posted
Has anyone had any adverse affects of drinking alcohol while on abx? I'm not a heavy drinker (about 1 per day), and I've been on 1000mg/day of cephalexin for about 7 weeks. Doc didn't say "don't drink", but I've heard that high doses of abx and alcohol is extremely hard on your liver. Does anyone drink and take abx? How about coffee??
Posts: 23 | From wyoming | Registered: May 2006
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posted
I quit drinking but not because of the abx. Alcohol, even a small amount, hinders healing especially from lyme and is another toxin your body will have to filter.
I love to drink too, but the only alcohol I've had in the past 2 motnhs was for a 4th of July party...and I paid dearly.
Posts: 594 | From NJ/NY | Registered: Jun 2006
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posted
I quit drinking alcohol completely when I started tx -- I feel it is really imperative to do so, as many of the drugs used to treat TBDs are very liver-toxic. Plus, it really does depress immune function -- your body is going to be fighting hard enough against toxins and stressors as it is!
I still drink coffee -- I know I probably shouldn't, but I do. My liver enzymes are normal as of the last monthly test, despite taking a lot of liver-stressing drugs. (I do take a lot of liver support though...)
-------------------- "Looks like freedom but it feels like death.. It's something in between, I guess"
Leonard Cohen, from the song "Closing Time" Posts: 822 | From California | Registered: Jan 2006
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just don
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1129
posted
Yes, me too. Havent had a drink since October of '99.
NOT because I am an alcoholic but because I didnt like how it made me feel. Three day hangover from 3 beers(and NOT miscounted either).
I dont know why that date stuck in my mind and I cant remember others far more important!!!???Maybe cuz I am --just don--
-------------------- just don Posts: 4548 | From Middle of midwest | Registered: May 2001
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char
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8315
posted
Dr. Burrasco says no alcohol.
AP- A shot of tequila is lower in carbs than a Margarita.
Posts: 1230 | From US | Registered: Nov 2005
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ping
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Member # 6974
posted
Hey patsmad,
Speaking of "mad", I'm sure this what everyone will be once they read my post, but, that's the way it goes.
After a number of years fighting Lyme and thru numerous doctors that have rx'd me tons of vicodin, OC, codiene, etc. I've found that the occasional (but regular) alcohol binge with my friends is more relaxing, stress-relieving and a hell of a lot more fun.
Is it tough on the liver? Well, it can be. Have the function monitored on a regular basis and back off if you're having problems.
Please note that I don't drink daily. You may want to consider skipping the daily use and reserve it as a weekend treat on Fri/Sat evenings. Yes, you will have to exhibit control over this activity. Watch out for fluids that contain lots of carbs like beer, as you can develop yeast and that's no fun at all.
Bottom line for me is that drinking occasionally sure beats the meat out of the pills, which most all my friends with Bb now seem to be addicted, even though their pain associated with Lyme has improved greatly. Now, they wrestle (or not) with the drug dependency issue... We all live and deal with things according to our choices.
Best of choosing to you, patsmad.
"We are more than a container for Lyme."
-------------------- ping "We are more than containers for Lyme" Posts: 1302 | From Back in TX again | Registered: Mar 2005
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quote:Originally posted by char: Dr. Burrasco says no alcohol.
Yep. He says the number 1 and number 2 reasons people do not get well, are 1. alcohol consumption and 2. failure to get adequate rest
[I think that is the right order.]
Besides that, alcohol will give you yeast...and that will keep you from getting well too.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
posted
Dido on all of the above.
You heard correctly. Yes! Even in small amounts alcohol can put added stress on the liver while doing abx.
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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robi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5547
posted
No alcohol for me since april 2004. I cheat on the sugar occassionally .......... never not even once on the alcohol.
robi
-------------------- Now, since I put reality on the back burner, my days are jam-packed and fun-filled. ..........lily tomlin as 'trudy' Posts: 2503 | From here | Registered: Apr 2004
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
There are a few abx, like Flagyl, you definitely cannot have alcohol while taking.
A lot of people with Lyme just can't drink. Even one drink will make them feel really sick.
I have had drinks on and off during treatment. I stopped for a number of months because I was on Flagyl and having problems with my pancreas.
Now that I'm off Flagyl, I'll admit I had a beer last night. It was a second date, and I really needed something
Ping - I don't know what you mean by binge, but binge drinking is much worse for your system than having one drink a day. I'm not made at you, just sharing knowledge.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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SForsgren
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posted
If someone with Lyme Disease is still drinking alcohol, it is my opinion that they are not that serious about getting well.
-------------------- Be well, Scott Posts: 4617 | From San Jose, CA | Registered: Jul 2005
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liz28
Unregistered
posted
Yeah, you do have to stop while you are getting your health back. It feeds the yeast, which suppresses your immune system, and is a depressant, which can be a Lyme side effect.
But don't worry, you aren't being asked to give up fun. You wouldn't believe the wild times people here get up to in their spare time--they just don't happen to mention it.
If you come from an ethnic background where your friends may drink alcohol on a daily basis and say it's part of the culture, just send out copies of your medical bills to anyone who criticizes you. The higher the numbers, the lower the criticism.
The big problem with coffee is you'll probably drink too much of it to combat Lyme fatigue, and will need more and more of it to get an effect. Do some research into anti-inflammatories to help with that. But again, no one is asking you to put on a frock and turn into Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm.
You have to take liver support with antibiotics anyway. Some good choices are milk thistle, schizandra, N-acetyl cysteine, and lecithin.
And remember, if you get bored, there's always sex
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posted
Hmm -- I don't know anyone who has gotten addicted to pain killers by using them when they were really necessary --- I do know one person (not a lymie) who became somewhat physiologically dependent and kept needing higher doses, but he was in excruciating pain 24/7 from a broken spine and post-surgical problems, so the trade off was worth it to him.
Personally, my pain med usage is directly proportionate to my pain -- if the pain is really bad, I take pain meds... if not, I don't take any...
-------------------- "Looks like freedom but it feels like death.. It's something in between, I guess"
Leonard Cohen, from the song "Closing Time" Posts: 822 | From California | Registered: Jan 2006
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Health
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6034
posted
After reading all these posts about what to do...
then choose what you can handle.
You may continue to drink alcohol and find it is fine for you,
BUT you may also find that it is making you sicker.
In time, you will decide what is right for you, and what you can handle and need to do to get well.
We are all different, just because someone cuts alcohol RIGHT out of their life, does not mean that you can do the same, You may need a drink or two to cope, and in time, you will find your own path that fits for you.
some can follow all the rules right away, others it takes awhile, or they find their own way to get well,
Mentally, we are all different, and what one can do, another may not be able to handle doing it until later, or when the time is right.
Do the best that YOU can do.
Trish
Posts: 1250 | From Canada | Registered: Aug 2004
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
quote:Originally posted by SForsgren: If someone with Lyme Disease is still drinking alcohol, it is my opinion that they are not that serious about getting well.
You are allowed to have your opinion, but I really think it is hurtful to tell people they are not serious about getting well.
We all have different circumstances and different levels of illness.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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SForsgren
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7686
posted
The statement was not intended to be hurtful. It may, however, make someone stop and think. Most LLMDs would agree or have already publically stated that alcohol should not be consumed while someone is dealing with Lyme.
For me, that means if someone wants to continue drinking, they are adding additional burden to their already compromosed systems and willing to take the risk that it delays or negates their healing. I would say the same for smoking btw.
Lyme is a difficult illness to recover from and you need every possible thing in your favor. Smoking and drinking are certainly against the path of health and wellness.
-------------------- Be well, Scott Posts: 4617 | From San Jose, CA | Registered: Jul 2005
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I'm Irish and am almost embarrassed not to drink. My family and friends think I am a prude now. I used to drink quite a bit, like the good Irish girl that I am supposed to be.
But since becoming sick (and even before I knew I had Lyme but had it untreated), I have found alcohol to make me feel bad. I have gone through periods where a drink once in a while felt ok. But not in a long time.
I had a few sips of a drink on New Years eve and then felt bad and so didn't finish it. That was the last time, until last Friday night when I had one tequila shot to celebrate my friends bday. I felt crappy yesterday, and even today. I actually planned in advanced to have a drink and felt like it would be good for me not to be so uptight. But it just doesn't feel good, no matter how much I want to live in moderation.
If I ever do drink, it is the purest alcohol I can find with the least amount of carbs. I was on a kick once where I decided that tequila would be ok - but only the 100% agave and realllly expensive (like $80 for a bottle). I felt that once in a great while would be ok. It turns out that once in a great while is about every 8 months or so - not by will power, but bc my Lyme bod just doesn't want it.
In the end, I think it is very bad for us and very toxic.
Sorry for rambling, but I have sort of mixed feelings on the subject. I sort of agree with the person above who said to let go once in a while, bc the joy is good for our immune system. But for me, I feel like the toxins outweigh the benefits.
Posts: 589 | From Rhode Island | Registered: Jun 2006
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Andie333
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posted
Health, for me, is my first priority, so I no longer drink and quit smoking decades ago. I've even traded the diet Coke and lattes I used to love for water.
My sole indulgences (and they are indulgent) are one cup of black Indian tea each morning and very very very occasional dark chocolate.
My system just seems to respond better this way.
Boring, maybe, but not nearly as tedious as being chronically ill. Just my own thinking...
Andie
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
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Aniek
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posted
quote:Originally posted by SForsgren: The statement was not intended to be hurtful. It may, however, make someone stop and think.
Thanks for the explanation Scott. I'm sorry if I overreacted.
I was by no means advocating drinking. But I have to say there has been no change in how I respond to treatment when I don't drink compared to when I have 1-2 drinks once or twice a month.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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quote:Originally posted by luvdogs: I'm Irish and am almost embarrassed not to drink. My family and friends think I am a prude now. I used to drink quite a bit, like the good Irish girl that I am supposed to be.
I know how you feel. I'm a sailor, and, for history's sake, should live in the bars when not at sea... The boys call me a prude, but my bum gets smacked a lot less, and I'm not always being groped -I guess something good did come out of all of this.
-------------------- Sometimes when I say �Oh, I�m fine� I want someone to look me in the eyes & say �tell the truth�
quote:Originally posted by SForsgren: The statement was not intended to be hurtful. It may, however, make someone stop and think.
Thanks for the explanation Scott. I'm sorry if I overreacted.
I was by no means advocating drinking. But I have to say there has been no change in how I respond to treatment when I don't drink compared to when I have 1-2 drinks once or twice a month.
right, but the poster is talking about drinking daily.
I know all of our bodies are different, and alcohol can actually be good for you...when you're healthy. But with so much stress already on your system it seems counterproductive to drink.
I was forced to go from a glass of wine a night and drinking heavily on the weekends with my friends to being the healthiest person in my social circle. It really was hard on me, mentally that is.
I basically had to rewire my brain and let go of the person I was and redevelop myself.
Its really hard to do, but I think drinking daily is quite hinderous to the healing process.
Posts: 594 | From NJ/NY | Registered: Jun 2006
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
1 a day probaly wont affect anything but your sugar and we all know what Bb likes that said. I went a year and a half no alcohol at all not even a sip Iam still being treated after beginning my 5th year.
Now this past year I drank about a case a week or on the weekend and I just stopped again putting to much weight on and I cant stand feeling that bad the next 4 days. And its not helping me anyway I did like feeling good for the time period during the beer drinking but the trade off sucks.
If you ever take flagyl dont drink at all.Believe me its deffinatly contraindicated.Youll get sick.
If you can do without it if you cant then increase water intake and vitamins you flush alot of things when drinking and some abx go right out of you.
My advise dont bother its not worth it.Just to socialize.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
All spirochetes ferment sugar to ethanol.
Your brain, pancreas and liver are ALREADY taking a huge hit.
NO ALCOHOL! Naada. Zippo. Nilch. ZERO.
Later, when you are cured, you can "celebrate".
NOT NOW.
There is an enzyme produced in the liver that is supposed to help breakdown alcohol. Men have more of this enzyme than women do which is why they typically can drink more alcohol than women.
Interesting about the beer comment...quite unexpected given the Mg content in beer.
Going off track here once again...
Years ago, when I was trying to figure out what it was in the good old Western Fence lizard's blood that was destroyed by heat...I somehow came across the process involved in making beer.
Heating does indeed destroy enzymes and hormones. It also changes the pH. I wrote to R. Lane and asked him if he knew the pH of the lizard's blood. He replied that he did not. They boiled the lizard's blood without checking the pH first. This, I felt, could have been very significant.
Once the lizard's blood was boiled, it no longer was able to destroy Bb.
I wanted to know if the lizard's blood was alkaline or acidic to begin with.
Now I realize that this lizard makes a LOT of melatonin...much more than we do and it is this hormone is protective. It is the "indole" or the nitrogen "sticking out" on the molecular structure that does the "magic".
posted
I have an occasional drink (usually red wine) on the weekends. It doesn't seem to affect my symptoms. Sometimes it makes me feel better.
Quitting coffee helped a lot.
I don't eat any junk and eat only organic foods. I drink lots of filtered water & detox tea. Maybe this keeps my system from being over-taxed on a daily basis.
TheCrimeOfLyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4019
posted
Ive drank. The first time I drank, I was having my first NORMAL day ever, and my class was graduating college ( but I wasn't due to a medical leave). I was excited for them and unhappy for me. I had a beer and relapsed- not got sick, RELAPSED.
Two years later, and darn near in remission, I tried it again. Needless to say during this last year I became an "avid" Jim Beam drinker. It catches up to you when you quit. Im not feeling all that spiffy nowdays.
-------------------- You want your life back? Take it. Posts: 3169 | From Greensburg, Pennsylvania | Registered: Jun 2003
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posted
woah... I guess maybe I shouldn't be drinking. It used to make me feel better, actually, but not anymore. And, it's not that I'm "not serious" about getting better, either (that was kind of annoying) - my LLMD didn't even tell me to lay off alcohol. Maybe he's not that good? I don't know. Side bar question: what would someone recommend for combating the yeast problem - do regular pro-biotics do that?
Posts: 23 | From wyoming | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Do a search on probiotics. You'll find tons of info. Also consider starting a new thread about yeast/probiotics etc. rather than changing the topic of this thread.
Yes, you need probiotics. Heavy duty ones, every night. Also, need to clean up diet, no sugar etc. IMO the best probiotic is Theralac: www.theralac.com Hats
Posts: 956 | From MA | Registered: Nov 2004
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