Alcohol? - Crohns Disease Forum - Support group and forum for IBD, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease

Ashley · 01-26-2010, 06:42 PM

Hey everyone
So since being diagnosed my mother has always been very anti-drinking for me. And of course, because she lives 45 minutes away, I "never drink"

I do love my wine but have been trying to stay away lately, mostly because I think it was the reason I put on some extra pounds.

I was wondering though, what does drinking alcohol do to your crohn's??
I know my tummy is sometimes upset in the morning if I drink, but it is upset then anyway and talking to friends without the disease they say the same thing.

What do we think??

Peaches · 01-26-2010, 07:06 PM

I have experimented over the years with different wines and unfortunately I can't find one that my gut will tolerate well, so I just don't drink it.

I have also tried different hard liquor drinks as well and tend to have issues. My husband started me drinking Crown with ginger ale a loooong time ago (before I was diagnosed) and I can have one or two of these and not go off the deep end the next day. But honestly - I find that for me, it just isn't worth risking kicking my gut up. It isn't about how drinking makes you feel the next day and if "normal" people feel the same. To me it is about setting yourself up chronically (say once a week) to kick inflammation up in your gut. Why would you want to risk that? So, I only drink about 2 to 3 times per year. But..that is just me :O)

CrabbyRelish · 01-26-2010, 07:36 PM

I have the same issues with any type of alcohol. All I get is a regular hangover. Nothing of note happens where my crohns is related that I'm AWARE of. Generally anything in excess is bad for you even without crohns.

But a glass or two of anything? Nothing happens to me, not even mild stomach upset.

CrohnsHobo · 01-26-2010, 08:17 PM

I was in remission and drank pretty heavily for about seven years without issue. Now that I am flaring again I try to limit it as much as possible. Last I only drank about 5 times and I always regretted the next day.

When in remission I had no noticeable difference in my condition.

uab grad student · 01-27-2010, 04:12 AM

I rarely ever drink but if I do, I regret it. I was told that smoking and alcohol can increase the frequency of flares in Crohn's patients so I was happy that I didn't really like the stuff much anyway. I won't drink now until I'm out of this flare since I don't want to aggravate my symptoms

JMitch · 01-27-2010, 04:54 AM

EVERYtime I drink, the D hits with a vengeance the following day. I have stopped, and it's hard not to still being young and going to a bar with some friends (if im ever up to leaving).

Donna B · 01-27-2010, 11:02 AM

Hey, I've only ever had probs with drinking lager, really bad D

next day but otherwise alcohol doesn't bother me at all- YAY

I was on MTX for 18 months and coludn't touch a drop, had never really thought I was that much of a drinker (only go out 1-2 times month to see bands) but found it torture sober so started staying home. Turns out the MTX didn't work for me and my social life suffered big time- sooo nice to have a glass of wine with dinner again although not well enough to go out at the mo, can;t wait til I am!!!

Becky · 01-27-2010, 12:54 PM

I am not a big drink but do enjoy a glass of wine here and there. It doesnt seem to bother me. Hard stuff either. I normally will not have more than 2 glasses .

Pirate · 01-27-2010, 01:04 PM

If I do drink its in the summer, very hot out, and I only drink Bud Lite out of an ice cold brown bottle. It goes down smooth and doesn't stop till it hits my butt hole, and than only for a few seconds.

Samantha · 01-27-2010, 01:04 PM

I have found that all the alcahol I've tried seems to upset me and I have a problem the next day, so I avoid it. I really love chamagne though and beak down a couple of times a year on special occasions and then just suffer the cosequences( spelling?) the next day!

Cookie · 01-27-2010, 01:12 PM

When I am not taking Flagyl (which is almost NEVER), I like to enjoy a glass or two of red wine. Any more than that and I pay dearly for it the next day. I can no longer really drink most kinds of beer because it makes me sooo bloated, but I have discovered that I can not drink ANY type of ales. I get so, so sick the next day, even from one beer.

Pirate · 01-27-2010, 01:18 PM

When I do have a few beers its my way of getting back at the parasites in my gut. Just thinking of getting them drunk and them falling down instead of me just makes my day.

01-26-2010, 06:42 PM	#1
Ashley Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Toronto, CA Posts: 42	Alcohol? Hey everyone So since being diagnosed my mother has always been very anti-drinking for me. And of course, because she lives 45 minutes away, I "never drink" I do love my wine but have been trying to stay away lately, mostly because I think it was the reason I put on some extra pounds. I was wondering though, what does drinking alcohol do to your crohn's?? I know my tummy is sometimes upset in the morning if I drink, but it is upset then anyway and talking to friends without the disease they say the same thing. What do we think??

01-26-2010, 07:36 PM	#3
CrabbyRelish Support Forum Monitor Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: California Posts: 448	I have the same issues with any type of alcohol. All I get is a regular hangover. Nothing of note happens where my crohns is related that I'm AWARE of. Generally anything in excess is bad for you even without crohns. But a glass or two of anything? Nothing happens to me, not even mild stomach upset. __________________ Diagnosed: 1990 Surgeries: 1 Meds for CD: None currently Things I take: B12, Magnesium, Toprol

01-26-2010, 08:17 PM	#4
CrohnsHobo Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 778	I was in remission and drank pretty heavily for about seven years without issue. Now that I am flaring again I try to limit it as much as possible. Last I only drank about 5 times and I always regretted the next day. When in remission I had no noticeable difference in my condition. __________________ http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Auger/652606298 Diagnosed in 1996 Currently on: Humira- 1 shot every other week Methotrexate- 1 shot a week Prednisone 5 MG/day Past Treatment: Remicade Asacol/Lialda 6 MP Prednisone Cipro/Flagyl

01-27-2010, 04:12 AM	#5
uab grad student Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 269	I rarely ever drink but if I do, I regret it. I was told that smoking and alcohol can increase the frequency of flares in Crohn's patients so I was happy that I didn't really like the stuff much anyway. I won't drink now until I'm out of this flare since I don't want to aggravate my symptoms __________________ Ashlee December 2009--Diagnosed with Crohn's Current Crohn's meds: entocort, remicade, 6-MP Other stuff: pulmicort, pro-air, celexa Current supplements: ferrous sulfate, folic acid, Vitamin B12, Calcium, Vitamin D, women's multi-vitamin, Florastor probiotic

01-27-2010, 01:04 PM	#9
Pirate Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Freeland, MI. Posts: 1,167	If I do drink its in the summer, very hot out, and I only drink Bud Lite out of an ice cold brown bottle. It goes down smooth and doesn't stop till it hits my butt hole, and than only for a few seconds. __________________ I'm the Captain of my own pirate ship. You'll find me on the POOP deck! Greg Yancer Diagnosed w/ CD Febuary 1986 No surgeries Current meds:REMICADE (CATS SCARE ME), Pentasa, Nexium, Probonics.

01-26-2010, 07:06 PM	#2
Peaches Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,994	I have experimented over the years with different wines and unfortunately I can't find one that my gut will tolerate well, so I just don't drink it. I have also tried different hard liquor drinks as well and tend to have issues. My husband started me drinking Crown with ginger ale a loooong time ago (before I was diagnosed) and I can have one or two of these and not go off the deep end the next day. But honestly - I find that for me, it just isn't worth risking kicking my gut up. It isn't about how drinking makes you feel the next day and if "normal" people feel the same. To me it is about setting yourself up chronically (say once a week) to kick inflammation up in your gut. Why would you want to risk that? So, I only drink about 2 to 3 times per year. But..that is just me :O)

01-27-2010, 04:54 AM	#6
JMitch Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 54	EVERYtime I drink, the D hits with a vengeance the following day. I have stopped, and it's hard not to still being young and going to a bar with some friends (if im ever up to leaving).

01-27-2010, 11:02 AM	#7
Donna B New Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Dumfries, Scotland, Uk Posts: 15	Hey, I've only ever had probs with drinking lager, really bad D next day but otherwise alcohol doesn't bother me at all- YAY I was on MTX for 18 months and coludn't touch a drop, had never really thought I was that much of a drinker (only go out 1-2 times month to see bands) but found it torture sober so started staying home. Turns out the MTX didn't work for me and my social life suffered big time- sooo nice to have a glass of wine with dinner again although not well enough to go out at the mo, can;t wait til I am!!!

01-27-2010, 12:54 PM	#8
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 117	I am not a big drink but do enjoy a glass of wine here and there. It doesnt seem to bother me. Hard stuff either. I normally will not have more than 2 glasses .

01-27-2010, 01:04 PM	#10
Samantha Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: South Africa Posts: 97	I have found that all the alcahol I've tried seems to upset me and I have a problem the next day, so I avoid it. I really love chamagne though and beak down a couple of times a year on special occasions and then just suffer the cosequences( spelling?) the next day! __________________ Diagnosed Sept 2006 Currently on (just starting) 500mg Pentasa twice a day, Entocort enemas, Probiotics, Omega and Multi vits. Previously on 30Mg Prednisone, Asacol 2 a day, Asacol enemas, Entocort tablets, Azapress ( made me so sick).

01-27-2010, 01:12 PM	#11
Cookie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 543	When I am not taking Flagyl (which is almost NEVER), I like to enjoy a glass or two of red wine. Any more than that and I pay dearly for it the next day. I can no longer really drink most kinds of beer because it makes me sooo bloated, but I have discovered that I can not drink ANY type of ales. I get so, so sick the next day, even from one beer.

01-27-2010, 01:18 PM	#12
Pirate Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Freeland, MI. Posts: 1,167	When I do have a few beers its my way of getting back at the parasites in my gut. Just thinking of getting them drunk and them falling down instead of me just makes my day. __________________ I'm the Captain of my own pirate ship. You'll find me on the POOP deck! Greg Yancer Diagnosed w/ CD Febuary 1986 No surgeries Current meds:REMICADE (CATS SCARE ME), Pentasa, Nexium, Probonics.