Alcohol + IBD

[Jacob7]

Hi everyone,

I was just wondering, how does alcohol effect you ( if any effect ) with your IBD?

Thanks

 

[Rebecca85]

I am not often able to drink (first anti depressants then pregnancy) but when I did drink- even pre Crohn's- I got extremely bloated (to the point of vomiting because I couldn't burp) and would have the runs the next day and it didn't matter what I drank.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Alcohol seems to hurt my stomach unless I get a drink with lots of milk and nurse it.

 

[IAmTheWalrus]

Doesn't effect me, unless of course I'm in a flare, but haven't been in a full blown one for about 2 years or so.

Hope I didn't jinx myself by posting that.

:facepalm:

 

[archie]

Generally ok as long as i dont drink 2 nights in a row and i cant drink as much as i used to but still enough to enjoy myself. I definitely cant drink on an empty stomach now but think this is just an age thing!!! sometimes it makes me run more the next day and occasionally gives me tummy ache but short lived. White wines a no no though and fizzy drinks are out except the odd beer but I seem To be fine with spirits and red wine.

 

[robbo87]

I used to drink quite often at weekends and it was quite common for me to end up throwing up from being to bloated. so eventually I started drinking less pints and had spirits and mixers instead. although I never noticed it directly affecting my ibd in the short term, i think in the long term it did affect matters. Now I don't drink at all. Havent even so much as touched a drop since christmas :/

 

[elizamt]

I can't drink beer because it goes straight through me. I try to stick with bourbon and Diet Coke, but too many of those and I'm too intoxicated. I have to toe a careful line.

 

[bkbigfish]

No alcohol for me. When I was going got surgery, every nurse and Dr. asked the same 2 questions: Do you smoke? drink? I know those two things would play a major roll in recovery after surgery. I don't do either! Billy

 

[Jessasha]

It depends what I drink.. I'm good with bubbles, but not to many whiskys or red wine or my stomach hurts.. I think were all a bit different and it's something you might need to
work out by trial and error..(in moderation of course)

 

[fschriner3]

I'm 34 and was diagnosed with Crohn's a year ago, even though I had symptoms for several years beforehand. I am a regular drinker and it is a big part of my social life. My crohn's is probably more on the mild side. My main symptoms are occasional pain & D. I'm currently on Humira and I have never had any problems drinking. I generally have a couple of glasses of wine most week nights and I tend to overindulge some on the weekends. My doctor has never discouraged this behavior, although I'm sure he would prefer it to be more in moderation. I had a period before being diagnosed when the pain was pretty severe. Amazingly enough having just one drink would provide almost instant relief. I think the bottom line is everyone is different and you just have to listen to your body. My doctor wanted to put me on methotrexate and I told him I was worried about the alcohol restrictions, so we went straight to humira. He was very understanding and said you have to match the drug choice with your lifestyle. If it ever gets to the point where alcohol is making my disease worse I will do what is best for my health. Until then I'm going to continue to enjoy alcohol and live a pretty normal life. I just wanted to post this, because after my diagnosis I read these forums and thought I may have to give it up. I posted my concerns and people made me feel like I was stupid for even having these concerns and should stop drinking altogether. that's very easy to say when it has never been a big part of your life, but when it is a common aspect of your social & professional(client functions) life then that makes it much more difficult. If it doesn't make you feel bad then I don't think you should feel guilty for enjoying it. Sorry for the long post.

 

[madferrit]

I really enjoy a glass of red wine when i go out to eat but anything more than that leaves me dehydrated and running for the bathroom early hours the next day. But sometimes i do drink and think sod the consequences, a girls gotta enjoy herself sometimes! Lets face it i feel bloody rotten without drink most days so why not? Just dont do it too often ;-)

 

[littlefaeriefae]

Before i was diagnosed i never drank much anyways, but once i was diagnosed i didn't drink at all until 2 weeks ago. A typical friday night, I wanted to go out dancing as a spur of the moment thing but couldn't get my act together. I ended up drinking a razzamatini (not even the full amount) at my home. I woke up with a fish bowl for a stomach and in extreme pain and vomiting. I had convinced myself it was just the alcohol and this was my punishment for trying to be 'normal'. I was up from 630am and suffered through the pain until 5pm at night until i finally broke down and went to the ER because this was a different kind of pain. i ended up with a partial obstruction. Stupid me should have been in the ER way before. stubbornness. I had convinced myself that the ENTIRE day that pain was just from the alcohol. (even if it probably added to aggravation, it wasn't the sole cause) But now Ive sworn off alcohol until i'm in remission.

 

[Liquid Bacon]

I can drink a beer or two here and there, but I can't go crazy. If I have one or two beers every day for 4-5 days straight, I start to feel things "brewing" down there a little.

 

[Axelfl3333]

Lager is the devils brew!not a good mix with crohns

 

[juggys69]

I myself found alcohol to actually help back when. Especially Two Dogs and other "girlie" type drinks. I know this is just wrong, and may have made it worse really, just is what it is, and I suspect we are all different, there is no set mold.

The very thought of drinking now turns my stomach, but when I dabble with it for the pain now and again, once again those "girlie" brews help with my cycles. Which I admit, even I find odd.