Alcohol Pre Treatment

[irishrayne]

I went for my pre treatment psych eval earlier this week. Found out that the docs don't want to start treatment unless the patient has been alcohol free for at LEAST six months prior. I was SO disappointed as I was hoping to begin tx ASAP.
I enjoy a glass of red wine with dinner. I knew NO alcohol during treatment and had planned to not drink for several weeks prior to.
Now I may be delayed into the new year befor I can start tx.
I just wanted to share with those of you who haven't started tx yet so that something like this doesn't hold you up as well.

[working dog]

i just went through hell when i stopped 1.5 to 2 beers a day...maybe wine is better...it always made me sick in the past...billy

[nygirl7]

As far as I am aware my friend who was an addict was told no alcohol or drugs prior one yaer to TRANSPLANT because they didn't want to waste a perfectly good liver (of course he went right back out there anyway and later died) but I've NEVER heard of not drinking ANYTHING prior to treatment.

I was honest with my doc and admitted I am a sober alcoholic/addict.  He didn't really ask me anything more at all.  He told me after treament if I had two glasses of wine a YEAR that would be the utmost that would possibly be allowed.

Told him not to worry I didn't drink anymore anyway (although I sure do want to in the summertime sometimes!).

He said my liver was already severely damaged (stage 3) and from now on NO ALCOHOL was the policy I had to follow.

But - he did not in any way question me as to drinking PRIOR to treatment.

Just about EVERYONE has a glass of wine or two a week prior to treatment in the real world.  I can't imagine why a doctor would think a person wouldn't?

Find another doctor. That's all. Make sure you get a copy of all your records and go.

I've never heard of anything like this before really.

[SonicBandaid]

I'd also take issue with categorising "If you're a very moderate drinker (i.e. 1-2 drinks a week)" as MODERATE alcohol consumption.  I have patients who spill more than that, daily.  Now I'm NOT advocating regular alcohol intake, and personally don't drink at all, but the reality is many people do take and enjoy alcohol regularly and responsibly, and doing so, in my view should not disqualify them from getting proper treatment for a potentially serious disease.

Incidentally, there is also the persistent paradox, demontrated in many countries in well conducted surveys, notably in the UK (but also in the US and Europe), that if you totalled up the amount people ADMIT to drinking you could only ever account for about HALF the alcohol consumed nationally.
Cheers,
Sonic

[mauilady]

I've heard that said before; it makes me wonder, though---I was always totally honest about the amount of alcohol I admitted I consumed; health care workers REALLY must have thought I was a lush!!!  (Ohhh----2-3 bottles of beer a day, followed by 1-2 bottles (not glasses) of wine---red wine...!!)  LOL

[mikesimon]

I personally know a man very well who received a liver transplant 3 days before I did while he was on methadone for prior heroin addiction. After transplant he treated with Pegasys/Ribavirin and achieved SVR. He was genotype 2. He is still on methadone and still undetectable. At my center he isn't the only methadone user who got a liver. I don't think it's a big deal - the MELD score, body size and blood types make up the big deal. Of course, an alcoholic needs to be sober/totally abstinent for 6 months before he/she will be even be evaluated for liver transplantation. Mike

[cajunlady]

Thanks for clearing things up a bit.  Always wonder why my doctor told me I could go on with a normal life after I have cleared 6 months post.  I had little to no damage w/biopsy and mild inflamation.  He asked how much I drank before starting tx, I go to about 5-6 house parties a year. No bar hopping, no gatherings every weekend etc. He never asked me not to drink before I started, but advised not to drink during tx.  

I am glad you clarified these things here, there are alot of issues with this subject and on some peoples part rightfully so.  Most people with serious alcohol problems cannot ever, ever social drink again and they see things in a very different light than a social drinker does and vise versa.

Have a Great Day, and keep the straight up info. coming.

Cajun