The dr’s say don’t drink. The pharmacist says don’t drink but only because over use of alcohol can cause a stomache bleed. Last yr and this yr (like ever yr) went to an out of town multi day meeting for my work, which trusty me it’s more of a hobby cause I can’t do enough to make $$ at it. Anyway last yr I had a couple margaritas and when we got home I ended up in the hospital with my INR over 7.3 an a nose that would not stop bleeding. This year o had 1 matagira on Wednesday and one on Friday and even though I dropped my warfarin Intake but come Friday I was covered In bruises like NEVER before. My INR had to no over 8 because the meetings consist of sitting in a very comfortable padded chair while working and talking with others st the meeting. Now I have had some massive bleeding but that was from falls. I had bruises on my legs, my knees. My arms my stomach my side, my rib cage and my back. As I didn’t take a INR prescription I didn’t not go the the hospital (it’s a 3 1/2 hour drive home an I still had more meetings. Ok so basically I have abstablished with you guys that I am either really stupid or really brave. I stopped the warfarin and we left after the meeting to go home. I know was stupid thing to do but u know dr these days. Any way I RARELY drink maybe 3/5 drinks a year. Also the meeting is in Albuquerque which I much higher than Roswell. Basically e two drinks really that bad? Does anyone drink on warfarin. I like to hear how it works out for u that do have an accasiobal drink.
Thank u for ur time
Soul Rebel
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HI, with reactions like that, I think you have to follow your doctor's orders. I am not on Warfarin and enjoy a glass of wine or two on social occasions, but beyond that I don't bother with it as a) anything not organic gives me a headache and makes me sneeze and b) I prefer to stick to no more than 4 glasses a week, and not every week. I rarely have an alcoholic drink if I go to the pub, as it does not suit me, I am more likely to have a cup of tea! Are you back on your Warfarin now? Also have you checked in with your GP or consultant, as I think you need an urgent check up. Some on here, do drink a little but this sort of reaction indicates that it does not suit you. If I were in your position, I would not have any at all, but that is my personal opinion, it does not sound safe for you. MaryF
I don't take warfarin so can't advise - but this does seem a really bad extreme reaction, I wouldn't play around with your warfarin - now this has happened two years running, I would stick to the non alcoholic cocktails?
I never drink alcohol BUT drink a glass of redwine for dinner every day. Only that one glass as that will not change the INR as I do it every day and the same amount always.
Actually it was a Specialist of APS who suggested it in 2002 but I started Warfarin much later in 2011. Perhaps that´s why he suggested the redwine to thin my blood just a little.
I have only been on Warfarin a month. So I do not know a lot yet. I agree to stay away from hard alcohol. I hope you get stabilized quickly also and safely. Check in with your doc as soon as you can.
My hematologist and general practitioner both told me the same thing. Don’t have excessive amounts of alcohol and keep it consistent. I keep hear consistency with everything. So basically like Kerstin said she has the same wine and same amount daily. I have always been a very social drinker so this has been the hardest part for me. But I actually am doing very well. Also listen to you ‘gut’ and you don’t feel like your body can’t handle it, don’t risk it.
I was told no alchohol on my Warfarin at the start but my GP said realistically as long as you don’t go mad it won’t be a problem so I have cut down but not stopped still go out probably one Friday in three and drink what I want. The inky time my INR has gone as was on my last flight to Australia where I did consume a little too much and had small bleeds all over my face under the skin it looked like a weird kind of roadmap. Fortunately I self test so I was able to check and my INR had reached 6.8 but the following day it began to settle down. So I think the answer is if you had drinks prior to Warfarin as long as you ease back in once your INR is stable then you can drink.
I am on warfarin.8-9 mg day.sometines I will have a glass of wine but recently I have changed to gin n tonic but only have 2 when socialise and that is once maybe every few weeks.If it is wine its also only 2 as now on warfarin if it's even 1/2 glass more I am ill with bad stomach and bowels next day
I was told to avoid all alcohol while on Warfarin and that wasn't a problem for me as I don't drink. Kirsten wine is alcohol so you may drink the same amount every day but you do drink alcohol.
Tucson, if you don’t mind me gently spotting a linguist difference here.
Alcohol in Scandinavia is considered “ hard alcohol “ ( hard liquor) and wine is set apart in another category, although technically you are absolutely correct.
It has to do with proof- alcohol content. I am quite sure Kerstin only meant she does not drink hard liquor, but only has wine, and the same limited amount every day. ( not, “alcohol “ as in the higher proof.” )
It’s just said differently, that’s all. Sometimes those very subtle differences in language may give you a second of hesitation, that’s all!
Hope you are doing well after your crescent iliac ( Pelvic bone) bleed. I had to google that and read about that when it happened to you. Do you feel back to normal yet?
Yest I know, but when I talk of alcohol I mean the stronger things like whiskey, Gin or whatever.
I do not think we should use them when having APS and especially not when on Warfarin as that should mean a lot of trouble especially if we are triplepositive incl LA etc.
We now have learnt here that there are a lot of different sorts of APS.
I heard yesterday on the news that Sweden drinks less Whiskey, Gin etc nowadays but have been a "wine-country" like France, Italy etc. Also retired people like me drink more wine as some Doctors say it is good for the heart. You never know. Dangerous for a Doctor to talk about it perhaps.
I think you'll find as many doctors advise against it. I can't stand the taste so it's irrelevant and my heart is fine without it. Oap's drink far too much if you ask me as do most people it would seem they're unable to enjoy life without alcohol.
When you can get a knowledgeable dr to talk candidly they won't say "don't drink", but they will say that (just like with vit k and eating greens) consistency is key. One of my drs said "actually you can drink any amount, but you must drink the same amount each day, and the problem is that's not how most people drink". Even if you do drink, say, a few pints every single day there are still problems if you get ill and don't want to drink or end up in hospital where you can't. Also your liver needs days off.
When I started warfarin I was given a limit of 3-4 units per day, which allows a pint of decent beer or a reasonable glass of good wine, but they've since reduced that to 2 units for no apparent reason, which is less than a pint of beer or standard glass of wine - so I ignore that. I do more or less stick to the 3-4 units limit (which means, at my height and weight, I can always be designated driver here). I don't drink every day, or even most days, maybe once a week on average. I do very occasionally have half a bottle of wine, but usually my other half has more than half, but the times when I could get through 2 or 3 bottles in a night (very occasionally!) are long gone, even without warfarin.
Not sure how big your margaritas were or how much alcohol in them, but the ones I've had in southern USA were enormous (my hosts were either trying to impress me or knock me out I guess). I'll admit they were very nice, but two of them was a heavy night and that was when I was young and healthy!
You have other things in you story that will affect INR too - altitude does, and change in exercise pattern (sitting all day) does, and (probably) different food does, plus you rarely drink so when you do it will affect you more. I watch my INR like a hawk (self test) when I go skiing because of these things, and it definitely upsets it, very annoying when you're in a chalet with lots of free wine... but at least I'm able to be there.
You could try balancing alcohol with vitK - sometimes I think I could have a large portion of spinach pie and a bottle of wine - but it doesn't really work, for me the effects take different times to kick in and last different lengths of time. Really I think you need to try less-alcohol, or no alcohol, on these trips - it is possible that even without alcohol the other changes will be enough to destabilise you.
I gave up on alcohol a couple of year ago as I was so ill after going to a wedding, even though I didn't drink that much. I am on about 4 other medications apart from warfarin and all say avoid alcohol.
I’ve been on Warfarin for 20+ years in my younger days I was very much a party animal where alcohol was in abundance. I did do a lot of research, different drinks at different times, to see the effect certainly not to be recommended! It’s a wonder I didn’t make myself very poorly. I did find that proper ale as opposed to larger was better, wine was a no no and decent Gin was ok.
I’m now older and wiser (and possibly boring) drink very little, have a pint at footy and that’s it.
As with everything with Warfarin consistency is the key.
Ooh your INR does seem to react to a little tipple doesn’t it!
I rarely drink as I found it affected my INR and I wasn’t consistent either, so I just don’t bother.
However, I’m currently off warfarin and on clexane after a recent surgery so I enjoyed a few guilt free glasses of Prosecco a few days before my surgery.... and I really enjoyed it!
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