life expectancy hepc

[rockey]

i was diagnosed with hep c when i was 20 im 25 now i also have gout in the feet im a social drinker on average what would be the life expectancy of a person in my position

[Kalio1]

I wish you would stop telling people that "social drinking" is OK if you have Hep C. First off, you have no idea what is meant by "social drinking" You have no way of knowing what "social" means to any given individual. This particular individual who is asking gives NO INFO. on their condition, so suggesting it is OK to socially drink is even more dangerous. if he has Hep C NO ALCOHOL is the ONLY safe way to deal with alcohol.

You always post the same measly article where ONE doctor claims it is OK but never post the 100's of articles saying that NO ALCOHOL for anyone with Hep C or a damaged liver is far superior and you wonder why people think you encourage alcohol use. It would be one thing if you posted a balanced view at least instead of always giving the message that some alcohol is OK when it is NOT KNOWN exactly what a "safe" amount is. There is NO safe amount that can be verified.

You are the ONLY person on this board who tells people it is OK to drink with Hep C. It is not a good idea to drink AT ALL when you have Hep C, as studies show it can hasten this disease.

[Terrylee8]

I am 90% sure that I contacied Hep C in 1968 when I was 21 years old.  It was a year of shooting heroin and 10 days in the hospital with Hep B.  It's now 38 years later and I have moderate liver damage.  I drank alot until I quit 15 years ago.  Everyone is different but if you don't drink and get tested, chances are you have a long and healthy life ahead of you

[SnoWav]

Let me be the second person on the board then that as long as your liver is in pretty good shape thinks and was told by two different docs that a little social drinking is fine. There are risks in everything pick your posion and live your life. Cheers

[HCA]

I can't help commenting on the number of posts I have read stating;
"Alcohol is rocket fuel for hep C!!!"
"Drinking with hep C is like pouring gasoline on a fire"
Where do these experts get there information?
From other alarmists,but not from research.
My personal belief is don't drink,but that 2 or 3 units a week won't make any difference to disease progression.
My doctor says have the odd one,but I don't.
Some authorities suggest that cardiac benefits of a little red wine outweigh the possible downside even in HVC patients.

[ladybug52]

You sound like me! I had hepc for along time before I found out. Actually when I did find out the general opinion between 3 dr.s was not to worry about it, I had good liver enzymes. That was in the 90's and medicine has come a long ways since then. I already had 4 kids and enjoyed life while I lived in ignorant bliss, yes, drinking socially too. My kids and husband are all negative, thank God. I'm a geno 2 and on week 7 of 24.
Rock: I'm not advocating drinking, I was lucky I had minimal liver damage but everyone is different. You mention the gout and I wonder if you have another side effect of hep c or it's non-related. Find out what type of hepc you have as far as genotype and what the biopsy report shows for liver damage. That can give you a better idea of life expectancy. You are so young this is the time to try and treat and get better!
Godd luck
Bug

[traveler65]

Rock: you are young and probably only have had HEPC a short time. Get a good doc and get it taken care of. Nobody really knows how it will progress.
I really wonder when people say they had it for over 35 years if it is really true. Just because someone had a transfusion or did IV drugs a few times 35 years ago does not mean that that is when they got HEPC unless they actually experienced acute symptoms at that time. They may have gotten it only 10 or 15 years ago from something else. There are studies that show anyone drinking heavily has a good chance of getting HEPC.
My doc says I probably got it in the military (vietnam era)30 years ago. I was a heavy drinker up until 10 years ago, who knows especially if you can get it from a razor or a toothbrush not to mention a cut during an accident or bar fight where two peoples blood come together, or at the dentist.
Sorry for going on. Whenever you got it the best thing is to try and get rid of it ASAP.