My sister has ESLD

I have researched this before myself because I like to cook with red wine, and my husband doesn't need any more alcohol than he already drinks. I know we're not allowed to reference a website here, I think the moderators will probably have to answer this one for sure, but I will tell you what I found out. It depends on how you cook with it, what you mix it with, and how long you cook it. For example, If you add alcohol to a mixture boiling on the stove and promptly remove it, then about 80% of the alcohol remains. But if you mix it into a mixture of other juices and bake or simmer it for say 2 1/2 to appx 3 hours, it is supposed to cook most of the alcohol off...I guess it depends on how she is using it, how much, and how long she is cooking it...Personally, If I was her I think I would avoid it all together especially for what she has already been through, but of course that has to be her decision.. I hope this helps and I'm sure the others will have much to add. Good Luck!

Thank you SadWife for replying to my post. I am sitting here so alarmed that she would even have wine in the house after what she just went through medically. It's just too tempting. She added the wine to tomato sauce for chicken caccitore. I don't know, but I don't think she cooked it for hours. Probably just long enough to add flavor to the sauce. She's been drinking for over 30 yrs. and only 1 month sober. I am heartsick right now.

Hello, Sisterhood, and welcome to the forum!  I agree with others about the alcohol.  If a person's liver disease is not caused by alcohol abuse (such as David's) there's not much harm in using wine in cooking if it's cooked long enough to burn off the alcohol (or most of it.)  However, for an alcoholic it's a deceptive move they're making...one that can lead right back to drinking alcoholically.  She may also decide to take a few swigs from the bottle...which would also put her back on the alcoholical abuse path.

When I drank, I used to put half the bottle of wine in the stew or soup or whatever...and drink the other half while cooking.  I've been sober now for 24 1/2 years and have never used alcohol in cooking in all that time.  I feel it's too much of a temptation...I don't even want it in the house!

Did they ever figure out what the vaginal bleeding was about?  That's never a good sign past menopause.

What is the plan for managing her liver disease now?  Is she seeing a hepatologist or a GI doc (at the very least?)

If she abstains from alcohol and eats a healthful diet, including low-sodium meals, she could possibly come back from the brink--if it's not already too late.  Has she had a CT scan or MRI of the liver?  If you are going to be involved in her life, even from a distance, you need to know exactly what is going on., or as much as you can ascertain.

Hugs,

Connie

Connie - She is seeing a GE. She had to have 11 transfusions in the hospital to get her blood platelets up. She is not that forthcoming on what meds she is on. She did not want anyone visiting her in the hospital. She said that would compromise her healing process. We think that she was just very embarrassed by the way she looked. Her friend said that she looked like she was 12 months pregnant with triplets! When I talk to her, she just says she is doing very well and staying on her diet. She says she will come up to see us in May - but we'll see. When we saw her last June, she already had the muscle wasting - stick arms and skinny legs with some fluid retention around her waist. Her eyes were yellow, and she wore sunglasses the whole time. She drank every minute she spent with us, and then spent the rest of the time in the bathroom throwing up. She would come out complaining that she was 'bleeding' and it was making her nauseous. Did it make sense to us - No - but she did complain of it even after she got home and thought maybe she had an ovarian tumor or some such thing. Did she go to the doctor? No - so we were kept in the dark. Before she went to the hospital, she was throwing up blood three weeks before. That's why she quit drinking and smoking because she was so physically ill she couldn't keep anything down. Her friend begged her to go to the E.R. then, but she wouldn't go. So her ascites got so bad so couldn't even walk and she couldn't breathe. That's the only reason she relented and went to the E.R.

Veteran - Yes, going to AA was on my mind too when she got out of the hospital because I felt that she may need a transplant down the road. But it was not to be this time. She lives by herself and has been independent her whole life. She functioned rather well for 30 + years as an alcoholic and managed to support herself. Just within the last 2 yrs. has she progressed to this bad state both with drinking more alcohol and failing physically. The difference in her appearance in one year time was shocking! We saw her in 2009 and she looked good. In June of 2010 is when she had the appearance of liver disease that I speak of in the above paragraph. Then 7 months later, she's full blown ESLD. We were surprised that they sent her home from the hospital. She seemed to be doing rather well until she admitted to me today that she is using WINE in her cooking. Since this happened 1 month ago, I wanted her to move up here to be with us, but she won't hear of it. She loves where she lives and is not moving. We don't have much say in her decisions. We just concentrate in keeping the lines of communication open.

Thank you all for replying to my posts. I e-mailed my sis and told her of the websites that have the alcohol substitutes used to flavor food safely. I also warned her of the hazards of using wine in her cooking in that it may induce cravings. I also warned her of more potential liver damage. She claims the cooking shows always say that the alcohol always burns off - but I told her it doesn't. I do know that it shouldn't be used when cooking dishes that will be served to children. All I can do is tell her. The rest is up to her. If she shows up to visit us in May, then we'll know she is abstaining from alcohol. If she starts giving us excuses, then we'll know she back to drinking. We'll have to make different plans at that point if that is the case.

Connie - I have read everything on this forum including what's in the hep resources. This forum has proved invaluable to me and also my family. You all do a great service. I'll be checking back frequently and I'll keep you posted. I wish you all the best. Thank you for coming to my aid today.

Connie already told you that drinking wasn't a problem for me. The day I was told I had Hep C, that was it. No more for me. I miss it, but only because, I'd miss anything I was told not to have. The woman I live with has a glass of wine many evenings. I cook with wine with some frequency and am not tempted to drink it. I know my life depends on treating my new liver with utmost respect, and I do. When cooking with wine, it should be added first, at high heat and the alcohol is burnt off, before adding other ingredients. The food tastes awful if the alcohol remains.

Yes - I agree Pink Grandma. With her diagnoses, I often wondered how she could travel in any way. She works out of her home, so she is lucky that she doesn't have to go to a job outside the home. But that is what got her into so much trouble with her drinking. Because she works at home, she just started drinking earlier in the day as opposed to waiting til 5 or 6 o'clock in the evening. I guess she became an "around the clock drinker" at that point. Those 2 years of working at home pushed her liver to the breaking point.

So many people who write here say this disease is a roller-coaster ride. I can see why they say this now.

Pink Grandma said...
Hi sisterhood. I totally understand your terror with her cooking with alcohol. She has not been alcohol free for long enough for her to put herself in temtation's way. Not to mention her not going to AA.


With all the symptons that she has had already.......don't be surprised if she can not come to visit you in May.......alcohol or no alcohol. Her health may not let her.



Take care of yourself........even if you are not caregiving the stress from the worrying is enough...........Thoughts and prayers........