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Drinking while flaring

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Posted 7/18/2011 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
for some reason if i go out drinking while i am flaring...a few drinks in and i no longer have the urges to run to the bathroom for the rest of the night...anyone else experience this?
Posted 7/18/2011 10:59 PM (GMT 0)
My GI doc told me no alcohol - but for me, that's not a problem.
Posted 7/19/2011 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
do you have the same response when you're drinking at home?

q
Posted 7/19/2011 1:04 AM (GMT 0)
My GI had told me alcohol wouldn't be a good idea, either...... but I do fine with a few glasses of wine from time to time (usually at dinner.) I have not noticed its effect on my UC...... but I read in one of those little videos at the top of the forum that a small amount of alcohol can in fact calm the gut (my interpretation of what I saw on the video).... my guess is that because it's a depressant, it slows down bodily reactions in general.
Posted 7/19/2011 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
I've heard someone with UC say they feel better after having some Bailey's on the rocks... probably because it helps reduce stress. Just curious, what do you drink?
Posted 7/19/2011 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
Alcohol relaxes me but only if I have a few hence less bathroom trips. If I have too many, it does the opposite.
Posted 7/19/2011 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
The only caution regarding alcohol and IBD is that alcohol can be really hard on the colon in general, let alone an inflammed colon...just tread with caution for your health sake...doesn't mean you can't ever drink, but moderation is probably key for IBDers with alcohol.
Posted 7/19/2011 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
Question: You know how there are studies about red wine being beneficial to the heart. If you have a couple glasses of red wine a week, that shouldn't affect the UC that much, right? I know alcohol is rough on the colon but if you don't feel any pain to your colon, could the alcohol still be negatively affecting it? I don't know if I'm making any sense but if someone understands what I'm trying to ask here, I would love a response. I read in some other post about how your BMs could be looking "normal" but your colon could still be inflamed so could you be having red wine and causing inflammation without even knowing it?
Posted 7/19/2011 7:08 AM (GMT 0)
Alcohol is the work of the devil for me when flaring, along with caffeine, veggie and fruit skin and nuts- when I'm not flaring they ate all ok in moderation. If I mix alcohol and nuts and stress I am headed for a flare if my UP.
Posted 7/19/2011 8:59 AM (GMT 0)
Oddly, the same thing happens for me too. I went clubbing a few months ago and before going my gut wasn't feeling too good. At the nightclub I downed two glasses of gin and tonic (for some reason the gassy tonic water didn't upset me) and my gut suddenly was a lot better. Was able to dance, play games, chat without any issues. My suspicion is that perhaps the alcohol made me more relaxed so I was less self-conscious and danced etc. this in turn distracted me from my tummy issues.

My GP also told me that he just found out that one of his patients, who is an alcoholic, had UC which has been in remission for over 20 years and currently still is.

Interesting...
Posted 7/19/2011 10:59 AM (GMT 0)
MaxMilian,

That is very interesting...

I wonder if there are any studies out there to back it up? I'm sure if there's a way it could be proven, big pharma could find a way to put alcohol in pills and make a killing at doing it too, haha. And all the doctors would prescribe it too....

Posted 7/19/2011 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
Alcohol is a depressant so maybe it slows down your gut while drunk, hence less urges, etc. But I still think it has a negative effect overall on an inflamed gut. That doesn't mean I don't ever drink, but if I was in a moderate to severe flare, I would avoid it.
Posted 7/19/2011 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
turnp.......- same for me mostly unless it is a monster flare. I think my colon get's a little more relaxed too ; )
Posted 7/19/2011 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
Just found this:

Alcohol, inflammation, and gut-liver-brain interactions in tissue damage and disease development
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2842521/

Not totally relevant to this thread, but kind of interesting nonetheless.
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