Hi all, I am newly diagnosed (2 months) but was likely infected with HCV 20+ years ago. Biopsy indicates Stage 1 so I am encouraged, and am considering treatment this year after educating myself more.
For now, I am struggling with something that [to me] seems very trite and stupid - giving up all alcohol - when I only consider myself to be a light, social drinker. I KNOW I have to abstain, and yet stopping has been harder than I anticipated.
While I only drank a few drinks a month (never alone, and not daily or even weekly) but partying with friends when we get together has been a lifestyle I enjoyed, as is my significant wine collection. It depresses me greatly, but I am making plans to give away a collection that I have been building and enjoying for many years.
So, on to the basis of my questions... I know all non-alcoholic wine and beer is NOT non-alcoholic. Generally <.5 of 1% is the legal definition. As most NA manufacturers point out, this is akin to the natural alcohol found in a glass of fresh squeezed OJ. Is that just BS or does the Doc just tell me to avoid it to be safe (that it won't lead to excess or other alcohol use)?
Well, if I decide for rx treatment (likely), I can commit to NO alcohol for the duration. I have given it up entirely at this point but only for six weeks now. If treatment is successful, is there any body of knowledge for resuming light to moderate alcohol consumption after the fact, even if just NA products, if the stage and function tests are good, and the virus is gone, or is it still too risky?
I am feeling completely deprived, but it may be some sort of transference for the larger loss and grief that I feel for having been diagnosed, or it may point to more of an alcohol-related problem than I think I have.
Really, I drank so infrequently before, I am surprised that it is occupying so much of my thoughts now. Anyone else experience this? I am going to check out anti-depressants that might help with this, but I do not want to deal with side effects that I have experienced before with past use (mainly sexual).
Are there any "TRUE" NA fakes out there with zero alcohol content?! Even the taste of a bad NA beer makes me feel so much better, and fools me into thinking things are normal. When I found out I had to give that up too, I got really bummed out (wanted to poke that darn doctor in the nose!).
Feel free to yell at me and tell me I am being ridiculous and just get over it - it's nothing that I don't already know! ;-)
Thanks, and glad to be a part of this group (albeit a reluctant member!).
Hi Robyn, I'm sorry, that you're having such a hard time giving up the alcohol. The truth is, you have to be at least 6 months alcohol free prior to tx. As far as the non-alcoholic wine and beer, I don't know. I have a friend that has completed tx 3 years ago and has drank the non-alcoholic beer, so I'm not sure about that. She's still undetected though. I also have a friend with cirrhosis, not HCV, but he's still drinking. The last time I drank alcohol, was Jul 8, 2002, the next day I was diagnosed with HCV. I had more trouble giving up smoking, which I did in Oct,02. If you're not smoking, you've got it halfway beat, even though, the alcohol is far worse on your liver. I, like you had a social life with friends that drank. Now, I'm not interested in going out with them. I see them having a good time and I'm a little jealous of them. I miss being silly like them, but I don't miss the alcohol. I do go out occassionally, because I love to dance, so I manage to still have a good time. I don't remember if it was this site or another, someone said a certain well known dr in NY was telling HCV'ers they were cured after tx and to go ahead and drink again. Everyone else will tell you different. Good luck to you, I hope you're able to abstain from alcohol...Stay here with this site and you'll find lots of replies...Take care...
Hi Robyn, and welcome! My doctor told me that I had to abstain from alcohol for at least 2 years before he would retreat me for HCV. I kept thinking that after I got "cured" that I would drink again. After already coming to grip with the fact that I am an alcoholic. Only after going to AA and realizing that I should never drink again did I decide to stay abstinate no matter what (since October 99). I too, managed to quit smoking (April 01). Quitting those 2 things has improved the quality of my life! 6 weeks is a LONG time without a drink. They say in AA that "it is not what, you drink, or how often you drink, but what happens to you when you drink." Remember, that I don't even know you, but It sounds like you might be a good canidate for AA. Please, don't take offense, but denial is common for us. Only YOU can decide if you really have a problem, maybe attend some meetings and see if you can relate to any of the stories. Life can still be fun without alcohol. I am living proof. In fact, I enjoy life more now than I ever have. I occassionally see a couple of my old friends, or go into a bar. I find that the drinking just turns me off now. I can see where it controlled me . . . I never controlled it. I was really just a prisoner to the obession to drink (in order to somehow fit in). I, personally, can not think of anything "fun" that I miss about drinking. And when I smell it, it just STINKS! Good luck in whatever you decide, Robyn. I don't know if I would give away the wine collection just yet. Don't think about it as quitting forever . . .quit "just for today". If you decide you really don't want to quit (and that you have made an awful mistake), the wine will be waiting for you . . . I promise. Please, don't take offense to anything I have said. I am just offering you a perspective, from someone who has been right where you are. Thank you for sharing your plight with us. Good luck in whatever you decide!
Hi Robyn. You sound like me when I first found out I had HCV. I liked my wine (Merlot), cold beer in the summer and dirty martini's.
I found out the the N/A beer does have enough alcohol in it to cause our livers harm. It doesn't have enough to make you drunk unless you drink like 12! but enough to aggrevate the HCV.
I've decided that even after treatment I will never drink alcohol again. I was developing a habit and the diagnosis stopped that in its tracks. I just don't think it would be worth it to me to drink again. My fear is that I would have one weenie little virus fighting its last fight in my body and the alcohol would be to it like spinach to Popeye.
You get used to being the only sober one or two at a party as time goes by and you don't miss it as much. Hope this helps and we are here for you!
Thanks all. Glad I found you because I know as I move forward with this and maybe into treatment this year, I will really need your advice and support.
Believe me, I take no offense at suggestions (AA or any other), and I am glad for your experiences and perspective. I don't think I am an alcoholic but even the fact I am having trouble with this does point to some kind of a problem that counseling could help. I have an appointment scheduled with Psych on referral from Dr, and I might get into some other counseling also. An AA meeting certainly can't hurt.
Interestingly, I never obsessed about alcohol before and when I did think of whether to have a glass of wine with the steak, I much more often than not decided not to. I'm sure that as time goes by and I get more distance from the initial decision to quit drinking, it will seem less important (I hope!).
Anyway, I will avoid even the NA drinks at least until I get this thing cured, and then I'm sure I will not return to the same drinking lifestyle after treatment (if it is successful). It does give you perspective when every time you take a sip (even the NA beer), that it is going right to the liver like a hot poker!
Well, if anyone hears of a completely NA beer, let me in on it! And in the meantime, I will stick to club soda with lime (oh, joy). Thanks a lot everyone, hope to talk with you again.
Are there ANY really non-alcoholic beers?! 
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