alcohol and rx

[kate82662]

what happens if you continue to drink during treatment?

[printze]

When I first got diagnosed in March, the first words out of my doctor's mouth was , if you drink STOP, it will accelerate  damage to  the liver. Have not had a drink since.

[Javi1962]

I quit drinking as soon as i found out I had hep C, but as I said I was curious due to this being such a controversial matter and doctors having so many different opinions on this topic, and I had to ask, you would think the doctor would say to the patient by the way do not drink alcohol, but since he did not I brought it up, and he made it sound like it made no difference to him or this trial.

[flcyclist]

"im on the all oral drugs treating for hepC, my doctor also said alcohol has no effect on drugs given either way"
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While you're treating to halt the HCV from doing further damage to your liver,  why would you want to drink alcohol which could potentially lead to additional damage?   You only have one liver.

[orphanedhawk]

Has anyone besides me noticed that the poster has never responded?

Yesterday, I heard a doctor on the radio quote " 1/3 of all the preventable deaths in the U.S. are alcohol related."

phebo:
My understanding is alcohol sends hep C into orgy mode.
Coffee does the reverse.

[Javi1962]

"you will not feel like treatment"

I meant to say "you will not feel like drinking"

sorry brain not working right lol

[Javi1962]

im on the all oral drugs treating for hepC, my doctor also said alcohol has no effect on drugs given either way, I was curious about this so I asked, the doctor said what it can do is throw off the lab results due to alcohol consumption, but that was it, as far as drugs there going to do what they are meant to do and fight virus regardless, well after saying that, with the effects of treatment, you probably wont have to worry about it, because you will not feel like treatment, you will be feeling like crap as it is, probably, imho.

[jules2551]

let me rephrase that...."behavior related to alcohol"

[pjhep80]

and yes, the desire while on treatment to drink is really not there, not for me anyway... the last thing anyone would want in addition to all the side effects from the medication is a hangover... lol

[pjhep80]

just to clarify, what i meant to say was my doctor said alcohol has no effect whatsoever on the medications ... it will not make them less effective..

[pjhep80]

... you dont get hep c from alcohol ...

so im not sure what you meant by your comment...?

[pjhep80]

my doctor said alcohol has no effect whatsoever on the treatment... the danger is in continued damage to the liver, if you are are stage 3-4 you should not be drinking AT ALL if you are stage 2 or less minimal drinking ...one -two drinks at a time at the most - and not every day either... problem is alot of people cant do that ... if you can do that then dont worry about it ...if you cant do yourself a favor and dont drink

[Gracie_Lue]

Yep I've heard from many sources that drinking is a no no on tx or not with hepers at all really. I wouldn't take that risk and trust me you won't have any need to drink while on tx. Also why give your self a higher risk of failing tx. You wouldn't be giving your self very good odds going in to something like this.
All the best of luck to you!  

[Jimmygeee666]

Took me 6 long years to get sober kill the booze then tackle the hep C at least those are my thoughts and by the way is Conrad murray your doc cause my doc wouldn't treat me if kept drinking

[beyondmwd]

Alcohol and hep-C ........do not mix....at all.  Quit now or die sooner.  If you can't quit, head  to the rooms for support. Good Luck!  Spunky1

[printze]

We will do fine we have a great support group here who will guide and help us through the rough patches and I will definetly be posting my progression with tx for advice and support , I am here for you and everyone  we will be jusdt fine and before you know it will be SVR . Lots of love and hugs to you.

[milliehepc]

Printze:  Puerto Rican on this side and yep - we love wine and the festivities.  Today we celebrate and the bar is stacked!  My family is extremely supportive on that side I am very lucky.

I will keep looking for post - (I hope you share how your treatment is going) I am sending lots of positive energy your way.  I don't know what I will do with regards to treatment yet and I know I have to stop drinking socially too (this is so hard) - but how lucky am I already to have found such a great supportive forum.

Merry Xmas to All.

Millie

[hrsepwrguy]

Here is a link you might want to look at concerning fibrosis progression and alcohol as well as age and many other factors. Trust me when I tell you that treatment compares nothing to cirrhosis and ESLD.

http://www.hawaii.edu/hivandaids/Fibrosis%20And%20Disease%20Progression%20In%20Hepatitis%20C.pdf

[milliehepc]

Stormy thank you for your reassurring words.  It's tremendously appreciated. I will continue to look to all of you for guidance.  

Millie

[jules2551]

Alcohol is probably the reason I belong to this wonderful Hep C Club.  Listen to these people...they know what they are talking about.  The only thing good that has come out of this is meeting new people.

Merry Xmas

[printze]

I know how you feel,i have alaways enjoyed my wine with friends and family and being italian /irish you could imagine that wine is always om the there, however when I found out in March I stopped have not had a drink of wine since, and here it is Christmas morning after celebrating last night drinking water and gingerale. I actually don't mind it I feel great, just like you I too  am scared you are not alone I will be starting tx sometime in new year . Best of luck to you , you will do just fine . Happy holidays.

[stormy456]

Millie- If it's any reassurance, my husband is on his 4th week and has minimal side effects.  I'm sure there are some good ones coming down the road, but I must tell you that the fear of treatment was much worse than the actual treatment has been so far.  

[stormy456]

What an excellent, well thought out and researched response.

[belle19]

when my husband and i go out to dinner i get a virgin bloody mary.  i must get a contact high from him because i could swear it has vodka in it. (but of course, it doesn't).  don't miss alcohol at all right now.  it's like when i was pregnant.  felt no need.  have a great holiday.  belle

[milliehepc]

I have not started treatment.  I am still grabling with all the information.  I am scared to the death of the side affects.  With regards to alcohol I love drinking wine when I go to festive places which I do on average couple of times a month.  I am 63 just diagonosed - Stage 2/3 type...have had this virus for 47 years.  

I was diagnosed jus 2 weeks ago - I was suppose to start treatment this past week but decided against it.  I am not scare of getting ill - well that along will drive me to drink.  lol.

Another New Year's Resolution.

Millie