Hep C Discussion Forum

Brian1412 · Guru

RE: got a ?!!!!! bout alcohol

Tig · Admin

Cheers!!

Tess1971 · Member

Wow..I personally am looking forward to having a glass of wine with Thanksgiving dinner this year since by them it will be over a year post treatment. Of course, I will be sure to have my blood work checked prior first.

boostm3 · Member

Tig56 wrote:
Hello Hepper,
Welcome to the forum. I'm glad you have managed to achieve your SVR, I believe that you risked a lot of time and money to find out that you are indeed fortunate. While you have achieved what many are unable to even access, let alone afford, I think condoning the use of alcohol during treatment a poor recommendation. At least in my opinion. It's a damaging substance being poured into an already damaged liver. It is well documented that consuming alcohol while you are HCV active, is akin to pouring gas on a fire. I would've at the very least given it a break during treatment.
I think you're right though, God was looking out for you. That and you were very lucky. I would be interested to see your Fibroscan. Something doesn't sound right. I would recommend a repeat test before believing your level of fibrosis went from an F3 to F1 in the first 6 months after EOT. Especially since you consumed wine, beer and spirits all the way through treatment and beyond. I fail to see how your liver could have even began to heal during or after that. F3 is advanced fibrosis, it can take years to resolve, if it even does completely. I guess stranger things have happened before. I'm just not aware of any.
I wish you and your brother all the best. Good luck...

Hi Tig, weve had this discussion in one form or another on the post treatment forum.. All I wanted to say here is that I dont think there is any evidence that occasional light drinking on special occasions, for instance, (of course much hinges on the definition of light) is like 'pouring gasoline on the fire' any more than a fatty meal, a sugary meal, or tylenol. Regular moderate to heavy drinking however is a different story. And we must remember, not every HCV patient's liver is damaged.. .Lets remember that 70-80% of hcv patients live long and symptom free lives, and die of something else... Im not saying people with HCV should drink; only that overstating the case doesnt help, in my opinion.

-- Edited by boostm3 on Sunday 31st of May 2015 08:24:26 PM

-- Edited by boostm3 on Sunday 31st of May 2015 09:57:30 PM

-- Edited by boostm3 on Sunday 31st of May 2015 10:42:44 PM

Tig · Admin

Hello Hepper,

Welcome to the forum. I'm glad you have managed to achieve your SVR, I believe that you risked a lot of time and money to find out that you are indeed fortunate. While you have achieved what many are unable to even access, let alone afford, I think condoning the use of alcohol during treatment a poor recommendation. At least in my opinion. It's a damaging substance being poured into an already damaged liver. It is well documented that consuming alcohol while you are HCV active, is akin to pouring gas on a fire. I would've at the very least given it a break during treatment.

I think you're right though, God was looking out for you. That and you were very lucky. I would be interested to see your Fibroscan. Something doesn't sound right. I would recommend a repeat test before believing your level of fibrosis went from an F3 to F1 in the first 6 months after EOT. Especially since you consumed wine, beer and spirits all the way through treatment and beyond. I fail to see how your liver could have even began to heal during or after that. F3 is advanced fibrosis, it can take years to resolve, if it even does completely. I guess stranger things have happened before. I'm just not aware of any.

I wish you and your brother all the best. Good luck...

redhepper · Newbie

Hi All- I feel i need to post my experience with drinking alcohol with hep c, on treatment and now after. I am SVR 6 months post my last TX ( Sovaldi/olysio/riba) - I have been drinking alcohol the whole time - not tons but moderately. So did my brother who is also SVR post 6 months. Not only am I svr but today I had a fiber scan and my liver has been getting better - I was stage 3 at one point and now I am stage 1. I have come to the conclusion that while alcohol does not interfere with treatment and that while it may not be the best thing for the liver it most certainly is not the worst. I feel I had to write this because of all the people feeding the fear that a drink of a few will stop the TX from working or that a few drinks is going to push you to cirrhosis. Aside from doctors knowing that alcohol is hard for the liver to process -I do not beleive they have any real evidence about it's effect on the disease or its progression - only assumptions. Anyway- Thanks to GOD I am cured and my liver is healing and I have been able to enjoy wine beer and spirits throughout. I wish everyone an easy recovery.

Isiscat2011 · Guru

kiwi wrote:
what goes on tour, stays on tour. lol

I saw the cutest diaper commercial a few days ago. A couple of toddlers jumping, bending, and moving about in diapers. The slogan:

"What happens in diapers, stays in diapers." yawn

kiwi · Senior Member

what goes on tour, stays on tour. lol

Captain Over · Senior Member

Isiscat2011 wrote:
P.S. One glass leads to three and the next thing you know you are sucking back shots off of some stripper's belly in Vegas. I know this has happened to you too, Captain. lol

Thanks for the laugh . . . . . biggrin

But I thought we agreed that story was goiing to "stay" in Vegas? evileye

Sed3 · Veteran Member

Isiscat: "The Greeks had it right when they enscribed "Everything in moderation" (translated) at the Temple of Delphi"

The Temple of Delphi is absolutely amazing, as is the whole complex. It's one of the top 2 important places in Greece. EG: the reason the Parthenon is on the Acropolis is that the Oracle told them to put it there.

Delphi was the center of the world to the Greeks. See it - it's 2-3 hours from Athens. Spend the night.

Sorry, had to interject that. wink

-- Edited by Sed3 on Monday 13th of February 2012 02:05:40 PM

-- Edited by Sed3 on Monday 13th of February 2012 02:12:12 PM

Isiscat2011 · Guru

P.S. One glass leads to three and the next thing you know you are sucking back shots off of some stripper's belly in Vegas. I know this has happened to you too, Captain. lol

Isiscat2011 · Guru

I agree with you Captain, under normal circumstances. The Greeks had it right when they enscribed "Everything in Moderation" (translated) at the Temple of Delphi. Also, what is the point of living if we must live with no pleasures?

Having said that, the hep c virus creates abnormal circumstances in our bodies. What might be moderate drinking for a high functioning liver could be catastrophic for a poorely functioning liver. And, alcohol lessens inhibitions so 1 glass of wine can more easily lead to 2 or 3.

I think these are some of the reasons people have strong feelings about the subject. The sensible thing seems to be erring on the side of caution when advising others about alcohol use and in our own actions.

Tio · Member

I know of a clean and sober friend of mine that was cured with standard tx plus Incivik. Within a year of his cure, he told me he was being treated again. I asked why, and he confided in me that he had accidentally reinfected himself during a relapse with street drugs and hanging out with the wrong kinds of people. I am sure there must be other cases like this, so maybe this is one reason we sometimes hear of ppl needing to be treated again.

Captain Over · Senior Member

I'm not sure why this subject is so polarized . . . . There is a HUGE difference between having a glass of wine or two and Heavy Alcohol Use/Abuse.

Moderation is the key, folks. If moderate use doesn't work for you, then don't drink. . . .

FWIW, I stopped all "fast food" 20 years ago. I think my liver would rather have a glass of wine than a Big Mac or a 32-ounce Pepsi filled with high-fructose corn syrup. doh

-- Edited by Captain Over on Sunday 12th of February 2012 04:39:52 PM

Shaun · Senior Member

One last thing on this subject.

My nurse practitioner told me that achieving SVR means the virus is completely eradicated. When I asked her why they don't call it cured, she said it isn't medically considered a cure unless the success rate is 100%

I knew this when I posted earlier, but brain fog makes it hard to recall details.

Isiscat2011 · Guru

I thought the same thing, ordinary, but wouldn't you know some university geeks actually studied this (fortunately for us). The alcohol is retained and the percentage retained depends on the mode of cooking, e.g., baking, boiling, flam baying, etc. It is retained at up to 85% as I recall. Wikipedia had some good info on this.

ordinary · Member

Isiscat2011 wrote:
I wasn't a big drinker before being diagnosed (in March 2011) but I did cook with wine, sherry, and various liqueurs regularly and I sure miss that. I used to make this chicken and mushrooms in a wine sauce (from Julia Child's cookbook) that was killer and my favorite marinara sauce called for a substantial helping of white wine as well. Had to learn some substitutes and omit a few recipes from my repertoire too.
Booze won't bring the virus back but it sure isn't good for your liver. From what I understand the liver can rebuild somewhat over time but it still seems like a bad idea to use alcohol even if SVR is achieved.
Wow, I finally found the spellchecker. Excellent.

I still cook with wine. I thought the alcohol disappeared at high temperatures and you still benefit from the flavor.

Steve-o · Senior Member

Alcohol? Don't do it, Won't cause Hep C, but makes it much worse.

After TX? Your Call, but 100% Inadvisable.

Isiscat2011 · Guru

I wasn't a big drinker before being diagnosed (in March 2011) but I did cook with wine, sherry, and various liqueurs regularly and I sure miss that. I used to make this chicken and mushrooms in a wine sauce (from Julia Child's cookbook) that was killer and my favorite marinara sauce called for a substantial helping of white wine as well. Had to learn some substitutes and omit a few recipes from my repertoire too.

Booze won't bring the virus back but it sure isn't good for your liver. From what I understand the liver can rebuild somewhat over time but it still seems like a bad idea to use alcohol even if SVR is achieved.

Wow, I finally found the spellchecker. yawn Excellent.

ordinary · Member

I am under the impression that your liver will heal itself once the virus is gone. I look forward to getting my life back after treatment-- maybe a glass of wine now and then.

ordinary

LadyAlaise · Senior Member

wink THanks for the clarification on that Shaun! Makes more sense now.

LanaiSurferGirl · Senior Member

Thanks for the clarification....I guess we will start seeing people post if they achieved SVR from triple therapy in June....that will be interesting to see the stats come in.

aloha!

Shaun · Senior Member

LanaiSurferGirl wrote:
I am finding conflicting information on here. I was under the impression that physicians don't like to use the word "cure" with hep c because it can still hang out in one little cell in your body and start replicating again even after you have been undetectable.
Some of you on here have heard differently in that once you are undetectable, it will not come back unless you are infected again. I assumed I would need to go for blood tests every 6 months or so to make sure it doesn't come back. If the later is true then why are people who have treated and cleared the virus needing to do treatment again?
Don't get me wrong, I am not meaning to be negative....just cautious and want to make sure that if this thing does come back that I knock it down fast!!

aloha!

Undetectable and SVR are not the same thing. I was undetectable at 4 and 12 weeks. I might still be undetectable after 24 weeks, that does not mean I have achieved SVR.

If you are are still undetectable 6 months after treatment ends, that is the medical definition of SVR. At that point the relapse rate is below 1%. If still undetectable a year after treatment, the relapse rate is 0%.

saxman · Member

I think you are right!

LanaiSurferGirl · Senior Member

I am finding conflicting information on here. I was under the impression that physicians don't like to use the word "cure" with hep c because it can still hang out in one little cell in your body and start replicating again even after you have been undetectable.

Some of you on here have heard differently in that once you are undetectable, it will not come back unless you are infected again. I assumed I would need to go for blood tests every 6 months or so to make sure it doesn't come back. If the later is true then why are people who have treated and cleared the virus needing to do treatment again?

Don't get me wrong, I am not meaning to be negative....just cautious and want to make sure that if this thing does come back that I knock it down fast!!

aloha!

saxman · Member

My best friend would not stop the drugs and alcohol, It had to be the worest way to dye so slow, He drowned in his own fluids. He was 46 it's been ten years, I still miss him. Its not worth it! If you have Hep c or have Hep c it's not worth it to have a drink.

TazKat · Senior Member

agree Hepme!!

Hep Me · Senior Member

Hi TazKat, I'm with the others. I don't believe alcohol will bring back your hep-c but it sure could do a number on your liver that's probably still trying to recover from the disease and tx.

TazKat · Senior Member

yea. i was just curious as the question came up alot & i was like well? does it does it not? lol i love being clear. will be on interferon & riba til sept.. headaches achey may as well buck up to that too, like i did the incivek. if i can do the incivek, & survive, then hey.. I can do this til sept.. smile

missycat · Senior Member

Hi ya, yeah my nurse told me she wouldnt start me on treatment untill i stopped drinking completely, as its a waste of time and money putting you though tx if your drinking which of course makes perfect sence,she also said do the tx! if you want to go back to drinking after thats your call but lets clear the hep c. ( i havent gone back to drinking).

I found it easy to give up the drink in alot of ways,because i became totally focused on clearing the hep c.

my nurse also said the only way the hep c would come back now is if i got re infected.

hope that helps smile

Shaun · Senior Member

TazKat wrote:
thank u!!!! the way ppl made it sound u could get ur hep c back from alcohol.. but u didn't get it there in the first place.. well in my case.. thanks for clearing my fog!!!!

I had a discussion with my nurse practitioner about what SVR really means. I had always thought that it meant the virus was beaten back to such a low level that your immune system could handle it. Apparently this is not the case. She said that achieving successful SVR meant the virus is completely eradicated.

The reason I asked her is because a friend of my sister was treated successfully for Hep C years ago. Apparently she started partying again and two years later the virus came back. I had assumed it was from the partying and drinking.

My nurse said that this girl was stupid for thinking SVR means 'All clear for partying' because her liver was damaged, but that is not what caused her reinfection.

She said the only way she could be reinfected after successful SVR was through sharing blood. She said the girl must have shared a needle with someone who was infected.

Long story short, drinking after successful SVR will not bring the virus back, but you are playing Russian roulette with your liver health.

I have a friend who has had Hep C for a loooong time. He wanted to treat it, but could not stop using drugs and drinking, so they wouldn't take a chance with him. He now has liver cancer and one year to live.

This is serious business. It should be treated as such before, during and after treatment. We need to protect our new lease on life.

TazKat · Senior Member

thank u!!!! the way ppl made it sound u could get ur hep c back from alcohol.. but u didn't get it there in the first place.. well in my case.. thanks for clearing my fog!!!! smile

TazKat · Senior Member

I can't find the post where after tx someone wondered would it be ok to perhaps have a glass of wine.. i think (not sure) that someone responded that it could mazke the hep c come back?? that puzzles me because i got hep c from a dirty needle in the 70's.. infected blood.. guess i am misssing something? i know u can can get alcoholic hep? but that would be a full fledged alcholic? for years? i was just totally curious!! confuse

Greg · Guru

Hi TazKat,

This question has been asked quite a few times, the simple answer is if you drink you increase the risk of liver diseases/cancer/fibrosis. With HepC your liver is damaged already any extra stress on this wonderful organ is not advisable.

I used to drink quite heavily as well, now that I've finished tx I don't drink anymore even though I'm a non-responder my doctor advised that my liver is better than it was before tx, but if I drink my levels will rise again and I run the risk of liver cancer. Simple choice, but god I'd love a drink but don't.

Again this would be different for each person, one glass of wine maybe ok for one person but not another. If you have a good relationship with your medicial team talk it over with them.

Hope this helps,
Greg

A older study can be viewed here:

https://www.thieme-connect.com/ejournals/abstract/sld/doi/10.1055/s-2004-832942

-- Edited by Greg on Monday 23rd of January 2012 09:35:35 PM

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