Hepatitis C Support Group

I can't say it's good or bad. I just met a friend who did the tx back in 2000. He's an alcoholic. He was clean on tx, then went out. This guy doesn't just sip, he's a hardcore raging alcoholic who usually ends up in the hospital after a long bout. Anyways, now he's trying to get sober and is still free of the virus 7 years after tx. Even with drinking. But it's my opinion that a person would want to be clean for 6 months to 1 year after tx since this is a crucial period to remain virus free. After this period, the long term prognosis is much better.

Every one is different. You can take advice or leave it..I haven't had anything to drink in awhile. But my husband drinks anytime he want's to. He has no liver damage at all. I am only at stage 1 with little liver damage. I was never what you would call a drinker, but did enjoy a good party on Friday nights at my house. Looked forward to them all week. Now I don't do much of any social entertaining. I guess drinking was what brought all of us together. We used to have a blast. But thank God I'm grown enough to realize I needed to slow myself down. I am not saying that I'll never have another drink again. I reserve that to special occasions. Talk to your doctor, they'll have the best advice. Our doctor said an occasional drink really wouldn't really be much harm. Good luck to you honey. Make your own judgement call...JOni

Hi Rebecca,

This is a very good question...that I have often wondered since quitting drinking and starting treatment.

I too enjoy a nice cool drink in the backyard or after a good psysical game of ball! It is a social thing yes, but I also feel that letting my hair down and having 5 or 6 is needed once in a while too! IT IS FUN to sing songs around the campfire and laugh and tell stories! I do not want to miss out on all the fun for the rest of my life. (But that is just me)

I enjoyed drinking my Bahama Mamas when we took our vacation in March and I WILL drink again in the future. After treatment is done of course.

I do not consider myself to be an alcoholic...I just enjoy getting together with friends and having a good time...listening to good music, playing games in the back yard, having a BBQ, sitting around just hving a good time...heck I feel like I am normal...Don't most people like to do this???

Let me move on to the ask your doctors thing...hmmm...
In my opinion if they havn't read up on it...spent some time researching studies or whatever then how are they really to know if drinking after treatment is going to bring it all back???

I think it depends on a lot of things my friend. What stage your liver is in, how much you drink, how often you drink and how your own body reacts to alcohol. Just like BillW said earlier...everyone is different!(like that guy that is an alcoholic but still undetectable after 7 years post tx and drinking like a fish out of water)

In my opinion doctors have to be careful.For example.if they tell you... ya, it's o.k. to drink and you get hep c back or become an alcoholic well there is a large chance you're going to try and blame them. PLUS if they have a heart they might feel bad giving you the go ahead and seeing an awful outcome. think most doctors are going to stay on the safe side and just say DON'T DRINK!

I did some googling and found out some neat stuff...

I have copied and pasted some info for you and also put the link to the site...
you really should read the whole study but here is a part of it

Conclusion of 2006 study copied from

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep...

The researchers concluded that alcohol dependence significantly affects quality of life for individuals with hepatitis C, but does not affect health utility or health value. Further, having a CAGE score that met the criteria for alcohol dependence was not associated with altered medical decision-making.

Together, these studies suggest that heavy alcohol users continue to value good health, and may be able to adhere to -- and respond well to -- hepatitis C treatment. Anand and colleagues recommended that patients with a history of alcohol use should not be excluded from HCV therapy, but instead should receive additional support to ensure their ability to complete treatment.

Nevertheless, it is important that patients with hepatitis C cut down on their alcohol use, especially in light of another study presented at DDW 2006 which showed that long-term heavy alcohol use promotes the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in rats, even in the absence of other risk factors such as chronic viral hepatitis.

I am by no means telling you to go ahead and drink. That would be very wrong. I'm just giving my opinion on the whole subject and saying I am going to go back to having a few good cool drinks in the backyard when this frigging nightmare is all over!

(hope I don't get to much flack for posting this)

Just being me,
scaredrabbit

My sweet Rebecca I gave up my wine the moment I found out. It was very very hard. I cried my eyes out. I had become dependant on that wine everyday...and its odd how I had gotten away from my God and my church. I just gave a testimony at my church about my illness and how God used it to get me off of alcohol and heal me in ways that are so big.....I also was in the rest/ bartending life. I gave that all up too.....alcohol hurts the liver......doesnt matter what anyone says on this those are the facts...for me that was enough. I have been sober for twn months and I will never drink again I love my life and my liver...and its funny how since I stopped I have realized I was in trouble with it Now I have to deal with things in a healthy matter instead of numbing them with alcohol. This is me yet I have to say alot of people now adays are doing the same thing.......I have my God and now that the alcohol is gone I can feel his presence again THANK GOD. I could never do this treatment without him.
You know I care about you and Im proud of you up until now...having hepc it is wise to stop altogether.........only you can decide whats best for you..Im here to talk though as I know exactly how hard it was. Love you Diane

typo I am sober ten months

I noticed my link doesn’t open on the prior post so posting it again. Hope I did it right this time. It has answers to your question and is and just a good site for many other issues with hep c. Hope it helps.
You’ll need to scroll down to You’ll see doctors treat those with a history of alcohol abuse different than a social drinker. Who Should Be Treated to find this section.

Strict abstinence from alcohol is recommended during therapy of hepatitis C. Peginterferon therapy can be associated with relapse in people with a previous history of drug or alcohol abuse. Therefore, interferon should be given with caution to a patient who has only recently stopped alcohol or substance abuse. Typically, a 6-month abstinence is recommended before starting therapy, but this should be applied only to patients with a history of alcohol abuse, not to social drinkers. Patients with continuing alcohol or substance abuse problems should only be treated in collaboration with alcohol or substance abuse specialists or counselors. Patients can be successfully treated while on methadone or in an active substance abuse program. Indeed, the rigor and regular monitoring that accompany methadone treatment provide a structured format for combination therapy. The dose of methadone may need to be modified during peginterferon-based therapy for hepatitis.

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddi...

All alcohol must be processed through the liver. If your liver is compromised you run a very high risk of accelerating the progression of your liver disease. Have you had a liver biopsy? That would tell you just how compromised you are at this point. An ultrasound of the liver and spleen would also indicate amount of swelling. It's all about the current damage. Lab work should also give you an indication.
You have a life threatening illness and it is serious. Sorry, I'm just a medical person and tend to get preachy.
I support whatever you decide to do. You have no idea how hard that last sentence is for me to write!
Take care, John

? - I was told and not sure if true or rumor that for every 1 drink you have while on tx it makes tx meds not work for a few days? Anyone know about that?

I also was a social drinker before tx - always threw hugh pool and holiday parties, go to brother-in-laws bar occasionally and with all my friends who drank.

I was life of party but found out I'm still fun and silly but w/o hangovers - hell tx is enough hangover for me!

Funny don't see alot of them anymore...maybe I'm boring now & don't throw parties or just isolating???

Anyway I contracted HepC 30 yrs ago and didn't know till 7-07. Drank whole 30 yrs and only had S/G 1-so scary before got bx report...

but now wanna keep it at 1! I do so miss my beer tho!

After tx and 6 mo clearance i will drink again but very much in moderation! And get regular every 6 mo test.

Sadly my brother-in-law cleared virus after tx but then went right back to heavy drinking but won't get tested-said it doesn't matter he won't go thru tx again so what the hell...we are all scared about his outcome. Have lost WAY too many friends!

Also sadly have friends w/HepC who won't do tx cause don't wanna stop drinking!

So all us who do tx and stop drinking we deserve a hugh pat on back and champagne glass of water!

Thank you so much for all of your comments. I was sure I would get a response, but you guys really put some feeling into your responses.
I miss my wine and at the end of a hard night it would help with the pain. Just help to relax. I have come to terms with the fact that I couldn't drink for at least a year anyway. Who knows....maybe the desire will be gone by then. .......Once again, thank you

All the information I have received tells me that I must NEVER touch a drop EVER again.

With a scarred liver - or with latent or ongoing HCV it will destroy liver cells that your body can no longer replace fast enough.

Just give it up. I get a terrific buzz from some fruit drinks!