Haivng a social drink?

[7piglets]

Ok so I just recently started dialsyis and havent had a beer in months but so would love one sitting on the deck hanging out with friends.
Do any of you still drink?? I am not looking to get drunk so have a beer. I got my bloodwork back today and everything was perfect other than my iron and anemia levels (which I have always had problems with and they they up'ed my meds) I am not on a restricted diet I just need to watch of course my potassium and take binder for phosphorus.. they said whatever I do must be working because all my levels are on target..
just curous.. thanks for info .

[kimcanada]

I don't drink at all any more, I save every ounce for water

[Ang]

7 piglets


if  you  wish  to  have  a  beer  thats  fine,are  you  still  going  to  the  toilet,?,if  so  you  need  to  measure  urine  output  every  couple  of  weeks,  then  your  daily  allowance + urine  output  is  your  daily  allowance.
beware  urine output  will  eventually  cease,enjoy  it  while  you  can.
it  comes  down  to  where /  when  wil  i  drink(try  and  stay  within  your  limits)
stack  the  freezer  with  ice  blocks,they  tend  to  help  if  your  having  trouble  with  fluid.
good  luck  with  it  all.

[twirl]

I hope Flip reads this and comments on the post.
I will drink a few swallows of a beer but that is all.
I will sometimes have a glass of wine.
It does not seem to hurt.
I still pee some.
A nurse at dialysis told me to drink liquor instead of beer, but I don't.
I don't think one would hurt you, drink less of other fluids that day and stay away from salt and see how it goes---
trial and error
I did drink on my anniversary last year - 3 little 8 ounce bottles of cheap wine-- I got a little drunk because I hardly ever drink---
It was fun.... did not feel awful the next day....ate oysters and shrimp too------- good luck and please take care

[Zach]

There's nothing like an ice cold beer on a hot day!

If you've been working outside when it's hot, you've probably lost enough fluid to have 12 onces.
 

If you're really concerned about the fluid volume, then have a Jack Daniels on the rocks.
It's all about moderation in food and drink ... and the 48 hours between hemodialysis treatments.

[7piglets]

thanks everyone ..see my concern is I have been told no fluid or food restrictions. just moderation.. What does ice blocks mean??
Yes I am still urinating..how long until that stops ? I am trying to get pd working (has been in since Feb but since o/r table have not been able to get working) but was told if I do pd I will continue to urinate..I hate that they are not giving me all the info but am so so happy I found this site. ..thanks

[Ang]

ice  blocks  is  water  put  in  a  tray with  12-15 tiny  compartments  then  placed  in  your  freezer  for  a  couple  of  hours  then  you  just  suck  on  a  few  to  quench  your  thirst,you  have  to  work  out  what  works  best  for  you.
ask  questions, information  is  power,cause  you  can't  always  rely  on  dialysis  staff  to  always  do  the  right  think  by  you.

[Ang]

when  you  stop  urinating  is  anyones  guess, its  an  individual  thing  i  lasted  about  6 months,

[Robby712]

Eh, I don't booze at all anymore.  One doesn't do anything for me and more than that and I feel like garbage the next day...

I do miss it quite a bit though.  Not so much the "getting a buzz" part...but just the social aspects more than anything.

If you've ever gone out with a group of friends whom are drinking and you're the only sober one it's can get kinda miserbale...although they have had a reliable designated driver for some time now.

[flip]

I still drink in moderation with no harmful effects but you also should consider that: (a) I'm not diabetic and don't have any liver problems (b) I'm on no meds other than vitamins and (c) I still have good urine output.

I guess if fluid ever gets to be a problem, I'll have my bourbon straight.

[twirl]

I still drink in moderation with no harmful effects but you also should consider that: (a) I'm not diabetic and don't have any liver problems (b) I'm on no meds other than vitamins and (c) I still have good urine output.

I guess if fluid ever gets to be a problem, I'll have my bourbon straight.

   

[keith]

dat is ur call just b mindful of wat u drink here to u 

[KICKSTART]

Fluid is fluid no matter what form , just as long as you count that beer as part of your intake although i was told 'shorts' are better than a beer if your going to drink (because its purer) As for urine output well im still going after 7 years!!!! As long as you do it in moderation but remember it takes longer to get it out of your system now , so be carefull say like if your going to drive !

[lola]

Otto still will have a beer or 2 now and then BUT his Dr said enjoy fluid while you can. He still pee's so

[KR Cincy]

If you can, you should! I've been told not to...having no kidneys means easy drunk, nasty hangover when the machine pulls the alcohol out. My neph just thinks I really won't enjoy the feeling...but I miiss it, oh BOY do I miss it. And it's like Robby said...I don't want to get drunk, but the social aspect of wine with dinner with friends, or holding a bottle of beer at the bar while watching a game is something I miss terribly. The plastic glass of Sprite just isn't the same.

[skyedogrocks]

I say go for it, just don't overdo it.  Rob has a beer every now and then along with some binders.  He also has a cheeseburger now and then too (again with his binders).  His levels are fine and he's feeling great.  Then again, he does home hemo, so he's dialyzing a lot more than in center. 

[angela515]

My doctor explained it like this:

Enjoy life.. having *a* beer isn't going to hurt you, count it as your fluids, and just like when you enjoy foods you shouldn't have/have lots of, don't over do it, and take your binders.

As for how long peeing will last... everyone is different, and some people will always urinate a little, and other's will lose it completely. I personally think if you are keeping your labs in good range, maybe it will last longer and have some control over it... but then again, some people lose urination no matter how good labs are. Just watch your weight gain from the fluids in between dialysis treatments and you will be fine.

Good luck and enjoy life. 

[pelagia]

My husband's nephrologist told us a story about a dialysis patient who would go out beer drinking on occasion.  Apparently he would challenge an unsuspecting bar mate to a contest to see who could drink the most beer without peeing.    That's one way to win a bet, I guess.  I wonder how his dialysis center felt about him when he went in the next time!

I think I remember reading that some of the dark beers are higher in phosphorus.

[IUNurse]

7 piglets:  I don't think an occasional drink will hurt either. 

I wanted to help answer your question about when the peeing will stop.  As Angela said everyone is different.  However, Hemo patients tend to lose whatever little kidney function (peeing) they have faster than PD patients do.  It is linked to dehydration.  So do your best to not let the hemo staff take too much weight off of you and make you crash.

By the way, how is your PD catheter working?

[kidney4traci]

I have a drink every now and then - like they said, you just have to watch your fluids.  I agree  - enjoy life!

[flip]

I had dialysis this afternoon and I'm having a drink right now. I must confess that I feel pretty damn good.

[7piglets]

thanks everyone. .. I must say one thing is I have not been told to 'watch' fluids or calculate anything so for those who say count it as your fluid.. I dont really know what that means. I think tomorrow I am going to tell hubby I am going to go out with some friends to tiki bar site outside and have an ice cold draft beer I cant wait ..
As for my pd (for who asked ) still not working..It has been in since Feb and I am having NO luck finding a dr fix it. However, now that I started at dialysis center someone over heard me talking about how I so wish it worked (given hubby works second shift and we have the little ones it would make my life somewhat normal) and she said she knows of a dr who is suppose to be a specialist with the pd..so I go to him next Thurs.. (fingers and toes crossed he can get it to work) but anyway thanks for asking..
To everyone else ..cheers to you 

[RichardMEL]

7piglets - YES!! Have a couple of beers!!

Right now you are one of the lucky ones (must come with the looks ) not having any fluid restrictions... you can be assured (alas) at some point they will kick in... so I say drink and enjoy while you can. Not heaps.. but just enjoy yourself without going overboard.

One tip with the fluids since you're not on any restrictions yet - you'll know if you've had too much if you find breathing hard - this is an indication that you could be overloading on fluid.. also watch your ankles for fluid retention.. if you find that you're retaining fluid best to go minimal and talk to the neph or dialysis staff.

I have a friend (also amazingly good looking) who has been on hemo for 8 months or so and goes out almost every weekend... she has no fluid restrictions and if I didn't lust after her I'd be insanely jealous!!! As it is I'm just envious

Anyway, yes enjoy some beers... and have one for me please!

(Incidently while I AM on fluid restrictions I have a beer every so often...the most I'll have though is 2 - not so much for the labs or anything like that but simply for the amount of flud - 2 beers=over 600ml! )... it's easy to rack up the fluids when you're not thinking about it).

[KICKSTART]

Who are these people that dont have fluid restrictions to you i say !!!! 








EDITED: Fixed smiley tag error-kitkatz,moderator

[boxman55]

There's nothing like an ice cold beer on a hot day!

If you've been working outside when it's hot, you've probably lost enough fluid to have 12 onces.
 

If you're really concerned about the fluid volume, then have a Jack Daniels on the rocks.
It's all about moderation in food and drink ... and the 48 hours between hemodialysis treatments.

Amen on the jack and moderation...Boxman