I’ve been recently diagnosed with PSC. I’ve had an ultrasound, CT scan, MRI/MRCP and ERCP to confirm diagnosis. I have no symptoms. I’ll be having MRIs and blood work down the road to assess the progress of the disease. Do I need to give up drinking alcohol entirely? I’m a moderate drinker. At the most I’ll have one or two drinks weekly. Since my diagnosis a few months ago, I haven’t had any alcohol. I would like to return to moderate drinking as long as I continue to have no symptoms. Any thoughts on this?
Phyllis,
It is not recommended to consume alcohol with liver disease. I know some do here in the forum, but your liver is already in a great stress with the strictures that are forming in the bile ducts that will end up killing cells in the liver over time that depending on the severity of your disease will lead to full blown cirrhosis. I think anything proactive you can do now will pay off later when things get worse. When I was diagnosed in 2011 Vancomycin was not something that I knew about so by the time I had my transplant in 2015 my liver was fully cirrhosis and I had a MELD score of 36 when I got my transplant. And I had never consumed alcohol before or after transplant.
Mark
PSC 2011 / Transplant 2015
Hello Phyllis. My name is Mark also. I think you will find that most on this board Do not recommend drinking. I was diagnosed with PSC How about 7 years ago. My progression has been incredibly slow to almost not progressing at all. I believe each case is different and if you show any signs of cirrhosis, You should not drink! I would definitely consult your liver doctor.
My liver doctor said it was okay for me to drink very moderately, but as soon as she saw any sclerosing she would ask me to stop. I have no symptoms, and all of my blood work is in check. I take a UC medicine only as preventive medicine. I live a very healthy organic diet, and a purposeful life. I eat anything green that I can find.l!
Lord willing I will not live my liver…
Phyllis,
Like the Marks above, I do not think it is a good idea. For myself, my wife would kill me.
A long time ago, I had some punch that after three or four sips, I realized it had champagne in it. So I put it on a table and did not have another sip.
Why tempt anything? I respect too much the fact that I am on my second liver to take any risk.
Jeff
Thanks for your replies. I think part of me feels that my diagnosis was a mistake and that I can live my life as I always have. I guess not.
I’m new to all this, and to the group. I appreciate the support.
Phyllis, we all want our diagnosis to be a mistake. But yes, living your life (minus alcohol) is a great way to not let PSC define you.
Jeff