alcohol and liver enzymes

[faris]

hello
well i know that drinking alcohol raises the level of enzymes in the liver.as am a frequent drinker,my question is how many days i should stop drinking before by blood test so that it does not show a high level of enzymes (ALAT,Gamma...etc)?,in other way how long the enzymes stay elevated after drinking and what can help them go to normal beside stopping alcohol? am on (truvada/reyataz/norvir).

thanx all

faris

[Ann]

my question is how many days i should stop drinking before by blood test so that it does not show a high level of enzymes

Hi Faris,

So, you want to know when you need to stop drinking so you can fool your doctor so you don't get told off about your drinking?

I don't know the answer regarding the timing, but I do know this. You might fool your doctor, buy no way are you going to fool your body. You need your liver intact mate. It's up to you.

Ann

[anniebc]

Small amounts of alcohol within 24 hours of your GGT test will cause a  increase in your GGT tests..but if your levels are high because of your drinking then abstinence just prior to your tests are not going to make any difference..if this is the case then all you can do is have your tests and do as the doctor orders..he will probably tell you to stop drinking or to modify your intake, depending on how high your levels are..if your levels are high mainly because of your drinking then I would cut back and get your liver sorted out..as Ann said you don't want to mess around with this


Jan

[jack]

I drank every day(and night) of the week and never showed anything in liver test.  Some HIV meds have severe sides if you drink alcohol. crix and vodka put me in the emergency room twice.

[Eldon]

Hello Faris,

Jack has hit the nail on the head with this one. By you taking anti-viral meds you should seriously consider to stop drinking period. It will take a hell of a load off of your liver. They just don't mix well with Alcohol.

I wish to extend to you a warm WELCOME here at the forums. Here you will find the encouragement, communication, understanding, support, some cries, some laughter, and many of your questions relating to HIV/AIDS answered.

We have a great group of Real people who will listen as well as answer you. Feel free to come and vent with whatever is on your mind from time-to-time.

In the interim, Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy and avoid processed foods, saturated and trans fats. This will also help you maintain a healthy weight.

Exercise at least three times per week for a minimum of 30 minutes.  Again, Welcome!

Make the BEST of each Day!

[faris]

not at all.
am not trying to fool my docotor,its just that everytime i make a blood test my enzymes are abit high,am just trying to quit so that the doctor knows if the increase is due to alcohol or due to the meds i take (truvada/reyataz/norvir).   

[Ann]

Hi Faris,

Ah, now you tell us! Your best bet would probably be to quit for a few weeks - or at the very least cut right down to only a couple drinks in a week. It takes a fair amount of drink to raise liver enzymes all on it's own, but you may well be looking at the combination of your drugs and the alcohol.

If you haven't already been screened for both heb B and hep C, you should ask your doctor why not. While it is often standard proceedure to test for hep B, far too many doctors seem to forget about hep C. According to a post made today by Peter Staley, "Between one-quarter (25%) and one-third (33%) of all HIV-positive people in the United States are infected with HCV."

Good luck finding out the cause of your enzyme trouble.

Ann

[faris]

thanx Ann

faris