svr and alcohol

[hipps]

Hi everybody,
I need your advice and some help. I had 1A type, fibrosis 1, portal inflammation stage 2 before treatment. I had 1 year peg&riba treatment. Now I am 1 year svr. So, the question is next: Can I occasionally take some alcohol (not lot of it, just like small delight)? Second question is: What do official studies say about svr status?When can I consider my hep status cured? After a year svr or after 3 years svr?...I would appreciate your answer very much. Thank you for your effort and advices,
cheers,
Hipp

[NYgirl]

This is one of those personal decisions that cause debate around here for sure.

Personally my doc told me after treatment I could have maybe two glasses of wine a YEAR for the rest of my life, that I shouldn't ever poison my liver again as it was damaged and would continue to be potentially if I did.  So I don't PLAN on drinking at all.

Big change for alcoholic/addict that I am that I even CARE about my liver at all.

I guess that is a good thing.

[sindog]

As far as alcohol, my GI said to never drink alcohol again. Can't answer the other questions.

[FlGuy]

You caught a break and a gift. Take your cure and live your life responsibly.

[jmjm530]

Recent thread on same topic: http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/messages/41568.html

Personally, my doctor allowed me 3-4 drinks a week after I was non-detectible one month post treatment. I was a stage 3 before treating. Congratulations on your SVR!

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

I'm gonna out on a limb here -- and since limbs often break maybe I should put my crash helmet on :) -- but from a number of recent posts on this same never controversial subject ;) it *appears* to ME that those that specialize in the liver and hep c (hepatologists) seem more liberal in allowing alcohol than gastroenterologists (GI's) or  general practioners.

-- Jim

[hipps]

So, instead of taking alcohol (obviously occasional alcohol drinkig is not good idea, right, anyway I dont use alcohol already 4 years so I will not miss it) can I use marihuana? Occasionally of course, just to relax and nothing more.
Thanks.

[NYgirl]

I think the concept is, it's your liver. Alcohol is a KNOWN poison to the liver in all forms. If you want to POTENTIALLY damage your liver further...drink.  If you want to make SURE you don't contribute...DONT.

I don't know that pot is as bad as alcohol but I would think in just being responsible and realizing that liver damage is a serious thing...I'd keep ANYTHING down to the absolute bare minimum possible.

The people who do drink are going to tell you it's Fine. The people who don't are going to tell you it's not.  Who's right? I have no idea but logic tells me...it ain't good for your liver so avoid it if possible.

Does that make sense in a non-judgemental type way?

Trying to just give you an honest reply and not one that is driven by my own personal desires.

[Alady1620]

Smoking is not good for you liver either and marijuana is illegal in most places so be very careful if you do.

My gastro said I could have a glass of wine every now and again with dinner after my treatment if I reach SVR.

[cuteus]

do what you wish, as long as you do it in moderation. Many hepatologists do not ban alcohol for SVRs. In my opinion, if you are SVR, have mild damage and no substance abuse problem, you should be able to handle occassional drinking. Those tropical frozen drinks at the Cheesecake Factory are heaven, as well as the margaritas at my favorite Mexican restaurant.
there are many other things that tax the liver, and we continue using them. It is an amazing organ that can withstand a lot. Just don't abuse it.

[jmjm530]

Alady:Smoking is not good for you liver either and marijuana is illegal in most places so be very careful if you do.
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Good point about smoking. I think sometimes we fall prey to over simplifying things like "drinking is bad for the liver" and forget the big picture which includes a whole complex of lifestyle issues/choices such as diet, weight, exercise, smoking, etc. Drinking in defined moderate quantatites actually has been shown to have cardiovascular benefits. Of course, and this has been repeated in other drinkingthreads, if anyone has had a drinking problem in the past, that's a different story because there could always be the risk of relapse.

[jmjm530]

Cuteus: Those tropical frozen drinks at the Cheesecake Factory are heaven, as well as the margaritas at my favorite Mexican restaurant.
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Thanks for so poetically pointing out that there can be life after SVR :)

[FlGuy]

When I get svr I had planned to resume my old drinking habits - about a six-pack a year.  I might change that to a five-pack a year and a Cheesecake Factory tropical drink.  Sounds good.

[hipps]

So, if I am "cured" and I had fibrosis 1 stage (minimal damage), isn't it logical to presume that liver SHOULD recover some day?This fibrosis should "vanish" some dday due to liver ability to regenerate(?) So, lets presume that some day my liver will be COMPLETELY curerd, without ANY sign of fibrosis, what differece does it make to drink few drinks occasionally for ME and for someone with healthy liver? This alcohol and pot taking I DONT plan to abuse, just VERY MODERATE using...

[Kalio1]

If you have sustained liver damage either from Hep C or any other cause it is not advisable to continue to drink even small amounts of alcohol.
Continuing to drink even small amounts of alcohol with a damaged liver is a major health risk. It is FAR different for someone with an already damaged liver to drink than a person who does not have a damaged liver regardless of how the damage was caused. No doctor worth his salt would advise a patient with a damaged liver to drink at all in my opinion. I guess it is possible to find a doctor to tell you what you want to hear if you look hard enough for one but it is well established fact that any alcohol consumption with a damaged liver is a very bad idea. So is smoking, taking medications that stress the liver or eating poorly or lack of exercise for that matter. With a damaged liver you have to take all steps to maintain the part of your liver you have left.
It is a misconception that small amounts of alcohol can't be harmful.

[NYgirl]

Said:  No doctor worth his salt would advise a patient with a damaged liver to drink at all in my opinion.


That is how I feel.  

But like the hypocrite that I am...I DO smoke.  Tried to stop and can't.  I thank God every day that the desire to drink was completely removed when I saw what a stage 3 liver looks like compared to someone without any liver damage.  LIFE changing.

I don't feel good about smoking but I'm addicted and weak.  It's not so much a "choice" to smoke really.  I was able to quit hard core drugs years ago and can't quit smoking.  I was able to quit alchol and I've been an alcoholic all of my life.

So to me it's really a. having a good drink (and DAMMM I want a frozen drink from the Cheesecake Factory RIGHT NOW so MUCH LOL they are so TASTY!) is a choice and smoking is an addiction.

Like I said...hypocrite.

(Then again I don't think fried chicken is good for my liver but I"m going to eat it anyway hahahahahahahaha)

[Kalio1]

I guess it's a "pick your poison" situation. We are all adults, we all make our choices in life. You aren't kidding yourself that smoking isn't harming you and you don't go round saying it is ok to smoke "moderately". People can drink on their damaged livers if they chose to do so but telling themselves (or others)there aren't consequences and health risks of such behavior is a bit ostrich like.
True enough smoking isn't good for your liver or any part of your body for that matter but alcohol has a DIRECT impact on our livers, particuarly damaged livers. Addiction is a wily game and people will fool themselves into thinking a little bit is ok. So many people think they have to drink a LOT to cause them harm and that is a myth.
Did't you quit smoking i the past? Maybe I have it wrong but I thought you had quit in the past. So see, you can do it! Quitting on tx is a entirely differet story, tx is so incredibly stressful it seems like the worst time to attempt it psychologically even though health wise it is probably the best time.
We are heading towards the end of this long treatment! When is your "last shot?" date? Mine is the beginning of March. We are about 2/3's of the way thru now!!

[Mister beagle bailey]

Congratulations on being SVR!!!

I think having a drink here or there is a personal choice.  I don't think the medical staffs know much about it after someone is SVR, but for me I won't chance it.  I don't ever want to go through this he!! again.
I have a friend who is SVR for about 10 years now and he's not even allowed to take Lipitor for the rest of his life, so the dr said.

Beagle

[jmjm530]

Hipps:... "So, lets presume that some day my liver will be COMPLETELY curerd, without ANY sign of fibrosis, what differece does it make to drink few drinks occasionally..."
======================
I had stage 3 liver damage prior to treatment.

Now that I've treated -- let's say for arguments sake that I have stage 2 damage. My hepatologist still allows me to drink in moderation. So does another I recently consulted with. Both are well published and are involved with important Hep C trials.

Others here have posted the same advice from their doctors. And I'm sure most of them have some degree of liver damage.

As you can see lots of different opinions here, but in the end it's your opinion that matters for you.

Again, I raise my glass to your SVR -- with or without alcohol in it.

-- Jim

[Dale_Ray]

If you had to ask the question you probably already knew the answer. It's your liver treat it the way you want. Dale

[jmjm530]

BB:I have a friend who is SVR for about 10 years now and he's not even allowed to take Lipitor for the rest of his life, so the dr said.
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If your friend has cardiac risk factors, I'd recommend he seek another medical opinion. The risk of not taking Lipitor may outweigh whatever risk may be involved in taking it. My hepatologist has already given me the green light for Liptor. Hope this finds you feeling better post tx.

-- Jim

[Kalio1]

Your friend's doctor gave him good advice. There are other colesterol lowerig medications that might be better. Lipitor is contraindicated for those with liver damage and even if you do not have liver damage patients on this drug should monitor their liver closely. Scary stuff, Lipitor, especially if you consume any alcohol.
MBB so how are you feeling now? Getting better every day? Hope so!
mushttp://www.all-about-lowering-cholesterol.com/lipitor-side-effects-liver.html

[Kalio1]

not sure the other link worked.

http://www.all-about-lowering-cholesterol.com/lipitor-side-effects-liver.html

[Mister beagle bailey]

That's good to know, I guess it depends on the Dr.  What do you think about having a drink from time to time?

I'm doing well post tx and hope your doing the same.

Beagle

[Mister beagle bailey]

Hey, I'm doing fine and getting better each day.  my hgb is in the 12.0+ and for me that's good news.

How are you feeling?  I hope this round of tx is kinda on you my friend.

Stay well

Beagle