So who still drinks?

I was curious to anyone willing to talk about it what amounts of any members here drink? Have most or all become completely abstinant from alcohol? Have some managed to drink socially here and there? Do some have the odd drink with dinner or at a cottage or special occasion? Again its personnal info so anyone who choses not to answer is totally understandable. Thanks all 😊

[Brett11]

I couldn’t have “just one drink “. It’s all or nothing with me. Safer to go down the nothing route for me.

[1football]

Hi

I haven’t drank for 3 1/2 years since being diagnosed with hep c,cirrhosis & HCC,I am now in a much better place thanks to my donor who is constantly on my mind(and rightly so)and my medical team so although I’ve been told yes I could have the occasional drink as mine wasn’t alcohol related I’ve decided I don’t need it in my life I can still have a great time and relax without it also I can jump in my car anytime night or day which is great in emergencies which happened only the other day.

What I’ve learned on here is we are all so different and when it comes down to the nitty gritty only that person knows whether they can have the odd drink if that person has a condition which is related to alcohol my question would be why would you

[Smyally]

I haven’t touched a drop since my cirrhosis diagnosis 3 years ago. I had liver transplant 23 years ago and didn’t drink for 4 years after. As my original reason for liver failure was not caused by drink (allergic reaction to antibiotics) I was advised that I could have the odd drink here and there and I have done occasionally over the years My liver became cirrhosis (more medicine issues) during 2015 and I am back on the waiting list for a new liver. Imagine how guilty I would have felt towards my original donor angle if I felt that I had caused the damage through drinking a lot.

I still go out and socialise, but I like soda and lime or a Diet Coke.

[Hidden]

Not everyone here has a drink problem. I myself suffer from a genetic disease which is terminal. In this day and age nobody bothers if you dont drink alcohol as many dont for health or work reasons. I just say I dont drink for health reasons if asked.

[Hidden]

Hello Phoenix, I take it that this question is directed at those who had been diagnosed with having a problem with alcohol in the past, or maybe those who have had a liver transplant, as a result of alcohol abuse. I know is some who drink alcohol if their transplant wasn't alcohol related, and after all why not, these are just social drinkers.

I personally will never drink again. Firstly because I don't want to , and secondly it is out of total respect of my liver donor, that I made a personal promise to myself that I would never do anything knowingly to cause harm or damage to this liver.

For most people who've had a drinking issue in the past, it's that addiction situation that always going to be there. A reminder of who we once were. Its a bit like those ex-smokers. After a while that cravings subside, and over time disappear altogether. These cravings are eventually replaced a complete loathing of even the smell.

There was an interesting comment in that recent television program that was on the other night, when this doctor turned round and simple said, if alcohol had recently been discovered in our modern day and age, it would become a banned substance.

Sorry, not sure if this helps Phoenix, good luck.

[pigeonCl-HU in reply to Hidden]

Richard64, I like the reason you gave why you abstain from drinking: out of respect for your liver donor.

You do well to protect this liver from harm, and by doing so, you also cherish the memory of the one who gave you a second chance of Life.

pigeon.

[Hidden]

I dont drink at all I took this stance as a total commitment from day one as the best way to stop drinking.

I will never drink again as I dont want to risk my new gift, and to be honest I am no longer keen of the taste!

I would love to find a adult non acholic drink to stop having the sugar.

[Belamie in reply to Hidden]

Try Schweppes Diet Tonic Water with lime. It looks like a cocktail, you won't miss the gin, and no sugar/calories.

[alfredthegreat in reply to Belamie]

or schweppes diet tonic with Belvoir fruit farm ginger cordial (Can find this in Asda,Tesco and Morrisons) with ice, lovely.

[666Devil-Dancer in reply to Belamie]

You definitely can taste the fact there is no gun and Schweppes is disgusting! Fevertree a better tonic and there are alcohol free additives available now

[AyrshireK]

As I understand it Phoenix you have a diagnosis of alcohol related fatty liver disease and have been worried about it escalating. If you continue to drink with this condition then you will have no hope of reversing the damage and will almost certainly get worse. If transplant becomes necessary or is an option then proven committed abstinence is required. A single drink in your case would be like throwing petrol on a bonfire - your liver is already at the point where damage is showing and why risk giving it more work to do in a continuing to assault it with alcohol?

As a loved one of a patient with advanced cirrhosis (despite being life long t-total) he would give anything to be able to stop or reverse his condition but sadly in his case that is not an option as he has an auto-immune form of liver disease which left him with late stage damage without ever being picked up.

You have the chance to heal your liver and it would be wise to do everything in your power to do so.

Katie

[Hidden in reply to AyrshireK]

No katie I dont have fatty liver disease. This was a question for a study I have been researching.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I had fatty liver but it has since resolved.

[Hidden]

Not a drinker... seen 1st hand what it does to you xx

[Porphyriamaniac]

I used to enjoy a few drinks with friends and family on weekends phoenix, never had what id call a problem with it. My gp never told me to cut it out even after fatty liver diagnosis, just to stick to guideline amounts!? I thought that was a bit mad and just proves to me how seriously they take fatty liver... I'm abstinent now as I've been told in no uncertain terms I have to be with my other condition, my body just wouldn't take it. I do miss a nice glass of wine I admit but I feel better for not having it. Xxx

[Hidden]

I think had I been a drinker and not seen alcohol kill my husband, reading some of the stories I've read on here, it would definately have stopped me drinking.

My love and thoughts are always with you all who have been affected xx

[Hidden]

Hey everyone. Thank you for the responses. My interest here was for a personnal study . It was not me asking if or not I could drink. I do not drink. Also was not implying that everyone got liver disease from alcohol. I was merly curious as the studies on it are vague and lack data of real peoples experience. So thought Id ask you lovely people to shed light on the topic

[mncold in reply to Hidden]

Hi Phoenix,

My husband is the one with liver disease. It was diagnosed as being alcohol cirrhosis.

Since he had liver and kidney failure in Nov of 2015 and was hospitalized then he has not had a drink. He has occasionally asked his liver doctor why they don't want people with cirrhosis to not drink [he has asked "is it because we are likely to over drink again?"] his doctor replied that yes, for those whose cirrhosis was probably caused by alcohol the main reason to not start drinking again is because it is easy to fall back into bad habits, but also the doctor said - once the liver is injured alcohol continues to add to the injury and cobtinue to make things even worse.

Husband's doctor is also head of the transplant department here. My guess is, given that, according to our liver doctor, alcohol is among the lowest causes of cirrhosis, the main reason for not drinking once the liver is injured badly enough is alcohol continues to injure the liver and not allow it to try to heal itself. For those whose livers are still functioning and doing some self-healing moderation in drinking may be okay.

I hope I haven't rambled too much and that I made sense.

Mary

[Hidden]

Smyally response was alot of what made me curious in the first place. About the progression and histiological effects of alcohol on ANY liver disease regardless of etiology.

[Kimlescam]

My husband had a liver transplant last year not for an alcohol related problem but has not and will not touch a drop of alcohol. Like others he feels it would be wrong to treat his donor's liver like this. He tries to make the most of every day as they are all a bonus to him.

[Hidden]

Hi.well i speak as a daughter/carer for someone whos had a long love affair with drink.

Basically hes gone from 1 litre of whiskey daily, (and a bit more), to abstinence for 3 1/2 months, to about 4-6 x300ml bottles/tins lager a day.

He'll tell you less, but im the one picking them up religiously counting them.despite years of battling,the booze and becomming very ill,hes still on it.

[Hidden]

Thanks for sharing again all. So it seems most (not all) who answered had a drinking problem or are a caregiver to a person who did or does as to how they got into a mess with liver disease. I would expect by the responses that noone has seen a patient who is able to have an occasional drink either by choice to a life of abstinence, Doctors advice, or failure to occasionally induldge due to an apparent uncontrolable relapse into alcholism. This has been educational thank you!

[Gordon99]

I stopped drinking four years ago. Now 11 months post transplant I have no intention of starting again. I’m used to living without alcohol and am often very happy to do so. Especially in the shower in the morning, no worry when driving, and I’m saving on paying lots of tax!

[Gordon99]

I should have mentioned that only once I fancied a drink but after half a glass I decided not to bother. I frequently go to the pub and buy a round, have no problem with others enjoying a drink. It’s just no longer for me.

[Kristian]

HI Pheonix,

I am a little confused by your conclusions. You state, "it seems most (not all) who answered had a drinking problem or are a caregiver to a person who did or does as to how they got into a mess with liver disease". I'm not sure I concur. From the responses above, those that have, or had, cirrhosis caused by a problem with alcohol are actually very much in the minority. It is also highly unlikely, that those that did have a transplant as a result of alcohol abuse would be willing to say on a public forum that they have returned to drink. You may therefore not have a representative sample for your study.

I think the only conclusion that could be drawn from the responses above, is that those that have had a transplant for whatever reason have, in the majority, not returned to drinking. Even for those that have been told that they can have the occasional drink, the majority of respondees indicated that they hadn't. I myself fall in to that category.

I was told to stop drinking alcohol when I was diagnosed with fibrosis. I stopped then and didn't have alcohol at any point right up until my transplant. It was no big deal. I didn't drink that much before. Post transplant I too was told I could have the occasional drink. I haven't yet bothered. Just not fancied it. However, if the sports team that I run win a cup and pop the champagne, I probably will use that as my special occasion and have a glass.

[Hidden in reply to Kristian]

9 of the 13 respondants had liver issues related to alcohol or care for someone who does or liver disease exacberated by it. Thats by no means the minority.. Noone said anything about a drinking problem . There is a ground in between teetoetaler and alcobolic. Thats more my interests and im not basing a study merly of this post. Further one would need to kNow the basis of my study to know if or not something meets criteria. Thank you for your response. You did not mention by what etiology you ended up with fibrosis.

[Kristian]

Hi Pheonix, I was merely quoting your conclusion. Having done a quick scan of the responses here, and a check on their earlier posts, it looks like 5 of the 14 had cirrhosis related to alcohol (not necessarily an alcohol problem, just related), 7 didn't and 2 where the cause wasn't entirely clear. However, from their earlier posts on this forum the indication is that neither of those were alcohol related.

I've included myself in the numbers now, hence the 14 rather than 13. My cirrhosis was caused by PSC. I stopped drinking when told to do so, but that didn't stop the progression of the disease. But, it wasn't likely to. Stopping drinking is not a cure for cirrhosis caused by PSC. What the stopping drinking does is reduce the potential additional injury the toxicity of alcohol can do to an already damaged liver. No point adding fuel to the fire so to speak.

Your conclusions though don't seem to relate too much to the question you actually ask in your original post. Perhaps that is why I may have got a bit confused in my response. Any way, good luck with your study. I'm sure you'll find many profiles and posts on this forum where people have continued to drink despite being told not too as well as many from those that haven't.

[Poobear69]

Hey 😊. Are you pre or post transplant?

[Hidden]

I'm currently nowhere near transplant status and I hope to never be but time will tell.