Alchohol

[gracifer]

This may sound stupid, but I'm new to the whole Crohns shibang, I also know from "lurking" that it seems many of you dont seemingly drink.
However, I am assuming some of you do, and stupidly whether I can drink is something that really bothers me, as I'm at uni/turning 21 soon. I drank before the docs told me when they thought I had gastritus etc but havent really drank since they told me it may be Crohns.
I was wondering if wines or spirits are the best thing to drink? and if spirits what do you usually mix with them?
I know this may sound stupid, but any help would be appreciated. I also realise everyones different, and I may have to figure out by trial and error.

 

[jecoll]

If you're not dealing with a serious flare at the moment, you can try some experimenting to see if drinking does bother you ...OR if there are certain kinds of drinks that bother you. Some people can handle wine, but have problems with beer, etc.

As a rule, though, you probably don't want to be doing any week-long benders, but drinking once or twice a week shouldn't be a problem, especially if you don't see any IBD-like symptoms the following day or so.

 

[ruthyp]

Personally when im not in a flare i will drink Guinness or Jack Daniels with a little coke. But if your in a flare then i'll be blunt, drinking is a stupid thing to do. I didnt drink for my 21st, but had a wicked time anyway.

Also, i went through abit of denial, i acted like i didnt have crohns and it wasnt going to change my life at all. I went on drinking binges and ate whatever i wanted, how wrong could i have been! I spent the whole of november in hospital, having lots of blood transfusions and lost 2stone in weight.

I know i would much rather avoid my 'triggers' and stay out of hospital then do all those things and be in incredible pain. Up to you at the end of the day

I always read about people going into hosp and thought it would never happen to me and that these people that get admitted must be really old or have something else aswell, but it can happen to anyone, you need to take care of yourself and take it seriously.

But that doesnt mean you'll have a boring life, its what you make it.
xx

 

[Crohns08]

Drinking is fine in moderation and while not in a flare. If I were you, I would stay away from anything too sugary or anything with too many grains, like beer. I find that spirits are easier on me, but when in remission I can drink anything. If you're going to do a lot of drinking one night (Which I don't reccomend), stay hydrated so you won't have as bad of a time in the morning.

 

[Lydia]

Drink in moderation, binge drinking is bad for crohnies. I know from personal experience. Its a great way to land yourself in the hospital.

I like gin and club soda with lime. Low sugar drinks make me feel better the day after.

 

[MapleLeafGirl]

I quit because it just wasn't worth it for me, but when I was still experimenting I found that vodka drinks worked best.

 

[Astra]

Me too, pure distilled vodka or any clear spirits are best.
Anything coloured like beer or wine cripples me for days!

 

[David in Seattle]

Agree about the vodka. I prefer good beer (especially Belgian types) and red wine (especially Zinfandel and other reds), but they all contain a quite varied array of chemicals in addition to alcohol, (particularly congeners, which are byproducts of fermentation) which actually cause most of the typical "hangover". These can be troublesome if consumed in large enough quantities even if you don't have IBD. Generally speaking, the darker the color of the drink (not including mixers like coke), the more apt it is to cause a hangover. Whiskeys such as Bourbon and red wine are particularly noted for this. Unflavored Vodka, being distilled multiple times and filtered, is for the most part just ethanol & water. While boring in terms of taste, it will likely give you the least negative reactions.

 

[Lydia]

Yeah I can not handle red wine. It burns my guts even when I am in remission. I can handle white wine though.

 

[DanaDeadPetals]

I had to give up beer, which I love, but it absolutely kills me. I've pretty much stopped drinking at all, but eventually when I'm not flaring I'll probably stick with vodka or gin drinks. HTH

 

[e13 boy]

Up until i was diagnosed (age 29) i used to have a beer.During my early 20's i was one of the lads but as the illness got worse during my mid - late 20's i cut it down because it made me feel even worse!
Following right side hemi when i was 29 it left me with permenant 'D',far worse 'D' than before the op with severe CD.
I found that having any alcohol after that op was out of the question as it went straight through me.
So i've been teetotal for 13 years now.
As a young man in my 20's when all this turned my life upside down i really found out who my true mates were.
That experience,and everything CD threw at me, has made me a much better person in all aspects of my life.Out of the bad came some good.

 

[xJillx]

I haven't had problems with alcohol (*knock wood*), but I drink in moderation. I will only have one beer or a glass or two of white wine with food.

 

[hainman]

i dont have to many problems with drinking.dont do it as much as i used to but changed my drinking from pints of lager to magners and bulmers cider and wasnt to bad and if in house i buy the german beers as they dont fill their beer with any sh** its just the 4 essential ingredients.i enjoy a wee malt whiskey aswell as a nice rioja.but sometimes the hangovers can be a ballbuster but think this is mainly down to the meds that work through the liver...could be wrong though...

 

[Miss Spencer]

Also, i went through abit of denial, i acted like i didnt have crohns and it wasnt going to change my life at all. I went on drinking binges and ate whatever i wanted, how wrong could i have been!

Yep, been there, done that.

I finally wised up and dramatically cut down my drinking and cleaned up my diet.

Alcohol is my biggest single trigger for a flare. So I have stopped drinking spirits, liqueurs, mixes, sherry and port, and also dramatically reduced my beer intake, especially wheat beer.

Use to drink every day, now it is only once or twice a week.

And then it is only sharing a bottle of organic preservative-free wine with my partner. As opposed to all-out hangover benders from my youth.

When drinking wine I make sure I drink a glass of water for each glass of wine, it seems to help.

 

[JetWhite]

I have UC and pretty much don't drink alcohol at all now, definitely not on a flare up. However, single malt whisky once in a while is okay and I have found Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger beer is okay on occasion

 

[Lydia]

Personally when im not in a flare i will drink Guinness or Jack Daniels with a little coke. But if your in a flare then i'll be blunt, drinking is a stupid thing to do. I didnt drink for my 21st, but had a wicked time anyway.

Also, i went through abit of denial, i acted like i didnt have crohns and it wasnt going to change my life at all. I went on drinking binges and ate whatever i wanted, how wrong could i have been! I spent the whole of november in hospital, having lots of blood transfusions and lost 2stone in weight.

I know i would much rather avoid my 'triggers' and stay out of hospital then do all those things and be in incredible pain. Up to you at the end of the day

I always read about people going into hosp and thought it would never happen to me and that these people that get admitted must be really old or have something else aswell, but it can happen to anyone, you need to take care of yourself and take it seriously.

But that doesnt mean you'll have a boring life, its what you make it.
xx

I did the denial thing too. Boy did I go downhill real fast.

 

[gdhillon]

3 or 4 brews is the limit for me, I haven't touched hard since my horrible morning afterprom experience

 

[aliciars]

I will drink when I want to - which is not very often - but will pay for it the next day. I get pain with the alcohol which I normally don't get. Special occasions now.

 

[AndiGirl]

I don't drink. To me it's not worth the pain. I have fun with my mocktails.

 

[gracifer]

Hi
Just thought I'd say thanks for the advice. When I went away for my 21st I stuck to non-alchoholic cocktails and they were pretty damned yummy to say the least. lol. I tried some of my rents drinks, and nothing really happened, but I havent had the guts to say yes to an alcoholic drink yet, I wouldnt say I'm totally nearly great yet, so I'm just a bit worried. I know the last time I drank rosae (a bottle and half) on NYE I was in agony for a few days, so I might try spirits with some coke or something.
Thanks for replying though

 

[Junot]

I cant drink no more, no matter what it causes PAIN, id suggest living a life without the dumbing device of alcohol.

 

[Lee]

I don't drink either (used to drink wine). I have in the past, but in all realty it does nothing but damage to your body if you abuse it. I say all this but alcohol has ever caused my Crohn's to act up.

 

[teeny5]

If feeling really good I can drink anything. Usually I will just stick to a couple glasses of wine. If I over do it I will often have pain the whole next day. Beer is only ok sometimes...mostly makes my stomach all gurgly and gassy feeling.

 

[Terriernut]

I can drink white wine or a zinfadel. No spirits. But it honestly causes me no probs at all. Hard alcohol and I dont mesh...teenage thing, lets just say 'Jack' and I are NOT friends!!

Vino!
Misty

 

[soiledshorts]

I find Alcohol messes with me quite a bit if I overendulge (have more than 2-3 drinks), but I feel like it affects all of me (feel tired, a bit dizzy, sluggish) for a few days following drinking, so it might just be me

 

[musicislife52]

I can't drink beer or carbonated beverages of any sort. Dark liquor usually doesn't sit well either, especially spiced rum. I can drink wine, but I notice if I drink too much that my insides burn, so go easy on the wine! I drank a bottle of Merlot recently, and had a very bad flare up the whole next week. I can handle clear tequila and vodka for the most part. If I want mixed drinks, I try to go for ones with real juice, no carbonation, and clear liquor. But avoiding alcohol is definitely a good thing to do if you have Crohn's or any other digestive issues! If you are going to drink, just use moderation.

 

[Maxwheel]

Its hard for me to see much of a correlation. When I'm not in a real bad flare up I'll sometimes have 8 to 15 drinks and feel just fine afterwards. But then sometimes I'll just have a couple and get sick. So far it kinda seems to me like it's gonna do what it's gonna do regardless of what I eat or drink (within reason). I've been cutting it back a lot though just to be on the safe side since I'm not doing to good right now.

 

[Maxwheel]

Oh yes, but sometimes when I'm in a flare up, having just half a glass of an imperial stout (North Coast's Old Rasputin) before bed will really settle my stomach. This is a very thick dark beer with twice the amount of alcohol. I actually find high gravity beers to be the easiest form of alcohol on my stomach because they're thick and filling and it's a smaller volume you're drinking.

 

[LtHuff]

Drinking is fine with moderation. I don't drink often but when I do I rarely have any problems with it. If I go overboard with a friend and down a handle of whiskey of course you're going to have problems. Its just like eating food, have to find your limits.

 

[Lee]

I have lost all desire to drink alcohol.

 

[bruscar]

Honestly, still have it but it goes through me like a porsche !

Into the out chamber (bag) before the glass leaves my lips, well almost.

No other bother . . . . . apart from the price !!

 

[Jazzy182]

I found this really interesting, I had always wondered if drinking really did aggravate the illness. I also don't drink as much as i did before being dx with UC, and there was only once when i had a few too many (at a mates engagement party) when i noticed it really upset my colitis. Since then i limit myself, i will have up to 5-6 drinks at special occasions (usually vodka with juice or similar) and other than that i dont really drink at home during the week so it doesnt bother me too much.

 

[brieyourbest]

Personally when im not in a flare i will drink Guinness or Jack Daniels with a little coke. But if your in a flare then i'll be blunt, drinking is a stupid thing to do. I didnt drink for my 21st, but had a wicked time anyway.

Also, i went through abit of denial, i acted like i didnt have crohns and it wasnt going to change my life at all. I went on drinking binges and ate whatever i wanted, how wrong could i have been! I spent the whole of november in hospital, having lots of blood transfusions and lost 2stone in weight.

I know i would much rather avoid my 'triggers' and stay out of hospital then do all those things and be in incredible pain. Up to you at the end of the day

I always read about people going into hosp and thought it would never happen to me and that these people that get admitted must be really old or have something else aswell, but it can happen to anyone, you need to take care of yourself and take it seriously.

But that doesnt mean you'll have a boring life, its what you make it.
xx

A week ago, I thought I was just going to be invincible. I ate whatever I wanted to and drank liquor... mind you I had JUST gotten out of the hospital a week before that and I am still flaring. I WAS IN THE WORST PAIN and THEN I WAS SO SAD BECAUSE I REALIZED THAT I COULDN'T TAKE MY LORTAB BECAUSE I DRANK. So, I am saying all this to say, I thought I was the only one who ever went in denial about having Crohn's.

 

[Aloysius M]

Just got done with my Sam Adams Summer Ale, amazing, just couldn't take the darn commercials anymore. Cant drink like it use to, but still occasionally enjoy a good brew or some 10 Cane Rum on the rocks. Its all about moderation. Binger = the whole morning in the can and well I'll let you insert your adjective for pain there, as I found out a couple months ago after about 6 Cap an Cokes. It is nice not having to deal with hangovers anymore.

 

[tiloah]

I never really had a chance to notice if it affected my Crohn's. I was never really in to drinking and whenever I did drink it would almost guarantee me a migraine, so I stopped.