weird question...alcohol

[panicphreak82]

i was recently diagnosed with IC. i am a college graduate at michigan state university. i tend to drink 1-2 times on the weekends with my friends and i have been reading about how alcohol is a "flare" for most people. i have also read that most people have luck w/ alcohol that is not fermented like whiskey or vodka. even rum.

can anyone shed any light or share experiences w/ith me?

[ICNDonna]

:welcome: to the IC Network. I'm very sorry you have IC, but very glad you found us.

Alcoholic beverages are usually bad news for anyone with IC. You'll find diet information in the Patient Handbook at http://www.ic-network.com/handbook

There are some things you can do and still go out and have fun. It's always okay to carry around a glass of water with ice cubes. As long as you don't say anything, nobody will probably notice. And if anybody asks, you can always just say you are having to avoid drinking for a while due to medications --- or even just say you were very thirsty.

Sending warm encouraging hugs,
Donna

[panicphreak82]

thanks donna, hugs back at ya. im a little frustrated right now.....because i have never had problems in the past w/ alcohol. they thought i had a uti a couple weeks ago and my mom kept giving me cranberry juice 5-6 times a day!! eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek. that was most DEFINITELY a flare. i was also drinking a lot of orange juice and bananas. 3 of the big no-nos.

i have a migraine right now that has been ongoing for 5 months due to hormones and have been stuck in the house all summer. ever since graduation, its been hell.

i was supposed to do student teaching for special ed this year but i had to deter it. :( i need all the hugs i can get.

[mayray518]

I got diagnosed with IC in 1993. I enjoyed a few drinks a week but was willing to sacrifice that for the IC diet. Now that I control my IC with elavil I can drinks a few drinks a week without symptoms.

[panicphreak82]

mayray,
see, they thought i had a bladder infection and i was drinking all this cran juice. that did NOT help. anyways, my dr has said that i have probably had ic for a really long time...and i have had drinks for a really long time.

i guess im just gonna try to take the prelief before i go out because i have never had a problem w/ alcohol in the past. im a whiskey/beer kinda gal so i shouldnt have any problems. i only have 2-3 at most and then im done. :lmao:

[Dixiefireball]

if you never had problems with drinking more then likely you want have a problem but we are all diff.
as long as you doing well with it i wouldnt worry about it but the first sign of it becomeing a problems i would stop it.
b.t.w :welcome: to the ICN hope you have a good weekend
Rhonda

[classics]

I'm a karaoke enthusiast, so I like to have a few drinks when I got out. I found that if I take a couple of Tums before I drink that helps. Prelief isn't too bad, but it make me constipated. I notice burning with the first glass of wine but after that it's not as noticible. Zinfandel isn't has bad as vodka and 7 up. With the 7 up I notice more frequency. I have mild IC though and I'm also on Elmiron. (I think it's starting to work a little bit. It's been about six weeks) .

[panicphreak82]

yall are a bunch of sweet people. :D IC sucks. :toilet:

[donutgirl]

Panic....You will become more aware of what bothers you as time goes on. I can drink nothing but bottled water. Being from the south I used to drink at least 1/2 gal of tea a day! ARRGGHH, how I miss it. Anyway, welcome to the boards...you will find lots of good information and people here.

DIANE

[Jocotter]

If I'm not having a flare, I can usually drink some wine (white or blush) 2-3 times a week without a problem. If I'm having a problem, then I don't drink.

[RedLione]

I'm a red wine girl, and it doesn't bother me at all. I really miss my 1/2 gal. of iced tea too, though. Funny how one thing will bother me and the other won't. PANIC, you can just tell people you're the designated driver. That's what I do. When I go out with friends, I DO NOT drink AT ALL, and I do the driving. I can drink at home where it's safe.

[jeanniebug]

My IC flares up really bad if I drink alcohol..especially beer. And I can tell ya, I used to LOVE a big cold mug of beer..or 5..on the weekends. My mouth actually waters if my husband is drinking one. Anyway it really sets me off into a flare up. However, I have found I can have a very occassional pina colada and get away with it. I find this very bizarre, because pina coladas have pineapple juice and all kinds of crazy stuff in them. But, for some reason, I can have one once in a blue moon. I know if I drank straight pineapple juice it would make me flare big time. Just another one of those mysteries I guess. I miss my Mr. Pibbs too. I've read some people have better luck with a really sweet dessert wine. I tried it and could not tolerate it. I hope you are able to have some of the things you like. I'm hoping with time, I might be able to tolerate some of these things in the future. I try not to look at it likes it's a permanent no no, I'm just trying to get my bladder to settle down for now. I was just diagnosed 10 months ago so I flare really easy. Best of luck to you- :grouphug:

[XoChelsey03Xo]

yall are a bunch of sweet people. :D IC sucks. :toilet:

I'm with you on that one. IC sure does suck. I was at the movies tonight and had to leave during the best part because I needed to use the restroom. IC is a bummer. Chelsey

[Julie B]

MayRay.......and everyone else..........be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking ANY medications before drinking alcohol..........I know that when I started taking elavil I went out to the pub with friends and had two maybe three dirinks that night........the medications can amplify the body's reaction to the alcohol and that is bad bad bad..........I don't take elavil anymore, but I do take other medications.........I like the water with ice deal...........hang in there Panic........I hope you get your chance to student teach soon........

[tigger_gal]

I use to be able to drink here and there, but now if I look at it I flare.. owie.. :yikes: ..... I know as time has moved forward, my IC has gotten worse. There are things I could eat and drink a year ago, but, couldn't touch it now, with out having a flare..... :rolleyes: Glad you found us :) you will find a welth of info among these pages.. All the gals and guys in here really show grest support and advice.....
Brat

[dancemomof2]

IC and alchol are not good together. I can occasionally drink a glass of blackberry wine without trouble. Last year I made the mistake of putting some Bailey's Irish cream in coffee, and I just about went insane with the flare it caused. Becareful with you meds like Julie said some don't mix well with alchol.
Hope you find your answer, it is a tuff one with everyone being different