Drinking and MS

[Sidesteps]

I am wondering if anyone has felt that having a couple drinks (enough to feel a little buzz) brings on a pseudo flare for a few days following having those drinks?

I may have a glass of wine a few times a week with dinner. That doesn't seem to the an issue. It may be when I've had two. I think I am still in a highly inflammatory state so it would make sense that this might be true...It could be other things soam curious if anyone else has noted this?


Thank you.

[Lulu54]

Anyone else here notice the pattern in the responses?  Like everything else with MS, there isn't one!  Everyone seems to react differently to alcohol and medical marijuana and adjusts usage accordingly.  

There are several people who make the point, though, that you need to be sure you understand the interactions with your rx drugs.  

be smart,
L

[Khiba]

Even before I was diagnosed, I lost my taste and tolerance for alcohol. It made me feel "weird' not drunk, on the little I drank, just "weird."

Now that I am on a slew of meds for pain and all I don't dare drink. I don't miss it at all either. Maybe once a year I socialize with a shot of brandy in a big snifter and inhale it rather than drink it.

My problem is smoking now. It makes me feel horrible yet after smoking since before birth, I just cannot seem to cut the cord with tobacco. I smoke 3 or 4 cigs a day and regret each one. Hopefully I will find the strength to quit.

So I think we might all avoid excessive alcohol and tobacco as our bodies dictate. :)

Cheers!
Jessica

[jibjen]

Hi There,

I have noticed I can not tolerate alcohol like I used to and am lucky to have 1 or 2 if that. Drinking these days puts me out for days..Just can not tolerate it anymore.

Jibs

[opie74]

If i am not experiencing any symptoms and have a dring it is the normal reaction, but if I am on the slippery slope of inflimation and pending relapse, wow, i am a cheep date!  My first symptoms to show up with a flair are a slight droop on one side of my face.  It makes my speach sound drunk! LOL

[Sailorsong]

I have noticed from very early in my MS that I can't handle it. After only maybe 1 or 2 ounces of a mixed drink it is like I have been on a binge drinking spell. Not that I have done that in the past to know what that is like. LOL. I do miss not being able to drink at times, I did love to have a pina colda when I went of for Mexican dinner.

My pet theory is it is the location of the damage that changes how we are effected by drinking.

Dennis
  

[supermum_ms]

I dont seem to be able to get to the bottom of a glass of wine or bubbly before i'm already looking, feeling and sounding drunker than a skunk, hmmm and thats diluted with lemonade too. I have to admit a belief in types of alcohol making a difference, hard liquor doesn't seem to have the same affect on me, as what wine or champane does.

I suspect that there's something about the tannens and preservatives they put in it wines etc. that makes it get to my head more quickly though. Some medications do make alcohol more potent, i dont have that excuse though so I am thinking there has to be something to this (anacdotal) theory of alcohol affecting pwMS differently than the norm's of the world.

If I was any more 'moderate' with the amount of alcohol I can get away with, i'd be drinking out of an egg cup lol

Cheers.......JJ (ooh how appt lol)

[Sidesteps]

No Judging here -

I am struggling with taking my Zanaflex because of the mental fogginess but think I need to give my body time to adjust.

Ojibaji, I am probably one of the rare people that does drink her fluids. I average about 60 to 80 ounces a day (not including wine occasionally). I don't think it is dehydration but maybe it is. I do notice of I feel like I haven't had enough fluids but I haven't noticed increased symptoms. Hmmm - I might head dehydration to the watch list. lol

Alex, I think we both are still inflamed so I am not surprised we both have noticed this. BTW: I am going to order that book you recommended. Woman on a mission.

XOXO

[jonlovesbenz]

Everyone is different. I am with Montel Williams I love my pot it helps or at least I think it does and that is all that matters!

You know we don't judge here that's why I love and need this form!

[bubbles_04]

I'm not sure, I got alittle drunk for my birthday in march but don't remember any flare up. Just the usual hang over.

I did notice though (don't judge me!) that if I smoke its brings on a pseudo flare but it don't last that long! I don't smoke socially anymore though, I quit after I noticed the relation to my MS flare ups.

One other thing, if I smoke something different (again please no judging!!) I get a worse pseudo attack.... which makes me think about what montel williams says about his smoking habit and MS. He says it helps.. After my "experiment" I would say it doesn't help me, so no more of that :)

[SarahL2491]

I agree with everyone.  I if I drink, I  have one, or sometimes some Baileys' in my coffee, but can't handle more than one and seldom finish it

I do notice the dehydration, and have to add more liquids to my diet afterward, being kidney stone prone, I do that anyway.

I get more "buggy symptoms" the ones we deal with all the time after
drinking, so that's why I don't do it often.  Not sure why.....Interesting observations!

[Ojibajo]

I think you have to watch it with Avonex because alcohol can dehydrate you and so can Avonex. I will have a drink a couple times a hear but usually no more than one and sometimes I can't even finish that, but I think that has more to do with getting older. :)

[tingletingle]

Hey there ss,

I am enjoying a very nice drop of durif that is egg and milk free right now.

A very timely question that you ask. I love the french saying 'everything in moderation, even moderation'. The other night our family caught up with another family we hadn't seen for 3 months. One thing led to another and a 30 year bottle of wine was opened and the male host and I were goners.

I was only just getting over an 'episode' from the previous handful of days (it wasn't a relapse) and of course should have known better. But I guess life and friendship got in the way which I do not regret at all. After 5 glasses of wine and two drags of a cigar I awoke the next morning with not only hightened symptoms but tremors and limping/drunk walking.

This condition lasted the entire day which was embarrassing as I had to fly to attend a five star conference. At the end of the day I had to be a party pooper and crashed in my hotel before 8pm that night. After 10 hours sleep I awoke and was much better.

So, I think yes alcohol does affect my symptoms in excess but also depends on the the current state of health. For 99% of the time I keep to within 2 glasses of wine per day and have 2 days off drinking per week and I normally don't experience any side effects the next day.

Good question
Blessings
Alex

[Sidesteps]

I don't usually have more than one (and lately I pour a glass to find I can't finish it) so thats why I am wondering.

I am also not on any other medications, just Avonex, so it's not anything to do with other medications.

By all means, I am not over drinking but more sensitive it seems. I am not sure. Perplexing. I am not sure it's related. Could be just normal ups and downs of the chronic symptoms. That's what I am trying to figure out.

[candy158]

Hi you, I too have a glass of wine with my dinner, or maybe 2... my Dr's say that one glass is ok for us women, but 2 or more is to much.  

I don't ever have enough to get a buzz, but, I think for sure it could bring on a flare, especially if we are sitting on the fence of one.

I still feel that I relax more from a glass of wine with dinner, than just popping pills for the pain and things that keep happening, but I know that the wine and the drugs can bring on some reactions... so, maybe if it is making you
feel like you are having a flare, don't do it..........  

my advice only,
Hope it helps,
((HUGS))
Candy