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?

[Christie2004]

Many doctors say "an occasional" drink is ok.  (When I asked my husbands doc his definition of occasional, he said "one or two drinks a year")!

This was from a leading expert at Henry Ford in Detroit.  My husband has early cirrhosis and is SVR.

The fewer toxins you put into your liver, the better.  Do what you think is right.

[Mordred]

I do have a brain in my head Joni. And I don't twist words around to what I would like doctors to say. My doctor asked if I was going out on New Year's Eve. When I told him "yes" his exact words were "Well just don't get too wasted.". I don't know where you live, but where I live they treat it like it's a simple cold. I tell the nurses I have HepC before they draw my blood and they still don't bother putting gloves on. and the doctors tell me the swollen abdomen means I just need to take a good dump and since I'm getting older I just need to watch my calories. Hope you're getting better treatment where ever the hell you live!

[ellissg]

CHILL OUT! We all understand your frustration, especially in light of your getting mixed messages about alcohol. There's nothing like a real experience with Treatment and alcohol to set the record straight.

I am HepC positive, Genotype 2b, supposedly the easiest to cure. After 12 weeks of treatment and alcohol free, my  test showed that I responded and was negative for HepC. I got excited, and during the next 12 weeks of treatment, I drank a few nights a week, thinking it wouldn't make a difference. After all, I was NEGATIVE and a RESPONDER.

Well, it didn't work out that way. The alcohol interfered with the medicines ability to keep the virus from replicating. My test after 24 weeks was positive, and although my Viral Load decreased from 5,000,000 to 108,000, I had not achieved SVR. My Liver enzymes are still elevated, and although I feel great now that treatment is over, those little bugs are still active. Luckily, my Liver damage is minimal, and I might treat again in two years. Good luck to you!     Steve

[Tony-z]

Hi Morded,

SVR is short for Sustained Viral Response.

Many Dr,s are ignorant about the Hep-C virus. My previous 3 Dr all told me a couple drinks per night was fine. Had I listened to them I am sure I would have cirrhosis.


                    TonyZ