Jack Daniels and SVR

[l-horn]

My primary docs nurse called today aboot my 90 day blood work. ( I have him do all the blood work as it's cheaper ) said they all came out 'positive' and both tests were 'good' and she had faxxed over the results to my GI ( who I have an appointment with thursday).

Being the quisitive sort of dude I am....lol....my next question was, 'What do dat mean ?'

She says, 'The BACTERIA is negative'.

I says, 'So my Viral load us undectable ?'

Yes

So, here I sit....wondering if my PCP nurse knows how to READ the tests and my fax machine is down....( changed phone providers...remodling the house, fax is somewhere ...don't know where.. yadda yadda...) so I can't just have her fax it to me to see for myself.

But my READ of this conversation is, that I'm still cleared after 90 days and the nurse is just clueless.  At least that's what *I* took from it. Honestly, I don't know for sure. I had people to see places to go at the time and she was obviously clueless but I ASSUME the tests hit my PCP's desk at some point and I can't see calling someone on the phone to tell them they suck...know what I mean. Bottom line is, till I talk to my GI I don't really know 100%.

Now about my subject line. I'm a drinker. I admit it. Once I was done with the tx I started drinking again. Nothing like what I used to but what a non-drinker would certainly think of as 'heavy drinking'. I drink at least 3-4 beers a day, with a few Cubans ( that my buddy brings back from ...3 tours over in Iraq and the 'stans'...a few glasses of wine and some good Irish whisky here and there...John Daniels...and perhaps a shot now and then of some 100% guavo tequila...etc ...etc.

What da' point of dis l-horn...you may ask ?  The point is this:. Many times on this board there is the alcohol -vs- SVR argument on this board. There is the 'it will lower your chances of SVR and the 'once the virus is gone it's gone' crowd.  I am obviously in the 'once it's gone it's gone crowd'.

We will see BUT...I add this part of this simply to state...as long as my interpretation of my PCP nurse is correct...and that I am still clear....alcohol will not cause relapse, just like my GI said it won't...and that drinking and HCV/viral load are entirely two different things. With that said: Drinking on treatment lowers your chances of SVR SIGNIFICANTLY ( the data is there for those that want to look ) but once your done....IMHO, as well as my GI doc. Alcohol use has ZIP to do with SVR. You either is, or you isn't. lol

We'll see after a year or so. I'm a good test for this...trust me on that.

In the mean time...I met a stripper...we're going to the Laker/Spurs game tomorrow...bwaaaahhh !!!

Live it out man...you only get so much time.

[jmjm530]

Studies suggest you will have to stop both drinking and dating strippers. Flush the Jack Daniels and send the stripper my way. But seriously, Congrads on what appears to be your SVR (or at least lack of 'bacteria' :) ). As to the drinking, you're a big boy, so no lectures tonight. Again, congratulations, I know what a long haul treatment can be.

-- Jim

[ladybug52]

Just what I expected....The Redsox win and you're drowning your sorrow in booze....hate to see you when the Mavs beat the lill sissy Spurs this year.....
Bug

[ladybug52]

Oh and congrats on your testing positive for no bacteria! My pcp's nurse never quite got the hang of reading those complicated lab results either:)
Way to go! Getting a stripper and good test results!
Bug

[puck61]

They tell me drinking would be suicide.  I have 3.6m  copies, and very mild symptoms.  I'm going to be doing the interferon pretty soon.  Are the warnings about booze, exagerated?

[mremeet]

Fine microbrews dude, not JD. Sheesh, amateurs. ;-)

[ladywhy]

No..they are not.
Stay away from the alcohol. You cannot drink while treating or before. Period.
There is an expression used here quite often and for you I will repeat it. "Alcohol and hep C is the same as throwing gasoline on the fire."

[ladywhy]

"Nothing like what I used to but what a non-drinker would certainly think of as 'heavy drinking'. I drink at least 3-4 beers a day, with a few Cubans ( that my buddy brings back from ...3 tours over in Iraq and the 'stans'...a few glasses of wine and some good Irish whisky here and there...John Daniels...and perhaps a shot now and then of some 100% guavo tequila...etc ...etc."

Are you kidding me? I-horn, I only comment on this because I like you...this has me scared for you. Why are you drinking so much now? You and your liver deserve better.
Sincerely
Yvonne

[beamishboy]

i agree and applaud your honesty...does she have a friend?

[cruelworld]

kick @ss dude, it appears the parole board is leaning heavily to your early release.
Yee Haa
with all of your apparent sophistication, i should have known you would drop to the lowest common denominator  (strippers and jack daniels!) as soon as you got well.
in the meantime im praying for a miracle for both of us as im afraid i will probably follow the same path as soon as i get cured!  
i do personally agree with the safety of a moderately small alchohol intake
after svr. i probably wont allow myself to drink until i have regressed from stage 3 to stage 2 though.
youve put on a good show this last year I horn, as far as i am concernered youve brought a lot of color to this board that we dont see much of before or since.
so glad to see you getting your life back.

[GoofyDad]

Like you were buying those hummidores (sp) on ebay for what, keeping ants out of the sugar???

[l-horn]

They are right. Drinking while having the virus is bad. Suicide ? No. I had the virus for 25 yeas and drank like a fish. I'm still alive. Is it a bad idea ? Yes. Also drinking, even small amounts, while on tx lowers your chances of clearing and SVR to the point your really wasting your time. I used to have a link but reloaded my pc since then. I'm sure it's easy to find. Drinking while on tx is .....pointless.

So in NO WAY am I endorsing/encouraging drinking while on treatment or with the virus. As soon as I found out I had HCV, I quit and I never drank on tx.  My doc basically gave me the green light on moderate drinking...as he believe it has nothing to do with SVR or bringing back the virus, However, I'm pretty sure his idea of 'moderate' and my idea of 'moderate' are completely different things.  I started drinking again simply because A: I likes it, and B: I figure if the virus is going to come back, let's bring her in with a bang...downright encourage her. DARE the virus to come back.

So now the thrill is gone and I've kicked the ***** to the curb it seems but she wouldn't be the first to show back up, madder than ever. So far, so good.

[l-horn]

If the Mavs win the western conference I will personally inject myself with every known genotype of hepatitits and chase it down with grain alcohol while having unproteced sex with a heroin addicted haitian hooker.

I'll eat ebola.

Spurs win the west....again.

[Andiamo1]

Wow - and you jump on me for taking LSD once or twice!!!  What a double standard or were you just being mean?

[Willy50]

hey babe....take a walk on the wild side.......

Since this is a serious medical experiment it should be posted on the OTHER side.  When will you people learn?!!  (You know...the side with the inflatable dolls) ; )

I horn...... I can't tell if this is a cry for help or a noble experiment.  Since you boarded the train and are in the current clinicaltrials.lasvegas study keep up with the lab tests to keep your chart up to date; fibrosures and STD tests.  : )

By the way...the empirical logic is deffo the way to go.....  I also know people who drank while TXing and SVR'ed too.  It CAN be done!!

Take care I-horn, I'm not getting a moderation vibe here.  : )

Willy

[desrt]

Let us know what your AST/ALT are on Thursday. I found that pre-tx light drinking (the proverbial 'coupla beers') kept my enzymes in the 60-80 range while adding Jack to the mix took them up to 300-400. Part of my decision to stop drinking and start treating.
I'm curious if there's any post-tx parallel.
Again, that's not an endorsement of *any* type of pre-tx drinking - just my experience.

[cajunldy]

Not many would step up and say what you did.  I applaud you for being honest and not holyier than thou.  I too was told by my GI to continue life as I used to before HepC.  I'm not downing them like you are but I do have a few here and there, just depends on my mood that day. Myself I preferr the left handed cigs (if you know what I mean) to the drinks.  I love to go to the back yard and sit in the Tiki Hut my husband built and just chill, and listen to Sirus Radio on CLASSICS.

YOU KNOW LIFE IS SHORT, SO LIVE LIVE LIVE just be good to yourself in the meantime.

Cajun

[mayday557]

I too drank like a fish for a few decades - a total booze hound.
After the C diagnosis I tried to have a few brews and they made
me feel like ~ well you know.
Maybe because the system was finally kaputsky and didn't want to play
any more...I was really run down.
I've even quit smoking.
Perhaps when all is said and done, after tx I may have some sortof a
foofy-cocktail once in a great while, but I'm not tempting fate any more
uh-uh-no-way

[frijole]

I-horn -- boy I would get a copy of those labs before I celebrate too much.. I think a lot of those nurses can't read them.  So, tell me -- did your liver biopsy show any steatosis?  Good luck to you, but --- did you just do the treatment so you could drink longer?

andiamo -- only once?  really?

frijole

[Lady Lauri]

  Also applaud the honesty and hey, YOUR life to live (no, NOT "ONE life to live, now got the song in my head and HATE soaps!!)

  Anyhooooo....... I also stopped all casual, weekend, ALL drinking as soon as dx. BUT.......my Dr. (and he ain't no slouch Dr.!) also is on the side of "once your clear, SVR" go back to normal life, tho mine was very moderate drinking, never could keep up with the big dogs.......

POINT ...I am getting to......WHEN I AM SVR, (2b, tx done in Feb., unless we stop at 16 weeks), I fully intend to CELEBRATE my 50th in march with a blow out and will have a drink or two!!
THAN will go back to none till liver has repaired some, and than....play it by ear.

EACH ones choice and live and let live. But damm*t man, did ya' have to remind me of what I am missing ......:}

P.S. And has your stripper been tested? Don't want to be catching ANYTHING else in one of those drunken, go for it moments :}

Child24..........."watch the game not the stripper....well
unless she starts stripping I guess....jeez I-Horn which one would you watch LOL"

LOL! My bet is he'll be watching the stripper, UNLESS it's a close score, tie.

                                                                                       LL              

[scratchinghead]

Don't watch the stripper too close, you might get ****-eyed.

[scratchinghead]

That's "kock-eyed"

[Myown]

Congratulations on your SVR! The drinking well,,, I don't agree, but you're a big boy and thats your choice.

Wishing you the best!

[l-horn]

I didn't jump on you for taking LSD. I jumped on you for 'glorifying' it as I do anyone who glorifies the drug culture or thinks the 60's were 'cool'.

Further, you're comparing alcohol to LSD ?  lol, you can NOT be serious here.  

But I admit fully I've had some pretty good times on a few of the illicits and I also admit, I've had a lot of bad bad times on the them and have seen them take a few people down, some all the way. The most painful was my childhood friend who never saw 16.  I haven't done drugs since my 20's so I don't know what it's all about now. Meth I've heard..crack. I missed that whole 'era' of lovelyness of that drug. Gotta love a drug that lowers you to the depth of an animal, or worse. Know what I mean ? I can hear it now, in 30 years old crack ****** will be revelling in the past...'Yeah this one time, I blew a monkey for a rock..

Ahhh good times....good times.

[Forseegood]

but it alwys cracks me up a little when booze heads get on their high and mighty about drugs...sorry....and I didn't think we were glorifying LSD in that thread, there were many of us besides andiamo, we were just relating silly stories of our past...and I'm sure we all realize how silly they were...

[l-horn]

Little booze heads. lol....for the love of god. So now it's a doper -vs- boozer war ?  Now this could have some entertainment value.

Okay, I'll start. I've done more drugs than you've ever seen little girl.

How's that ?

[Forseegood]

don't want to carry it on and bore everyone to death...hope you have a good day and I'm glad you are SVR...sincerely....

[l-horn]

Sorry, I don't talk to dopers.

lol

[Lady Lauri]

  
Well I've seen more drugs than you've all ever done!  :}

Now kids! Knock it off! Time out. Go to your corners and....do Jack D., LSD, smoke or ....nothin'!
Geeeeezzzzz, booze heads, doppers, anit-druggers, can't take 'em anywhere!

Doubt many crackheads WILL be here in 30 years to tell their tales! Not like the drugs of our days....ya' know, the good, real stuff !

KIDDING. ALL KIDDING! NO NEED FOR ANY BOOZE, DRUGS WARS....PEACE MAN!

Congrats on your SVR, BTW.

                                                                        LL

[spcecst2]

Dude why do you post this crud? If you wanna drink, DRINK, if you wanna do strippers, DO THEM, and don’t waste time with a rubber, not that you’d be smart enough to use one!

[Verdugo]

A big congrats from me too!  

I must tell you that I honor you with writing the funniest HCV post I ever read which involved how you acquired of HCV and girl scout cookies.  VERY funny!  (BTW, I searched for it recently and couldn't find it).

There's gotta be a link between sense of humor and SVR!

Take care,
Anna.

[Willy50]

Calmeth downeth.

I  loved the title of this thread.  There's some humor here.  Roll with it.

There may also be some truth here too....accept it or let it go.  

(crying.....) Can't we all just get along?  sob sob.

Willy

[dperry10]

Too funny..  Congrats on your SVR.. Hopefully forever, and good luck on the drinking.     When I went thru treatment 14 years ago, my doctor said it was fine to have a drink of wine or a beer daily.  I was slow to respond, and eventually relapsed.  I guess the part about going back to regular life and drink again, was not a good idea.   Well this is my last week 48.. My 2nd time around, and I have decided that alcohol does not have to be part of my life.  I have not had a drink in about 7 years now, and don't miss it all..    Wishing you SVR forever, .. and let us know how you progress..  

This was a good laugh for me..  I needed one.

[ladywhy]

I believe there is a forum at MedHealth for addiction/alcoholism and such...it seems to me that this thread belongs more in that type of forum than people who are trying to cope with a deadly liver disease. Just my take.

I have witnessed too much destruction, death and devastated lives to find anything funny about this. I cannot imagine just finishing this grueling tx with all the possible problems with autoimmune issues...attempting to live not survive (mind you) and almost immediately drinking what i read as not heavy drinking but as any alcoholic would drink. It's tragic to me....not a bit funny.

[beamishboy]

allow me to mediate...as a former drug & alcohol  abuser on the grand world tour variety and a unrepentant decadent-always attracted to the wrong gang and actively pursued the wickedest game...and yes...gasp... unprotected sex!..i am overly qualified..
this thread should be taken w a grain of salt(w/ the tequila..my fav is don julio...smooth wow)....and amused unrestraint...
adults all,we can learn much from this honest offer...let us watch,w/ barely suppressed glee, as our i-horn provides us the anectdotal survey results from  his walk on the wild side..i for one will be much interested and hopefully titilated...for we are-as the dearly departed doctor hunter s thompson often remarked " .... professionals,after all. "
forseegood- are the prepartions proceeding apace?

[Forseegood]

it was over for me awhile ago...didn't you see my bow out post? lol...I can't speak for anyone else, but it was over for me...my take away from this whole thread is that people disagree on what sometimes is "glorified," and I should just mosey on down the line and get off of here...

Beamyboy: yeah...they are...shucks...

[Alady1620]

Well, the hep may not get him but cirrosis might.  

I-horn, were you drunk when you wrote that post?

Ehh...Live and let live.  It is I-horn's life.  I guess he is free to live it as he pleases.  For me, I can't bring myself to take any more chances with my liver.  Hep C changed my life.

[Trish77]

Have an Irish whiskey for me, would you?  I have a nearly full bottle of my favourite sitting on my table, a gift from a friend right before I found out what it can do to me and my favourite liqueur, Irish Mist, sitting there unfinished (starts out sweet and finishes with a warm, toast your throat kick to it).  Just keep an eye on things...keep getting tested, make sure you're clear.  I know I am hoping to enjoy life when I'm done tx and I will so much love to taste a Scotch again... good thing I love the smell as much as the taste.  As I tell my friends, I love the smell of candles too but I don't eat 'em so for now, the wafting of a Scotch under my nose will do. :)  Doubt I will ever drink much ever again not that I ever did .. but I will definitely look forward to a Scotch straight up now and again.

Enjoy the game, l-horn....and make sure there's a glove on that love. ;->

[R Glass]

Congratulations on closing this chapter of your life and moving on to the next one. Hopefully, I will start tx in the next week or 2. I was supposed to start last Friday but I am still battling with the insurance over my Co-Pay but it looks like everything will soon be resolved. If your going to drink anyway, have a Jim Beam for me while my life is temporarily on hold. Enjoy Your Life l-horn.

[Lady Lauri]

  Didn't start! That sucks! Was waiting on your 'how 1st day' went post and posted a 'Good luck' on the 9th on the 'motorbikes' (mind you, not 'motor cycles':) post. Haven't been on the site much in a few days if you'd posted that. That's not fair..."start on the 9th"..."oh, no, you can't" and so on. Sorry, hope you get started soon.

                                                                           LL

[Lady Lauri]

Willy...agree with you :} Specially ......"There may also be some truth here too....accept it or let it go." AND...............    "Can't we all just get along?  sob sob. "
Few words, good points :}

Now on to my long one, LOL.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is to all, in the kindest way too!

   We all have our own stories, opinions, life styles, past, views, different sense of humor. Think how boring it would be if we didn't!!
  
   We all are affected in many similar ways by our shared disease and fight. While it changes us all in different ways also. Some choose to change their life’s forever, SVR or not. Some choose to get back to living  more as they did before, whether it be a little or a lot.
  Some think giving up all is not ‘living to the fullest",  while other’s think it is the ‘safer, wiser’ way to go.
  
    It is not my place to criticize  anyone for either way they go with their life’s, even if  I don’t necessarily agree. Especially when they are well aware of all the issue’s involved in the decision.
   All still boils down to their life.

  We have ALL bit our tongues a few times here and there is NO way we will all agree.  Voicing your opinion is one thing,demeaning criticism is another. I guess I just hate seeing that. I had in one thread demeaning, nasty remarks which I flung back with similar, but ….short, to the point and ‘don’t converse with me please’. Surely….one ‘testy’ comment is going to stir up the same response.

   My opinion, with research, advice, learning is……in early stage liver disease…..and with SVR (for sure, many months later!)…the liver can repair much. So THAN drinking …in moderation, as with a ‘normal’ liver, COULD than be okay. (If other health issue‘s, not). I do NOT expect everyone to agree  and respect that. Drinking a lot, not too smart and I horn states he knows that and his choice, to make. As HE chose’s that, h*ll,  have a good time! He knows it’s him that may-or may not -suffer for it.

Humor is good too, constructive criticism good, concern advice, all good.
I’ve-we’ve - seen some pretty stupid debates, arguments here, most just not needed.
(of course moody, tired, riba rage all taken into account).

  Personally, I try to just skip by it when I don’t like /agree with  a post.

And……strangely ….. I admire those that do change their life’s for good in the reasoning of  keeping your health at best AND I admire those that decide to get back to life as it was before all this.
BECAUSE they made their own choice for their own life.

Today I got a call that a very sweet, very kind lady at work, 52, was taken to the hospital for a fall yesterday, and they found cancer thru out her….lungs, brain, kidneys…..no hope at all, In one day she just got told she has very few days here on earth. I guess my ‘opinion’ is just ‘live and let live’ and DON’T waste time.

           Just my take on all that……tho it was a long ‘take’ !

Have a good one all, whatever a good one is for you :}

                                                                                                                   LL

[Forseegood]

I agree with much of what you say...fraid I was the culprit this time, we don't always have to spout off just because we don't agree with a post, whatever...there would be madness if everyone did that...I was mostly sticking up for another member, someone who could just as well have stuck up for himself...sorry if I caused any hard feelings for anybody...

I do agree that we're all adults, we can do what we please as long as we're not hurting anybody else...I personally believe in moderation - but I hardly expect others to agree with me...no big deal if they don't, it's their own lives to live...

[l-horn]

Hey man, this always gets me and I should know better. I'm not on the tx anymore and I should realize it doesn't take much to shake up the monkey cage filled with a bunch of interferon bloated chimps. ( I mean that in the fondest of ways...I was a crazy chimp too. ;)  Still am. But I realize my time here has passed. I'm not the most empathetic character on the planet to begin with so me OFF of the treatment probably isn't a good idea here. Me on tx was about the most empathetic you'll fnd me and I'm sure a few will attest...that ain't much.  But, I got plenty of it here and I'm sorry I didn't give back more. For those that ARE good at it, thank you !! I fully realize if everyone were like me the board would consist of, 'I feel scared' followed by 'Rub some dirt on it, biitch.'  

You're all good peeps, some of the best people I've ever 'met' and I wish ALL of you the best. With that said, before I totally alienate everyone here, my time is done. Back to football, strippers and tequila my friends. I still have another good round left in me, I know it. Sorry, I'm like popeye...I amsk what I amsk. If you ever get down to San Antonio, give me a call and we'll take in a Spurs game.
I'll put my email in my profile.

Also, I'll post the results of my drinking 'experiment'. I'll let you know if I SVR or relapse, whatever the case may be.  Next week I'm having a trans-esophogeal echocardiagram so that should be fun. Hope I'm not jumping out of the frying pan into the fire here. Don't know if that has anything to do with tx but I've been having throat pain on the left side. Doc said that was my carartid(sp) artery, hence the test. Maybe a stint, maybe drugs, maybe nothing. Could be my ticker. ( as I light up another marlboro red...)

Reminds me of the old joke: Why do men die sooner than women ? Because they WANT to.

hehe

[geterdone]

Life goes on, don't it...

We'll be singing
When we're winning
We'll be singing
I get knocked down
But I get up again
You're never going to keep me down
just *issing the night away

lol!
jasper

[Willy50]

I stll laugh a bit at the title.  It's meant to shock us and it works.  We may still be smiling from the title when we read the first few lines and discover that I-horn has recently been tested negative for "bacteria".  Now we are really rolling our eyes.  What comes next?  

What comes is a disclosure that the title is more serious that we first may have thought.  Then strippers are thrown into the mix.  You get a "through the looking glass" kinda vibe.  What is real and what is being overstated?

We would never really advise an newbie with such advice.... but it seems to me that I-horn is hardly that.  Nor it would seem is he infected.  We all get to follow up with our lives as we see fit after SVR.  We will all chose different courses.  Who is to say who is right?  Who is to say what some other should do?

I sometimes attend joint and open AA meetings.  Man, I've heard stories that make you cry.  Drinking has provided some amazing and tragic stories.  If there is every a place you can hear laughing as well.....about various tragic consequences of ones self will...... it is in those same rooms.

There's room for self will and some room for some humor as well in this disease.  No one in AA tries to control peoples drinking that WANT to drink.  That is insanity as well.  : )

Willy

[Andiamo1]

Thanks for clarifying your post.

As far as comparing alcohol to LSD, they are both dangerous drugs that can be fun, but have a very dark side; they have both destroyed many lives.  Each in moderation can enhance life and in excess - destroy it.

I am not looking to start a debate here, just stating a point for the last time.

[l-horn]

"  how you acquired HCV and girl scout cookies "
-------

I don't think they keep posts that long which is kind of a shame because there's lots of good info in these posts. You know,  I did a little stand up in my day. Didn't know that DID YA' ?Just didn't have the huevos to stick it out. Plus I got married, had kids, sobered up....One or ALL of those things, or simply the combination thereof made me 'un-funny' for a decade or so. My ex didn't think I was funny AT ALL. True, she did often laugh at me, but not in a good way. My kids, same thing. My son didn't get my sense of humor, or at least, it's twisted. He's kind of serious. He did the deferred enlistment for the bonus plus $1000 month while he's in highschool so he's off to the Army after he graduates. That's what he wanted so,OH BOY !!  Now I'm really in 'un-funny' mode and although I still haven't fully 'absorbed' this decision of his I've got a while to digest it. I'm keeping my hopes up that this will get resolved but...you know ...spit in one hand, wish in the other. I'm just a 'little' worried about this, you might say. Anywho....good luck. I'm glad someone got a kick out of my ramblings every now and then.

[l-horn]

Your cool with me. I know I've said some crappy things to you a couple of times in a bad mood or moment but I do admire anyone who's stuck out what you have. I find it incredible. I don't even know how a person DOES that.  So..how DOES a person do that ?  What have you done, 500 interferon shots ? 1000 ? I know a guy that did three rounds. You're on ....7 ?   ( just sitting here thinking of that and just shake my head...) Can't fathom it. Can't get my head around that one. I could ask you about a 1000 questions of how that came to be but, hey man, you're what..65 or so, had the virus since 1960 ?  Nearly 50 years with the virus ?  That's an accomplishment right there. I hope this one is the charm. If anyone deserves it, it's you. Everyone deserves it.  I know this, if I don't SVR I'm waiting it out for better drugs. Realistically, I could have waited a while but didn't have all the info. Someone asked me in this thread if I treated so I could drink again...as if that's a bad thing...lol. The answer...well...yeah, sorta. And just what, may I ask, is wrong with THAT ?  I just wanted my life back and to not worry about it. And that's what I hope for you. Get it done, finally get it behind you.

Now, did I ever tell you about eating peyote down in Mexico ? True story...

lol ... Man I wish I could have those years back.

[Andiamo1]

Thanks for the post.  It takes a while to get to know someone on the board and it is easy to get the wrong impression.

Good luck to you with your SVR.  If I archive it, I will have a drink now and then, but never go back to the partying of my youth.

[Lady Lauri]

  "I do agree that we're all adults, we can do what we please as long as we're not hurting anybody else...I personally believe in moderation - but I hardly expect others to agree with me...no big deal if they don't, it's their own lives to live... "

  Hey that wasn't 'to' you, or really anybody in particular.And I have never seen you in any post, even debating, 'behave' out of line (speaking of...PLEASE see my post about a web member harrassing  me, about to post it!!!")
   I enjoy our post, 4c, like you, think your 'cool' :},  and like ALL of us, you have to voice your opinion too, but never seen you do it in a 'nasty' manner. No worries, dear, ya' got class :}

                                                                                       LL

[Lady Lauri]

  "I will have a drink now and then, but never go back to the partying of my youth."

  Lord no, LOL. I couldn't handle it in my youth, let alone in my mid-life years :}

                                                                        LL

[Lady Lauri]

  We all need to and do ramble and it's often quite funny :}

  Best to you in everything and in getting back to life, Hep free.
Don't totally disappear! We at least have to know the end of the stripper, game scenerio.

   Have a HAPPY life..........................                  LL

[scratchinghead]

ah, the glamour of alcoholism--so cool, so debonaire, so chic, so *defendable*

[nygirl7]

"ah, the glamour of alcoholism--so cool, so debonaire, so chic, so *defendable* "

Ah you saw me somoewhere in 1985 at 4am closing down one of my favorite watering holes it appears!  Talk about cool and debonaire!     ;)   I think it was on one of those nights when my mascara was running down my face that I invented "goth".

[ladywhy]

If a friend or my brother had liver issues and/or had gone through this grueling tx, and began to drink very heavily  right after treatment or even later...I would ask the same thing...WHY??? Please get help...I beg you...I'll go with you. You don't have to do it alone!
I certainly cannot make light of this...to me, I hear a cry for help. I'd rather be wrong...and put myself out there for ridicule than see someone drowning and do nothing.

[Lady Lauri]

  Nygirl, funny :} reminds me of that joke where the lady is in the bar and the dork, "Joe cool" sets next to her. She's saying "ah, man, go away". An hour later, 2-3 drinks.."their talking". 2 hours later, 2-3 more drinks..."hey, he's kinda cute". Another hour,,"wanna do 'breakfast"?? Fast forward to 8 AM.... "OMIGOD, what was I thinking". LOL Or the one where it shows the lady showing up, hair nice, looking good.....leaving looks like a train wreck and says "hey, I didn't look like this when I came?" And many more.....

ladywhy.......your post is very valid and very true and was put with concern to help. Having a 'few' and having an alcoholism problem is two different things, so please don't think I am making light of that issue at all. Your kind post is good, positive, offer to help if he (anyone) feels he needs it.
It's the nasty post that help no one.

  Wish him well , either way...............................LL

[nygirl7]

I can see you've met some of my old boyfriends ;)


Ladywhy - I am forbidden to say anything to anyone about their wishes to drink during/after treatment.  I've been involved in too many huge brawles on here and from now on must just say Good Luck my Heart Goes With You.  If you were around a long time you'd understand but take it from me...I don't think it's funny for one second. I just know if I start...it will be another 300 count Drink or Don't Drink Thread and we've had enough of them for a lifetime.

So I'm ignoring that part of it.  People will always do what they want to and just look for the 1 in 100 to agree with them when the rest of the world says no.  you know? So from now on, let's just say I'm banned from being involved.

[ladywhy]

I know...(and I have read past posts reg. alcohol and have stayed away).
This one got to me...I feel like I know I-horn...and in one moment wanted to do "the happy dance" PCR wise and the next...feel so sad, and powerless.... It's one thing to speak of hypothetically, another to be a witness to a train wreck about to occur...and everyone joking and high fivin'...was truly creapy. I know very well where you stand, Deb...I just felt there needed to be someone who 'shouted out', that not everyone was in agreement with this form of suicide.
Health & Happiness
Y

[nygirl7]

I know exactly how you feel.  It's not easy - people in here get into your soul somehow, maybe it's the trials we all go through together and the common experiences we have that do it but...man oh man it's just not easy sometimes.  I feel that way about the people who are quitting early because of one little study.  It breaks my heart.  But there is only so much you can do....otherwise my kids would be perfect and I'd be married the the most handsome personable wealthy adoring man in the world ;)

[ladywhy]

If you find him....see if he has a SINGLE brother, (son, maybe ;) cousin...associate, just like him!

[goldyn]

Good lawd why dont you let your body heal up, instead of heading straight for the hard hooch, my mom age 62 just had triple by pass has now quit smokin still is healin and in a lot of pain...just take it a little lighter on yourself you are worth it!

[nygirl7]

maybe I can find us a set of twins!   :)  

Boy if wishes were horses than beggars would RIDE!!!!!!!!!!!   hahahahahahahaha

My dream world is such a better place than reality - hopefully when the good Lord calls me home Jesus will have some nice place prepared for me cause that's about the only way I'm ever gonna see some easy life ;)

[ladywhy]

Amen, sister!

[Verdugo]

A former stand-up comic, huh?  That explains a lot!  Perhaps your edgy, rattle-the-cage humor was "before it's time" and you should try again.  Food for thought, while your re-adjust to a non-HCV life.

On a serious note, I hope your son is a freshman and/or the war ends soon.  That's heavy and I'm sure quite consuming.

I really hope you continue to post here and you maintain your well-earned SVR.

Take good care,
Anna.

[l-horn]

I called my GI doc to make sure of my appointment time and they didn't have one for me. I asked the nurse for my lab work because my PCP nurse didn't make it clear, as I explained to her. She says, No, I can't give it to you over the phone, can you come in at 8 AM ? So I'm thinking now,here we go. She told me I was undetectable when I'm not....SO, I get in the car,drive down to my PCP's office and get a copy. Yeah, I'm still undetectable and my alt/ast were normal. Everything was fine.

So I figure I cleared around 6-8 weeks so realistically, I've been undetectable since October last year. I don't know, I felt pretty comfortable returning to normal. I am not sure I get the heroin to beer correlation type thinking but I appreciate the concern. Maybe I gave you the impression that I'm sitting around drinking 24x7. I simply returned to my routine with my happy hour gang and have a few beers, drive home under limit I'm sure, and live a pretty normal life, I thought, which is/was, after all, my goal. A return to normal FOR ME. What is normal TO ME. Not what is normal or right FOR YOU. Does that make sense ?

And  I'm not 'committing suicide' or any such thing. IF anything I wish I could give up these goddammed cigarettes. I don't know, I've never bullshitted a soul here and no, I'm not looking to 'justify' anything looking for 1 or 2 people to agree with me. You may find it hard to believe, but I pretty much carry my own water in this world. I'm not looking for validation about what I do, or don't do from anyone. I sleep well at night, I don't have a death wish, and I did my tx the best I could, just like you and felt comfortable with the effort/compliance I put into it. Drinking a few with my friends doesn't make me some 'mad man' with a death wish and there is no need to feel 'sad, bad or otherwise' for me. As Cedric the Entertainer says, 'I'm a grown asss man, yall.'  

I offered my post informatively, perhaps too colorful for the comfort of some, but...the topic question has shown up so many times I offered MY STORY honestly, as I always have, with no hesitation. That's all I'm saying. People have different opinions on it. Surprise surprise !! But really, no need to worry about me or 'feel sorry' for the old sot, laying in the gutter. If I relapse, I'll tell you about it, probably to cries of 'I told you so' but I could take it. I'm fully comfortable with the decisions I make and that's all I'm about. I look myself in the mirror every morning with a BIG FAT GRIN because I put that behind me and 'gotterdone'. And that's all a person needs, really.  

So, I'll see you in another three months, hopefully with my SVR in hand. If not, back to the drawing board with no regrets. That's just 'how I roll' as they say. Good luck to you all and again, thank you for your support and kindness during the mean months of treatment.

Hang in there !!

[Trish77]

Didn't start! That sucks! Was waiting on your 'how 1st day' went post and posted a 'Good luck' on the 9th on the 'motorbikes' (mind you, not 'motor cycles':) post.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That's right.. motorbikes.. my post, my word. :)  My Kawasaki Ninja is a bike not a cycle so I'm not leaving out my blue baby in my own post...even though you Harley people have thoroughly hijacked it. :)

[ladywhy]

I hope and wish you the very best. There would be no "i told you so's, comin' from me. I'm glad to hear you're lookin' in the mirror with a "BIG FAT GRIN." The news you got would give me one too. All the best, l-horn...Life can be so beautiful.
Sincerely,
Y

[Willy50]

hi friend.  I know that I may not have pleased you with my answer.  You and I feel closer than you may know.  I've been in Al-Anon for 7 years now and my reaction has to do with my connection to that program or AA.

We cannot control other people even though they may be sick or wrong.  In this case......I think I-horm may be exaggerating a weee bit anyway.  That being said....If he is clear of the virus he may be able to drink with more impunity.  This might be an emotional response that will play itself out soon.  Who knows...... but we are powerless to save him or prevent him from messing up.

I agreed with your nice post at the end.  Sometimes we just have to give our drunks to God or to their own higher power.  You are compassionate to care.  I don't know if you noticed that in my first post to him I actually asked if this was a cry for help.  You see that?  I think he is just joking about something that deep inside actually disturbs him a little.

I'm just saying hi and I agree..... you are entitled to your respose; it's valid, and beyond that you may be 100% right about him.  I just don't think we can label people alcoholics (as someone else did) or tell them what they should do.

Nice to hear from you and sorry if my answer gave any offense or seemed uncaring.

best,
Willy

[ladywhy]

No offense was taken....and you are correct regarding putting labels on others. Actually Willy, in (I think) every one of your posts...I've nodded my head in agreement..or maybe not actually nodded..but ya know what I mean.

I understand it so well, yet I'm still baffled....
G'night and God Bless...
Y

[Willy50]

also..... I was speaking about various people, an ex-spouse and other people I've known or about the general aggregate of people who may use or abuse not about this specific situation.  In this case since I-horn is clear it is far less certain what extent drinking will have ultimately on his liver or his SVR.  He may be playing it differently that some other people would.  I find myself thinking; "play it safe!!"  I also find myself rooting a little on the sidelines: "Go for it!!"

It's a question that we may face sometime in the future; re-acclimating to being UN-infected.  I wonder how we will fare?  Some may choose to live (for instance though diet or lifestyle choices) as if they still have HCV, others will "go for the gusto".  I can't fault either for their choice.  

thanks and best,
willy

[Lady Lauri]

You..."I find myself thinking; "play it safe!!"  I also find myself rooting a little on the sidelines: "Go for it!!"


Me...."I admire those that do change their life’s for good in the reasoning of  keeping your health at best AND I admire those that decide to get back to life as it was before all this."

     Think we agreed there  :}

                                                                    LL

  

[Lady Lauri]

'motorbikes' (mind you, not 'motor cycles':) post. .................................

Hey, I thought all of them were 'motorcycles', wether Hondas , Harleys , Kawasakis, whichever and someone saying motorbikes was like an 'England' thing or something ??

And we did kinda hijack your thread, huh? Sorry (sheepish grin:} Of course it went from bikes, to horse's to .....on and on.

  Of course on here it goes from liver damage to LSD to TV shows to sunny beach's to a boat trip to brown semen and back to liver damage all on one thread. Take a look at where my 'menses and sex' post went.......LOL.

  On a serious note.....why is your Ninja a 'bike' not a 'cycle'??  Just call it that? Actually, now that I'm thinking (sorta)...... we always say 'my bike' , not 'my cycle' ??
Drifting here, gotta go to bed!

                                                                LL

[Trish77]

Tongue planted firmly in cheek on the comment about hijacking my thread...I got the answers I suspected I would get but needed to hear, delightful conversation followed the original question and I quite enjoyed it.  Have hijacked a thread or two myself and it's the nature of the beast, as you said.

Just doesn't seem to fit to me or ever has to call a sportbike a motorcycle.  So...it's a motorbike to me.  Dunno what it is to anyone else...motorbike seems to be a one size fits all kinda word to me while motorcycle seems to fit only...well...motorcycles. :)  Just my own take on it.

Sleep well. :)

[ladywhy]

I wanna go for the gusto...travelling, visiting family enjoying each day. Laughing with friends and family. Moving from PA...doing/going wherever whatever I want. Eating well, sleeping well.......painting, writing, concerts, symphonies. Walking on far flung beaches... Being Happy, Joyous and Free!!!
Not to forget this year....so that I can enjoy the others that much more
I can't do these things if I'm drinking alcohol....so that's what I mean about Freedom.
I find it so curious, that 'social drinkers' find that drinking alcohol after tx is going back to normalcy, and it seems like such a huge part....i mean there's Trish70 has a bottle of Scotch on her table and periodically is taking whiffs...cause she likes the smell....That stuff stinks!
Anywho....movin'  on' Good night once again.
Yvonne

[Trish77]

lol ... drinking isn't a HUGE part.  What normalcy is...is being able to have it IF I want to.  Not all the time, not getting drunk.. just being able to have one IF I want to.  And right now I can't. Simple as that.  It's one wee part in a whole bunch of parts.  The thread got started about drinking and Irish whiskey got mentioned and it reminded me of my Scotch.  And hey.. if people smell candles and things they enjoy.. why can't I smell Scotch if it pleases me??  Some people like the smell of their own farts .. I like the smell of a straight up Scotch.  Doesn't hurt anybody at all, does it?   There are whole reams of people out there that enjoy the smell of single malt Scotch let alone Scotch itself.  And it's a pretty safe indulgence...wouldn't you like it if everybody just SMELLED their alcohol?   Man.. if only food was that satisfying.  Wish I could smell potato chips and get the same kick out of it.  Sigh.  

If you think the occasional drink of Scotch is going to stop me from living life to the fullest....it isn't.  It never stopped me before, it was never a big part of my life and it won't stop me later and won't be a big part of my life.. any more than pecan pie will be.. but I will for SURE enjoy the odd piece here and there cause I love pecan pie!!  

Anyway...going to whiff my Scotch and get to bed. ;->

[merryBe]

hoping you turn out clear, but that still doesn't mean you are fibrosis free as that can take a couple of years beyond treatment to turn around if it even will, and alcohol can cause fibrosis to continue to advance absent any HCV.
so if you want to drink, I'd wait till I was SVR for at least 2 years beyond tx, and only then perhaps a fine drink 3 or 4 times a year, for special events. there's no use in doing anything to tempt fate or nurture 5 mutant viral cells to start reproducing. So A. alcohol feeds the liver damage big time.AND B. "If you feed them, they will come", might want to try that motto.

[beamishboy]

trish: indians were actually called motocycles...no r in it..and any contraption that powers ya down the road on 2 wheels qualifys in my book...i am working on a prototype that runs on french fry grease and single malt scotch...thinking of calling it a 'hi&lo go'....
i-horn...like that line about carrying yr own water....it has been said that the human body is merely a complex mobile vessel created to haul water hither&yon...a body of water?....Cheers
lady lauri : how are you feeling ? what gives on the reduction riba front?...i love mixing my metaphors and changing topics..Be Well......
willy-is the use of term aggregate an occupational habit?.....i just finished a chimney for local amish family in exchange for 10 quarts of canned venison,loaf of whole wheat,chunk of cheese and lunch...they have 11 incredible kids&little money and i feel rich!...regards,from a brother on the wall.

[ladywhy]

I shoulda left that last line outta my post to Willy. That was inappropriate. You're right, "Some people like the smell of their own farts." That was pretty funny....
Live and Let Live is my motto of the day...and under ususal circumstances...that's exactly how I live.
Hope you're well and enjoying each whiff.
Y

[scratchinghead]

Smoking and drinking together? Watch out for a sucker punch from cancer. My uncle died of cancer of the throat. He was very succesful in the coporate world but too stressed out.

However, for a while, you will have the healthiest liver in the cancer ward!!!   :)

[Trish77]

Thanks for that.  I'm well thanks...no tx til January.  In the meantime, I'm getting a second opinion and hoping for a better care match for myself, waiting for my application to come back on how much of the 20% of the drugs that aren't covered by my benefits will need to be paid by me and going from there.  Just stepping through each piece one at a time  and impatient to get going, now that the decision has been made to proceed.  Take care yourself.

Trish

[Lady Lauri]

  "lol ... drinking isn't a HUGE part.  What normalcy is...is being able to have it IF I want to."

   That would be me! Never 'had' to have it, don't have to go back to it, would be nice to know I 'can' have a few if I want ! Never 'craved' a drink, but when it was "NO MORE EVER", sure did miss that wine at dinner, beer at poker runs and champagne on New Years. And 'wine nights' :}
  You girls know what 'wine nights' are :} :} .............WERE :{

                                                                                            LL

[Lady Lauri]

  "However, for a while, you will have the healthiest liver in the cancer ward!!!   :) -----------------------

Now that was downright sarcasm......sorta funny, sick sarcasm.....Sad...but true :{
     .as I STILL smoke!!   :{

  
                                                                                        LL

[scratchinghead]

yes, when I stopped all of a sudden it was everywhere: in all the movies, tv shows, liquor stores were jumping up everywhere I went, the wine collections in the health food store, booze talk on treatment forums, EVERYWHERE!!!

[scratchinghead]

I have no control. My job evaluation last week said that I am outspoken and could use some classes in communication skills. . . .

[Lady Lauri]

  Try this ........ big house, big awesome yard, tree's, chimneas.....the 'every occasion' get together house, 3 sons, (none LIVE here BTW!) all their friends , my friends ALL use my house for their showers, birthdays, any days (but love them all, it's an okay thing) and about 3-4 nights a week ....chimneas are going, dinner, people here ! Having wine, beers, some do , some don't and.............. I CAN'T !!!!!   :{  As we speak......getting into the 30's (IN FLA!), several outside by fires!
  One of the FEW okay things about tx..... the smell, thought of booze gags me :}

  My room is off by itself so I can 'go off and pout' if I want! Been there a lot lately!

                                                                                               LL

[scratchinghead]

My room is off by itself so I can 'go off and pout' if I want! Been there a lot lately!
--------------------------------------------------------------


This too, shall pass.

:)

[mremeet]

Hey, I really dug your Sam Elliot swagger on this thread, makes for enjoyable reading. Will be sorry to see you ride off into the tequila sunrise. I had my own version of this thread just a little while ago, check it out:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/327679

I've been partaking in the brewskis myself, maybe a bit too much after getting off the hell-ride that is treatment. But with interesting results. I don't think it's gonna take away my SVR, but I go in tomorrow for my 24 week bloodwork, so we shall see. In the meantime hoping the best for your virus free and brew filled future dude - rock on bro! lol

[GoofyDad]

You're not going to believe this, but my farts actually smell just like Glenturret whiskey. Told you, you wouldn't believe it. Maybe I could catch some in an empty peanutbutter jar and send it to you....  

[Trish77]

Oh man....now that's a tempting offer.  One of my favourite things is peanut butter cups. How about a partially empty peanut butter jar, drop some chocolate chips in there and you've got a deal...the farts will melt the chocolate chips over the peanut butter, throw a lid on that sucker quick and send it on.  Doesn't get much better than that...the smell of peanut butter cups AND Scotch.  They'll find me under a park bench, jar stuck to my face with the peanut butter mumbling away in a Scottish accent, something about Glenturret farrrrts are luvly...wait til January and I can blame it on the tx. ;->

[Lady Lauri]

  And yet another post off to cyber space ???

WAS.....

  ooooooooo,   "Lacy Lauri", I could use that :}

  Nawww.... maybe AFTER tx !

                                                                    LL

[Lady Lauri]

  forgot this about 20 post ago......
  
lady lauri : how are you feeling ? what gives on the reduction riba front?...
  Left does's as he changed them 2 weeks ago. Labs tomorrow to see if what's already reduced has helped, than go from there. Feeling...... well...ah h*ll, about the same, just up a few more times a day to start things, stop and go back to bed,  LOL.

  Thanks for the thinking of me in your metaphors and changing topics :}

                                                                                              LL

[l-horn]

ALL of my tests were 'normal' and my doctor said, and I quote: You have the blood work of a 30 year old.'

Too bad I'm 19...but seriously...

He asked me about drinking and I told him and he kinda did the 'oooooooooo....Could you hold off on that for just a couple of more months ? Maybe a drink here and there. '

But he said an interesting thing I'd never heard. 90 days cleared post tx puts me in the 95% range, 1 year 98% and he said he will test each year for 5 years, then that is 'cured'.

So, anyway, I SUPPOSE I'll go back to the wagon for a couple more months. ( kicks can...*shucks*...). Maybe have a beer at a game, instead of my usual 3.  

Sometimes I think my doc is more invested in my SVR than I am. He's like 'HEY, play along here, we're almost there !!'

[Forseegood]

about anybody else...but I like happy endings...

[ladybug52]

Hey sweetie, I hope the Mavs kickin some Spurs @ss in the game last night doesn't send you off the wagon......:)
Bug

[l-horn]

Mavs always beat the Spurs during the regular season. They only thing about the Mavs that makes me want to drink....bleach...is seeing Mark Cuban on my TV screen. He sure looked pale and sickly last night. Is he a cokehead by chance ?

[ladybug52]

Well, I have to agree with you about Cuban....I can't stand that guy. He will do anything to get his face on tv. Even try to dance...
Bug

[alagirl]

I'm of the "if it's gone it's gone" school of thought.  I'm also of the "if its just suppressed its just suppressed" school of thought.  In other words, I think in some people, its really gone, and in some people, its just suppressed and in kind of a homestatic flux, bombarded into a temporary concussion by the treatment drugs as it were.  If such is the case, however, I don't think that any amount of taking care of your body or drinking or not drinking can stop the virus (or in the words of I-horn's irrepressible nurse, God love her) the "bacteria" from rearing its ugly head.  Its still there and would have shown up sooner or later as soon as it recovered itself.  Could drinking perhaps cause it to replicate more?  I suppose.  But I'm guessing that since most post tx folks get tested anyway at intervals, you'd know pretty quickly if the virus popped up and I'd think that most people would at that point curb the libations as they suck it up for another go at treatment or whatever the hell comes next (I try not to think about that too much at this point, lol)

So, All I have to say about this is, SCORE ONE FOR THOSE OF US who can't get through a romantic night without puking on our partner ok?

And about that smoking? Yeah, cut that sh*t out. I'm going to be on the side of the AA angels when it comes to a benefit risk analysis between drinking and smoking in general... ;)

[alagirl]

Man, can't even type these days.  That was meant to be tongue in cheek and it was ALSO meant to SAY: I'm probably NOT going to be on the side of the AA angels when it comes to a benefit risk analysis between drinking and smoking in general... ;)

I'm going back to bed.  geez... Oh wait, gotta go to work.  Uggh!

[shastri20032003]

congrats everybody...my post makes it a century of posts for this thread ......and it had to be an alcohol thread!
Wish I was in the alcohol business instead of marketing garments......there seems to be a good potential even on a hep c site.... LOL
Cheers!