicine has come a long ways since then. I already had 4 kids and enjoyed life while I lived in ignorant bliss, yes, drinking socially too. My kids and husband are all negative, thank God. I'm a geno 2 and on week 7 of 24.
Rock: I'm not advocating drinking, I was lucky I had minimal liver damage but everyone is different. You mention the gout and I wonder if you have another side effect of hep c or it's non-related. Find out what type of hepc you have as far as genotype and what the biopsy report shows for liver damage. That can give you a better idea of life expectancy. You are so young this is the time to try and treat and get better!
Godd luck
Bug

[traveler65]

Rock: you are young and probably only have had HEPC a short time. Get a good doc and get it taken care of. Nobody really knows how it will progress.
I really wonder when people say they had it for over 35 years if it is really true. Just because someone had a transfusion or did IV drugs a few times 35 years ago does not mean that that is when they got HEPC unless they actually experienced acute symptoms at that time. They may have gotten it only 10 or 15 years ago from something else. There are studies that show anyone drinking heavily has a good chance of getting HEPC.
My doc says I probably got it in the military (vietnam era)30 years ago. I was a heavy drinker up until 10 years ago, who knows especially if you can get it from a razor or a toothbrush not to mention a cut during an accident or bar fight where two peoples blood come together, or at the dentist.
Sorry for going on. Whenever you got it the best thing is to try and get rid of it ASAP.

[ladybug52]

Aww Rev it's good to hear from you. You're not doing the math right with snowav unless you were kidding and it went over my head. If she got this in '71 then drank for 32 years until 2003 who knows how old she was when she started or quit? We're not all spring chickens!
Bug

[jmjm530]

Rev: Jim she nailed you up there with the comment >> "You always post the same measly article where ONE doctor claims it is OK but never post the 100's of articles saying that NO ALCOHOL for anyone with Hep C or a damaged liver is far superior and you wonder why people think you encourage alcohol use."
---------------------------------------------
Actually, I've posted a couple of articles, but equally important, referenced several leading hepatologist's in their opinions. Dr. D and Dr. C who post frequently in the net and anecdotal reports I've read at Janis regarding a very famous Miami doctor. You can reference some of it in this previous thread:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/42065.html

You will probably find that the "100's" of articles you reference, either were derived from data that lumped heavy drinking with social drinking or are specific to heavy drinking.

I'd also like to clear up the misconception that I'm somehow "encouraging alcohol use". Providing information to balance out a discussion is not the same as encouraging alcohol use but simply to put out more information so people can make up their own minds.

You will note that in the "measley" study commentary I posted the following concluding statement: "Alcohol abstinence may be the safest course of action, but an occasional drink appears not to harm the liver in those infected with HCV."  It says, alcohol abstience *may* be the safest course of action...." so it is not like I am somehow hiding or avoiding anything as has been suggested. If I was, I wouldn't have linked the article.

-- Jim

[orphanedhawk]

My friend went to a top Hep C researcher/MD. He showed her photos from under the microscope of what happens when you put alcohol with the hep C virus. They think its orgy time. Then he showed her what happened with coffee. They shrunk away.
    If you are concerned about your liver, stop drinking alcohol and drink tons of coffee. I am not kidding!!

[chcnme]

It's a simple concept on the booze with Hep C.  If you want to be well living with Hep C, stop drinking altogether.  You've come to a Hep C forum and have said you were diagnosed at 20 and you're now 25 and drink socially and have gout. You're bound to be wondering about Hep C and drinking or you wouldn't have asked the question.  Alcohol and gout don't mix, either.  You have two good reasons to put the booze down.

[GrandOak]

Preach it Rev.  It may be jumping to conclusions, but I think one will find that those trying to justify their drinking as merely being "social" are perhaps dealing with alcoholism to some degree or another.  If it is purely "social", then they can take it or leave it with no compulsion.  Why continue to strive to find a re-enforcing opinion despite the numerous advice to the contrary?  If I'm not mistaken, and any counselor's present please speak up, this is the classic definition I've heard given for the behavior of an addict.

I've been told by two respectable doctors in this field, evidenced by their writings on HCV and positions held in leading liver organzations, that alcohol should not be mixed with HCV.  Granted, I'm a Stage 4 which presents an ever strong case for any consumption.  But for people to say it's O.K. "socially" without knowing a person's definition of "social" and when several studies and doctors say no, especially without knowing their particular situation or the state of the liver, seems to be ill advisement.

Ask most alcoholics and they will probably tell you that their addiction was "social" (i.e. they believed that they could not "socially" function without it ;-)

[GrandOak]

Then again, what's the use?  Bottoms up 'til your toes up or It's better to burn out than to simply fade away!

[jmjm530]

GO: But for people to say it's O.K. "socially" without knowing a person's definition of "social" and when several studies and doctors say no, especially without knowing their particular situation or the state of the liver, seems to be ill advisement.
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If you re-read my post, you will see that "social drinking" is quite specficially defined per the Monto article. I post my comment again in context:

"Social drinking should not be a problem per "Monto" article (fifth down) but heavy drinking can damage your liver so make sure you're not deceiving yourself regarding how much you drink."I also told the poster to see a liver specialist (hepatologist) for medical advice.

You will also note (above) that I warn the poster about "not deceiving" himself in regard to how much he drinks. Further, I suggested he see a liver specialist for medical advice.

On this particular issue, I don't think it's so much a matter that myself and some others don't offer a balanced point of view, but in fact that we offer ANY point of view that differs from what you think.

It is obvious from what has been posted, that there appears to be a difference of opinion among doctors themselves on this issue. To brand a group of people "alchoholics" because they repeat offer one side the discussion, tells me more about those that are doing the labeling than those being labled.

-- Jim

[ladybug52]

"There are studies that show anyone drinking heavily has a good chance of getting HEPC."
What does drinking have to do with aquiring hepC? I know that drinking can increase liver damage with hepc, but what studies show it can cause it?
Bug

[ladybug52]

Don't you mean if you wer NOT married and just had twins etc?
How's Janus and Janice?
Bug

[jmjm530]

Rev, Well, that makes a little more sense then, but not always easy to tell with you. BTW a belated congratulations on having twins! I'm sure you've mentioned it before, but a few memory gaps when treating. I think part of the reason -- and only part -- why some of us get different feedback from our doctors on this issue has to do with: liver histology; our past drinking habits (or how our doctors perceive them); and perhaps to some degree how we couch the question. Doctor oft tend to be paternalistic during our short visits, so a "Don't even think of having a drop of alcohol" or "A couple of beers a week won't hurt you" will often replace more complex and in-depth discussion -- including current literature -- unless initiated by the patient.  

-- Jim

[mr.pink]

Are there any studies about the coffee claim?

[copyman]

i have not had any alcohol since i found out i had hcv. before that i use to drink one or two times a week. since i quit my cholesterol has progressively got worse. both hep docs & pcp i see have said to have a "1/2" glass of wine a day. i have not done it yet but seriously considering it. i think a few drinks a week with hcv will not matter one way or the other. what i do think will matter more then alcohol is the people that take tylenol every day or other liver damaging meds, this is doing more liver damage then a few drinks a week.