Hep C Discussion Forum

Cinnamon Girl · Guru

Diet/Lifestyle and SVR

krowdog · Senior Member

Hi Jan,

Your question is interesting. Obviously, if the virus has been completely cleared, no amount of alcohol on earth could bring is back. But I noticed it's called "Sustained Viral Response."

Since there is a minimum detectable level, our bodies may be holding the virus to below those levels, having developed antibodies, then having had the chems reduce the levels low enough to maintain. If so, then any assault on the body that messed up it's ability to fight off viral threats, might allow the virus to reproduce back up to levels too high to control.

Also, I don't think these drugs cross the blood brain barrier. Since I got a concussion 2 years ago (which, by definition, is blood leaking into the brain) could I have infected my brain tissues, which cannot then be reached by the drugs? If so, will I be harboring the virus there, after Tx, or does it only replicate in liver cells?

I would LOVE to hear anything anyone might know. I will ask next time I see my Doc.

Best to everyone,

Brad

jan · Senior Member

Hi Brendan,

So good to hear from you. I'm just worrying cos it my dads 90th soon and I might like a glass of bubbly and it'll only be the once. I'll give it a go and see. I did ask the doc and they said in small amounts occasionally.

You deserve the odd cold beer after everything youv'e been through. Thanks for helping.

Jan x

BJ · Guru

Gidday Jan,

It's a question a lot of people ask and as someone who use to drink copious amounts of alcohol, I s'pose after I found out about hepC and having it, one I'd never need to ask anymore.

After going SVR I had a couple of wines and a few beers and thought what am I doing, and apart from celebrating, to be quite honest, as long as anybody considers their health and any consequences from having a drink in moderation, probably not much.

Don't get me wrong, if you have HepC or your liver is badly damaged, drinking is a big no-no. After finishing that long haul I had in treatment I did say I'd never drink again, but it's bloody hot up here and the ol' wet season is back with a vengeance, so after a hard day on the farm I do occasionally have a beer - but no more than that.

The scientist in me knows I'll never drink like I use to and even a few beers would stop if anything indicated I shouldn't, but a nice cold beer after a hot day is the one small distraction I allow myself from being someone who otherwise is a complete health nut now.

If you're worried about whether you should drink, maybe it's a sign, but if you would like to........I like life too much, sooo.....probably asking your doctor would be a good place to start.

Cheers,

Brendan.

jan · Senior Member

To drink or not to drink. That is my question. My hep c specialist said my liver would return to normal after successful tx. I am 18 months post tx and SVR. I have not touched one drop of alcohol for 2 1/2 years now. I have heard that drinking can bring back hep c. I can't understand that if hep c has been killed how can alcohol bring it back? Or is it still there, just lurking and waiting to multiply again? Can anyone explain please. I would love a drink now and then but I am terrified of the consequenses. I thought that if SVR is achieved there is only a 99.6% chance of it returning, is that with or without alcohol or is it that no one really knows?

Jan x

Cinnamon Girl · Guru

Hi Max, and welcome. smile I agree, I`m sure a healthy diet helps but most certainly avoiding alcohol with a Hep C diagnosis is an absolute must. I was diagnosed about 16 yrs ago and stopped drinking alcohol immediately.

Whether to drink post tx and post SVR is a good question - I`m still waiting to have my 6 mnth post tx test, and I hope I will get the result we all want, but I don`t think I will drink alcohol again, or at least not on a regular basis. Maybe a glass of wine at Christmas, that sort of thing.

Good luck with your journey through the triple therapy.

All the best, Jill xx

Max101st · Member

Originally did treatment 2000-2001, virus, (G-1) returned after three months
Pegasus was not yet the standard treatment. From 2001-2005 viral load remained steady
my diet was avoiding all fatty foods, no alcohol or anything that would impact liver function.
2005-2010 viral load increased, labs were in normal ranges.
I would like to think my diet had some impact but most of all it was avoiding alcohol.
Someone posted would it be OK to drink post treatment...I dont think so.

At present I have started treatment again with Teleprevir, (Incivek) Pegasus and Ribavirin.

BadMojo58 · Newbie

Always ate what I wanted, still do

I'm 58 quit smoking at 23

Social drinking until diagnosed March 2009, no alchohol after treatment

Compleated pegasys/rivo treatment none-detectable @ six months full viral load :(

Anticipate treatment only this time with one of the just approved additives to pega/rivo

Treatment to commence sometime August 2011

I did extreamly well during my first treatment, hope I sail through this one aswell

jan · Senior Member

Loved to drink red wine prior to tx

a. Don't smoke
b. No alcohol 6 months prior to tx, non during tx and non after tx
c. Very healthy diet
d. SVR

Genotype 3a (was)

Jan x

P.S Would it be really stupid to have a drink at Christmas? My liver damage was mild. I think I already know the answer but hay ho.

DGiga · Senior Member

Hi Everyone,
a) Smoking for 40 some years, have cut down to 1/2 pack a day on tx.

b) Never drank alcolhol

c) Always ate what I wanted and still do.

d) Seem to be responding well to tx.

Dee

cloudguard · Senior Member

I have not drank alcohol for over 25 years that is probably what saved me, found out that I had it 6 years ago.

cloudguard · Senior Member

I am right at mid point of my treatment,viral load has been undetectable since first hcv quantitative test at 12 weeks. Just had another one and still undetectable I also have 1a. Tolerating treatment OK and looking forward to it being completed, hoping for the best. Am taking good care of myself but exersise is tough.

I'm a idiot my first hvc quant. was at 4 weeks and indicted a 2 log drop which enabled me to continue treatment (duh)

-- Edited by cloudguard on Saturday 27th of November 2010 05:19:23 AM

medusa · Guru

On tx, but viral load almost non-detectable at 3 weeks tx, so at least I am a 'responder', geno 1a.

a. I smoke 10 to 15 Gauloises roll-ups a day, and occassional herbal.
b. No alcohol on tx; very little in past few years.
c. Very healthy veg/ fruit/ dairy / eggs/ fish/ wholegrain diet. Loads of live yoghout and garlic before tx.

elizabethgb7 · Member

smoke-off and on mostly off but social smoker
drinking -never
diet- chicken and rice mostly, to tired to cook
SVR after 48 week tx

flower123422 · Member

smoked yes still do. Haven't start tx yet, probabaly 2months from now don't have all information yet.
drank for 13 years, stoped 11 years ago
I try to eat as healthy as I can.

Koopolo · Newbie

Diet/Lifestyle and SVR

Nikki

a) never
b) before diagnosis 10 yrs ago - rarely. Past 10 years never.
c) ate a healthy diet. Vegetarian for 25+ years.
d) doing well on treatment - 8 more weeks and I will know - liver has had a nice rest and right now viral load is miniscule (8 from 400,000,000) - doctor increased meds to give the final push I guess.

Koopolo

eddie · Guru

Thanks for that Nikki, learning things every day.

Eddie.

nikki · Senior Member

Sustained Viral Response

It means you've won the fight and killed the b*st*rd!!

You get a 6 month test after treatment to see if you've still cleared the virus.

eddie · Guru

Whats SVR mean?

-- Edited by eddie at 20:25, 2007-12-02

Danny · Senior Member

nikki wrote:

Hey all,
I'm looking to see if there is indeed a link between SVR and how you manage your diet and lifestyle during tx.

Please list whether you

a) smoked, gave up six years ago because i didnt want my daughter to start
b) drank alcolhol, rarely... i'm a driver and work with heavy tools , occasional glass of wine ,insulin dependent, it plays hell with gtf levels and best avoided.
c) ate a healthy diet. Yes very, married to a chef and had my own organic allotment for years ,
d) treatment outcome failed, no response, rare reaction 60% more damage caused by tx,

thanks

Nikki xx

wrennslover · Member

Smoked - NO
Drank - No
Diet - Healthy, but probably too much sugar.
Outcome - SVR at 6 months post treatment

nikki · Senior Member

Hey Guy,
I started a thread with a view to it becoming a sticky on Knowledge base, called hints and tips, but what with one thing and another, never got round to actually doing it, and nobody noticed it

Perhaps you could put some stuff on it like the Riba's?? I was hoping for a bit of input from everyone and then make it a sticky for reference.

Nikki xx

The Dude · Senior Member

a] Yes plus de odd herbal

b] No no no [hard for those dat used to]

c] Fairly considering one is a zombie.......Ping oh dear just zapped ma fruit salad

d] SVR

Nikki just a thought but a lot of people blame the meds for secondary problems.
When they have not eaten consequently the meds [Riba] hit the stomach empty & cause a lot of probs dat could of been avoided if dey had ate proper. An example half a gulp of Bio Yoghurt Riba's den the second gulp!
How people take the Riba's basically

The Dude

greenqueen · Guru

Hi Nikki, here goes

a) Yes, about 5 a day - occasional herbal tobacco too!
b) No alcohol
c) Hospital protein drinks, actimel, live yoghurt, bananas, occasional take away (had an odd craving for fried rice ), cereal, anything that I could shove in the microwave!
d) SVR

Steff xx

joystar · Veteran Member

Nikki, as requested

a) gave up in 2000
b) had a 'long island tea' around this time last year, before then it was probably a double vodka two years ago, previous to that, I loved to Party and get p***ed!!!
c) until a couple of months ago, have been very healthy, well, apart from having eating disorder (bulimia - stopped the laxatives two years ago

Also a veggie, would like to become vegan...just struggling with the cheese, chocolate and ice cream!
d) with 7 more jabs to go, I'm still a slow responder, last v/l was 25,000...had bloods taken again today

nikki · Senior Member

Thanks Guys xx

I have a friend who also had Hep, and he gave me his answers to add. His chosen "name" is Billy the Big. And here are his answers.

a) Yes
b) 3 in a year (wine)
c) chocolate, smoothies, actimel, baked beans, pizza, soup, curry, etc. (anything that was easy to make or stick in the microwave)
d) SVR

Nadine · Senior Member

Hi Nikki - good idea!!!

a) smoked negative
b) drank alcolhol negative
c) ate a healthy diet yes for sure!
d) treatment outcome EVR and SVR

CeeGee2 · Guru

Hi again,
a)Had stopped 4 years prior to first tx. Restarted about new years after relapse. About+-10 a day.
b) Haven't drank for 8 years, stopped as soon as liver damage from Hep showed.
c) Allways ate healthy , but not at regular times.Not a fast food eater, Been on a liver protecting diet +- 10 years, designed by dietician.
d)Relapsed 2nd tx, around 8 weeks post. Undetectable week 17 -18 of 52 week regimen, presently week 23. Round 3 CG

nikki · Senior Member

Hey all,
I'm looking to see if there is indeed a link between SVR and how you manage your diet and lifestyle during tx.

Please list whether you

a) smoked
b) drank alcolhol
c) ate a healthy diet
d) treatment outcome

thanks

Nikki xx

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