Is there such a thing as “medicinal dose of alcohol?”

[Rainfern]

I was never much of a drinker (2 units a week max) and since diagnosis of AF have not touched it, even over Christmas. But 2 nights ago was Burns Night and towards the end of the evening our friends produced a bottle of Glengoyne. I thought right, I’ll just take a whiff of my husband’s glass, then return to the dram of water I’d just used to down my Apixaban. Instead, I tipped just the smallest quantity into the water (I know, this is a highly controversial mix). And honestly, for the next 5 minutes I was in pure bliss! No ill effects and I walked the mile home with a real spring in my step!

[BobD Volunteer]

Lucky you. Diluted alcohol does get into your blood stream much quicker than neat mind. I seem to remember that the magic number is about 14% for best absorption.

[Rainfern in reply to BobD]

Ah! I didn’t know this about dilution - so it wasn’t just the flavour that was pure heaven!

[Bloodredroses]

That’s it - medicinal . A diluted tot . I like Baileys as diluted with cream 😜 . I dilute with tiny bit of cold milk. ( a tot on ice cream is diluted, right? ) 😉

[Rainfern in reply to Bloodredroses]

lol

[Bloodredroses]

well back in the old days , before general anaesthesia in the Navy to cut off a limb , a bottle of rum . For ladies as medicinal it was a ‘tot ‘ ( a tiny pot measure ). Probably half a present day shot . With Baileys bottle from the fridge , I can bypass the tot straight to mouth for a ‘swig’. (Nobody else drinks from it .) It passes afib test. It is very medicinal . 😜

[Rainfern in reply to Bloodredroses]

😂😂😂

[Iamfuzzyduck in reply to Bloodredroses]

My 91 year old Mother has a small glass of baileys every day-she also has afib!

[Bloodredroses in reply to Iamfuzzyduck]

I’m 74 so I have another 20 years then 😜 ❣️

[Blearyeyed]

Sadly No , although it would be nice to think so.According to the British Cardiovascular Society and other research a drink increases the chance of an AF event and AF burden pretty much straight away , and each additional drink increases the risk of triggering an aFib event by 8%.

Drinking more in a short time period over a number of days , such as at Christmas or on a trip can cause a major event , because of the change in behaviour usually happens at times of leisure or celebration this high risk event is called , "Holiday Heart Syndrome".

So , although a wee dram can feel good , and a blast to the past before aFib, it will be hit and miss as to whether that one drink will feel like a moment of bliss or cause a new rapid reaction and return of aFib .

[Rainfern in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thank you for this very helpful and cautionary note. I’m going to save it for future discussions around alcohol. My sister had a temporary nursing job once at a holiday camp and dealt with a lot of that holiday heart syndrome.

I literally put no more than about 5 g to mix with a little water - and it would be something I did on very rare occasions.

[secondtry]

The underestimated power of our brain. It can make you worse but it can also generate 'pure bliss'.

[Rainfern in reply to secondtry]

😊

[TopBiscuit]

I have long been of the opinion that brandy is medicinal and have used it in that way for decades! Amazing how many times I've been under the weather and a tot or two has sorted it out, and it has had equally a positive effect if I've been suffering from a low mood.

Just to elucidate, I don't mean I have a tot and feel better each time, I mean I would take a tot or two on a single occasion and it seemed to resolve a longer standing episode of being under the weather or in a low mood.

I'm a bit bummed about it now that I've given up alcohol, courtesy of AFib, but I may need to waive that on occasion if the brandy cure is called for! 😀

[Rainfern in reply to TopBiscuit]

Go easy TopBiscuit! I’m talking homeopathic doses here! I’ve replaced the brandy meds with top class honey to go with lemon drink. We’ve got through a jar of Welsh bell heather and a jar of French thyme honeys since Christmas for coughs and colds. Whatever it is, treat yourself! 😀

[Omniscient1]

I guess the answer is, it may make you *feel* better, but it may not actually be doing you any good

[Frootbat]

Similar here. Not touched a drop since July but got away with Baileys recently! But will remain teetotal normally I think.

[Rainfern in reply to Frootbat]

Wise 😊

[Vonnegut]

I had a tiny drop in water but turned out we only had Irish Whiskey which isn’t as good as the malt stuff I discovered I liked many years back on a Burns Night out with friends in Edinburgh many years ago! I’m only writing as when I tried to “like” your post it went from 4 likes to unlike!! Something wrong somewhere!!! I got it back to 4 likes!

[Rainfern in reply to Vonnegut]

Making friends with good malt whiskey was a long slow process for me. I never touched whiskey when I lived in Scotland! It was only when I went to stay in Toronto with friends and whiskey connoisseurs that I learned to value those unique flavours!

[Vonnegut in reply to Rainfern]

And are you still indulging? I gave up the small amount of wine I used to drink on diagnosis when I heard it was advisable to “cut down”!

[Rainfern]

No, like I said above, I stopped drinking any alcohol after AF diagnosis, so that tiny quantity of Glengoyne felt like a big deal. I never drank much alcohol and don’t miss it, especially when I see what it does to people’s brains, yet alone their hearts!

[Peacockmumma]

I have given up alcohol…makes no difference not that I was a ‘drinker’.

I could have a glass of fizz or even 2 ..no problem…..then next time..boom..red wine doesn’t seem to like me altho white is better…gin and tonic with lots of ice is ok.

Honestly I’m not bothered about drinking anymore and have even bought alcohol free stuff which is ok. But if I fancy a drink I will have one…and I emphasise the word one.

Baileys seems ok tho…🤪 got a bottle for Xmas you understand and it goes off if it’s not drunk lol

[Nightmare2]

I am like you stopped alcohol completely, but over xmas i did have a glass of wine on two occasions, nothing happened, but this doesnt mean i intend to go back to alcohol, as its defo a trigger for AF without a doubt. but hey ho ! life is short girl, so glad you enjoyed Burns Night.👍