My husband went thru the interferon treatment for Hep C, he has gone back to drinking heavy what will happen?!
Question: My husband went thru the interferon treatment for Hep C, he has gone back to drinking heavy what will happen.?
He had six months to live when he was told he had Hep C in 2002. After some time in jail he quit drinking stayed sober and in May of 2004 he started the Interferon treatment. He survived it and his liver "healed". A year ago or so he started drinking again and now he is drinking all the time heavy. What is his chances of the Hep C returning.?Health Question & Answer
Answers:
First of all, the liver is still at half the damage that the hcv had done prior to treatment- so he still has liver damage.
Secondly- if there is any left over (undetectable) hcv viron activity known to harbor deep within the liver, he can relapse because alcohol is the worst thing for the liver and the best thing for hcv to begin replicating and having a party on the liver. So relapsing is definately a concern.
No one should resort back to drinking after treatment. What was the point of treating the liver if thats the case. HCV is damaging- but so is alcohol- whether you have hcv infection or not!
As a reminder, alcohol doesn't cause HCV, a virus does, but with the consumption of alcohol you can bet he is taking a HUGE risk in allowing the virus to return. Time for some antidepressants and therapy and if he refuses to do that, good riddens....jmo of course, you can do what you want- stay or go.
Best of luck to you!Health Question & Answer
Secondly- if there is any left over (undetectable) hcv viron activity known to harbor deep within the liver, he can relapse because alcohol is the worst thing for the liver and the best thing for hcv to begin replicating and having a party on the liver. So relapsing is definately a concern.
No one should resort back to drinking after treatment. What was the point of treating the liver if thats the case. HCV is damaging- but so is alcohol- whether you have hcv infection or not!
As a reminder, alcohol doesn't cause HCV, a virus does, but with the consumption of alcohol you can bet he is taking a HUGE risk in allowing the virus to return. Time for some antidepressants and therapy and if he refuses to do that, good riddens....jmo of course, you can do what you want- stay or go.
Best of luck to you!Health Question & Answer
Most people can rid themselves of Hep C with inerferon which means he cant catch it again just from drinking. However, his liver has been to hell and back through all of this so most likely not the healthy organ it once was. His drinking is very likely to damage it again very quickly. So, he doesnt really have to worry so much about Hep C, but he definitely needs to take care of his liver.
Tell him dying from liver disease is absolutely disgusting. There are better ways to go.Health Question & Answer
Tell him dying from liver disease is absolutely disgusting. There are better ways to go.Health Question & Answer
I am not sure if the Hep C will return but if he doesn't stop drinking he will definitely develop cirrhosis of the liver which will eventually cause liver failure. The only cure for that is transplant and to get a new liver you cannot be drinking.Health Question & Answer