wondering about the non alcohol beers

[ohio nurse]

first of all I did survive the post biopsy complications though still not sure what happened and will get the results and genotype 8/7 so have been just reading the posts and learning and laughing. I had dinner with some friends and drank a couple of non alcohol beers, hubby says that because technically they contain "less then .5% alcohol" that drinking them I was endangering myself. Dont know if youve already been through this question, but I would like some thoughts here. Oh the couple of beers really was 2 lol

[anneinMD]

The anniversary would only be 18. It was 1988.  I went out for 14 months, and have a little over 3 years now.  The alcohol should not affect the clearance, too far back.  I already had the prescription drug abuse, illegal drugs question, and answered honestly.  The next question was "was it in the last 12 months", so I should be OK. Have been told this before when I was newly out of detox.  Suggested should be sober for at least a year before attempting cleared work.  I did my last detox in Northern Virginia which is where I lived since '96 up until this past February. It was the best one of the 3 I've been in.  Funny thing was the whole group at the time was all folks with long periods of recovery (5, 12, 13, 15 years), who all went out.  There was one older woman, about 70 who had many years of good solid time in AA, and she was the worst mess when they brought her in.  She had on like an evening gown, and was carrying on like God only knows what.  We teased her about it when she finally came around because she really was a pretty cool old gal, just lost it when her husband passed away and started drinking again.  I'll let you know about the bx when it comes in, probably be awhile.  I need to shcedule ultrasound with HMO before I have everything the GI wants, and then I'll reschedule with him. I don't think it will be bad. I'm in too good shape to have any major problems.  I've never heard of Haukin Beck.  Beckler or Buckler, I've had. Will look for it.  I found some NA Canadian beer before in upstate New York. Still like my amber O'Douls but may have to switch to the green label because of calories.  Amber is 90, regular green is 65.

[SlideJames]

Hey Anne!
Just got back from the San Juan Islands-again! Been readin the new threads, almost forgot to check this one to see if you came back to me. Thanks!
Seems we have alot in common-goin back to school, no tx yet, and we're alcoholics!
This new VX 950 stuff looks promising. All my labs, liver bx (stage 1) ALT, AST all of it is normal. Doc says no hurry. I'm thinkin maybe we hold off, go to school and just watch this VX 950 thing. Get back to me on your liver bx. That will determin what you'll do.
An alcoholic in a "high level clearance position? Ya gotta love that! Are the detox centers in Maryland as bad as the one's in Wa. state? I had 5 trips to detox before I finaly "got it". I"m done now!

I think you should keep your "23rd" birthday"!

I drink Haukin Beck beer (na) Love- Slide James

[Kalio1]

Around here Beck's is just pain old regular beer and it is not nonalcoholic it has just as muh alohol as any other beer.
Were you joking around?

[EquineLori]

Love your lemonaid!!!   I'm right in there with you on that one.  Gotta find the sweet stuff.  I told my hcv guy (the one I'm firing) that I'm fortunate to have broken my back and had a failed fusion, so the second surgeon could be diligent enough to request HIV & HCV tests, therefore finding this disease, and probably saved my life.  He said he never heard anyone say it was a good thing to break their back.  And, hey, If I was gonna get bad blood at least it was HCV and not HIV.  Again, he was not impressed.  Idiot!!  Oops, feeling Riba-rage entering.  Me - exit stage right.  And glad to be sober.

[ohgreat]

LOL.  I honestly hope you are not drinking Becks thinking it has 0% alcohol.

http://www.becks.com/

[Tarl]

There is a beer available that is 0.0 alcohol content it is called Becks which is brewed in Germany and available at grocery stores if you like Heineken or Stella it had a similar taste.

[Bill1954]

I guess I was laughing at myself when I made that comment. I think if an action can be a result of drinking, most likely I've done it or at least something similar. Your cow pasture incident sounded like another day in my life; I drank a lot of beer for 30 some years, and ended up in some in some surreal situations!

You mentioned one positive aspect of being HCV positive- helping you sober up. I actually quit drinking (and cigs as well) about a year before HCV dx, when I was diagnosed with diabetes. I think I was looking for an excuse to get away from that cr@p anyway, but looking back it's hard to figure out how I lived to see 51 years. (Sure *seemed* like fun at the time, though!).

For me, some other positives have been spending more time with my kids and grandkids, things I just wasn't doing three years ago.

Hang in there, and say hi to your lump for me--

Bill

[anneinMD]

I forgot to mention I got my genotype results.  I am 1a.  Will go to biopsy next.  I will probably hold off treatment if the biopsy comes up OK.  I may be getting a government job (high level clearance which will take about 4 months to process), so I will do a full boat of classes in the fall.

[anneinMD]

Slide: You have my same sobriety date, the first one, 9-23-88.  I got over 13 yrs on that one and had to go join the research team or have a mid life crisis, take your pick.  Anyhow results were no different than the first time, and I got my diagnosis near the end of the relapse.  I drank over it, too, and ended up in detox, which is where it always ended up.  I don't even know my new sobriety date other than it is late June 2003.  I just worry about today, and that last run of sobering up again was painful enough to keep me from trying that again.  Tarl:  Are you sure you're not thinking of Beckler?  It is a German NA beer that tastes like, well, a German beer without the punch, of course.  All the Beck's I've seen have alcohol in them.  St. Pauli makes an NA as well.

[Magnum]

A few years ago, I asked my former Gastro regarding alcohol, as I wanted to have a glass of wine at least once a week. He said "not one drop". A year later, I switched doctors. I asked the current one about alcohol. He said he felt one glass of wine per week, but no more, would make no difference in my condition.
Two doctors... Two opinions...

Once a week, I go to the casino and amuse myself along with drinking two O'Douls non-alcoholic beers (the other beers apparently are for alcoholics?). If I'm in that bad a shape, I would be in a hospital, but instead, even after a lot of torture and the last very brutal treatment, I feel pretty normal, and the O'Douls have not killed me.

It's subjective in my opinion. I also feel that scare tactics by doctors, who are not always right, should be reserved for the very sick. .05% alcohol has to be correct, otherwise, the Feds would impale the Annheiser-Busch company with an extremely stiff fine.

I personally like the amber O'Douls. I've never been an alcoholic. I just like the refreshing taste of beer as a small reward while losing my money on the slot machines, but yet enjoying myself. Just my opinion. Excuse me while I grab a beer...

Magnum

[anneinMD]

Those fake beers are one of the little things in life that I enjoy, and when you have a disease such as this, you need to have those little pleasures.  I also shouldn't eat sushi, but I do.  If God wanted me dead, it would have happened a long time ago, probably when I contracted Hep C!  Everyone who is an addict has to come to their own terms as to what their triggers are, and for me, O'Douls is definitely not one.  Good luck on your lab results, I am waiting on my genotype, too.  Anne

[Magnum]

Yes I still have some lingering after effects. It's now been 15 weeks, or nearly 4 months since stopping. My hair is still straight, but was curly before treatment. In the past, it became curly again, but took about one year. The biggest problem is still my stomach. After 2-3 bites of anything, I become nauseated and lose my appetite. The Medicinal Marijuana helps. The Reflux is about 90% gone, but still gives me a daily reminder that it is still with me.

As for my temper, it seems also about 80-90% normal. I do have my moments though and have to check myself when I start getting angry. Otherwise, there are still some spots left on my skin where there were those awful pimple like lesions in a lot of my body parts, except my face, oddly enough. I would imagine it was from all the scratching caused by the uncontrollable itching.

To me, the body is saying NO to treatment. I surely hope that we can soon start a regiment of drugs without the horrible torture. I can't imagine the body ever fully recovering from these treatments. I know I have that shallow look in my face that I didn't have before treatment. Hopefully it will pass.

As for my eyes bulging out, that's normal now. I used to scare kids, but not anymore. Well, almost not anymore. There was one little girl at Wal-Mart who hid behind her mother. I guess I need to be patient. At any rate, as I said before, I'm still here to tell the tale. So, I guess that's a sign I'm going to make it. Hopefully until the VX-950 Protease Inhibitor comes out.

Magnum

[ohio nurse]

Thanks everyone for the input I will probabley continue to have some o'dools because I like the taste of beer even though my best friend thinks I'm crazey like Why would you drink it if you cant get a Buzz? I feel pretty safe about the addict issue I've tried lots of stuff and always walked away without a problem except the cigerettes and I guess thats another debated issue here. I am a nurse and know all the dangers etc. I guess that I tend to live a little risky, probabley how come I got  HepC. I would like to say oh I got it from being a nurse but I know thats not likely what happened. I wish that I didnt have to wait so long for the D---- results though  Thanks again for all you do

[ohgreat]

"LOL! I'm not going near that one!!"

Yea... sigh... i dont want to either anymore.  LOL!  ;)  Thats actually not one of my worst stories, but to spare those who arent massively affected by booze, I'll save further details.

At anyrate, most of us are advised to not drink much.  It's been a real treat (for me) to have this Hep C in regards to my belief that I can drink like a fish!

I guess its a classic case of having lemons (hcv) and making lemonade (not drinking) for me.

[FlGuy]

I hope you go to a casino where they give you free drinks while they take your money.  How you feeling these days?  Any shades of Infergen lingering?

[FlGuy]

"in a cow pasture wearing a Speedo with a Red Lobster bib on".  Don't forget the lump too.

[sunspot]

That was a good one. LOL.

[Bill1954]

LOL! I'm not going near that one!!

[Bill1954]

Oh, geez- I can feel it coming on...



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I can't help myself....



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Here we go.....



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GO BUCKS!!!!!

OK, there; it's out of my system. You've gotten some really good thoughts from posters above. I'd like to highlight anneinMD's comment regarding the "trigger", though. I've been a beer-a-holic for about 30 years, and the thought of drinking N/A beer sends shivers down my spine. Stuff just about terrifies me; it's just to close to the real thing for comfort, regardless of alcohol content.

My personal thoughts are that if you don't have an alcoholic history, no problems with the N/A stuff; unless you live in a bubble, you probably run across worse environmental hazards in your day to day life. However, if you've had problems in the past with alcohol abuse, proceed with caution. Just be honest with yourself, and let common sense prevail.

I wish you al the best on your biopsy results,

Bill

[ohgreat]

My doctor said I could have a couple of beers.  Although I am not going to.  In my case a couple of beers is always how it starts and then I end up coming to in a cow pasture wearing a Speedo with a Red Lobster bib on.  But any rate, I am Stage 1 Grade 1 so thats probably why my doctor said I could do it.  It all depends on the liver, what the doc says, and with what makes you comfortable.  Personally I resumed my mouth wash stuff on an ocasional basis... Soon I am going to switch to Thoms of Main which uses Tea Tree.

[motheroffour]

You know, I've been wondering about this. I bought a 4 pack for my husband the other day because we were having a dinner party and he said "I don't know if I'm supposed to have those."  I think separating the alchoholic tendencies aside, the bottom line question should be can you or can't you especially if you are a stage 3 or 4. Seems to me if you can't have NA beer the doc would have said "oh and don't drink NA beer either".  I'm sure there are folks with Hep C that don't have past alcohol problems that would love to know the answer to this.

[SlideJames]

Hi Annein, my name's James, and I'm an alcoholic. 9/23/06 I'll have 4 years.
I already like you. goin to a meeting now, talk to you later. --- Slide

[ladybug52]

You are going to get different answers depending on a person's life style and what "works" for them. Personally, I don't think two non-alcoholic beers are going to make a difference but I'm sure many people will disagree with me.  It's kind of like the whole pregnancy/fetal alcohol syndrome debate which focuses on no 'safe' level of alcohol. Well, we baby boomers had a lot of drinking mommas and escaped developmental delays but we know now that it could possibly hurt a fetus. If you want to be, completely safe, skip alcohol, if you feel your liver might not notice, enjoy!  I fall in the gray area which means I would never try to convince someone else to live my lifestyle--they aren't me!

[anneinMD]

I hope they are OK.  I drink them regularly, because I like the taste of beer and always have.  Personally, I can only drink so many of them without switching to diet coke or water. I think I had 5 at my high school reunion, which is a hell of a lot for me, and I felt no affects from it. I would feel half a real beer, which I know from my relapse 3 years ago.  Without the effect, they just aren't the same.  I think you get more alcohol from the backwash from Listerine, which is about 40 proof.  You'll probably get other opinions here, this is just mine.  I am an alcoholic, and O'Douls do not trigger drinking for me.