Alcohol?

[jplitt]

I've read that PBC is not caused by alcohol. However, I know it is taxing on the liver. Just wondering....has everyone given up alcohol completely after diagnosis?

[Hidden]

i have a drink every once in awhile last drink was october 2017 my dr said one drink every two hrs but really should stop if u can

[ninjagirlwebb]

Pbc is an autoimmune condition & is not caused by alcohol. Depending on each individual’s progression, your doctor can advise you about the alcohol. My hepatologist is okay with me having a drink every now & then.

[donna01]

I don't drink and very rarely ever did. I always knew this wasn't caused by alcohol however people still ask me if I was a drinker. I hate they way they assume that due to the fact that this attacks our liver

[Biddyb in reply to donna01]

That's one of the main reasons the Chirrosis excuse spelling was changed to Colongitis excuse spelling again as soon as you explain to people the meaning of PBC you have been dealt automatically you are labelled a drinker.

[ILik3Pizza]

Our compromised livers don’t really like alcohol very much. That said, my doctor suggested that if I choose to drink I should go for the “good stuff”!

[Ballymahon2]

I gave up alcohol in october as soon as a got the diagnosis

[123PAT]

last drink i had was boxing day 2017 afraid it now upsets and causes tummy pain

[rlfulton]

I also was told a glass of wine every now and then is perfectly fine. But in that same sentence I was told the liver has to work just as hard to process high fructose corn syrup (soda) as it does a can of beer. It really made me look at all the ingredients in my food since high fructose corn syrup is in a lot of different items. I try to do everything I can to keep my liver from having to work to hard.

[Biddyb in reply to rlfulton]

I thought soda was just water with gas added?

[ninjagirlwebb in reply to Biddyb]

In the US, soda usually refers to sugary soft drinks like Pepsi, Coke, etc...Water with gas is usually referred to as sparkling water.

[boneytoys]

I stopped drinking for four years I was so traumatised by the diagnosis and that my specialist told me I wouldn’t make old bones !!!! She not my specialist now but 10 years on and with caution I do drink but generally not at home unless social Occassion..

[Evaibrahim60]

Hi jplitt, I was never a drinker, just the occasional one for family birthdays and not all of them just a little champagne or moscato. However I do believe if I had more than that I would be putting my liver in more harm! Did you ever try to ask a doctor or even a friend that have medical background?

[teddybear7]

I have it makes me so I'll. Different to a hang over. Just want to sleep for days on end. Rather get up & live life. I tried changing drinks & everything after 4 months I have it up as a bad job. Been t total 4 years in May. Do get a bit frustrated on nights out. They still don't cater enough for the non drinker. There's no wonder there's so many drunk drivers still. X

[happy-days71]

Hi Jplitt, at first diagnosis of PBC it's completely natural to cut out alcohol and anything that might cause additional stress to the liver, however, it's really important to remember that anything in moderation is okay providing you don't have signs of liver disease. Like many of these posts, my hepatologist is pretty relaxed about the odd glass of wine and that's how I view it. If I fancy a drink, then I'll have one, but not too often.

It's much easier now than when I first found out I had PBC because I was in fact a very regular social drinker and loved that side of my life. It's an adjustment that I thought would be really hard, particularly in social gatherings with friends etc. but now I find it fine and just go home when I've had enough.

Hope that helps you a bit!

[Debbiem40]

I was diagnosed in 2003 have never been told not to drink.

[Biddyb]

I have cut down from drinking a weekends and holidays probably well over recommend amount to just an odd glass of wine on special occasions and holidays don't miss it st all and hope it helps the liver. Anything toxic makes the liver work harder so healthy diet is as important too. Hope these answers help. Good health

[Jlruggie]

I have about 4 oz per week and my ALT is only 40-50 points above normal, the rest of my enzymes are normal

[ninjagirlwebb]

When I go to happy hour, depending on my mood, I’ll have a glass of wine or sparkling wine then just sparkling water with cranberry juice.

[mrspeffer]

When i was first diagnosed, i decided to do anything that would assist in delaying the dreaded outcome of this disorder. I gave up drinking for 2 years, and when I did have a drink, my body was not happy. I decided then that I would not drink again. That was over 15 years ago and I do not miss it at all. Body is happier, mind is clear. I figure, why put poison in my temple wjen everything else I do is so clean...

[tealmust]

I never drank unless I was on vacation or sometimes a margarita with mexican food but I did choose to stop completely after diagnosis. It is very hard to enjoy the rest of your life when you have to give up all the things you enjoyed doing to prolong your life. Seems like a catch 22 but for me I had to do it.

[FranSP in reply to tealmust]

Good for you!

[janetfolley]

Wouldn't worry I drink at least once a week my consultant told me a couple of glasses of red wine is ok

[mjk98]

I was only a social drinker but now I won't have anything not worth it but personally I don't care about alcohol

[My-life]

I dont drink. Its a personnel decision.

[Melanir]

My pbc was medically induced. Believe it was caused by my chemos. I've never been a big drinker but I did give up even my u occasional wine cooler. It didn't cause any effect good or bad. But you have to keep in mind everyone is different

[Maur22 in reply to Melanir]

I thought the same thing because it is hereditary and mine showed up after taking a medication. My Mom tested negative and Dad refused to get tested. He went into liver failure a couple of months back and low and behold he finally did the test. Positive. It is genetic.

[Teri8672]

Only drank on my

21st never drank again

[Catherine3883]

I have given up totally. I don’t want to put my liver through any more stress than it’s dealing with already.

[FairyFae]

I gave up alcohol 531 days ago... I'm not counting every day, I just have an app that tells me!

I was a regular drinker but decided to cut it out completely. I figured my Liver had enough going on, why irritate it any more than I needed to!

(The most annoying thing is that I thought it might also help me lose some weight but alas it did not).