alcohol and ckd

[renegade70]

is drinking alcohol in any amount safe with ckd stage 3? does anyone here ever drink alcohol ? i have read a number of different opinions on web sites ?

[Marvin8]

Today's prevailing wisdom is that alcohol is bad….period. That being said, I'm at Stage 3 and had two glasses of prosecco last night. Will probably have another tomorrow. I haven't been able to find any controlled studies regarding ckd patients. Not to forget, nephrologists don't even have any definitive answer on how much water you should consume nor what degree of exercise is too much for ckd patients. Everything in moderation. Live life!

[renegade70 in reply to Marvin8]

thanks so much, there was a study done in Taiwan. i do not have access to it but i believe you can find it on the internet. basically they found that alcohol did not cause or worsen ckd. i found it hard to believe. thanks for responding.

[HenryTudor]

Yes, I have a couple of glasses of wine on a Saturday night after my evening meal. Very little other than that.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador in reply to HenryTudor]

I drink a glass of wine with dinner, and use the 5 to 6% alcohol wine , and add sparkling water.

Moderation is a consideration? I have to watch sodium and use the amount required in diet only to find sodium became too low, so increased my sodium intake.

[Pisces101]

i have looked for info, too. Most newer advice is as MarvinB points out: avoid all alcohol. When I told the nephrologist all of the steps I had taken concerning diet and alcohol, he said the most important was probably increased water intake. I have cut back on wine (very seldom had anything else) - about 2 gl per month. I’m at 3a. Had guests for dinner yesterday and poured 1/2 glass for myself that lasts for hours!

[renegade70 in reply to Pisces101]

thank you for your response.

[Tolmezzo]

Sorry but the right answer is NO ALCHOOL AT ALL. Expecially for kidney patients. Telling this each one of us is free to take own risk. Important is to have right information and right knowledge as starting point. rgs

[renegade70 in reply to Tolmezzo]

thank you...

[Tolmezzo in reply to renegade70]

nobody can understand better than me, I'm in Italy, I loved wine a lot, but we cannot fight against realty

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

What a tricky question. The problem with alcohol and CKD, is not so much the kidneys, but the other comorbidities that come with CKD. Alcohol raises your blood pressure. Not good for CKD. Alcohol has a lot of sugar. If you have diabetes, alcohol is not good for you. Although alcohol is processed through the liver, the sugar and fluid will impact your kidneys. Would it hurt you to sip a glass of wine once in a while? Probably not. But we do not know you and what else is going on with you.

Talk to your nephrologist who knows your medical history.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador in reply to Bassetmommer]

Yes a tricky question. My Doctor is aware of my minor use of lower alcohol wine (5-6%). There is some with no alcohol also.

[renegade70 in reply to Bassetmommer]

thanks for your response.

[renegade70]

thank you.

[barbara55109]

I don't drink alcohol. After my colon was removed I had a mixed drink and got very drunk, very quickly on one drink. I then spent hours in the bathroom because it sent my ileostomy into overdrive. My nice night out was ruined. I haven't drank since. I always feel I have to explain, because in the US if you say you don't drink everybody assumes you are an alcoholic in lifelong recovery.

[renegade70 in reply to barbara55109]

I agree but who cares it is not their health.

[barbara55109 in reply to renegade70]

Americans are very very judgy. Alcoholism is seen as a moral failing. I already get enough of that crap being fat.

[tashagirl in reply to barbara55109]

barbara: I also have an ileostomy (6 years in May) and I do have a very occasional drink, kahlua and cream, and it does not bother me. May I ask wif you are also on dialysis with the illeostomy? Dialysis is in my future, and my concern( along with others) is the impact regarding the ileostomy.

[barbara55109 in reply to tashagirl]

They told me over 2 years ago to expect dialysis any day. I even got a fistula. My eGFR is now 30, after a low of 7. The antidiarrheals and other things I've done seem to have slowed down the CKD. I too am very afraid of dialysis. I found a few others online and they have all struggled with dialysis clinics not understanding an ileostomy and taking away too much fluid. You'll need to be very vocal and explain in detail how our bodies function very differently. Colons store and absorb water and we don't have colons. Dialysis needs to focus on cleaning the blood, not removing fluid. Work on getting your nephrologist up to speed on this so you can have an advocate.

[tashagirl in reply to barbara55109]

Thank you for that information! Yes, we do have to be our own advocates regarding our very specific issies relating to the ileostomy! My son and daughter and husband often say that I know more than the health care people, as is probably true of you also, out of necessity! That is so awesome that your EGFR number increased so much! I did not know that was possible! Thanks again!

[barbara55109 in reply to tashagirl]

Yeah I always know more than Dr. Most keep saying I have a colostomy because they don't know the difference. My primary care has been with me for 29 years. I worry she'll retire on me! Well, I got to 7 after a severe migraine and bounced up to the low 20s. I was 224 then, I was 178 this morning. The smaller you are the less work for kidneys. I can't go plant based, veggies create life threatening blockages for me. So I just eat once a day and do the best I can. I have 4 medical diets that all contradict each other. Since a blockage could kill me way before CKD, I skip the veggies.

[tashagirl in reply to barbara55109]

Right , that is also my concern, the different diets for CKD. vs Ileostomy limitations. Veggies, especially not fully cooked, salads, etc. can do us in regarding blockage. And I have dehydration issues , so I am always told to drink lots of water. I am small , in height and weight, and told to try to maintain my weight, because weight loss for me is a negative! Dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t!

[Genlady06]

nope no booze. Sorry. I was a huge wine lover. On occasion I take a puff of weed. Not often but if I want to relax. I think it’s safer than alcohol and no calories. Just my opinion. Weed is legal in many of the states. Of course ask your doctor. I tell my doctor everything. And never once, except when my labs were crappy due to poor eating, do they say no. But they have said no to booze and I’ve asked several times🤣. Darn.

[Adlon57]

I'll put my penny's worth in here? I have had epilepsy since age of 14, had various medications for that condition over the years, left school at 16, liked a few pints over the years, a social drinker, never touched spirits, I KNEW even then, I'm 67 now, medication and alcohol not a good mixture, a lot of my seizures were brought on usually in the morning after, until 2014, I realised I was pushing my luck, two pints, then 🤮, I stopped altogether, then Sep 2018 🤮 for absolutely no reason, brought to hospital, diagnosed "pancreatitis" "those little red bits you are bringing up are bits of your pancreas!"🥴 so those beer festivals I had hoped to frequent after retirement🤬

[renegade70 in reply to Adlon57]

do you also suffer from ckd, if so what stage are you in ? thanks

[Adlon57 in reply to renegade70]

Nah! Doctor's in the particular hospital. still scratching their brains over me, have diabetes 2, a misdiagnosis with Prostate Cancer, had kidney stones, but Kidney's seem fine, that's why I said putting "my penny's worth in" if it is any help?