Hepatitis C Support Group

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.

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How much booze is 2 much??

Robbiesgirl
Robbiesgirl
3rd time on tx. Last 2 didn't work (Hubby drank thru out the whole thing.) Yes he was under when doing tx but quickly escalated when tx stopped but drinking continued. Most recently he was under after 12 weeks (had stopped drinking 6 month b4), 24 weeks - under (no booze) He has now started drinking on the weekends (18+ beers/weekend). Thinks because he was under (with no booze) still will be. My Question: How much booze is 2 much? If results show still under next time (now that he's drinking again)?, is this a true result or will the virus just come back with a vengence once he's finished in Jan? He won't tell the dr he's back on the booze. Will try 2 talk with him again about it - he gets very angry. Just wanting 2 know if anyone has any info or suggestions. Thanks
deleted_user
deleted_user
Wow....all I can say is one beer is too much.. he needs to STOP.
deleted_user
deleted_user
One's too many and a thousand's not enough.

If you have liver trouble, any alcohol is too much.
deleted_user
deleted_user
If you are not serious about trying to get better it is best not to make a half ass attempt.
Treatment is very hard very expensive with no guarantee of success at the best of times but if someone can't prepare to give it a chance WTF is the point???
Sorry I sound angry here but it frustrates me when so many are trying to get better and can't.
Your hubby needs to get his alcoholism taken care of first before the next and very BIG step of treatment.
I wish you luck. Addiction is no picnic
deleted_user
deleted_user
As a last resort there is a Rx called Antabuse that is a pill taken daily that will make him feel very sick if he takes a drink.
http://alcoholism.about.com/od/meds/a/antabuse.htm
a1napadude
a1napadude
Well my G.I. said that if I drank AT ALL during tx she'd pull me off. Well no worries there. I don't drink anymore, haven't for years and years. Now for the reality part. I finished 24 wks tx. and was unde. 2 wks after........but relapsed 2 months later. I am not an "at risk" patient. I don't use, don't drink, and live a clean life,,,,,but it came back !
As for the drinking part, well I've been told by the Dr. that it lowers your chance of success. AND I was told that the chances of success diminish greatly with the severity of cirrhosis. IMO The odds for success are low enough, why the hell would you want to lower them even more ?
deleted_user
deleted_user
NO BOOZE AT ALL :)
oOoREBoOo
oOoREBoOo
Heavy drinking has a high percentage to awaken the dragon. His chances to clear the virus could be 40-60%, by putting booze into the mix, and being his third time, could make his chances as low as 10-30% chances of clearing, and he could clear the virus, BUT his chances are still high to have alcoholic induced liver disease.

Try googleing Liver, booze and hepc, or HCV treatment and drinking. Go do some searching and you will get the facts.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I am with Mosrite. What is the point. If he is not going to give up drinking I would not even do the treatment.
Robbiesgirl
Robbiesgirl
Told him just that...stop the meds, go back 2 work & be done with it. I take him 2 the dr. 4 hr. round trip. Hard 2 go in the dr office with him when he won't be honest with her. Have just had the above discussion with him. Now he's mad & not talking. Will keep trying...what else can I do??
deleted_user
deleted_user
IMHO
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.
I would just back off and let him find his way.
Sounds like you have tried to be supportive and caring partner but if he doesn't give a damn about himself he is not going to give a damn about you.
Back off and tell him you have tried but the effort has to come from him.
Maybe he just wants to drink himself to death which won't take that long.
Take care of yourself and don't let him drag you under when he goes.
Sorry harsh words but it seems that is the course he is taking.
deleted_user
deleted_user
He could suffering from depression as well and that is easy to understand after being on peginterferon.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Robbiesgirl... I feel strongly enough that a doctor should know everything that, if it were my H, I would tattle on him to the doc and then leave it up to the doc to talk to him about it. I certainly understand if that is not an option for you (depending on if it would make your H resent you or worse). But think about it... It's in his best interest to stop drinking or, at the very least, let his doc know that he is drinking so the doc can either get him into an alcohol program or antabuse or whatever it might take to help him. As Mosrite said...your H might be depressed and might benefit from an antidepressant.
dillytime
dillytime
any booze is to much booze..esp,if u already have liver problems..even if u become svr,,u should still abstain..i was sober for almost 2 yrs..i'm 5 1/2 mos post..haven't had my last bloodwork done to see if svr yet..i just came back from vacation and i drank 4 to 6 beers a night for 6 days..svr or not i felt it...not good either..i'm now 4 days beer free and feeling better.....esp..if were alcoholics already..the sober life is a wonderful life......
Cloudguard
Cloudguard
Booze + Hepc=death I don't mean to be harsh, There is much help out there for us natural and chemical, but alcohol dosen't figure in at all.
kittencaller
kittencaller
He's wasting his time and yours. All the doctors will point out that alcohol is absolute poison once you're done with treatment and they won't even treat you if you're still drinking so maybe the treatment plus alcohol makes matters worse!...? I'd refuse to drive him to the doctor unless he stops drinking. Why waste your own time? You may love him but he'll never get well doing it his way.