Re: alcohol and Hep C

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/8/2004 6:15:58 PM Pacific Standard Time,

liamtel@... writes:

But she has told us its now gone, Our concern is, Can it just go? I

thought it was incurable, and the fact that she has a drinking

problem is also concerning us she has 8-10 glasses of beer a Day,

Sorry, Geoff, but your daughter-in-law is pulling your leg. Hepatitis C does

not just go away. Ever. It might go into remission, but I can guarantee it

sure as hell hasn't gone into remission given she is drinking that much! More

than likely, she has already stepped over the line with her drinking, and is

in alcoholic territory. It's far easier for her to try to convince you the

Hepatitis C has gone away than it is for her to quit drinking. Whatever her

thinking is, Geoff, she's in trouble.

If the others in the list don't provide the information you seek, please feel

free to get back to me directly. I have articles on Hep C and alcohol I can

send you. Good luck. It must be hard to watch what your daughter-in-law is

doing to herself.

(aka the Little Sis)

[Guest guest]

Geoff,

Hepatitis C, doesn't just go away. You have to do treatment. And

then you must avoid alcohol entirely. The virus just loves alcohol!!

It helps it repliacate at a great number.

Believe me, I love to have a glass of wine with supper. I loved

those fancy dancey drinks like pina coladas,and so forth. But no

more.

I just don't want to go out because I couldn't resist alcohol.

Frequently Asked Questions About Alcohol and Hepatitis C

WebMD, Inc.

People who abuse alcohol are seven times more likely to carry the

hepatitis C virus (HCV) than people who drink moderately or not at

all. Though the reason for this is unknown, an estimated 10 percent

of problem drinkers are infected with HCV, compared to 1.4 percent

of the general population.

About 30 percent of alcoholics who are diagnosed with liver disease

test positive for HCV antibodies. This suggests that alcohol use

increases the likelihood that HCV will progress to liver disease.

Most health care professionals who treat HCV-infected individuals

advise patients against alcohol use entirely.

Q. How does alcohol affect the liver?

A. Alcohol is a toxic chemical that is mostly metabolized by the

liver. When the liver metabolizes large quantities of alcohol over a

period of time, the cells of the liver can change. For example, the

cells may swell, scar, or die. These cellular changes can lead to a

variety of liver problems, ranging from an enlarged, fatty liver to

cirrhosis, accompanied by liver failure. The degree of liver damage

generally correlates to the quantity and duration of alcohol

consumption.

After repeated toxic insults from alcohol, the liver may no longer

function properly. It may have a difficult time producing materials

the body needs to be healthy, such as blood clotting factors, thus

making an individual more susceptible to infections and diseases.

Q. Does alcohol use affect interferon treatment?

A. Interferon treatment appears to be much less effective in HCV-

infected people who consume more than 70g of ethanol (the equivalent

of seven beers or seven alcoholic drinks) per day compared to those

who consume less or no alcohol.

Q. How can a drinker, especially a problem drinker, abstain from

alcohol use after learning he or she has hepatitis C?

A. Many people drink alcohol socially or to relieve stress. Mineral

water and fruit juices can be substituted for alcoholic beverages at

parties and social functions. Stress management techniques that do

not involve alcohol can be adapted, such as regular exercise, yoga,

or a meditation routine.

The transition from social drinking to problem drinking can be very

subtle, and sometimes people do not realize they have grown addicted

to alcohol until they try to stop drinking and find that difficult.

In the United States, approximately 9 percent of adult males and 4

percent of adult females are addicted to alcohol.

Q. How can an HCV-infected person with an alcohol addiction get help?

A. Tell your physician that you need help to stop drinking. Your

physician can provide referrals. Depending on the severity of your

drinking problem, you may be advised to enter a detoxification

treatment program designed to monitor and assist your withdrawal

from alcohol. These programs also evaluate your physical and mental

health, as well as any psychosocial, occupational, and family

stresses. If, for example, depression is diagnosed, an alcohol-free

treatment plan can be created to help you manage that condition.

There are also many social support programs available, which your

physician can tell you about. For example, Alcoholics Anonymous and

other national programs are designed to provide social support to

people committed to stop drinking.

The entire family can benefit from being educated about alcoholism

and adapting healthy, alcohol-free ways to communicate and deal with

stress. Social support programs, such as Al-Anon and Alateen, are

available to family members and friends of problem drinkers. These

groups are listed in the telephone directory.

Sources

The American Medical Association Family Medical Guide, B.

Clayman, MD, editor, Random House, 1994.

" Hepatitis C and Alcohol, " Eugene R. Schiff, M.D., a paper written

as part of a National Institute of Health Conference on Hepatitis C,

March 1997.

And yes a cold beer on a hot day just taste right. But my liver

says " No way Lady " we didn't go through 48 weeks of treatment for us

to be stupid. "

I have a article that I am adding.And I hope it helps. But the most

important thing is for you to get educated about the diease,so that

you don't be taken in about stuff like this.

From http://www.webmd.com

Love

Janet

> In a message dated 3/8/2004 6:15:58 PM Pacific Standard Time,

> liamtel@h... writes:

> But she has told us its now gone, Our concern is, Can it just go?

I

> thought it was incurable, and the fact that she has a drinking

> problem is also concerning us she has 8-10 glasses of beer a Day,

> Sorry, Geoff, but your daughter-in-law is pulling your leg.

Hepatitis C does

> not just go away. Ever. It might go into remission, but I can

guarantee it

> sure as hell hasn't gone into remission given she is drinking that

much! More

> than likely, she has already stepped over the line with her

drinking, and is

> in alcoholic territory. It's far easier for her to try to

convince you the

> Hepatitis C has gone away than it is for her to quit drinking.

Whatever her

> thinking is, Geoff, she's in trouble.

>

> If the others in the list don't provide the information you seek,

please feel

> free to get back to me directly. I have articles on Hep C and

alcohol I can

> send you. Good luck. It must be hard to watch what your daughter-

in-law is

> doing to herself.

>

> (aka the Little Sis)

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm going to throw in my little testimonial here. I went through

treatment twice to achieve success. Success with hepatitis C treatment

is less that 2% chance of relapse. I quit drinking ANY alcohol to

achieve success and I continue to abstain because that 2% part nags at

me about it.

During my first round of treatment I did not abstain from alcohol. I

did try to minimize it, keeping to a beer, a glass of wine, or a single

cocktail once per week. I did not achieve success. We should remember

that a 12oz can of 3.2% beer contains 11g of alcohol. A 4oz glass of

wine contains 14g of alcohol. A cocktail with a 1oz jigger of 80 proof

vodka contains 11g of alcohol.

Before I started the second round of treatment I quit all alcohol and I

have drank none since. I achieved success. Need I say more? If you

are serious about beating the virus, NO ALCOHOL!

Doug

> Q. Does alcohol use affect interferon treatment?

>

> A. Interferon treatment appears to be much less effective in HCV-

> infected people who consume more than 70g of ethanol (the equivalent

> of seven beers or seven alcoholic drinks) per day compared to those

> who consume less or no alcohol.