This is topic Who has completely given up alcohol and who hasn't? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.


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Posted by TxLymie (Member # 20847) on :
 
I'm not a chronic drinker at all. But for all of my adult life I've enjoyed social drinking...1-3 drinks at a party, wedding, business dinner etc.

When I was diagnosed last year I gave up alchohol for 6-7 months. During that time I had 1 month good, 1 month horrible etc. I didn't notice that giving up alcohol made a huge difference either way.

I've now been on a new abx since March and have felt 95% normal for 3.5 months. I did start drinking some again here and there. I know it is not the best thing but I find it hard to never have a social drink.

I haven't noticed any bad affects from drinking other than the last 2 times I drank I was very itchy the next day. I'm sure I could be developing Candida so I'll give up the alcohol again.

I just find it hard to never ever have a social drink. Anyone else?
 
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
 
i used to drink maybe one margarita a year.

now i'm a teetotalller...nothing at all.

maybe a coke once in a while.
 
Posted by steven (Member # 13101) on :
 
i used to drink every weekend. since im sick i drink only water and green tea.
 
Posted by landerss (Member # 17732) on :
 
I've admittedly been drinking socially during my entire treatment, and I'm 95% these days (on antibiotics). Still have a few too many sometimes, but I've found that my alcohol tolerance has improved as I've improved.
 
Posted by jkmom (Member # 14004) on :
 
When I was only taking 1 abx, I had the occasional drink. I never noticed a difference in how I felt.

Now that I am taking 3, I have given it up completely for now, but it has only been 2 months.

I miss having a glass of wine with a nice dinner but I am afraid it would be too much for my liver right now.
 
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
 
i have an occ. glass of wine or beer. I did not have any alcohol during first 2 years of treatment...

I only have alcohol when I am not on any abx that are reallly hard on the liver, like rifampin. Or when I am on multiple abx.

Really, I normally feel too poorly to even want a glass of wine anymore...

but on the rare day tht I am feeling ok, I have had a glass of wine or a beer w/o any negative affects..

sometimes life needs to feel 'normal'....choose wisely.
 
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
 
I used to really like a good glass of wine or Champagne. Since I have been on abx I really don't drink.

I occasionally try to have a glass of wine and the next day I have yeast issues. Coincidence? I don't know.
 
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
-
Yes, this can be puzzling but I found it helps to explore why LLMDs stress the importance of avoiding alcohol. Then, it all makes so much more sense. It's all about the safety of our cells - our own safety and longevity.

Very itchy the next day from drinking can be a signal of liver toxicity and dysfunction. Lyme hits the liver VERY hard. Even after treatment, it can take a very long time for the liver to heal enough to be able to handle even one drink.

Alcohol - any at all - entirely changes how both pharmaceutical medicines and herbal supplements work - it alters chemical properties to create something totally different - increasing risks while also diminishing effectiveness.

Several reasons to avoid alcohol until FULLY recovered -- one of which is that the liver is dealt a huge blow with lyme and damage can be severe. Add to that the need for medicine and that puts even more stress on the liver.

The lyme spirochete produces one of the most toxic substances known to man, similar to that of botulism. The liver is the primary organ to metabolize those toxins and get them out of the body. That is no easy job.

Many (if not all, as at least one LLMD thinks) lyme patients have excess porphryrins - from the liver being overwhelmed. The porphyrins, in excess, can kill cells of all types but especially nerve cells.

Alcohol uses the cytochrome P-450 liver detox pathway. Patients with the porphyria problems have that pathway damaged to varying degrees so the very best of self-care is vital.

As well, the brain cells don't do well with alcohol. Nor the lining of the stomach. Alcohol really does not mix well with any medicine.

And - remember that spirochetes don't recognize your best mates' birthdays, or holidays. Every day, we have this toxic infection to deal with and, every day matters. Liver damage from even one drink can happen and that damage might not be repairable.

====================

http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/B_guidelines_12_17_08.pdf

Dr. Burrascano's Treatment Guidelines (2008) - 37 pages

Sections regarding self-care:

From page 27:

CERTAIN ABSOLUTE RULES MUST BE FOLLOWED IF LYME SYMPTOMS ARE TO BE PERMANENTLY CLEARED:

1. Not allowed to get behind in sleep, or become overtired.

2. No caffeine or other stimulants that may affect depth or duration of sleep, or reduce or eliminate naps.

3. Absolutely no alcohol!

. . . [more details at link above]
-
=====================

This explains that lyme is one of the most toxic infections known to man:

www.townsendletter.com/FebMar2006/lyme0206.htm

BIOCHEMISTRY OF LYME DISEASE: BORRELIA BURGDORFERI SPIROCHETE / CYST

by Prof. Robert W. Bradford and Henry W. Allen

EXCERPT:

. . . A discovery of great importance relating to a toxin produced by the causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, has been linked to a similar toxin produced by the organism Clostridium botulinum (botulism). . . .

- Full article and great photos at link above.

=====================

See the "Secondary Porphyria" article first - just one way alcohol causes more liver stress but not the only way.
http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/1/91842?

PORPHYRIA Thread

======================

A helpful search: "Hepatic Encephalopathy" and "Lyme Encephalopathy"
-
 
Posted by dali (Member # 24458) on :
 
Alcohol and antibiotics (especially long-term high doses) put great stress on the liver. Your liver is doing a wonderful job trying to detox your body and it needs all the help it can get...to detox you from antibiotics and lyme toxins.

I used to drink socially, and I have stopped completely. I want to be healthy and I want to help my body as much as possible.

Sometimes I crave a glass of wine, but my health is way more important to me. I have had severe gastritis from mixing alcohol (1 beer) and antibiotics...so bad I ended up in the hospital..this was 20 years ago, and I have learned my lesson.

Make a pitcher of lemon water of sangria without the alcohol. Pour it in a wine glass and enjoy company. this is what I do when I want to join in.

good luck
 
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
 
I used to drink regularly. Not get bombed, but would easily have 6 beers / week and maybe 1-2 bottles of wine.

Since my diagnosis I've had nothing.

now...cheating on my diet on the other hand...
 
Posted by TxLymie (Member # 20847) on :
 
I know alcohol is not good especially while having lyme but as one person said I sometimes just want to feel "normal"! Just like every now and then I want to have a piece of chocolate or eat carbs for a day!

For now I am going to go back to no alcohol. I've been doing so well but feel myself slipping a little and not feeling as great.

The info on the liver was very good. I'm going to have my liver and kidneys tested since I haven't done that since Dec.

I guess for now I'm back to being a alcohol free...just don't think I can give it up forever!
 
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
 
Is there a test to check porphyrin levels?
 
Posted by keltyl (Member # 14050) on :
 
6 or 8 mos ago, a friend with some problems stopped in with a bottle of my favorite wine. I had one glass with her, and couldn't sleep a wink the whole night.

I've noticed that sometimes in the past too. Anyone else? I'm also taking LDN, and wonder about that and drinking too.
 
Posted by Amelia (Member # 17677) on :
 
Hi Txlymie: I have not been able to drink at all the entire treatment time- 2 years in September. When I did drink after being originally treated for 3 initial weeks and then relapsed heavily - drank before I realized I had true lyme and coinfections, I got very sick- mainly the next day with a headache like no other etc. Since then, I will not touch it. A few months ago, I made bananas foster and thought I had cooked off the alcohol- well as I was eating it, I had a pretty immediate headache. So, for my system, I can't do it. I am trying to do everything in my power to aid my body in getting rid of all of this... I will not be able to live with myself if I am to blame for its not going... Just me... My doc said, its a toxin, you can see how you do with it and I had the answer already inside from my past experience. I think bottom line-- everyone is different and you have to do what is best for you... Wishing you a speedy recovery...
 
Posted by Pam08 (Member # 19203) on :
 
I have been sick for almost 9 years (since just before my 26th b-day) and I haven't had a single drink since being sick. I was never much of a drinker to begin with though so it wasn't a big deal to me.

I didn't even know I had lyme until a couple years ago. I just figured that my body had enough to deal with without adding the burden of alcohol to it. I wanted to give myself the best possible chance to get well.

I can certainly understand that sometimes people just want to feel normal though.

Take Care!
Pam :-)
 
Posted by Need Lots of Help (Member # 18603) on :
 
Drinking always made me feel aweful, probably from the lyme, and so I never have the urge to drink. Ever.

Now, lets talk about some ice cream!!! [Smile]
 
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
 
Buhner has a book on herbal beers and their healing powers.

I'm sure you could find something that is easy enough on the liver.
 
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
-
http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/B_guidelines_12_17_08.pdf

Dr. Burrascano's Treatment Guidelines (2008) - 37 pages

From page 27:

CERTAIN ABSOLUTE RULES MUST BE FOLLOWED IF LYME SYMPTOMS ARE TO BE PERMANENTLY CLEARED:

. . .

3. Absolutely no alcohol!

. . .
-
 
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
 
I was in a period of doing relatively better, when at one point, I went to a wedding. The night before, I drank quite a bit (probably about 5-7 drinks? I dunno). The next day I was hung over....and it took the "normal" amount of time to clear.

However, even while I was drinking that night, one of my friends was telling me I wasn't looking good all of a sudden, and I think what she meant is that my dark circles under my eyes came out. Because she kept saying, "your coloring looks off..." and she was pointing to under my eyes. It also just felt like something "clicked" in a bad way. Even though I got over the hangover, I feel like that was the point I started going downhill again...aka, a relapse.

Then at the wedding itself I had a few drinks, but not much at all. Like 3 weak drinks over a long period of time.

Anyways, since then, I've realized it isn't worth it, and it makes me relapse. So I have found the only way is to not drink at all.

Looking back over time, I think there are times I've also experienced a "setback" (meaning, long-lasting implications) from just ONE glass of wine.

On the other hand, there are a few times I can think of that I drank while sick that did not affect me longterm. So even for "me", it just depends. But since I never know when it will cause a setback and when it won't, now I don't drink at all...and haven't for 3 years.

I think once I do get better...I'll still wait a couple years to drink, because it's not worth relapsing like I did that one time.
 
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
 
Also, I take tinctures and homeopathics that are like 40% alcohol...at times I take them by the spoonful, many at a time.

It probably still adds up to less than one "shot." But I figure the benefits outweigh the risks. And actually I've stopped the homeopathics and am now just doing the tinctures.
 
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
 
Just remember that any amount of alcohol including the small amount in Kefir, can interact with Flagyl.

I often wondered why I would get so sick after having even one drink (pre diagnosis days) and found out recently from a very good LLMD that alcohol can actually cause a herx reaction.
 
Posted by jarjar (Member # 8847) on :
 
I was ill and misdiagnosed for for a long time. Went 7 years without drinking as it just made me feel worse. I do not drink beer or wine as I can tell right off the bat that I feel worse when I drink it. I do notice that I can drink a quality filtered vodka moderately such as Sky mixed with something healthy and feel fine. I can eat something with sugar and tell I'm feeding the monster right off the bat. In other words I have a good feel as to what my body can tolerate and what it can't. In the early years though no way would I have a drink. Of course with flagyl no way Jose either.
 
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
 
Page 17 of Burrascano Guidelines:

"There are three things that will predict treatment failure regardless of which regimen is chosen: Noncompliance, alcohol use, and sleep deprivation."

And, p. 15, regarding precautions while taking flagyl:

"No alcohol consumption! A severe, "Antabuse" reaction will occur, consisting of severe nausea, flushing, headache, and other symptoms."
 
Posted by nenet (Member # 13174) on :
 
I haven't had alcohol in 2-3 years - I've forgotten how long it's been. I am too invested in getting well again, though I do crave a taste of good sake, wine, bourbon, or beer every now and then. It's hardest when those around me are drinking, but I manage.


Someone mentioned taking tinctures that are made with alcohol. I wanted to let you know that you can buy (or make) herbal tinctures that do not contain alcohol.
 


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