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’m In 32 yrs old having HIV for about 5yrs…Now I’m taking ART is it danger to drink alcohol while taking medication??? Such as Beer/Cocktail etc
Hi Monica,
There’s good news for you and for other couples in this situation. That’s because the PARTNER study showed no transmissions from anyone on HIV treatment (ART) with undetectable viral load.
Please see this guide to how to become pregnant when one partner is HIV positive and the other HIV negative.
Hi there
I have a question.
My husband is HIV positive while I am HIV negative. Is it possible for us to get pregnant naturally without my husband transferring hiv to me. We have gone to two Doctors and their feedback to us is that they cannot ensure that the virus will not be transmitted to me. Although my husband’s last test results showed his CD4 count was over 500 en his viral load was undetectable, were still remain unsure.
Hi Violet,
It’s good your viral load is undetectable. It shows that your HIV meds are working well.
But please talk to your doctor about any herbs or supplements you want to take. Some supplements can interact with some HIV meds.
Hi i am 43yrs old leavi g with hiv undetactable results. What i want to know is,i am drnking apple cider vinegar is it ok for me to drink it with my status
Hi,
It’s very possible that this is a lab error. If it’s possible please have another viral load test done.
It’s OK to take meds with warm water and lemon.
am positive under arvs which I take very well but my viral load shot up to 200 from undetectable, am wondering why or can it be because I like taking the drugs with warm lemon water. pliz help me
Hi Ijay,
It’s very possible that this is a lab error, or it could be that you’re viral load is just going to take a little longer to become undetectable. Though a persons viral load should ideally be undetectable within 1-3 months for some people it can take longer.
Hello, I got tested for HIV and the result was positive. My CD4 was 318. I was placed on arvs.i used my medication religiously. After 6 month my CD4 was above 800 but my viral load was 397. Does that mean the medication is working after 6 month? I thought I will be undetectable after 6 month
Hi Benjamin,
Do you have access to HIV treatment (ART) where you live?
People who are HIV positive on ART with an undetectable viral load can not transmit HIV even if they don’t use condoms. Please see Undetectable = Untransmittable here.
And please see this link to another Q&A about meeting other HIV positive people online https://i-base.info/qa/6473. It’s a good place to start.
If you have access to your viral load and CD4 results, do let us know. And also please tell us what HIV meds you are taking.