Alcohol in small amounts?

[Magnum]

Alcohol as we know, is prohibited when you have Hep C and especially if you have Cirrhosis. On my last visit with my transplant doctor, I asked him now that I have a good normal liver, is it okay to drink one glass of wine with dinner each day. He said “absolutely not”. Okay, I’m taking his advice. Keeping in mind I’m post transplant, I asked if I could have a glass of champagne for my birthday this past September (10 months post transplant). His response “it’s not the end of the world”. So I had a glass. First drink in three years! Oh my was it good.

I guess everyone is different as far as handling alcohol intake. For example, my grandfather drank a quart of whiskey every adult day of his life and lived to be 92. When I went to his cremation, that fire would not go out.

Magnum

[interfurgent]

Did not think my, comment would go like it did . I get worried, for me fellow, hip-c. Many years back, the family went to the Reno ribb cook off. In our family there are 5 of us with hep-c, None of us knew how bad drinking really was. So we all had beers, my brother in law could not stop. and was the first to pass way from it. He even turn down the liver trans. I do not think it was me that got him drinking, But what if ? I say it is okay to have a glass of wine,and it was not. But who am I , to say any thing.I am eating a big real big donut. So any one with die-bibbbies  do not listen to me lip's on this donut.

[cheflady]

You are very funny can understand your life style.Everytime that i mentioned that i was a chef everybody automatically think you are a pop head! Just cause many moons ago i sacked a waitress because it was mid day and i asked for a drink& she brought me a coffee instead of a beer as nothing to do with it. Pophead indeed the cheek!!! Jules

[gibsongal]

"If you have a drinking problem, call 925-8735. So I did. It was the liquor store just down the street...

Magnum


ha ha ah ha

[Magnum]

When I was first diagnosed with Hep C in 1994, my primary doctor got the notice from the lab prior to one of my surgeries. At that time, at least in Las Vegas, doctors told the patient "we'll keep an eye on this". No mention to stop drinking.

I worked for 7 years entertaining in the major hotels in Las Vegas, doing a one man show on keyboards, guitar and vocals. The stress factor was high and the hours were long. Each night when I came home, in order to come down from being so wired after the performance and driving through the traffic, it was not unusual for me to drink 2-3 double Margaritas.  That's 4-6 shots of Tequila each night.

In 1999, five years later, doctors were told by the AMA to tell the Hep C patients to stop drinking. I did just that. It wasn't easy and in order to avoid temptation, I had Sunday and Mondays off and I left Vegas for Mesquite, for those two days, about an hour drive.

I checked into a motel and just wanted to chill out for a couple of days. Since it was Sunday, there was nothing to watch on TV except for evangelists spewing religion. I turned off the TV and looked around for something to read. All I saw was a Gideon's bible on the night stand. Out of curiosity, I opened it and on the inside of the front cover someone wrote very neatly "If you have a drinking problem, call 925-8735. So I did. It was the liquor store just down the street...

Magnum

[patra_]

Back to the alcohol thing:  I used to deink regularly, but had started working at cutting down (due to weight).  When I was diagnosed in 1994, I stopped on a dime.  Haven't had a drink in over 20 years, but, human nature, I guess, over the years, I added too much fats, sugars, etc.  - weight came back.  You Blessed People, on this site and research showed me the benefits of a liver friendly diet, which I have embraced.  Do I ever have a cookie? Yes, no sense being a fanatic! BUT My weight is steadily coming down, my Labs are improving more than we ever expected and I truly believe the dietary changes are why.  My Dr did not ask or tell me to change, but he is very pleased with the result.

Where I am going with this?  When my Brother asked me recently, if I would be able to have a beer with dinner, occasionally, when my meds are done, my answer was "I may be able to, but I WILL NOT! So many on here have shown that they continued a healthy diet and exercise and that their liver disease continued, over the years following SVR, TO IMPROVE!  That is what I want, so I will not add alcohol back in.  That goes for wrong fats and sugar, too.  Why take a chance on hurting that precious organ after so much effort (and expense to someone) to cure it?

Not preaching here -- just giving my take and rationale.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it!  Pat

[susan400]

I agree on the cooking thing.  Although, logically, I know chopping up and cutting up fresh veggies, organic meats i.e. farm raised/organic chicken, etc., it's  more expensive and time consuming.  By the way, I'm not vegan.  I know it's the thing to be these days, but I like my meat too much. Don't eat much red meat.  Right after treatment I did some of those 'green drinks' and LOL, it was 'too much' for my system.  I was so happy when I was done with that.  I wanted to help to detox.  Anyhow, I like Progresso Soup, too, and peanut butter!  Marie Collanders, some of the Lean Cuizines and the Healthy Choice are good, too.  Sometimes, certain stores will put them all on sale.  Also, it's hard for be motivated to go to all that work chopping and cutting and making stuff from scratch when you are only cooking for yourself.  I mean if I had kids to cook for, I'd be making the effort to give them more food, but since that's not the case here..  I don't know if you like brown rice, but there are also some single serve Minute Rice varieties from everything from brown rice, Jasmine Rice, Yellow Rice, Wild Rice, and traditional White Rice.  It's so easy all you have to do is pull off the top and nuke it for a 1 to 1-1/2 depending on your microwave wattage.    At lot healthier than Macky D's       Susan400

[gibsongal]

i have not had anything to drink in a long time ..my sister came to visit with a friend last month and i tried to have a glass of beer socially..tasted good but after a few sips i felt a little light headed and tired…i did't finish the glass..T

hey drank vodka and  she was obnoxious. While eating dinner she would talk constantly, never let anyone else get a word in and she would take a bite of pizza or salad and talk with her mouth full.!! almost spraying it! and.being all judgmental talking about how her house mate eats frozen dinners or packaged rice etc occasionally and bragging about how she cooks everything from scratch.. she is 59! i do not remember her ever having such bad manners…(and this is the woman who was really broke last year and told me she stops at mcdonalds for a mc muffin on the way to work.. what a hypocrite

I did manage to say that some frozen meals are pretty good now a days and that I do not have the time  health and strength to shop cook and clean up if i have to make every thing form scratch.. so time consuming..she does not understand how it is being sick. living with a chronic disease..
geesh!  she has no clue..
i just am happy that i have food..and the energy to cook it..if i eat a frozen pot pie or rice pilaf, the box kind or canned soup and a grilled cheese for dinner  so be it. i was 101 pounds 2 years ago and couldn't gain, and.didn't start to gain my weight back until i treated with sovoldi and olysio this summer.. i am proud to say i am on the mend and am 112 now..! Marie callanders pot pies and progresso soup and peanut butter!  now i have been feeling better and making better meals again..i have other things to do besides spending 3 hrs in the kitchen.

[susan400]

Yes, I see your humor.  You are funny about your grandpa and the cremation.  I do see where what the people above said though.., about others and the drinking.  When I quit drinking like 19 years ago, at first it was hard because it's such a social thing and I almost felt like I was 'missing out'.  But, now, all these years later, it's really not something that I think about often at all.  Occasionally, I've been at a family event where everybody had their glasses of wine (except for me and of course the under age 18- kids.., + maybe 1 or 2 other relatives I have, that just have made a personal choice to 'not drink', but not for any health reason) and when I was there, I happened to be clearing off the table from the empty wine glasses and literally the 'smell' of alcohol made me feel weird.  I don't know if now that I'm undetected if it would be different.  I know my late father used to drink his nightly scotch and water or a gin and tonic, and when I collected those glasses, or like went to fill the dishwasher and there were those glasses in the sink with little bits of booze left in the bottom, it was the same deal, the smell of it bothered me.  And I have no idea why that is.  The last time I ever tried to drink like a  1/2 a glass of wine (after I had heard about the Hep and before I had started treatments), I got so dizzy.  It's weird because I used to drink as a regular drinker in my teens to early 30's and back then, I didn't even know about the Hep.  I'd really be interested to know if I had the same effect now.  Anyway, where was I ?? Oh yea, how other people act when they are drinking.., they seem to get silly, and sometimes, dull and stupid and if they've had enough of it, slurred words and obnoxious.  I all depends on the person and how well they tolerate the alcohol and how much they've had.  

[dontworry_behappy1]

Yes that statement can be taken two ways.  Glad your not drinking.  I didn't have a transplant and still drinking after all this doesn't seem to not agree with me anymore.  Alcohol IS a toxin.   But it is interesting how I see people who are drinking.  Never even gave it a thought before.  I really enjoyed social drinking.  Never have been on the outside looking in.

Best to you

[Magnum]

You misunderstood what I was saying. I'm not drinking. I had a glass of champagne for my birthday after the doctor said "It's not the end of the world". In other words it won't hurt. Aside from that, I'm not drinking...

Mag

[dontworry_behappy1]

"It's not the end of the world" so why are you drinking?   I found like OH said it makes me sick now too.  Never did before treatment.  And yes I too see people seem stupid After a few and I haven't.  It's inlightening.

Keep it real

[orphanedhawk]

Unlike you, post transplant, I've found alcohol gives me a headache, literally,  and man do people seem stupid after they've had a few and you haven't.
Makes ya think.

[interfurgent]

It is not just one drink, it is the words OH my was it good. that's the killer. had a beer last month still thinking about it .