Aa
Alcohol and HCV...an unanswered question.
Here is a curveball, along with an article regarding the highprevalance of HCV in alcoholics. See link below.
http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jun2003/niaaa-26.htm
This is an issue that I have discussed with several HCV doctors, with no clear answer to my questions. The article, as well as several others I have reviewed lately, indicates the abnormally high number of heavy drinkers, alcoholics, etc. that are HCV positive. Often this is within populations with no known risk factors, and no past IVDU history. My big question, which I have wondered about for years, is WHY does this seem to be the case. Why would heavy alcohol users seem prone to developing HCV??? Unless, of course, they are all lying, and happen to also have risk factors which they now deny. I think there is much more to this mystery, which still baffles the medical community.
Along with my concerns about persistent HCV after SVR, is another concern which many of you have responded to in the past when I have posed this issue. Could there be HCV transmission in the general population, on a much larger scale than suspected, that is not in the bloodstream or liver. In effect, a 'latent' tissue, or glandular infection which remains latent or suppressed, until a major stimulus causes it to 'explode' into the bloodstream. This theory would help explain the great numbers of HCV cases worldwide that have no known risk factors.
Could there be a somewhat 'dormant' viral infection in a large portion of our population, within organs like salivary system, sexual organs , membranes, CNS, etc.??? (cont. below)
http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jun2003/niaaa-26.htm
This is an issue that I have discussed with several HCV doctors, with no clear answer to my questions. The article, as well as several others I have reviewed lately, indicates the abnormally high number of heavy drinkers, alcoholics, etc. that are HCV positive. Often this is within populations with no known risk factors, and no past IVDU history. My big question, which I have wondered about for years, is WHY does this seem to be the case. Why would heavy alcohol users seem prone to developing HCV??? Unless, of course, they are all lying, and happen to also have risk factors which they now deny. I think there is much more to this mystery, which still baffles the medical community.
Along with my concerns about persistent HCV after SVR, is another concern which many of you have responded to in the past when I have posed this issue. Could there be HCV transmission in the general population, on a much larger scale than suspected, that is not in the bloodstream or liver. In effect, a 'latent' tissue, or glandular infection which remains latent or suppressed, until a major stimulus causes it to 'explode' into the bloodstream. This theory would help explain the great numbers of HCV cases worldwide that have no known risk factors.
Could there be a somewhat 'dormant' viral infection in a large portion of our population, within organs like salivary system, sexual organs , membranes, CNS, etc.??? (cont. below)
Yes I am a rare 2a? Have no clue how that happened as this is a very rare genotype. I have friends who have hep c and also got it when i did. I have no clue what genotype they are?
I have been in the Hep C closet for many years. I am on week 20 of closet treatment. Anyway, I am not sure what good it will do to tell your sons how you got this Hep C. My adult daughter knows that I got this from IV drug use. But that is because she has always been told of my past. Anyway, I would stick to the blood transfusion story. Good luck
Treatment sucks! Sorry... I need to remember that worst things can happen to someone. It is not really that bad..
4 shots to go
Treatment sucks! Sorry... I need to remember that worst things can happen to someone. It is not really that bad..
4 shots to go
I was there, Mabuhay was my favorite. Had a band called "Bad Habit" and 'GDMF", Bad Habit played Mabuhay more and with GDMF we hung at The Sound of Music in the TL more.
If you're female we could have even had sex at the Mabuhay, in that closed off room when you first walk in. When you were inside you could see Broadway from the window; but on the street it was mirrored , my guitarist and I used to have a contest. lol. Looking back "how sick was that". Peace
If you're female we could have even had sex at the Mabuhay, in that closed off room when you first walk in. When you were inside you could see Broadway from the window; but on the street it was mirrored , my guitarist and I used to have a contest. lol. Looking back "how sick was that". Peace
It seems in one way or the other we are all paying for the sins of our past. The collaterol damage just might be the hardest thing about it all.
Whether it be dancer telling her son (which just made me cry) or strator with his dad...even those of us who have no infection of our family have to deal with the collaterol damage of our disease on them as well.
Such a hard price to pay. But then it was ME using as much as often as I could and not them...so do I feel guilt yes. I dont think it will ever really go away...
I am just glad that my children have forgiven me and knowing everything that I did - it helps them make WISER choices in the future (they both tested negative).
Maybe that is the good in all of this, I hope.
(Praying for your dad strator. I hate this disease it sucks)
Actually as a recovering 24/7 alchie- I certainly agree that when I was an active alchie I pretty much didn't separate lies from truth, but I'm not sure anyone in the general population - for instance someone who just had a short span of poor judgement in their youth- would be more likely to be forthcoming about it. After all if they've mostly led a decent life- it might be a little harder to admit to loved ones or anyone the mistakes once made. I know although I did every drug in the book from 1970 to 93 and then again for '00 and '01 I did only shoot once- yes with a shared needle. But particularly if you spent most of your adult life in the lifestyle like I did- you realize you're probably not suprising anyone by admitting IV use, they may even assume it, you've probably already admitted to things some consider worse....and IV use may very well not be what you consider one of your darkest secrets.(Don't ask) Just my theory.
As far as the relativity- yes alchoholics probably have more reasons for blood tests:toxicology after accidents and injuries through violence, hospital visits from poor health. I found out through 1 of the may trips to detox. There certainly seems to be a higher percentage of people I've met in AA that have hepC. A drug is a drug. Alcoholics are more likely to use high risk behaviour such as the boody straw for snorting. But the added stress on the liver - for may years at 140lbs I drank over a quart and a half a day of vodka outta the bottle (just to function and go to work, not on party days, lol). I should be dead. But my understanding is that the liver just can't handle both the hep and the toxins like booz. It's like tring to climb a ladder with a suit of armour. Hence (possibly) more rapid heptic related sx pre trearment. Then of course genetics come into play and who knows what else. My liver shoulda fallen apart years ago on it's own. I've met people who drank less, don't have hep, but developed more liver damage. I think the mix-with alcohol is just what my dr said - it's like giving the bad guy(the virus) a daily hit of meth so it can REALLY put some emnergy into ripping up your liver.
Now I'm trying to deal with whether my dad has it(11/27 Hepatitus C post) and he wasn't a drinker but may be 'collateral damage' from my past.
Don
As far as the relativity- yes alchoholics probably have more reasons for blood tests:toxicology after accidents and injuries through violence, hospital visits from poor health. I found out through 1 of the may trips to detox. There certainly seems to be a higher percentage of people I've met in AA that have hepC. A drug is a drug. Alcoholics are more likely to use high risk behaviour such as the boody straw for snorting. But the added stress on the liver - for may years at 140lbs I drank over a quart and a half a day of vodka outta the bottle (just to function and go to work, not on party days, lol). I should be dead. But my understanding is that the liver just can't handle both the hep and the toxins like booz. It's like tring to climb a ladder with a suit of armour. Hence (possibly) more rapid heptic related sx pre trearment. Then of course genetics come into play and who knows what else. My liver shoulda fallen apart years ago on it's own. I've met people who drank less, don't have hep, but developed more liver damage. I think the mix-with alcohol is just what my dr said - it's like giving the bad guy(the virus) a daily hit of meth so it can REALLY put some emnergy into ripping up your liver.
Now I'm trying to deal with whether my dad has it(11/27 Hepatitus C post) and he wasn't a drinker but may be 'collateral damage' from my past.
Don
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