Alcohol

Can I just ask if anyone actually still drinks alcohol, since diagnosis??

[Faybrey]

Hi Vegasgal611, I stopped drinking alcohol completely as already had cirrhosis when diagnosed. I didn’t drink often so it isn’t a problem thankfully 😅!

[PBCRobert Partner]

Lots do. Lots do not.

The diagnosis is not as important as how much fibrosis is in the liver. Obviously, the more there is the better it is not to drink.

[Hidden in reply to PBCRobert]

Thanks, I'm seeing consultant next week, guess I'll know more about the state of my liver then!

[ninjagirlwebb]

I have a drink every now & then. Very infrequently...at most like 1 glass every month if that much. Hep told me it was okay. I don’t drink more than 1 glass.

[Textile10]

I was diagnosed 5 years ago, thankfully no fibrosis yet. I have a glass of wine every night with dinner, never drink to excess, specialist said this was fine.

[Han73]

I might have a drink every couple of months nothing in between, not a big drinker anyway so I don't miss it.

[AmandaSlater]

My consultant (uk) said just stay within the daily recommended units the ,same for people without PBC.

[Gioielli]

Non at all for past 9 years.

[Hidden]

My gastro said "Avoid alcohol" and I did for several years, but I am reliably informed that, if no fibrosis, a safe amount is just that, safe. Aside from the substance itself, the place it held/holds in my old life was/is important and was a real loss, cause of sadness. So it was a big deal, even for me, a small drinker.

I plan ahead now and decide that I will have a glass of beer or wine. (I had a Guinness on St Patrick's day, an IPA after a walk with friends, and a glass of wine at Christmas Breakfast so not much in 4 months and I could "avoid" it but no need to.) What I truly miss is having energy whenever I want it. This is a heart-aching loss of the moment, of now, whereas with 'cake and ale', the attraction to them is just to happy memories associated with them. What about you? How do you manage this, and how do you feel about it?

[Hidden]

Thanks for responding! I have always enjoyed a drink, vodka and beer being my drinks of choice. I miss the fun I used to have down the pub. I'm not sure if I have any symptoms other than itching off and on. My shoulders often hurt, I get where I have to sleep, sometimes I get constipated but these could be unrelated. In fact if something happens I often wonder if it's my PBC causing it! Who knows. But I'm living my life, having fun, we never know what life has in store for us! My dad died at 60 (heart failure!) My sister is in a care home with MS and dementia she's just made up 60, so.......at 55 I'm doing everything I can whilst I can x

[Tigger858 in reply to Hidden]

Quite right, life’s too short x

[Hidden]

Sounds like you got a good plan in place!

[Balloch58]

Hi, I still drink, mainly wine at the weekend. I had a fibroscan 10 years ago and it was good. My Consultant said a glass of wine would be fine.

[LindaVillanova]

My hep doc said now and then is ok so wine or beer special occasions , vacations ... no problems afterward

[Vivaldii]

Stage 3 so I stopped drinking entirely

[Aracel]

No I don’t. Even if the doctor says it’s ok.

The liver is already compromised why add more strain to it

[Debbiem40]

Never been told not to!

[Hidden]

Really??

[InvisibleGirl]

Even a half of glass of wine started giving me a hangover. So I quit drinking 16 months ago and haven’t looked back. I don’t miss those awful hangovers one bit.

(Suspected PBC, not diagnosed yet).

[Tigger858]

Yes I do, however, I’ve never been a big drinker therefore it’s infrequently but if I feel like a drink then I have it 🥂

[Pamcakes718]

Recently diagnosed...stage 0-1. I still do have some wine on the weekends but I’m much more conscious of minimising effects. I drink a ton of water if I’m having wine. If I have an event during the week where I normally would have had a drink or two, I’ve cut that out. I feel like everything in moderation.