Alcohol? Beer?

[angelina21]

I recently found out I have IC and I read that drinking beer is a big no-no. Now, I am not an alcoholic or anything but I socialize a lot and I really like a good beer or two. Since that is now out of the question, are there any wines or mixed drinks I can drink instead? I would just hate to be on a girl's night out drinking water.

[kadi]

If you click on this link... http://www.ic-network.com/diet/dietcheatsheet.html
You will find a list of foods & beverages with their level of tolerance by IC patients.
Most IC patients who are currently having symptoms do have trouble with alcohol increasing their symptom level, but once your symptoms are managed you might try one of the drinks in the "sometimes ok" list. Also do check your medications to see if drinking alcohol is ok with them, many IC medicines do not interact well with alcohol.

[belou]

When I was first diagnosed I would get a bourbon, vodka, or dark rum on the rocks because they were on the maybe list. I didn't flare, but I wasn't feeling great in general at the time. I figured it couldn't be helping. I cut it out of my diet and went strict. I also cut down on activity (bike riding). I am starting to feel better, so maybe someday I will try straight liquor on the rocks again. I have reason to believe it might be okay for me.

It took me awhile to get used to straight alcohol, but I began to enjoy it. Plus, drinking straight liquor as a women is kind of amusing. Some of my guy friends would feel compelled to order something on the rocks as well. I guess they didn't want to be the guy drinking a cape code next to the girl with bourbon on the rocks.

-Stephanie

[musiclover]

I was scared about the same thing. I live downtown and so a lot of things I do consist out going out. Even my book club meets out at a different lounge or restaurant/bar every month for a drink. So it's not just social pressure, it's just an enjoyable thing for me to do with my friends. Last night I was out from 8:30 p.m. - 2 in the morning, so it was a long time to only have one drink, so I ended up having 2 1/2 drinks. I only drank Vanilla Vodka with a splash of water on the rocks. I felt just fine all night and all day today I feel great! Vodka was on the list as being okay for some, and so I think it is okay for me here and there.

[ICNDonna]

I know it's not always easy to be with people who are drinking, yet abstain --- I have a nephew who is alcoholic and he is able to do it --- I take a lesson from him. He knows that if he takes one drink he is lost again --- I know if I do, I will have pain!

Donna

[reesper]

Any kind of alcoholic drink irritates me greatly. The social pressure to drink isn't worth the pain. I haven't had a single drink since I've had symptoms (about a year), nor do I plan on drinking anytime soon. I don't really miss it.

[Goldfinch]

I am able to have a short glass of white wine or a half-glass of beer with a meal once in a while, but I always make sure to drink a lot of water during and after the meal. Once in a blue moon I have a few sips of my husband's scotch (so good!), but I learned the hard way recently that overdoing the wine and scotch gave me my first flare in 4 months.

[kadi]

I wouldn't even try! I figure if even a tiny amount of citric acid as a preservative in food flares me, I wouldn't give my bladder the acid bath it would receive from alcohol!
And the medicines I'm on wouldn't interact well with alcohol either.

It's ok. Given the number of alcoholics in my family tree, alcohol has never been attractive to me, I've always been leery of it & never felt good when I drank even 1 glass of wine. Half a glass of wine with a special dinner was always the most I could do without nausea & dizziness, even before IC.

[musiclover]

Vodka is on the list as being okay for some, so it may be okay here and there in moderation for some people. It's probably like other foods that are the list as being okay for some, you have to carefully try it if that's what you want to do. It's not really social pressure, it's just that I enjoy having a drink with my friends occasionally, so it was worth it to give it a go and I'm glad I did. I wouldn't do it every day. But I never drank every day before IC anyway.

[OrlandoP]

Sadly, after years of denial, beer and most wines are out for me. Whether or not the medical evidence is conclusive in exactly what they do to the bladder itself, like coffee, and MSG, for instance, they excite the nerves.

I remember one night I drank a couple of beers and then got on a train. I had to get out, and rush to a subway bathroom--that was enough to turn me off of beer for good.