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Drinking alcohol and Crohns?

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Posted 11/17/2008 12:51 PM (GMT 0)
I am currently recovering from ostomy reversal surgery and I have no Crohn's symptoms at the moment . . . maybe because my colon was out of commission for 10 months?  Anyway, I am adding back foods very slowly to my diet to determine what may set off D and/or pain, etc.  So far, everything has been OK, except eggplant parmiagiane (sp?), which really didn't agree with me (some folks say that's because both tomatoes and eggplant are part of the nightshade family).

I was wondering about having a glass of wine again . . . does anyone have the latest info, or experience with drinking socially as a Crohns patient??  Thanks!

Posted 11/17/2008 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
I don't drink, but I have active bleeding.
Perhaps this is a doctor question.
Because it really depends on your medical situation like your meds...etc.
Posted 11/17/2008 2:21 PM (GMT 0)
.I dont drink either
Too many opites and other meds
Plus I am a sober alcoholic since 79
I agree ask your doc

Let us know what is said plz

LYN
Posted 11/17/2008 2:45 PM (GMT 0)
Personally, I cannot drink -- I can't even tolerate a little bit of wine. Not many things irritate my stomach like alcohol.
Posted 11/17/2008 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
Alchohol doesn't agree with me either. I think its just one of those things thats different for each of us.
Posted 11/17/2008 3:20 PM (GMT 0)

I like a glass of wine ect every now and then..I am on a long stent of flagyl for now so no alcohol for me..If I am flaring to the point the alcohol causes an acute burning sensation, I know not to drink for awhile..It will give me diarrhea the next day no mattter what..The holidays are coming and I would like a glass now and then at holiday parties and family events..I will have to play it by ear I guess..I am still trying to figure out how I long I need to cease the Flagyl before indulging..I have to make an appearance at the inlaws at Thanksgiving.

Cindy                       

Posted 11/17/2008 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
I personally don't have any problem with alcohol. I never have more than 1 glass of wine or 1 beer though.

Cindy, I think you can drink alcohol after only 2 or 3 days of stopping Flagyl. I took this last summer, and I seem to recall that's what the printout from the pharmacy said.
Posted 11/17/2008 3:38 PM (GMT 0)

I personally cannot drink hardly at all. I use to be able to drink a lot, without feeling sick. The last couple of times I have drank, i got real sick before the night was over, and i wasnt even drunk and didnt drink a whole lot either. Im thinking this has to do with what ever is going on with my tummy, and intestines and such. I have decided to not drink again, oh and the next day I pay for it as well, bad bad bad.

I would also recommend that you talk to your doctor, just in case.......

take care

kelly

Posted 11/17/2008 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
I do not drink at all. I am with Holyncat - recovering alcoholic, but only since 2002 :-)
Ironically, I did not get diagnosed with Crohn's until AFTER I stopped drinking. I guess my body went into shock!
Posted 11/17/2008 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
for me a beer or 3 doesn't bother me...but whiskey, my past love, haha is no good. seems to actually cause me to bleed the next day after a couple of drinks...so no more whiskey...
Posted 11/17/2008 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all of your posts and cautions!  I just saw my gastro doc today and he cautioned me to try one glass of wine and see what happens.  He did say that alcohol and coffee are the two big no-nos for most Crohnies.  So, if I have to forego the wine for good health, I will . . . . but I must say, I love a good Savingnon Blanc!!  Blossom (Peggy)

Posted 11/17/2008 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
I never have a problem with alcohol while drinking it, but the next morning I always have a sour tummy and D, but once I do my business Im fine.

Posted 11/18/2008 5:56 AM (GMT 0)
MAG I think that's just the cheap liquor you're drinking! hahahaha...just kidding
Posted 11/18/2008 6:53 AM (GMT 0)
I've come to find that alcohol only affects my CD when I'm in a bad flare, which at that point, so does water.

 

I agree with everyone that it is a person to person basis, seeing as I can drink Vodka as if it were water, but then again I'm Russian and I think it's in my DNA anyway.

 

I can't drink any soda or dark alcohols. Red wine, too. Anything with a high sugar content (rum, liquers, etc) also sets me off. Make sure it's not going to interact with the meds though. I'm sure it does with mine, but at this point I am stubborn and young, and I want to do stupid things in moderation.

Hope that you're able to enjoy at least ONE glass. I know I love my Pinot Grigio!

~Sonia~ 

Posted 11/18/2008 7:40 AM (GMT 0)
There have been studies done which showed that people with CD and UC have an immune system response to the Brewer's Yeast used to ferment beer. I found this info after being Dx and the years of wondering why beer made me so sick finally came to an end.

In the last ten ears, I've only drunk beer once and I paid dearly for it. That's the one thing I really miss. I wish I could have myself a few cold ones now and then.

I never really tolerated wine very well either and I suspect that some form of yeast in the fermentation process is the cause. White wine was far easier on my gut than red wine was and so on the rare occasion that I drank wine, I stuck to the white.

Just like any other aspect of this disease, we each need to try different things and discover what our guts will handle. I could polish off a bottle of rum with no trouble, but a 12 oz beer could wipe me out. Go figure.

I hope you can tolerate at least a glass of wine with your dinner.
Posted 11/18/2008 11:45 AM (GMT 0)
I can drink wine in moderation but any type of beer will give me problems. I always figured it was the yeast and sugars in the beer. I was careful though when I was on Pred or 6MP -- too many possible side effects.

Just a quick note, I know a man with CD who had a colostomy reversed after many many years and he has been doing well since. So good luck!
Posted 11/18/2008 1:00 PM (GMT 0)

Really interesting how different folks have reactions to different alcoholic beverages!!  So, I saw my gastroenterologist and he's really happy with my surgery results . . . I am now only on 6 Asacol per day and Humira so that my Crohns will not flare (I have no symptoms right now).  I had one glass of white wine last night and no problem!!!  tongue    So, I am a happy camper.  I do know that before my surgery I would have bad reactions to my Bombay Sapphire martinis . . . . so, no gin for me (darn). 

Posted 11/19/2008 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
beer definitely doesn't work with me.....when i'm flaring and to a lesser extent when i'm not...every sip feels like i'm being punched in the stomach followed shortly by running to the bathroom with diarrhea, not good when your at a crowded bar where there are lines for the bathroom......the weird thing about beer for me though, is if i let myself get through the torture of the first 3 or so beers and i get a good buzz on, i start to feel great, lol, no D or other symptoms and i have a blast...but then i pay for it big time the next day sometimes even the day after that........

wine when i'm flaring is no good, i think it might be too acidic or something, hurts my stomach, in kind of the same way juice does......white wine seems easier to handle than red, for me anyway....

hard liquor....for me the clear liquors are better.....i had a few cranberry vodkas last week, and felt fine.............drank whiskey last summer, felt not so fine.....tequilla seems ok for me, at least from what i can remember, lol.....

this alcohol thing really bugs me, because i like to drink, i love microbrew beers, i enjoy top shelf liqours and good wine.......but 99% of the time i convince myself its not worth the pain and suffering drinking brings due to this disease.....but i still allow myself let loose the other 1% of the time, lol

Posted 5/29/2009 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
i can do white russian or kaluah and cream. . . thats it. For some reason the milk seems to offset.
Posted 5/29/2009 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
I stopped drinking alcohol as soon as I got my diagnosis and had a resection in 1999. Because there's a history of liver cancer in my family, I've been careful not to put stress on my liver by adding alcohol to the CD drugs I'm taking. I never drank much--but I really miss having a big frozen daiquiri to celebrate the end of the workweek. Every once in a while, I'll get myself a big nonalcoholic frozen daiquiri, which feels very festive--but drinking that much icy fruitjuice turns out to be a pretty crappy (literally) idea, too!
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