Drinking liqure on PD

[Danielondialysis23]

Old habits are hard to break. I've self medicated my whole life, mostly marijuana but I like to have a couple drinks sometimes to get the edge off..  how bad is it for me?

[Joe]

I was told by my dietician that wine and beer are not good as they are metabolized in the kidneys. Hard liquor is ok, just in moderation.

[noahvale]

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[pagandialysis]

I should preface this with "I am on In-Center Hemo-Dialysis", but I have been drinking two shots of Bourbon every night before bed for the last seven years and I haven't seen any health issues from it yet. I should also mention that I have only been on dialysis for about three years.

[Zach]

I should preface this with "I am on In-Center Hemo-Dialysis", but I have been drinking two shots of Bourbon every night before bed for the last seven years and I haven't seen any health issues from it yet. I should also mention that I have only been on dialysis for about three years.

I go for Jack on the rocks.

[BattleScars]

I don't know if alcohol is bad for a kidney patient in moderation but I do know I have found since kidney failure I can't handle alcohol as well at all. I still urinate quite a bit 2 years after starting PD but I notice when I drink beer I almost don't pee at all and that scares me. My friends with normal kidney function are peeing constantly while drinking. I'm not sure why this happens to me. I feel like I'm retaining fluid. I go back to normal the next day but I feel like crap. I'm not even talking about heavy drinking either, I would say this happens after just 3 or 4 beers. I would love to drink more often but it just isn't worth how bad it makes me feel later on. Is it the fluid I'm putting in my body? If I have four pints of beer in 2 hours that's 64 ounces of fluid in a very short amount of time. Maybe it's stressing my kidney out? I would never drink 64 ounces of water in 2 hours. I don't drink hard liquor often but I might take Zach's advice and try some Jack. Less fluid and a faster buzz.

[Deanne]

Can't answer about the alcohol since I'm not a drinker. I just don't like the taste of most of it. Be careful of the pot and any other recreational drugs if you plan to go on the transplant list. Transplant centers don't think favorably of recreational drugs, even pot, and they can make it difficult or impossible to get listed if you admit to using or if you test positive on a drug test.

[UkrainianTracksuit]

Not to sound stereotypical, I drink a lot of vodka.  Always have some with lunch and dinner.  I’ve been doing this since I’ve been 12 so it’s a way of life.  (Yes, my liver is fine.)  As long as I stick to 4 jiggers a day, my renal dietitian says it’s doable at this point.  The most important thing to stress (as it’s already been said) is to see how alcohol interacts with your medication and your fluid restrictions.  While you got some replies here, it is best to ask your doctor or dietitian.  My 87 year old grandfather was informed he could have a beer a week.  The point is moderation and adjusting your drinking preferences to the serving size.  За вас!

[cariad]

Not to sound stereotypical, I drink a lot of vodka.  Always have some with lunch and dinner.  I’ve been doing this since I’ve been 12 so it’s a way of life.  (Yes, my liver is fine.)  As long as I stick to 4 jiggers a day, my renal dietitian says it’s doable at this point.  The most important thing to stress (as it’s already been said) is to see how alcohol interacts with your medication and your fluid restrictions. 

Wow, that is a lot of vodka. Please don't take that as a judgement, I certainly don't mean it that way. I'm amazed that you have discussed this with your dietician. Have you been through a transplant eval or were you planning on it? In my experience most social workers would label a person an alcoholic over this sort of intake. That is certainly not to say that they are right, just that most hospitals take a very hard line when it comes to transplant and any sort of potential addiction. I hope this isn't prying, I am just curious. Evals fascinate me.

[UkrainianTracksuit]

It breaks down to 6 ounces or a little less than 1 cup a day.  This is split between lunch and dinner.  Keep in mind we have sit down lunches and dinners.  It isn't like I'm sitting in a corner huffing a paper bag.

No, I haven't been through a transplant evaluation nor am I planning to go through the process.  I'm happy when people receive transplants and I consider them a blessing.  However, the procedure and after care is not for me.  That does not mean I am anti-transplant because I am not, but again, they are not for me.  Honestly, I "eeee!" and feel excited for people announcing their transplants here.   

My social worker knows both my parents and my grandfather.  It's funny but the word "alcoholic" never came up once discussing either renal patient.  I've been seeing her for 6 years (and three renal dietitians; they seem to be on a carousel) and each tell me, "As long as you stay within your 1 L of fluid a day, it's O.K."  No one is getting drunk at the table and we don't do it to "get drunk" or escapism or anything like that.  This so far from self-medication.  The drinks match and pair with the food.  Furthermore, my social worker knows I've lived a more entertaining life than the average bear, so as long as I am compliant with treatment, if it is only vodka (and maybe some cheap Georgian wine) at the family table, they aren't worried.  Besides, the moment my doctor, renal nurse or whomever tells me to cut it out, it wouldn't be a problem.  Cranberry juice wouldn't taste the same, but, you know... beggars can't be choosers.

I do not take your post as a judgement at all.  Also, I understand that a fair number of renal patients aspire to a transplant so you would be curious.  So, I didn't take this the wrong way.  No worries.