Aa
Drug/alcohol free prior to tx
The nurse I talked to said most doctors want you to be drug and alcohol free for 6 months to a year before tx. I had an eggnog with rum in mid December but that was only about an ounce of rum and it made me ill. As far as drugs go, what kind are they talking about? If its the harsher IV variety, I haven't done IV since the 70's and it's been over 10 years since I've done anything other than marijuana.
Which is my next question. Is marijuana included in that drug-free mandate? That's gonna be tough, because that's about the only thing that makes me feel halfway functional.
What was the timeframe for any of you folks who've been through tx? 6 months or a year? Geez, I could die by then.
Which is my next question. Is marijuana included in that drug-free mandate? That's gonna be tough, because that's about the only thing that makes me feel halfway functional.
What was the timeframe for any of you folks who've been through tx? 6 months or a year? Geez, I could die by then.
Like the others, I've never heard any of these numbers bandied about anywhere ever. And honestly even though it's true that no one ON treatment should ever have a drink because of the adverse reaction it can cause on the meds, I can't honestly believe that a glass of wine on the weekend would be hurting anything if you have CLEARED the virus already.
Ditto with pot.
Heebeegeebeez - clear the virus and then just keep things in check and enjoy your occassional toke and live a life. Chances are that something else will kill you long before your liver will.
Ditto with pot.
Heebeegeebeez - clear the virus and then just keep things in check and enjoy your occassional toke and live a life. Chances are that something else will kill you long before your liver will.
mar148 - I won't be drinking. However, I do expect that might make sticking to the tx plan iffy if one was under the influence of alcohol.
jdwithhcv- That's what I'm saying. I smoke minimal amounts, but it makes me feel like I'm still alive. As opposed to sitting on the couch over-analyzing my every ache and pain and having no interest in anything. It keeps my sense of humor intact and I need that to survive. I don't really have a doctor that I'll claim as mine. I've managed to keep my past IV drug use to myself for 30 years until this damn disease brought it back to light. Grrr.
pigeonca- It was a nurse who told me doctors want you to be alcohol and drug free for 6 mos to a year. I posted that here to see if anyone here who had tx was told they had to wait. I don't have a doctor yet.
Bobby1952 - I was a heavy drinker for years and my liver was okay up to at least 10 years ago. I haven't had any liver tests recently, but I expect its much worse now (judging by the way I feel). However I haven't had more than one drink a month for nearly two years and there are many months that I didn't drink at all. Congrats on quitting smoking. I quit about 4 years ago. I used to smoke 3-4 packs a day.
jdwithhcv- That's what I'm saying. I smoke minimal amounts, but it makes me feel like I'm still alive. As opposed to sitting on the couch over-analyzing my every ache and pain and having no interest in anything. It keeps my sense of humor intact and I need that to survive. I don't really have a doctor that I'll claim as mine. I've managed to keep my past IV drug use to myself for 30 years until this damn disease brought it back to light. Grrr.
pigeonca- It was a nurse who told me doctors want you to be alcohol and drug free for 6 mos to a year. I posted that here to see if anyone here who had tx was told they had to wait. I don't have a doctor yet.
Bobby1952 - I was a heavy drinker for years and my liver was okay up to at least 10 years ago. I haven't had any liver tests recently, but I expect its much worse now (judging by the way I feel). However I haven't had more than one drink a month for nearly two years and there are many months that I didn't drink at all. Congrats on quitting smoking. I quit about 4 years ago. I used to smoke 3-4 packs a day.
MB: Drinking alcohol will advance your liver disease at ten times the normal rate.
smoking pot will advance it at 7 times the normal rate.
I know you probably mean well but when you post info like this could you please also give us a LINK to support the info provided. I was a social drinker before TX and my fibrosis didn't advance in the last 6 years. I also know people with HEP C that smoke pot everyday and have less fibrosis than me.
This was also because I started taking care of myself a lot better by eating lean meats vegetables and fruit along with a lot of supplements (vitamins and herbs) that lowered my ALT and AST. I also started a vigorous excercise program.
My current blood work before treatment was better than it was 6 years ago. I am not saying it is OK to drink with HEP C. It is a individual decision. But I wanted to still drink socially and I did. But I made sure that I didn't contribute to what HR calls "Metabolic Syndrome" which can advance Fibrosis also.
Oh yeah I did stop smoking 3 years ago after 40 years of heavy smoking.
Bobby
smoking pot will advance it at 7 times the normal rate.
I know you probably mean well but when you post info like this could you please also give us a LINK to support the info provided. I was a social drinker before TX and my fibrosis didn't advance in the last 6 years. I also know people with HEP C that smoke pot everyday and have less fibrosis than me.
This was also because I started taking care of myself a lot better by eating lean meats vegetables and fruit along with a lot of supplements (vitamins and herbs) that lowered my ALT and AST. I also started a vigorous excercise program.
My current blood work before treatment was better than it was 6 years ago. I am not saying it is OK to drink with HEP C. It is a individual decision. But I wanted to still drink socially and I did. But I made sure that I didn't contribute to what HR calls "Metabolic Syndrome" which can advance Fibrosis also.
Oh yeah I did stop smoking 3 years ago after 40 years of heavy smoking.
Bobby
MB: Drinking alcohol will advance your liver disease at ten times the normal rate.
smoking pot will advance it at 7 times the normal rate.
I know you probably mean well but when you post info like this could you please also give us a LINK to support the info provided. I was a social drinker before TX and my fibrosis didn't advance in the last 6 years. I also know people with HEP C that smoke pot everyday and have less fibrosis than me.
This was also because I started taking care of myself a lot better by eating lean meats vegetables and fruit along with a lot of supplements (vitamins and herbs) that lowered my ALT and AST. I also started a vigorous excercise program.
My current blood work before treatment was better than it was 6 years ago. I am not saying it is OK to drink with HEP C. It is a individual decision. But I wanted to still drink socially and I did. But I made sure that I didn't contribute to what HR calls "Metabolic Syndrome" which can advance Fibrosis also.
Oh yeah I did stop smoking 3 years ago after 40 years of heavy smoking.
Bobby
smoking pot will advance it at 7 times the normal rate.
I know you probably mean well but when you post info like this could you please also give us a LINK to support the info provided. I was a social drinker before TX and my fibrosis didn't advance in the last 6 years. I also know people with HEP C that smoke pot everyday and have less fibrosis than me.
This was also because I started taking care of myself a lot better by eating lean meats vegetables and fruit along with a lot of supplements (vitamins and herbs) that lowered my ALT and AST. I also started a vigorous excercise program.
My current blood work before treatment was better than it was 6 years ago. I am not saying it is OK to drink with HEP C. It is a individual decision. But I wanted to still drink socially and I did. But I made sure that I didn't contribute to what HR calls "Metabolic Syndrome" which can advance Fibrosis also.
Oh yeah I did stop smoking 3 years ago after 40 years of heavy smoking.
Bobby
If you only have an occasional drink, such as an eggnog during the holiday season, yet the doctor wants you to be alcohol-free for 6 months after that egg nog, I would worry about whether that doctor is the right doctor for you. If you're an alcoholic, yes, a 6 month dry period is imperative, but if you're an average occasional drinker, I'd imagine the doc is imposing some unwarranted value judgments about your behavior and is probably buying into the stigma that hcv can sometimes carry. I would not want to be the patient of such a person.
As I understand it, unless you have cirrhosis, a single drink will not hurt you, except during treatment - when you definitely must not indulge. As for pot, I know that I would have wasted away without it. It was the only thing that gave me any appetite at all and also overcame my feelings of nausea. Be well.
pigeon
As I understand it, unless you have cirrhosis, a single drink will not hurt you, except during treatment - when you definitely must not indulge. As for pot, I know that I would have wasted away without it. It was the only thing that gave me any appetite at all and also overcame my feelings of nausea. Be well.
pigeon
If you only have an occasional drink, such as an eggnog during the holiday season, yet the doctor wants you to be alcohol-free for 6 months after that egg nog, I would worry about whether that doctor is the right doctor for you. If you're an alcoholic, yes, a 6 month dry period is imperative, but if you're an average occasional drinker, I'd imagine the doc is imposing some unwarranted value judgments about your behavior and is probably buying into the stigma that hcv can sometimes carry. I would not want to be the patient of such a person.
As I understand it, unless you have cirrhosis, a single drink will not hurt you, except during treatment - when you definitely must not indulge. As for pot, I know that I would have wasted away without it. It was the only thing that gave me any appetite at all and also overcame my feelings of nausea. Be well.
pigeon
As I understand it, unless you have cirrhosis, a single drink will not hurt you, except during treatment - when you definitely must not indulge. As for pot, I know that I would have wasted away without it. It was the only thing that gave me any appetite at all and also overcame my feelings of nausea. Be well.
pigeon
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