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Posted 11/2/2011 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hi friends,

I was wondering if there are any of you GERD sufferers out there who are able to consume any alcoholic beverages without a reflux flare???

I am on Prevacid and my symptoms wax and wane. Some weeks I am reflux-free and some weeks I will have intermittent, mild reflux (the Prevacid has worked wonders). I have not had any alcohol in over 6 months since the GERD began and I have been in many social situations where it would be nice to have a couple glasses of wine. I am too chicken though because I can't bear the thought of my reflux going back to the way it was (horrible!).

I know everyone's triggers are different. For instance, chocolate and garlic don't bother me in the least while tomatoes and dairy products do.

Just curious.

Thanks,
Liz
Posted 11/2/2011 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
Liz,

I am not a very good person to respond as I do not drink however I am on other medications that prohibit drinking.  Have you ever asked your Dr. what his recommendation is re drinking and GERD ?

I am sure other members will have better wisdom for you.  Take care.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 11/2/2011 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't had a drink in over 3 years. I can't drink with my meds. I'd do a 'test' drink at home and see how you react to it. Then if you get a flare up, you aren't at a gathering.
Posted 11/2/2011 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
I know that you mentioned wine but MDG 64 and Select 55 beer work well for me. They are about 2.5% alcohol and they do not bother my stomach. As a side benefit, the numbers 64 and 55 are the calories in 12 oz. of the beer.
Posted 11/2/2011 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Liz,

Let me know if you find something! Wine (white or red) are HUGE triggers for me.

Ashley
Posted 11/2/2011 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
efti

wine is a major trigger for me as are carbonated beverages...but

i can get away with beer* if i drink only one or two AND if i let the carbonation die way down

*as a person who is gluten (wheat rye barley) intolerant i cant drink regular beer...so instead i drink a brand of sorghum and rice beer which is brewed to be about half the alcohol content of regular beer

i can eat potatoes and thus have tried vodka but...

distilled spirits hurt my throat so bad i dont even try

be very careful with alcohol especially wine
best wishes
mock turtle
Posted 11/2/2011 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
Only one way to find out if you can tolerate it!
Posted 11/2/2011 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
Another option here - which I've been doing - is that I take 2-3 small sips of wine (from my wife's glass) - just enough that most of the wine gets absorbed in the mouth itself (and I don't feel most of it going down per se). This gives me the flavor of the wine that I can enjoy with the foods

Of course one can't get/feel any buzz .. but can still get/enjoy the flavor a bit :-)
Posted 11/2/2011 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone. Those are helpful responses. I know in order to really find out, I need to cowboy up and try some wine but I'm a little scared. I've been eating immaculately clean and eating only low acid foods. I just wonder how long the flare would last if I were to have one.

Ashely,
So you HAVE tried wine? How much and how bad was the flare after? Were you on PPI's at the time?

Tandem,
Can you drink whatever you want since you've had your TIF?

Kitt,
I have not asked my doc about alcohol. He did say, however, that if I get good symptom control after a month of taking PPI's (and it has been just over a month) that I should try pizza. He said this b/c I told him my one cheat food was pizza one friday a month :) I have not tried this either b/c I'm a chicken. I enjoy being pain-free (half the time) way too much :)

Thanks!
Liz
Posted 11/2/2011 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Liz! Red wine gave me terrible reflux before I even went to the doctor for my frequent heartburn. After I'd been on Nexium for 3 months, I had 3 glasses of white wine and I hurt for literally days after that.
Posted 1/15/2012 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi guys,

Alright I think I've worked up the courage to go for the gold and try some beer. I have a bachelorette party to go to on Feb 3rd and I would really like to "fully participate" ;) It's been over 8 months since I've had a single sip of alchohol. After reading your posts, I am scared of wine, which is unfortunately the only type of alcohol I actually enjoy drinking.

I'm guessing hard alcohol by itself or in a mixed drink would be bad. Any thoughts on this?

I thought I would try one beer and stop there regardless of how good I may (hopefully) still feel after consumption. If all goes well, next time I can have 1.5 beers :)

-Liz-
Posted 1/15/2012 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Liz,

I'd forget wine, (except a few sips with dinner or something), but I found that I could handle beer just fine.  Just remember--moderation!  Mixed drinks (and especially straight alcohol) are harder on the esophagus and stomach.  They tend to be more acidic, with fruit juices being a big ingredient.

If you don't like beer, try Magic Hat 9...it has a fruity apricot type taste that you might like.  Also, Blue Moon with a slice of orange.

As you can see, I enjoy beer.  I was afraid I wouldn't be able to drink it because of the carbonation, but it doesn't bother me. 

Have fun at your party!

Denise

Posted 1/22/2012 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
So I went to my friend's 30th b-day party last night and had my first alcoholic beverage in almost 9 months...

1 Bud Select = NO reflux...but no buzz either ;)

So..at the bachelorette party in 2 weeks, I'm considering trying a cosmos (vodka and cranberry juice) but I'm wondering how acidic cranberry juice is as compared to citrus. I did have half a glass of grapefruit juice a couple weeks ago and didn't have any adverse effects so I'm curious...we shall see.

Take care,

Liz
Posted 1/22/2012 11:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Liz,

Definitely keep us updated! I'm glad you didn't have any reflux from the beer :)

Take care,
Ashley
Posted 2/5/2012 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hi guys,

Update: Went to my future S-I-L's bachelorette party on friday night. Had TWO cranberry juice/vodka drinks, which was probably about 3 shots worth or vodka.
Result=no reflux and a good buzz
Thank you Prevacid! I'm reallly not a drinker. I hadn't drank since last January and not b/c of GERD either b/c I didn't have it yet (got it in April) but it sure was nice to sit back and chill for a bit and forget all about GERD.

So moral of the story is...perhaps vodka and cranberry juice drinks are a good choice for those suffering with GERD...and hey...you are preventing UTI's while you're at it :)

Take care,
Liz
Posted 2/5/2012 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on Prevacid for around 5 years,I can drink regular beer,but lately been drinking bud 55,like the one person said u can't get much of a buzz,also after starting on the prevacid I found that drinking aloe vera gel in the morning after coffee and before bed helps alot too.
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