Hepatitis C and alcohol?

is there any chance of a female who got hepatitus C 15 years ago is given the OK to drink? (why would she contine) is there stages in hep c that arnt as volatile to the liver? she has also said that she is deffinantly not doing treatment. 2-3 glasses of red wine per night. help please -

thankyou 100% organic snark. i am sorry for your loss.
do you mind if i ask what symptoms and age your mother was. the female in my question is my 37yr old wife. im trying to find out if there is a 'window' period between symptoms and unfortunate failure. i appreciate your answer and understand if you choose not to answer

the dionysus study clearly showed that alcohol + hepatitis C raised the risk of cirrhosis 10 x and raised the risk of liver cancer 6 x. It is absolutely the dumbest thing a person with HCV can do! The second dumbest is tobacco or marijuana as both have shown to increase the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Alcohol's role is to speed up the progression of Hep C. I do not think it matters at what stage of liver damage a person is in. I will double check with our Infectious Disease doc who is with a patient right now....I will update this answer if I hear differently from him.

2 (standard) glasses of wine or 1 pint of beer a day will increase disease progression by 3 fold.

ANY alcohol is bad for an infected liver. It may take time, but it's BAD. My mother contracted Hepatitis C in 1974. She drank beer and wine coolers for the next 20 years. She died of liver cancer in 1994.

oh my god she is killing her liver.alcohol cause liver chirosis and also hepatitis do so alcohol with hepatitis is a disaster

,my grandmother only had a 5 year window, but she drank hard liquor, not wine. it could be that this is the only way that this woman can seem to cope, but you should stay after her every once in a while to keep the treatments. but, she is probably already looking at this as a death wish so she may have a hard time listening to you. don't nag her constantly, just every few days talk to her, give her hugs and the wine, to her, may seem to be taking some of the pain away although it is only causing more damage. show her things from the Internet about cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis and drinking and how there are possible ways to beat it. Good luck and God Bless you for trying your hardest to help this woman.

First of all, with HCV infection there is depression and/or other mental illnesses such as panic disorder. So many of those throughout the years "self medicate" because no medication will actually help the depression and/or panic disorder unless it's a medication prescribed that basically doesn't allow for a person to function.

Now that I have that out of the way, it is NEVER okay to drink alcohol or take other substances in regarding an abuse pattern. A doctor will NOT treat a patient unless they are clean and sober at LEAST six months.

I have seen many drink for years and die, some quit and stayed alive and others don't even do drugs (in the form of alcohol as well) and die anyway.

It is really up to the individual and the circumstances involved.

I can say this much. By consuming alcohol she is only creating an issue the HCV virus likes- by consuming alcohol, she is creating more damage to the liver (and other organs) as well as at a much quicker rate.

Your wife must understand that treatment is no worse than allowing the HCV to live within. Many fear treatment when infact, they should fear HCV!!!!

I tell all those who refuse treatment to at LEAST TRY IT. Once they decide to, they realize nothing is worse than all the secondary infections or bi-directional diseases. Most I speak with continue the course with the right pro-active medications such as an anti-depressant and/or an anti-anxiety med. They drink plenty of water, go in for check ups and get their support through friends, family and in-person or online groups.

I know more success in treating with antiviral chemotherapy and personally know no-one who has become sustained using anything else.

Your wife is in denial. HCV is not just a liver disease, but one like the game of domino's. When one domino falls, the others continue- the liver is infected, which means the blood supply to other organs carry the virons and eventually cause other organ failure.

I must add here that many who self medicated over the years, once treated and sustained had many symptoms relieved and never had to self medicate again.

Some diseases are not reversable with antiviral chemotherapy, but for sure, most of us with mental illness (addiction is one) can resolve if the person gives it a go and has a successful treatment.

I have heard that red wine has some good stuff in it, but it is unfortunately defeating the purpose since the liver cannot tolerate alcohol in any amount. It is bad enough what we cleanse with and wash our hair and rinse our mouth out contain alcohol.

Your wife needs an intervention. If she spoke to the correct people she may find she is no different than many of us. There is always hope, yes, but if she continues on like this, she can not just suffer from alcoholism, but suffer many horrifying issues many face when one has hcv and continues to drink.

It is not pleasant EVER to see someone die a very slow and painful, swollen death.

The worse news is you can do nothing to change her. However, if you can help her realize she is not just physically sick, but mentally ill too, maybe there is a ray of hope.

Again, HCV is MUCH worse than treatment. She may even have an easier to treat genotype!!!! (less time for treatment)

Regardless, antiviral chemotherapy is nothing- IF you adhere to the guidlines setforth for succesfull treatment..

I wish there was something else I could say. Sorry if I seemed blunt, but I only gave you the God's HONEST truth!!!

There is no window period with HCV- some it takes fast, others it takes decades and some just live with it until they die- (of other non-hep c related issues- which there are few- like car crashes ect.)

Hugs!