Question about beer....

[chiromac]

It might seam strange but for not reason I can think of I have not had an alcoholic beverage  for over nine year, just before the birth of my daughter.    I guess at age 33 I guess my body just said you drank enough in college to last a lifetime    Even a nasty divorse I did not drink , so when I was put on dialysis I never asked about drinking.  However, for some reason resently I've been craving a Rolling Rock or Miller Lite.  I've now been on dialysis for about 16 months & I know I can ask my doc on Monday, but I just wanted to know if anyone out there has a drink from time to time.  I just wanted to see if anyone had any thought on it. 

[jbeany]

Well, there's more than a few members here who like to toss back a pint on here, dialysis or not.   

Biggest issues - fluid restrictions and your current meds.  If you are on bp meds or other drugs that have alcohol warnings on them, then that's another problem.  And, of course, getting a bit buzzed makes it harder to remember you aren't supposed to be drinking a lot of fluid!

Realistically, if it doesn't interact with any of your meds, and you keep to your fluid limits, a drink now and then isn't likely to do any harm.  It's your liver that deals with alcohol, not your kidneys.  All things in moderation, there's no reason you can't have a drink if you feel like it.

I have a transplant now, but stopped drinking when I was pre-D, with blood pressure meds that came with alcohol warnings.  It's not that I haven't been able to drink since I went off the bp meds, it's just I've gotten out of the habit. My last drink was to toast in the new year as 1999 rolled over to triple zeros, at least until this last weekend.  My sister cracked open a 50+ year old bottle of peach brandy that she inherited from our grandmother.  I sipped away at my shot-glass worth for half an hour.  After 50 some years on a shelf, that stuff was smmmmmmoooooooth! 

[noahvale]

*

[cattlekid]

I stay away from beer but if I am at an event (wedding etc) I will have one mixed drink.  Usually, Canadian Club and 7-up is my drink of choice.  I go old school.     I make sure to have it at the beginning of the event so it is through my system before I get home and take any medications.

[Willis]

This is a useful list by the USDA.

http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/list

 

[Zach]

This is a useful list by the USDA.

http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/list

Thanks for the link.

According to the USDA:
Alcoholic beverage, beer, regular
1 can, 356g

Phosphorus, P   mg   50
Potassium, K   mg   96

(356 grams = 12.5575305 ounces)

 

[cassandra]

I've never stopped drinking liqueurs, dark rum, whisky. Has hardly anything bad in, and makes me feel happier. A teacup of Cointreau goes a long way. ha

[Restorer]

If you don't have trouble keeping your potassium and phosphorus in range, a "regular" beer or two won't cause a problem, as long as you take a binder or two and factor it into your potassium intake (and if it fits into your fluid allowance). Just remember that dark, heavy beers like stouts will be much higher in P and K than regular American lagers and light beers.

I've mostly been sticking to mojitos lately. I had about 8 ounces of strong, dark Belgian-style beer (Unibroue's Trois Pistoles) last night, and it just made me sleepy.

[smcd23]

The rule of thumb from Tony's neph is "moderation" Tony was never a big drinker, but was told he could have one here or there as long as it didn't become regular, and he took into account his diet. He was doing PD, so it was no big deal for him.

Speaking of beer, after todays ordeal, I think I hear a Yuengling calling my name from the fridge....

 

[Whamo]

I haven't had a drink since 1981, but I used to really knock 'em down.  Once in awhile I crave beer, but I let it pass.  I just eat a magic cookie and sink into the couch when I want to escape reality.  I don't do it very often.   

[stringbandbeth]

My hubby is 10 + yrs on D...He gets the Beer cravings too. A  beer here and there as long as you take your binders has never been a problem. Have to agree w/ the last post too. The magic cookie seems to do the trick and much healthier. You don't have to chase it with a handful of "drywall pills".

[chiromac]

Thanks all, the urge has past.  I'll ask doc next time I see him & double check if it's OK.  But based on what I've read I can have one every blue moon or so.       

[Willis]

Thanks all, the urge has past.  I'll ask doc next time I see him & double check if it's OK.  But based on what I've read I can have one every blue moon or so.       

Or a Blue Moon with a twist. 



 

[Arcticat2000]

I've been on dialysis for 9 years now, still have a few rum and cokes on the weekend with no problems. Moderation and binders are the key.

[malaka]

Willis, that's the equivalent of the Playboy centerfold (do they still have those?)  for us. Looks nice but way off limits.   Beer AND orange.  Grrrrr...........

[Restorer]

A Blue Moon with an orange slice? Probably about 50 mg phosphorus, 150 mg potassium. Not as bad as one half-cup serving of boiled broccoli. Sounds like a fair trade to me! Also equivalent to a small handful of caramels.

[Rain]

A few times a month I had wine with dinner.  Now that I'm on vacation a wine a night.

[malaka]

Um, anybody besides me notice that this thread is getting a good number of responses?  Sort of like those dealing with sex.  Except this is beer and other alcoholic drinks.  Glad there is a wide field of experience here!   

[chiromac]

The Blue Moon and orange sounds good, if the urge comes back I'll give that a try.   

[stringbandbeth]

We have  also recently discovered hard cider. Does not have the phosphorous or potassium that beer has- Woodchuck granny smith and Angry orchard are really good

[Gerald Lively]

Beer?  Buuuurp!  Haven't (hic) had one in five of six (hic) minutes.  Someone claimed it was food, I've been eating (hic) ever since.