Alcohol with a fistula...?

So I've read some posts on here before saying that most people avoid alcohol because it doesn't agree with them. Is that because of bathroom issues, or abdominal pain? I am lucky enough to not have "D" as a symptom at all, but I'm unlucky because I have an abdominal fistula draining below my belly button...that's been there since January. What I'm wondering is, would it be really horrible if I were to drink alcohol? I'm not expecting anybody to tell me it's a good idea, but would it really be that bad if I'm otherwise feeling okay?

Alcohol is a known cause of flares. It can cause enough damage to your gut that it can cause a flare. As well, some people react to different drinks. Beer commonly causes intolerance reactions. Wine MIGHT not hurt so much, but it is an individual thing, so it is impossible to make a rule out of it. You might be fine with beer, but you would have to keep an eye on it. Like so many things, alcohol may not cause immediate harm, so you might be lulled into a false sense of security.

Most articles about Crohn's disease suggest that should you limit the amount of alcohol you drink as part of your "self-care." Some advise little or no alcohol because it can irritate your intestines and trigger a Crohn's flare or assist in triggering a flare. Others note that alcohol in general can make diarrhea worse, so it should be avoided. Alcohol is also a depressant, and people with Crohn's are often stressed and depressed enough by their symptoms without adding an additional depressant.

Many people who have Crohn's are already concerned about the development of colon cancer. In an article elsewhere on AC, I noted that people with an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are five times as likely to develop colon cancer as the general public; that fact aside, 90% of people with an IBD will not develop cancer in their lifetimes. Some Crohn's patients may wonder how alcohol fits into this picture.

If you look at a list of risk factors for developing colon cancer, one of those risks is excessive consumption of alcohol. So how do those list makers define excessive? A presentation by Dr. Gurvinder Sethi, MD, at a 2003 conference in Baltimore described excessive drinking as "nine or more drinks made with distilled spirits a week for 10 years or more." He went on to say that a glass or two of wine a week may cut the risk of neoplastic lesions (dyplasias or adnocarcinomas) by nearly two-thirds. In other words, a glass or two of wine a week may help you to avoid colon cancer. about.com, in their 2007 newsletter, said that a 2001 study showed that those who drink alcohol consistently for 20 years have a greater risk of developing colon cancer, but also noted that the risk "appears to be reduced" when wine is part of that alcohol (about.com).


I think if you have a few drinks here and there (moderation is key) then that for the most part should be safe, it also depends on the severity of your CD and remember it's indvidual for everyone, but likely the milder the case of CD you have, possibly the less wrose it will be if you drink on occassion.


:)

Thanks for the input everyone! I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to a somewhat silly question :)

I'm considering starting off with just one or two drinks to see how I feel...but I also may just chicken out.

In the small town I live in (of 9,000...on an island) it seems like the only way to be social is to go get drunk and hang out and now that I'm recently single with really not many friends I've been wishing I drank too...nobody likes being sober around a bunch of drunks!

I'm not on any medication right now, but am supposed to be starting Remicade very soon, as I have just been approved for the patient assistance program...hopefully next week and I'm really hoping it will have a positive outcome!

Thanks again for your replies :)