I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: scout on March 01, 2008, 09:02:54 AM

Title: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: scout on March 01, 2008, 09:02:54 AM
My 85 year old Dad has been on dialysis for 4 years and has at least 2 whiskey and waters a day.   He says I've lived this long, I'm not giving up everything!   :boxing; ;D
Your thoughts?    :thx;
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: Slywalker on March 01, 2008, 09:13:03 AM
Greetings - I do not drink alcohol.  And my only experience within the dialysis/transplant area is when I had a transplant I was advised not to drink alcohol - I think because it is a dehydrator.  They did not give me restrictions while I was on hemo or PD for drinking alcohol.  It just never came up.

My personal opinion is at 85 - what the heck!!!  He is going to do what he is going to do and trying to take that away from him at this point would probably add a lot of anxiety to him. 

Good luck and my best wishes to your Dad.

Sandyb
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: Zach on March 01, 2008, 09:18:03 AM
As long as his liver is OK, and he's not using Tylenol, then a couple of ounces of whiskey is probably OK.
In most cases, it's a question of how much total fluid intake--about a quart of liquid per day.
 8)
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: paris on March 01, 2008, 09:49:32 AM
I think at 85 and on dialysis, the man deserves a whiskey!  We give up so much with this disease and if he were 30, I would probably feel different.  But, we need some pleasures in life :wine;
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: bolta72 on March 01, 2008, 10:36:03 AM
More power to him, but yes as long as the liver is ok.
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: boxman55 on March 01, 2008, 10:54:24 AM
Hell at 85  fire up a cigar along with those whiskeys.   ;D..Boxman
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: kidney4traci on March 01, 2008, 11:13:12 AM
I'm with ya!  At 85, I don't want any restrictions!   :wine;  I do have a drink maybe once a week or two weeks.  I can't drink that much due to fluid restrictions.  I am on home hemo, no transplant yet. 
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: del on March 01, 2008, 11:15:00 AM
I really don't think it will hurt him.  Hubby has been on dialysis for almost 11 years now and he occasionally has a beer (sometimes 2) and it doesn't hurt him. He is on nocturnal hemo so there is less fluid restrictions. He used to occasionally have one when he was on in center as well!!  It probably makes your Dad feel better. He's 85 it is something for him to look forward to.
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: rose1999 on March 01, 2008, 11:16:40 AM
I agree with the others, at 85 let him have a little of what he fancies - here's to him  :wine;
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: donnia on March 01, 2008, 01:11:00 PM
Yep, I'm with everyone else..... at 85 what the heck  :wine;
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: MyssAnne on March 01, 2008, 01:21:07 PM
So am I!!!  He's 85, let him have what he wants!!! :beer1; :beer1;
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: Meinuk on March 01, 2008, 03:03:17 PM
When I first started in center hemo, I asked the dietitian if I could drink.  She blindly told me that "we want you to be able to maintain your normal life as much as possible"  Ha Ha, I went back and told my friends and family that the center said I could drink like I normally do.  They looked shocked and horrified.  I laughed.

Needless to say, I'm not going out drinking as much as I did in my younger days (or in 2006 for that matter).  (those were some good times)  But I still enjoy wine with meals, a drink before dinner when I am at home visiting my family, and an occasional night out with friends.  Gone are the days of shots at the bar, but they left me with some happy memories.

It is funny, maybe cultural, but I love the formality of drinks before dinner, some friends in the south call them "Vespas" which is an irreverent religious reference.  These are the same people who taught me to make the perfect Mint Julep for Derby Day.  I think that as I get older I am enjoying social rituals more and more.  Or maybe it is just any excuse to have a drink!

Either way, "Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?"   - Count me in!
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: Ang on March 01, 2008, 03:52:33 PM
same  as  the  majority  above :yahoo;

my  father  gave  up  pretty  much  everything  after  a heart  attack  coupled  with   cancer, 2 years  later  he  was  gone  at 69
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: fluffy on March 02, 2008, 01:32:22 AM
i've lost my taste for liquor since i started dialysis, i dont drink  at all aside from a glass of wine on special occasions. but i figure a couple whiskys wont hurt, not unless you killa whole bottle of JD or something.  :beer1; cheers!
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: bolta72 on March 02, 2008, 04:17:07 AM
I used to drink alot, but its been close to 3 years since I had one, I think I'd like to have one once in awhile but I just don't. The summer is tough, miss those cold beers.
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: Romona on March 02, 2008, 04:48:01 AM
At 85, pass the whiskey, bacon,eggs and all the other stuff they say isn't good for you!
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: livecam on March 02, 2008, 05:32:07 AM
I got as close as I ever get last night.  I smelled a glass of wine!  Does that count?
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: KICKSTART on March 02, 2008, 05:36:16 AM
When i  first started with kidney failure my neph said it was fine to drink , but remember fluid restrictions AND if you are going to drink, drink spirits and not beer or lager as spirits are purer! I stopped drinking though , because i didnt drink much anyway and would rather have a cup of tea !
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: aharris2 on March 02, 2008, 10:26:35 AM
When i  first started with kidney failure my neph said it was fine to drink , but remember fluid restrictions AND if you are going to drink, drink spirits and not beer or lager as spirits are purer!

We discuss things openly with our neph. He is happiest when Rolando is drinking wine because it supposedly has the least impurities...
 :wine;

Rolando is not much of a drinker, but there are times when others are drinking around him that he too would like a nice buzz. Mixed drinks - we deal with the fluid overload by making them stronger - if it's a margarita, then we make it (or order it) with a double shot of tequila on the side!!!
 :2thumbsup;

Beer? Not never, but almost never. The return on investment is poor (high fluid to alcohol ratio). But if I am sitting here late at night, surfing, and enjoying a cold one Rolando may save me from drinking alone. What a gentleman...this one's for you!
 :beer1;
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: Ken Shelmerdine on March 02, 2008, 01:19:28 PM
i've lost my taste for liquor since i started dialysis, i dont drink  at all aside from a glass of wine on special occasions. but i figure a couple whiskys wont hurt, not unless you killa whole bottle of JD or something.  :beer1; cheers!

Strange, so have I. I still drink a couple of beers oh and the odd Jack Daniels and soda but if I drink more than 2 pints of beer, I start to feel sick to my stomach. I must say I don't enjoy it as much as I used to do. I suppose you could say I have an alcohol problem in reverse! Good luck the the 85 year old I say let him have his snifter when ever and however often that he wants. :thumbup;
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: CW on March 03, 2008, 07:33:38 AM
I occasionally drink a beer or two or three keeping in mind fluid restrictions and phos levels. However I think the bigger issue for your dad is why is he drinking every day? Is this a problem? I do not know how muck alcohol is in a whiskey and water but I remember hearing somewhere as a kid (probably TV) that if you drink everyday that you are probably an alcoholic. This stood out to me because I realized my mom had  ale everyday she did not get drunk, she just had ale everyday. I would only be worried if he was doing it to escape  or to forget ???? I don't know if this has made any sense but I hope you got the idea about what I am trying to get across.

I hope your dad keeps doing well
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: Ken Shelmerdine on March 03, 2008, 07:42:25 AM
I occasionally drink a beer or two or three keeping in mind fluid restrictions and phos levels. However I think the bigger issue for your dad is why is he drinking every day? Is this a problem? I do not know how muck alcohol is in a whiskey and water but I remember hearing somewhere as a kid (probably TV) that if you drink everyday that you are probably an alcoholic. This stood out to me because I realized my mom had  ale everyday she did not get drunk, she just had ale everyday. I would only be worried if he was doing it to escape  or to forget ???? I don't know if this has made any sense but I hope you got the idea about what I am trying to get across.

I hope your dad keeps doing well

At 85 years old, does it really matter for what ever reason he drinks as long as he is happy?
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: devon on March 03, 2008, 07:54:32 AM
85? Bottoms up!

-Devon
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: CW on March 03, 2008, 08:25:59 AM
I occasionally drink a beer or two or three keeping in mind fluid restrictions and phos levels. However I think the bigger issue for your dad is why is he drinking every day? Is this a problem? I do not know how muck alcohol is in a whiskey and water but I remember hearing somewhere as a kid (probably TV) that if you drink everyday that you are probably an alcoholic. This stood out to me because I realized my mom had  ale everyday she did not get drunk, she just had ale everyday. I would only be worried if he was doing it to escape  or to forget ???? I don't know if this has made any sense but I hope you got the idea about what I am trying to get across.

I hope your dad keeps doing well

At 85 years old, does it really matter for what ever reason he drinks as long as he is happy?

What if he were drinking due to depression or any issue that could be addressed in a more appropriate way. Letting a mental/psychological disorder fester is dangerous and treating it with alcohol is even more dangerous  see thread-->> http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=7238.0 . This gentelman could live for many more years is it really prudent to say "ah he's old let him drink if he wants to" without asking if there is some underlying issue that might be doing more harm that the few drinks a day.

I might just be overthinking this - it might not be that serious and he might just like whiskey and it is a simple pleasure for him. I hope it is and if it was I would encourage him to have fun - he is 85 he has been doing something right!
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: RichardMEL on March 03, 2008, 09:07:38 AM
I just had a glass of (white) wine last night. Was quite nice :) I try to not overdo it though (and really drink rarely... maybe 2-3 times a month?). I'm more concerned with the fluid intake than the alcohol in there. I've certainly never been told I can't drink alcohol specifically just the whole fluid thing - indeed some dialysis nurses have openly said to drink spirits over wine given the "bang per buck"(in this case, ml of fluid) sort of thing.. though I'm not really out there to get sloshed on shots of vodka.. I'd do it for the taste.

Having said that about 300mls of this wine knocked me sideways a bit - I have a feeling my tolerance has gone down. In the "good old days" pre-dialysis a glass of wine would be nothing. Last night I was zonked after 1 glass!!

As for the OT... heck at 85... I'd be right up there to do those things to make life easier and more pleasureable! Drink the whiskey if it helps the days go that little bit better then sure.. I'm all for it.

If he was 45 I'd be suggesting drinking every day is not perhaps a smart move thinking of the future, and one's health etc... but come on... at 85... yeah, why not! Go for it. Besides if his labs went bad or something I'm sure the medical staff would be alert to that kind of thing.

er.. cheers!
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: Stacy Without An E on March 03, 2008, 02:48:56 PM
Because my stomach has become so sensitive over the years due to kidney transplants and now four years of Dialysis, I never drink.  It dehydrates me considerably and the acid in beer makes me want to throw up.

If that's your father's only vice and he enjoys it at 85, I say kudos to him if it makes him happy.
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: KT0930 on March 03, 2008, 07:11:55 PM
Like many others, while I was on dialysis, I simply lost my taste for alcohol, and after even one drink I would have a killer headache the next day and the beginnings of a hangover. So while on dialysis, no, I did not drink. I've had one or two since my transplant, and they tasted wonderful, but of course never over-doing it.

As others have said, if your dad is 85, let him have a drink a day, heck, let him have two. Chances are, if he's made it this long, it's not going to be the drinking that causes the problems!
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: okarol on March 03, 2008, 08:53:47 PM
Here's a related thread in (Frequently Asked Questions) - drinking and smoking - http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=807.0
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: meadowlandsnj on March 04, 2008, 11:59:44 AM
My 85 year old Dad has been on dialysis for 4 years and has at least 2 whiskey and waters a day.   He says I've lived this long, I'm not giving up everything!   :boxing; ;D
Your thoughts?    :thx;

My grandfather enjoyed a shot or two of Irish Whiskey every night without fail.  He also smoked a pipe.  His doctor told him to immediately stop doing both (he was 80) and he died two months later.  He really enjoyed these things.  My grandmother used to have two cans of beer every night--Schlitz or Rheingold.  It relaxed her, she loved her beer glasses and just sipping the beer at night.  Her doctor forbid her to stop this and she was miserable.  She was 75.  At that age leave them alone.....They've lived that long, for Gods sake.  Let tham have whatever they want within reason. 

Donna
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: keefer51 on March 07, 2008, 11:15:31 PM
When i lost the taste for beer i knew i lost my kidney. Now on occasion i will have one of those girly drinks. That is about the only thing i could keep down. At his age i believe do what ever you please.
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: Wattle on March 08, 2008, 12:21:17 AM

If I make it to 85... you can guarantee I will be drinking to my good health   :beer1;
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: rimbo74 on March 08, 2008, 01:51:05 PM
At 85, do what he wants.

I'm 33 and drank on dialysis and drink since my transplant.  Liver being tested and all.  My dietitian told me I could have 3-5 drinks a couple of times a week going out with friends.  Kidney function is fine.  I think the real problem with drinking alcohol is that it dehydrates you which is hard on your kidneys.  My dietitian stated to be sure to drink water when drinking.  So basically every beer I have, I have a glass of water.  Works really well with the exception of more restroom breaks.
Title: Re: Does Anyone Drink Alcohol?
Post by: KR Cincy on March 09, 2008, 03:44:56 PM
my neph said that since I have no kidneys that I'll be a cheap drunk (which is fine) but that I'll stay drunk until treatment and that the machine will pull the alcohol out first, so I'll go from drunk to hungover quickly, and that I won't enjoy it...so I gave up drinking.

I dont miss the taste or crappy feelings the next morning, but like Meinuk said, the ritual and even the feeling of a beer bottle in my hand while watching a band or at a ballgame is missed.