Question
I am HIV positive – can I drink alcohol or eat pork?
7 January 2017. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Starting treatment, Supplements and herbs.
Hello,
I’m 29 years old and have been HIV positive for almost one year. I have known about my status since December last year. I’m currently living in Germany due to studies and I would like return to my country (Mexico) at the end of this year. My questions are:
1) I have attached the results from the last analysis that have been done and I would like to hear your overall opinion on these and if I should focus in some particular issue.
2) I’m aware that between the last two analyses I went to a party and I drank too much alcohol (about 1.5liters) and I regret it. When you are not on therapy is the alcohol more likely to affect me than when I am on therapy? I mean does it decrease my CD4 and increase my viral load? I don’t want to drink alcohol anymore but it would be nice to know.
3) The Dr. suggested I should not eat pork. I am making big changes in my lifestyle (diet, exercise, etc) and I would like to know if it is possible to estimate when I should start the therapy? I’m worried since I don’t know if I’m going to stay in Germany or move back to Mexico. I’ll be able to know by the end of this year but not before.
My Dr. provided me with this website and I find it amazing with all the information that it’s available for us to learn about the subject.
I really want to thank you all for the great work you do!
Answer
Thank you for your question, and for the feedback – and for your doctor :)
I will try and answer your questions according to the numbers you have given above.
1) Firstly, we are not doctors but HIV treatment advocates.
Monitoring your blood tests you should focus mainly on your CD4 count, your CD4% and your viral load. If you have changes in your liver enzymes, cholesterol or kidney function tests then you would need to monitor those as well.
2) Drinking alcohol will not affect your viral load or CD4 count. T
Moderate alcohol use should not be a problem. It is your decision if you don’t want to drink anymore but it should be because it is what you want to do rather than because you are HIV positive.
The reason you may have been to told to avoid excessive alcohol is that excessive alcohol use can damage the liver. The liver is the organ that filters drugs from the blood so if the liver is damaged then the body has trouble with the HIV treatments.
However, an interesting study showed that HIV positive people not on treatment, might have higher levels of alcohol, (than on ART).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22495786
Also excessive alcohol use can mean that people on medication may forget to take their treatment. This can lead to resistance which means the medication will no longer work.
3. Being HIV positive doesn’t mean you need to change your diet – other than to a more healthy one. A more healthy lifestyle is good for lots of reasons but can still eat the foods your want, including pork. Perhaps ask your doctor the reason they said this.
4. Since 2105, HIV treatment (ART) in generally recommended for everyone, even at high CD4 counts. This means it is good for everyone to think about HIV treatment.
If there are practical issue that mean you cant get treatment for a short time, then if your CD4 count is very high (over 500), this is usually also okay.
Once on treatment your viral load should become undetectable within the first three months.
This Introduction to ART has lots more information.
This answer was updated in January 2017 from a Q&A first posted in May 2010.
I was asking if I can eat rib tips even though it’s pork meat. I’m 42 and I’m taking triumeq one pill a day at 12 p.m. also wanted to know what are the things I can eat like regular food or healthy food that you can send me some listings or even better off the listings and what can I drink that’s best for my body. Just found out this passed April 10th. That I’m HIV Positive. I screamed yelled and cried so
so so much.
Hi Victor,
As Charlotte says above, being HIV positive doesn’t mean you need to change your diet. And so there are no food restrictions with Triumeq.
Drinking milk, and eating cereal and pork meat is fine at any time. Please see this guide to a balance diet and your health.
I’m taking triumeq one pill a day at 12 in the afternoon when drinking milk with cereal do I have to wait for 2 hours or 3 hours after 12 in the afternoon it’s only 2% milk
I’m going to new years old I’m hiv-positive wanted to know if I can eat Rob tips. I know it’s pork meat. Can I eat Rob tips. Even tho it’s pork?
Hi Mnotho,
I’m sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. This can be a tough time for most of us. Have you started HIV meds yet? Please let us know what they are?
Yes alcohol doesn’t react with HIV meds. So it is safe to drink. But as Charlotte says here, moderate alcohol use should not be a problem. It is your decision if you don’t want to drink anymore but it should be because it is what you want to do rather than because you are HIV positive.
Here’s an introduction to HIV treatment (ART).
Hi I’m 20 years old and I was diagnosed with hiv this month. Is it safe for me to drink alcohol. If so howmuch and how often can I drink
Hi Paula,
Thank you for saying this. It’s good to know you have recovered, despite the daily struggle. Thanks again, and all good wishes to you on Christmas Day.
I have been HIV positive and diagnosed with full blown AIDS in 1997. It has been a daily struggle, but by the grace of God, I am still here today. Just wanted to thank web sites like this for raising awareness and answering questions for patients and loved ones.
Hi Benzito,
The frequency of viral load and CD4 testing is dependent on several things. 1, where you live. 2, if you’re on medication or not, and 3 how long you’ve been on medication for and if your HIV is under control.
Can you tell me where you live and if you’re on medication. If you are how long have you been on it for?
How many months do I have to wait before going for blood test in order to check my CD4 count and viral load? My doctor is telling me thst I should wait until after six months before going for another test. I just wanted to get another learned advice. I was diagnosed positive more than a year ago. My CD4 count, I was told by my doctor, is more than 800. Those are results of my last blood tests some four months ago. Please help!!
Hi Onyeka,
What is it that you’d like to ask?