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when you found out that you had the virus did you stop drinking? do you still occasionally drink or none at all? i'm still waiting to get tested but i can't imagine never having another night out with friends or a drink at dinner. i'm 27 btw. i was also curious because my boyfriend has the virus. can he still have drinks every once in awhile? we have a bunch of family coming from out of state for memorial day weekend (the biggest get together in the 7 years i've been with him). they're all drinkers (drinks with dinner and after until everyone goes to bed). i'm afraid that if he really shouldn't drink that being around everyone will upset him if he can't drink with everyone. (btw by drink i mean about 2-4 drinks, not crazy up all night getting drunk.)
I have to agree with medicmommy. When I saw this post, I thought the same thing..."drinking alcohol with Hep C is akin to pouring gasoline on a fire".
When I was diagnosed with Hep C eleven years ago I had already lost a sister and a cousin to cirrhossis. I was also involved in a street outreach to Native Americans and street people, I saw several of those people die from end-stage liver disease and stayed by their bedsides as they died. It is a very unpleasant, painful death (docs can't give any painkillers to knock out the pain- liver's too shot to process it) and I don't wish it upon my worst enemies.
I hope you will heed the words of those who say don't drink, not even one drink. You, if you're in recovery, and your bf are possibly setting yourselves up to failure in your sobriety by even having one drink. I have seen this happen time and again with others, and it breaks my heart each time I see (or hear) it happen to someone.
My personal opinion: Anybody who has Hep C should not use alcohol or any other form of drug (unless prescribed by doc), If they are unable to stop they should seek help to quit and try to live as clean and healthy a life as possible for as long as they ARE ALIVE...
I wish you both the best and do hope your lifestyles will change for the sake of your family as well as your own sakes. Rose
When I was diagnosed with Hep C eleven years ago I had already lost a sister and a cousin to cirrhossis. I was also involved in a street outreach to Native Americans and street people, I saw several of those people die from end-stage liver disease and stayed by their bedsides as they died. It is a very unpleasant, painful death (docs can't give any painkillers to knock out the pain- liver's too shot to process it) and I don't wish it upon my worst enemies.
I hope you will heed the words of those who say don't drink, not even one drink. You, if you're in recovery, and your bf are possibly setting yourselves up to failure in your sobriety by even having one drink. I have seen this happen time and again with others, and it breaks my heart each time I see (or hear) it happen to someone.
My personal opinion: Anybody who has Hep C should not use alcohol or any other form of drug (unless prescribed by doc), If they are unable to stop they should seek help to quit and try to live as clean and healthy a life as possible for as long as they ARE ALIVE...
I wish you both the best and do hope your lifestyles will change for the sake of your family as well as your own sakes. Rose
Ok, a few things... Firstly, I was not aware your bf is in rehab! Now I kow that info I am less inclined to say one or two drinks won't hurt him!
Secondly, everything I wrote about my experience with having a few moderate drinks now and then while infected with Hep C was entirely true HOWEVER I did not include the part where I went overboard on drinking for about a year. By overboard I meant that I drank every weekend (tequila shots and the like) and consumed at least a bottle of wine during the week. I think I was rebelling against having been so 'good' for so long and I was sick of the stupid virus controlling my life.
The effect of my break out was that it tripled my liver function enzymes so if there is ever any doubt that alcohol does not contribute to liver damage than that should dispell that myth.
The other effect of that period was that it propelled me into seeking treatment so for me it was a happy ending but I don't imagine it would be the same for everyone.
If your partner already has a problem with mood altering substances it would probably be best to dissuade him to drink until he gets his liver sorted. If it is really such a big deal there are plenty of drinks that look like alcohol but aren't! And believe me, no one notices as they are all too busy focusing on themselves and ultimately getting drunk.
Anyway, I hope this clears things up a bit. I was not aware of the whole picture when I responded the first time and I want to make it clear that I am not advocating mixing Hep C with alocohol as a general rule.
Epi :)
Secondly, everything I wrote about my experience with having a few moderate drinks now and then while infected with Hep C was entirely true HOWEVER I did not include the part where I went overboard on drinking for about a year. By overboard I meant that I drank every weekend (tequila shots and the like) and consumed at least a bottle of wine during the week. I think I was rebelling against having been so 'good' for so long and I was sick of the stupid virus controlling my life.
The effect of my break out was that it tripled my liver function enzymes so if there is ever any doubt that alcohol does not contribute to liver damage than that should dispell that myth.
The other effect of that period was that it propelled me into seeking treatment so for me it was a happy ending but I don't imagine it would be the same for everyone.
If your partner already has a problem with mood altering substances it would probably be best to dissuade him to drink until he gets his liver sorted. If it is really such a big deal there are plenty of drinks that look like alcohol but aren't! And believe me, no one notices as they are all too busy focusing on themselves and ultimately getting drunk.
Anyway, I hope this clears things up a bit. I was not aware of the whole picture when I responded the first time and I want to make it clear that I am not advocating mixing Hep C with alocohol as a general rule.
Epi :)
I drank 2 mixed drinks every evening for 30 years - rarely more and rarely less. I found out I have Hep C in 2002 after donating blood for the first time in my life. I have no idea how I got it or how long I had it before I was diagnosed.
1st liver biopsy was done in early 2003 - showed grade 1 inflammation and stage 0-1 fibrosis. I opted not to treat at that time and continued to drink my 2 drinks every night.
2nd liver biopsy in spring of '09 showed grade 2 inflammation and stage 2 fibrosis. Maybe this is a usual rate of progression, but it seemed fast to me! Am now at 36 weeks of SOC treatment.
Did drinking 2 drinks every day cause the liver damage to progress more quickly than it would have otherwise? The few studies that actually look at this issue use larger amounts of alcohol (like 5 drinks a day). The doctor says "don't know if it hurt, but it certainly didn't help".
My unscientific, "gut" feeling is that it did hasten liver damage.
1st liver biopsy was done in early 2003 - showed grade 1 inflammation and stage 0-1 fibrosis. I opted not to treat at that time and continued to drink my 2 drinks every night.
2nd liver biopsy in spring of '09 showed grade 2 inflammation and stage 2 fibrosis. Maybe this is a usual rate of progression, but it seemed fast to me! Am now at 36 weeks of SOC treatment.
Did drinking 2 drinks every day cause the liver damage to progress more quickly than it would have otherwise? The few studies that actually look at this issue use larger amounts of alcohol (like 5 drinks a day). The doctor says "don't know if it hurt, but it certainly didn't help".
My unscientific, "gut" feeling is that it did hasten liver damage.
well i dont know wht stage of liver disease im at yet cos i havnt done my biopsy but i can feel it ache alot n i had hep c for 15 yrs n party'd hard cos i didnt know i had it for first few yrs of havin it n even when i found out i still drank alot for some1 with hepc cos i new nothin bout it n alot of ppl told me it wasnt tht bad cos liver heals etc but they was in denial as they were junkies who had it too, but thank god im still here n i am now cured from treatment but my ex wasnt as lucky cos his party'n is killing him now n his liver is very bad atm n he tried treatment n failed n its prob cos he has fatty liver n cos his liver isnt in gd nick cos longer u have it n more damage it gets the harder it is to cure.
i know how hard it is to stop drinkin too,i still struggle to not drink n after i got cured i went n had drinkin sessions n my liver is aching again so i stopped again,silly me didnt think i still have to live with a damaged liver.
i dont think a few here n there would hurt but id get treated first n concentrate on gettin rid of it first.good luck
wow robic ur 3 yr old had to go on tx,wow i didnt think kids were aloud to go on tx,thank god he is cured now,thts awesome.
i know how hard it is to stop drinkin too,i still struggle to not drink n after i got cured i went n had drinkin sessions n my liver is aching again so i stopped again,silly me didnt think i still have to live with a damaged liver.
i dont think a few here n there would hurt but id get treated first n concentrate on gettin rid of it first.good luck
wow robic ur 3 yr old had to go on tx,wow i didnt think kids were aloud to go on tx,thank god he is cured now,thts awesome.
They advised your three year old to do treatment wow I've never heard of such a thing before it seems almost barbaric, thankGod he is cured now!
I am currently in treatment for hepc but my husband does not have the disease. He still drinks occasionally and I completely understand the frustration of not being able to sit with him and have a cocktail after ALL 3 CHILDREN are out for the night. But I just found out about the virus in August 09 and I happened to be pregnant for my third child. I was told to get my first two tested and it turned out that my 3 year old was positive for hepc. He started his treatment in August 09 and is completely clear of the virus. I say all of this to say that all of this has given me a different outlook on the severity of hepc and I would not stake too much on the liver continuing to process the alcohol with a virus fighting your liver.
He cannot drink continuously every weekend with hepc or he's going to end up with late stage liver damage at a young age most likely. After treatment when he is cured of the disease he could be more liberal about it but still - having a damaged liver, something that you need to live......should give pause to the idea of anymore partying. There is a big difference betwewen a glass of wine or two once a year or a glass of vodka or two every week. Either way it's all a risk as no one knows how his particular body is going to handle it - it's foolish. My doctor told me AFTER I was cured I could have a glass or two a YEAR. But then I partied myself into stage 3 before I found out I had the disease. Not worth it at all.
It's up to him to decide his own fate but no in general drinking with hepc is not recommended at all.
It's up to him to decide his own fate but no in general drinking with hepc is not recommended at all.
I agree with everything medicmommy and desrt said. And even though some people may drink here and there and be totally fine, I wouldn't risk it. Plus, having a drink every now and then is kind of like teasing yourself. I know that at least for me, it I COMPLETELY stop something it gets easier not to do it. If you have a drink or 2 here and there, you'll always be itching for a drink any and every time you go out. If you were to quit all together, that urge would eventually start to go away or at least get easier to resist, and you will realize that you don't need alcohol to have a good time.
It's tough, I know. I'm also 27 and was diagnosed with Hep C almost 3 months ago. I totally quit drinking. What helps is the fact that my husband doesn't drink. That being said, even if you don't have the virus, you may want to think about quitting drinking in order to support your boyfriend. It'll be very hard for him not to drink if he sees you doing it. I think it'll make your relationship even stronger if you both quit together.
It's tough, I know. I'm also 27 and was diagnosed with Hep C almost 3 months ago. I totally quit drinking. What helps is the fact that my husband doesn't drink. That being said, even if you don't have the virus, you may want to think about quitting drinking in order to support your boyfriend. It'll be very hard for him not to drink if he sees you doing it. I think it'll make your relationship even stronger if you both quit together.
BTW, I thought he was in rehab. What length of time sobriety does he have, and what is he doing to prevent relapse?
What epiphiny says is technically correct - some of us have had a drink or few while infected and lived to tell the tale. Not everyone's disease progresses at the same rate.But my view is slightly more harsh than medicmommy's.
Your boyfriend is right now fighting for his life and if you yourself "can't imagine" life without alcohol, you might want to at least attend a few Al-Anon meetings. Raising children isn't a part time job you squeeze in between nights out with your friends and family social gatherings. Your kids need both a mother and a father and it would be nice if you could be around to meet your grandkids too.
Sorry if that sounds judgemental. Just my perspective based on what I went through.
Your boyfriend is right now fighting for his life and if you yourself "can't imagine" life without alcohol, you might want to at least attend a few Al-Anon meetings. Raising children isn't a part time job you squeeze in between nights out with your friends and family social gatherings. Your kids need both a mother and a father and it would be nice if you could be around to meet your grandkids too.
Sorry if that sounds judgemental. Just my perspective based on what I went through.
I agree with epiphiny. I have also read that having food in your stomach, and drinking water in between drinks will help the alcohol to not be so concentrated when it reaches the liver.
If I were you, I'd explain to my family ahead of time about his hepatitis so nobody says anything about it at the time. It may even cause them to drink less around him and ease the pier pressure.
If I were you, I'd explain to my family ahead of time about his hepatitis so nobody says anything about it at the time. It may even cause them to drink less around him and ease the pier pressure.
I am going to break all the rules here and say that one or two drinks is not going to harm your boyfriend. It is a big family event and special occasion after all. If he was going to go crazy and drink straight spirits all night long I would say he is completely mad and asking for all manner of trouble and I would say the same if he was going to consistently drink every night.
When I found out I had the virus I stopped drinking all together for a few years and then I loosened up and allowed myself to drink wine with dinner on special occasions or have a glass of champagne when there was a reason for special celebration. I did this AFTER I had consulted with a hepatologist and was aware of the stage of my liver damage. I continued like this for the entire time I had Hep C (a total of 25 or so years). I am now SVR and still only drink modestly for special occasions.
It is important to know what level of liver disease you are at - I was only stage2, but if you were more advanced than that you might want to think more carefully about this.
When I found out I had the virus I stopped drinking all together for a few years and then I loosened up and allowed myself to drink wine with dinner on special occasions or have a glass of champagne when there was a reason for special celebration. I did this AFTER I had consulted with a hepatologist and was aware of the stage of my liver damage. I continued like this for the entire time I had Hep C (a total of 25 or so years). I am now SVR and still only drink modestly for special occasions.
It is important to know what level of liver disease you are at - I was only stage2, but if you were more advanced than that you might want to think more carefully about this.
Drinking alcohol while having Hep C is like pouring gas on a house fire...The prospect of dying miserably of liver failure with your belly distended to the point you look like you have an overdue pregnancy and the nasty yellow/brown color you get (not to mention the liver cancer it can cause) was enough to convince me I didn't need to drink alcohol ever again. I would rather live a long and healthy life, than have no quality of life and be waiting on a transplant list for a liver that may never come...and wasting away in a nursing home too weak to wipe my own a$$ while I waited...The prospect of never getting to see my daughter grow up and marry, or to have babies of her own made giving up alcohol a very small thing...~MM
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