Am I done drinking ?

[rog1958]

I was diagnosed and successfully treated for hep c 1b 10 years ago with peg and rebitol.  I have been undetectable until this year and am about to begin triple tx tomorrow.  I believe i reaquired the virus through some inappropriate behavior several years ago but after reading other posts I am questioning my drinking as a possibility for the reoccurance. My question is should I completely abstain from alcohol (after I finish tx) I am obviously not drinking now but wonder if I am done forever.  Thanks for a great forum.  

[pooh55811]

( Bocepgal)
"It seems quite coincidental that you have the same exact genotype you had before.(10 yrs prior, and yr original genotype)"
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Genotype 1
"Genotype 1 is the most common hepatitis C genotype in the United States and Europe. Approximately 80 percent of hepatitis C infections in the U.S. are genotype 1."

http://hepatitis.about.com/od/diagnosis/a/HCVGenotypes.htm

If a person is Genotype 1, then that person is either Genotype 1 (with no subtype), Genotype 1A ,or Genotype 1B. Therefore, if a person attains SVR and then subsequently gets reinfected through a new exposure that person has an 80% chance of getting reinfected with Genotype 1. Rather high odds, I would say.  Because Genotype 1 is the most prevalent Genotype in the USD, naturally a person is much more likely to contract it than some other less prevalent Genotype. This would be true whether it was the first infection or a subsequent infection. So being reinfected with Genotype 1 is not coincidenctal. It is directly related to the fact that Genotype 1 is the most common Genotype in the US.

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(Bocepgal)
"a tiny bit of your old virus was hiding (in your liver, so it wasn't detected in your blood)" .....
"and it is pretty rare for people to reinfect, after Tx, even people who actively use, according to stats,"
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I highly doubt the Hep C virus was undetectable but was still hiding in the liver for 10 years. And it is NOT rare for people to reinfect if they have another exposure.

"High incidence of hepatitis C virus reinfection in a cohort of injecting drug users"
"Conclusion: Our data suggest that HCV infection in IDUs is more likely following prior infection and clearance than in HCV-naive individuals, implying no increased immunity against further infection. This result has important implications for the future development of an HCV vaccine. "

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hep.22534/full

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(Bocepgal)
"So my second guess is that, yes, you may have "released the dragon", by drinking alcohol."
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Alcohol is not good for the liver, especially if the liver is compromised by Hep C, but there is no evidence that drinking Alcohol "releases the dragon" or in any way reactivates Hep C once a person has attained SVR.

[Ironpony]

I reinfected myself. Body cleared 1b on its own...years later I got 1A. I feel there really is no "playing safe" with IV use....drugs cause us to be not fully aware of our surroundings...we trust people telling us "that ones clean-" overlook using the same "works." We also will use the only needle there is in desperation.

[can-do-man]

"Like you said, you "played safely", and it is pretty rare for people to reinfect, after Tx, even people who actively use,"

What, where do you come up with this stuff? Show me where its hard to reifect after SVR. The odds are the same as before. This virus is not like having chicken pox. You can't become immune from HCV

[hrsepwrguy]

"I am thinking maybe because you are a Genotype 1, who was cured with the old SOC, back in 'the day"..that a tiny bit of your old virus was hiding (in your liver, so it wasn't detected in your blood)"

SVR is SVR regardless of achieved with SOC or Triple TX,

[can-do-man]

Bocep, SVR for 9 years but some still in hiding? Please. Show me anywhere or anything where this could even be possible... Unreal

[BoceprevirGal]

Thanks for the Reply Rog~  I know I can be very curious, when it comes to this Hep C disease.
   It seems quite coincidental that you have the same exact genotype you had before.(10 yrs prior, and yr original genotype)
   Like you said, you "played safely", and it is pretty rare for people to reinfect, after Tx, even people who actively use, according to stats, and like you said, your slip up soiunded brief.
   I am thinking maybe because you are a Genotype 1, who was cured with the old SOC, back in 'the day"..that a tiny bit of your old virus was hiding (in your liver, so it wasn't detected in your blood)
   So my second guess is that, yes, you may have "released the dragon", by drinking alcohol. It really is like throwing lighter fluids on burning coals, to add alcohol ot our livers now.
    I quit drinking 20 yrs ago, when I found out I had Hep C, and I am now at Stage 2 (and Triple Treating)  I hope you stay away from alcohol now, as well.
   Good luck with your fatty foods, and I think your Tx will work better, with the healthier ones