Confused by Dr's orders of no drinking ??

Hi Group!

I have a question related to drinking and I looked through old posts to try to find one similar with no luck. A friend of mine has UC and his doctor told him he had to quit drinking all together because he would have to have his colon removed. My doctor told me anything in moderation is ok as long as I feel well. His doctor doesn't really drink so I think that is why he said that - by this I mean, yeah, it's probably not GREAT to drink but will it really cause him to have to have colon surgery. He has been in a period of remission for over 1 1/2 years with no side effects from drinking. Is it TRUE that we shouldn't drink AT ALL regardless of periods of remission or is it ok as long as you can tolerate it? I just don't want to do ANYTHING that would cause me to be in a worse situation than I have been in. Has anyone else's doctor given that same advice and if so, how does that affect your colon when you feel good?

 

I think that there is no problem in drinking, but if you are really flared up you should not drink. Once your body is healed from the flare then drinking should be ok. I don't drink much, but when I do I'm careful.

Alcohol can be extremely hard on the liver, kidneys and all digestive organs. It can definitely be an irritant to the stomach and intestines, and if your friend doesn't have symptoms now, he/she might in the future.

I personally don't feel good when I drink anything more than an ounce of wine....hard liquor isn't something I would even touch, although when I was young, I drank (but puked anyway and felt like crap).

Common sense rules....certain parts of our bodies are more sensitive when we have autoimmune disease, alcohol is a product that if consumed in larger doses can exacerbate some symptoms.

So, how much does your friend drink?

You on remicade....I'd suggest never to have alcohol since biologic immunomodulator meds can affect your liver even without drinking.

q

I drink about twice a week which is one day for happy hour - (beers) and one night on the weekend - wine. I enjoy a few drinks which is why I'm concerned. I never read or was told anything about drinking with Remicade because it could be tough on the liver although it makes sense. I wonder if they would be willing to check liver functions on my next dr visit to see how I'm doing. My friend drinks alot but I'm almost certain he wouldn't admit that to his doctor. He drinks whiskey which I would never touch. I do enjoy a few glasses of wine but NEVER drink when I'm in a flare. It's bad enough having the bowel symptoms.... I certainly wouldn't want to add to the symptoms. I may be being too risky but I haven't had to avoid anything since the Remicade so maybe I'm pushing myself to the limits... I sure hope not. I enjoy feeling like I do right now.

I suspect it's like everything else related to UC: everbody's different. For me, I've continued to drink both wine and hard liquor the whole time I've had UC. I follow the SCD diet so that means no beer and nothing with anything sweet or flavored added. I've never seen any correlation to alcohol and how I feel (unless I drink too much and have a headache the next day). In fact, I've been fighting to resolve a slight little bit of rectal irritation and two weeks ago completely stopped drinking all alcohol and all coffee. Didn't notice the least bit of improvement. OTOH - anytime my husband (who has no digestive problems) drinks hard liquor, he gets loose poo - so it obviously affects HIS digestive tract.

I also agree that if you're on meds that are hard on the liver, alcohol will only add more stress.

As for alcohol causing colon cancer ... well, I'm not sure I buy that.

Kathy

What my moderation is and what your moderation is varies I would think. You have NO idea what YOUR body can handle regarding alcohol....its toll can happen 20 years down the road. Even though it's far....your organs are more fragile than those who are hardcore alcoholics with no other disease except what alcohol can do over long periods of time.

I have a neighbour whose dog has an autoimmune blood disease. The gave her imuran, prednisone and something else...I think metronidazole. She aged before our very eyes...her hair turning white and falling out....very weak in her legs that she could hardly stand...it was horrible.

So, immune changing meds can do what to the body? Add more to it such as metabolising alcohol..it's like an impaired process, but acelerated.
Once they took the dog off all the meds (she was suffering more on them)....she got young again, but over a period of 2 years. Very interesting....

Yes, they feed her some things they shouldn't, bad....but they say it'll kill her slower than the meds will.

I don't know what to think at this point, but dogs don't live as long as humans....

Be kind to yourself..

I forgot to mention the pancreas....again, another alcohol filter also affected by autoimmune, UC and medications.

quincy

Hmm.... Not all alcohols are the same. Also, medications might play a part. I can't really drink often being on Lexapro, because Lexapro intensifies the effect. I don't drink wine, due to it being a grape, and I have issues with fructose; so it could interfere with my digestion. I have had Absinthe about three times over the last couple years with family, but I try not to recommend it. It brings out different characteristics in different people--very funny but can also be very scary.

Thanks for the posts!! absolutely gonna go with moderation - have 2 glasses of wine and a couple of beers and be done! It has been interesting to hear about everyones responses... goes along with the disease, I guess ~ different for everyone! Appreciate the feedback :)