Xmas and 🍺 🥃🍹🥂

[nanawilson]

With Christmas on our doorstep just wondering what people's views are on drinking alcohol with all the medication we have to take. I still Like to have the odd drink 🥃 Funnily enough on the odd occasion I have a night out now I wake up feeling great 👌

[Nettac]

I think the "odd" drink is probably OK. I don't drink myself because it makes me feel awful sadly

[nanawilson in reply to Nettac]

I like gin and tonic must admit these days a lot more tonic than gin 👍 Thanks for reply

[nomoreheels]

It's an easy question but no so easy to answer as it's all so personal, varies according to which meds you're on & how your liver values are, how the meds affect your liver or not. It is Christmas after all though & if you like a drink I'd say just moderate it, maybe limit spirits? Generally though 14 units a week seems to be the average recommended on MTX for instance, if there's nothing suggesting otherwise. There's one thing, many who've not been drinking because of meds find their response to alcohol is quicker than it used to be pre meds so that may tell you what you can tolerate!

This may help you determine what a unit looks like with different drinks nras.org.uk/moderate-alcoho...

[nanawilson in reply to nomoreheels]

I have been on methotrexate 2 years I must be one of the lucky ones liver results are always fine must admit tho my drinks are more tonic than gin don't want to risk things too much

[nomoreheels in reply to nanawilson]

Haha! Well, I'd play it by ear then, if you like a weak G&T then you may be able to have more than just the one Mrs Wembley (if you remember that comedy?).

[nanawilson in reply to nomoreheels]

No I don't but I am curious so will be researching 😂 Thanks for reply

[nomoreheels in reply to nanawilson]

It was a sitcom, maybe the late '80's or 90's called On the Up. Joan Sims was the housekeeper who liked the odd tipple. This is a clip, the line comes at around 26.05

m.youtube.com/watch?v=FPv6b...(Not working as expected?)

[nanawilson in reply to nomoreheels]

😂😂😂 that probably will be me when I get appt for my operation 😩

[nanawilson in reply to nanawilson]

It will be bottomless bottle haha

[Neonkittie17 in reply to nomoreheels]

I couldn't do 14 a week if I tried 😝 but will have some wine at Christmas. It makes me feel so yuk for days after if I overdo it though. I remember my rheumy nurse telling me in 2006 that two drinks were the maximum a week on Mtx when I started it, so to see 14 seems excessive. They must have obviously revised that. In view of when I was told only 2 units a week on Mtx, I virtually gave up alcohol. It's only every now and then but I do like white wine and champagne.

[nomoreheels in reply to Neonkittie17]

It's 14 units Julie. A standard glass of wine is usually around 175ml so that's 2 & bit units per glass (depending on whether you're following NHS guidelines or others). So drinking at home if you have standard size wine glasses that would be 7 glasses of wine a week so 1 a day (or night!). A pub measure is around 3 units.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to nomoreheels]

Still is a lot more than what my rheumy nurse said re two drinks per week, in 2006. To be honest I am not that interested to drink more then the occasional glass. X

[nomoreheels in reply to Neonkittie17]

Recommendations do seem to differ... & it can depend where you are as well. My first Consultant always reminded me when my liver values rose not to drink, I don't think he ever believed I didn't touch it even though my h assured him I didn't. He always stressed he meant spirits though, he didn't count wine or beer as they were an integral part of dining. Crazy. x

[popsmith1874]

I have an occasional pint now and again but I'm on methetrexate and Benepali so that's enough for me and I don't miss it if in honest xxx

[nanawilson in reply to popsmith1874]

Thanks for reply I have never been a big drinker but do like my gin tonic now and then especially at family occasions and social events which are quite few and far between at the minute 🙁

[Birthdaygirl]

Hiya

After bad reactions from the multiple mixes of drug treatments i was given meant that I couldn’t stand the smell of alcoholic drinks let alone swallow them. To me wine smells like nail polish remover! So giving it all a miss has been very easy. I only drink stillwater and tea. Very occasionally I can stomach a coffee.

Our drug regimes and the way we react to them are all so different. Personally I am happy to be tea-total! It has been a small price to pay to keep blood results steady.

Hope you have a lovely Christmas

BG

[nanawilson in reply to Birthdaygirl]

Thank you for reply yes it's definitely not one size fits all this horrible disease !!! I have been lucky with bloods and alcohol (so far) my bloods are always fine . However if they changed I know I wouldn't risk it . You have a lovely Christmas too

[Birthdaygirl in reply to nanawilson]

Cheers! And thank you.

[Anitasmith]

I am not drinking, alcohol gave me bad flares tried red wine, champagne... can take little bit cider was able to tolerate this.

[nanawilson in reply to Anitasmith]

Ah thanks for reply I can tolerate it been on methotrexate 2 years and bloods have been fine (not that I indulge very often )

[allanah]

So I spoke to my Rheumy about this because I could not imagine not having a drink now and then.

He said I need to be happy and settled on my meds and he saw no reason I could have an occasional glass of wine. He checks my liver bloods monthly anyway so would tell me if I had raised liver enzymes.

He said I have RA for life and it his duty to let me try to live as normal a life as possible. So within moderation i.e. 1/2 glasses it's fine for me. You could check with your doc if they agree.

Mind recently I've gone off it as it's making me get drunk more quickly , maybe old age lol!!!

Have a great Christmas xx

[nanawilson in reply to allanah]

Ah he sounds lovely you're lucky. I have bloods took every month too and they have been fine if this changed however I don't think I would bother. When I go on holiday i do however give methotrexate a miss that week shouldn't say it but my nurse said if not I'd have levels raised and would have too come of them anyway NOTHING comes between me and my holidays . You have a great Xmas too

[Cassey00]

Have fun a couple drinks wont hurt.

[nanawilson in reply to Cassey00]

Thankyou

[Kai--]

.

Supplemental info, if interested 🤔, nanawilson. 😌 🙏

"Drinking" search results 🔎 from NRAS website ( nras.org.uk/search?q=Drinking ):

🥃 Alcohol intake for RA patients on Methotrexate: nras.org.uk/methotrexate-mo...

🥃 Moderate alcohol intake OK for RA patients on methotrexate: nras.org.uk/moderate-alcoho...

🥃 Overcoming problems at work: nras.org.uk/overcoming-prob...

🥃 Golimumab (Simponi): nras.org.uk/golimumab-simponi-

.

"Alcohol" search results 🔎 from NRAS website brought up additional results ( nras.org.uk/search?q=Alcohol ) if interested 🤔 in exploring.

.

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Strictly an 'aside', for fun 🤡 / humour 🤣 . . . if you like to dabble in dark humour 🌚🌑 this scene from "Thank You for Smoking" ( vimeo.com/174473441 ) may evoke a guffaw: m.youtube.com/watch?v=ss0jL...(Not working as expected?)

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Wishing you holiday good cheer, nanawilson . . . 🍹🍹 >clink< . . . 🙏 🍀 🌺 🌞

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🎄 🔖 🎁 🎅 ❄️ ☃️ 🌨

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[nanawilson in reply to Kai--]

😂😂 like it good job we still have our humour .... thank you very much for all info Kai-- and all the very best to you too 🥂🎉

[Kai-- in reply to nanawilson]

.

Right back at ya, nanawilson! 🥂 ☺️ 🎉

.

[Amy65]

I have the odd shandy when on holidays 1pint and I feel drunk lol enjoy Xmas everyone

[nanawilson in reply to Amy65]

Thanks for reply you too 🎄

[Nettac]

Glass of water and a wine gum makes me Newton and Ridley!

[Nettac]

I'm a cheap date if anyone's asking? :-):-)

[nanawilson in reply to Nettac]

😂😂 we all are

[BubbleMonkey]

I mostly avoid it now since being on Antidepressants (they did a real number on my alcohol tolerance), but I'll have the odd bit at home if it's interesting. I don't really care about alcohol though so that's an easy call for me. I'd rather be drinking pear juice anyway (I love pear juice so much). I think it's a matter of finding your own boundaries and weighing things up.

I'm not no any alcohol sensitive meds atm as far as I'm aware, but my IBS means I have to make those sorts of judgement call sometimes.

The way I see it, as long as it's not doing any permanent damage, sometimes you need to live a little and enjoy something even if you know you'll suffer for it later. You need to work out when those times are though. For me those times are lasagne, for you it might be a glass of something after Christmas dinner.

I would advise making sure it's not going to be actually damaging to have a drink on your meds, but past that it's up to you do decide what's worth it. Chronic illnesses can lead to living in a bit of a bubble to protect yourself and sometimes you need to step out of that bubble to protect your sanity a little.

[nanawilson in reply to BubbleMonkey]

Thanks for reply you are so right we still need to feel like we can do some social activity or what's the point 😩

[BubbleMonkey in reply to nanawilson]

Remember if you decide to go easy on the alcohol you can still get a fancy non-alcoholic version to join in.

[medway-lady]

Just having been diagnosed with non alchol related liver disease, its a sore point as I have liver issues but never enjoyed the booze !!

I'm not even overweight such is life, what a bitch !

[nomoreheels in reply to medway-lady]

Sorry to hear that Medway-lady.

[medway-lady in reply to nomoreheels]

I only ever have the odd glass of wine, I'm wondering if this is just bad gene's like the RA but the pain was truly awful, like something in that film Alien. Thank God for the NHS as CT done in hours, and gall badder totally clean so have to go back but diagnosed by CT already.

Got to be genetic ?

[nomoreheels in reply to medway-lady]

I'd think so, or possibly the disease itself, it can be a co-morbidity of RD. Of course the meds could also have an effect too, especially as you're not a drinker. I'm not sure you'll ever have a definite answer unfortunately.

Praise for the NHS though, I hope they continue to care in a similar manner. All the best, keep us updated.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to medway-lady]

Sorry, Medway 😢

[nanawilson in reply to medway-lady]

😡 that is so unfair wishing you well x