SVR / Alcohol Consumption

[Mordred]

I have two questions. First, what is SVR. Second question is with HepC being so deadly if you drink, why are all of these doctors telling their patients "one or two drinks a night is fine"? Shouldn't these doctors know to tell their patients not to drink?

[AK - Hepper]

I've been wondering if it's OK to drink non-alcoholic 'beer', after all it does have less than .5 percent alcohol.

Yep, this disease really sucks goats, it's hard to have a whole lot of fun going out when you have to stay sober.

On top of HCV, I have social phobia. I used to self medicate with alcohol and managed to do OK with it. Nowadays, I can't figure out what to do about it. I tried Lexapro but it's made me so damn lazy I don't feel like going out anyway. Mostly I just sit around the house playing my guitar or surfing the web, too much stage fright to actually get out and play in public. Life hasn't been a whole lot of fun the last 7 years, but I suppose it could be a whole lot worse.

[Mordred]

I swear I'm not making any of this up. I live in the Tampa Bay area, have insurance which should help me find the best doctors in the area, and have already switched my doctor 3 times. The latest is the one that told me to not get "too wasted" on New Years Eve. I don't know what the hell to think anymore. I have medical professionals telling me not to drink too much, and others telling me not to touch any alcohol. I'm confused when I have blood work drawn as well. I always tell any medical professional that's going to draw blood that I have HepC because I don't want to give it to anyone else and they still don't bother putting on gloves. I have a friend who is employeed by the VA hospital here and she tells me info I want to know. My AST/ALT levels dropped in half from six months ago, which I thought was a good thing, but my friend said a lot of times when the numbers drop that far down in such a short time can mean the liver is extremely damaged. I've started to wonder if I'll be dead within a year. I'm definately concerned about New Year's Eve. I've always drank Red Deaths and shots of Rummpelminze to ring in the new year. I'm wondering if I should be chained to a wall for the evening. I hate this disease. I've destroyed my life because of it.

[eztagger]

My 2 cents: Even the local specialist who knew less about HCV than I do immediately told me to quit drinking alcohol. He didn't have to tell me because I quit the day I received that awful letter from the blood center and did some research on the internet. And, let me tell you what, y'all. I do love my ice cold beer and occasional Jack Daniels straight up.

[Sioux]

Alcohol = miracle grow
Alcohol + HCV = bad things for your liver

[harley dude]

I think anyone that has HCV and liver damage and was or is being treated for it and even if you SVR your stupid if you continue to drink(even on occasions) during or after tx. If you can't stop seek help, stopping alcohol isn't that big of a deal unless your are an alcohol, than you need help. Most of our livers were damaged by the alcohol while having HCV and continuing the alcohol will only hurt it. "Only my opinion, but a good one!!- See Ya'll and Happy Holidays- Harley Dude

[Lynne5477]

Whether it's okay to have a drink or two every now or then or none at all probably depends primarily on the state of your liver.  My doc said it was okay but I had no liver damage.  I still did not drink while on tx.  I do now have a small glass of wine about once weekly (if I am enjoying it) when we are out with friends.  Mostly, I don't enjoy it like I used to.
  I have a friend that has some chirosis and her doc said NO drinking whatsoever.

Secondly, this is the first time I have ever heard of anyone drawing blood without gloves in quite some years.  Once the AIDS scare came out, everyone started wearing gloves.  Personally, I wouldn't want anyone drawing blood, cleaning my teeth, etc that didn't wear gloves.

Who knows what they may have been into before tx me.

Good luck to you.