drinking and smoking

[sandman]

It is hard to quit though. And everyone needs to find what works best for them.

True that!  I find that when my stress levels are high, I smoke more and I smoke less when my stress levels are down.  I found that when I visit with Angie, my stress levels go WAY down and can go for hours at a time without wanting a cigarette.

[Mom3]

He started the herbal cigarettes today. The clinic dietitian said that at least they won't cause the vascular constriction once-- and if-- he gets off the nicotine. She is checking the herbs out to make sure they aren't particularly bad for a dialysis patient.

If it's his Dad's kidney and his Dad is willing to donate knowing about the herbal cigarettes etc. it doesn't bother me the way it might if he were getting a cadaver kidney that a more compliant person might be able to use...if that makes sense.

When he first started smoking he used to smoke some cloves and tobacco blend that he liked so he says they remind him of them, and like I said, he could smoke ANYTHING!!! For my part, the boxes they come in are pretty and they do smell better than standard tobacco cigarettes. At least the second hand smoke that kills me will be less aversive. I am going to hope that this crazy idea actually works. Nothing else has!!

Mom 3

[Panda_9]

The boxes are pretty??? Are you serious???
Inhaling any form of smoke surely has to be bad. There are enough risks as it is after getting a transplant.
Crazy pretty much sums it up. 

[Mom3]

Not completely serious!! But they ARE pretty.

I told him to save them and I'd use them to package small Christmas gifts this year. Might as well make the best of the situation. He is smoking them!!

Mom3

[angieskidney]

Not completely serious!! But they ARE pretty.

I told him to save them and I'd use them to package small Christmas gifts this year. Might as well make the best of the situation. He is smoking them!!

Mom3

You should mention that to my mom when  you email her Maybe she can get my brother to use them lol

[Rusty]

I drink Jack on the rocks, you get the most bang for the buck with straight whisky.  My nephrologist actually told me that!  You don't need kidneys for alcohol, just a liver.  Got to go, it's almost 4:20.

[kevno]

That like me a nice whiskey on the rocks, while my mates drink pints. That used to it, it does not bother me one bit about not having a pint to drink. Plus the whiskey is more expensive than a pint I usually go to the club with at least 10 off us, plus girlfriends and ball and chains (wife's). So if I get a round in, I am unlucky

[Panda_9]

Why would you not need kidneys for alcohol? They excrete it! And if you are on dialysis well its going to stay in your system until you dialyse, dunno if thats bad or not.

[BigSky]

Why would you not need kidneys for alcohol? They excrete it! And if you are on dialysis well its going to stay in your system until you dialyse, dunno if thats bad or not.

For the most part the alcohol itself would be metabolized by the liver, and excreted through the lungs leaving the byproducts of metabolization and any remaining fluid.

[GuyIncognito]

  Being in my twenties I indulge in behavior that is frowned upon by most nephrologists, however I have just been informed that I am now on the Ottawa active list and as a result I quit smoking colts & gave up Gin and Tonics both of which are my weakness.
  As of two weeks ago I went into Pre-Transplant training... Exercising daily, following strict diet regime and attempting to get 8 hours of sleep a night, all these things have actually improved my energy level and my mental state... I feel great for the first time in awhile.(Great really means better)

[livecam]

Pre-Transplant training, now that is a great idea.  I've never heard of anything like that here in the U.S.  What  you are saying makes sense though.  I think that if I had known it was coming and had been excersizing and sleeping more rather than trying to get through a large project I would have had an easier time. No smoke no drink here so that was in my favor.  I'm off topic so its time to shut up.

[Zach]

I don't smoke and I don't drink.
That's my story ... and I'm sticking to it!     


Actually, a Jack Daniels on the rocks, now and then is in order.
And in the hot summer, a Gin & Tonic sounds pretty good, just not too often.

[angieskidney]

I quit smoking once I lost the last transplant and started dialysis (PD at the time) and I never drank since that time as well. It was hard to quit smoking but my Neph told me that I had to quit smoking because the nicotine would not be able to get filtered by my failed kidney.

It will be a full 5 years (Nov 2001).

[Smokey]

I smoke, and I enjoy a Bourbon on the rocks or a Scotch and water every now and then...

[Panda_9]

Does anyone here who is on hemo ever get quite umm....drunk? I havent touched alcohol since I started dialysis. Ive had one drink here or there or half a drink, but never what I used to drink. Someone told me you stay drunk until you have dialysis, but Ive never actually had that info confirmed.

[sandman]

I always thought that is what the liver that did the majority of the filtering of alcohol from your system.  Or have I been mislead and it's the kidneys the do most of that?

[thom]

i drink within my litre a day limit and try my best not to smoke 'cause it just ends up making me feel terrible. i was a smoker for a good 3 years before dialysis.

[angieskidney]

Does anyone here who is on hemo ever get quite umm....drunk? I havent touched alcohol since I started dialysis. Ive had one drink here or there or half a drink, but never what I used to drink. Someone told me you stay drunk until you have dialysis, but Ive never actually had that info confirmed.

I've wondered that myself and the only one I knew who would know that is Jamie but he isn't around anymore to ask... I know his health was terrible though .. partly because he was always going into dialysis with 7+kg on him...

[AlasdairUK]

I have never smoked, but I did drink when I had a transplanted kidney and now on dialysis I still go out and drink with my friends. I normally just have shots as I do not want to use up my fluid allowance or might have a small glass of Jack and Coke with lots of ice.

I do know the best cure for a hangover is dialysis. My dietitian even told me to continue to drink as being social helps the mental state of mind. You do not want to withdraw from life, but you do need to let common sense prevail.

Cheers,
Alasdair.

[angieskidney]

. My dietitian even told me to continue to drink as being social helps the mental state of mind. You do not want to withdraw from life, but you do need to let common sense prevail.

Really? I have pretty much stopped going out with any of my friends for the last few years as all they do is go to bars, drink and smoke.. and I don't have the money anyway ..

I just pretty much spend all my time right here at the computer on this forum.. 

But ya .. maybe being sociable would help the mood.. 

[BigSky]

Does anyone here who is on hemo ever get quite umm....drunk? I havent touched alcohol since I started dialysis. Ive had one drink here or there or half a drink, but never what I used to drink. Someone told me you stay drunk until you have dialysis, but Ive never actually had that info confirmed.

The first time I was on dialysis I did a lot of drinking and it was never that way.  It did however seem like it took a little longer to sober up but not much.  Most of the alcohol is processed by the liver or excreated through the lungs when you breath.

[sandman]

Most of the alcohol is processed by the liver or excreated through the lungs when you breath.

That is what I thought.  Thank you.

[Zach]

That calls for Jack Daniels!

[slothluvchunk]

You don't "stay drunk" until dialysis, but you do have whatever remains in your system there.

Don't make the mistake though - of going to dialysis even remotely drunk.  You will experience the worst hangover of your life, crammed into 4 extremely long hours.

  Not that I know firsthand of course.....


Vodka/Gin/Rum are all low in phospohorous and potassium.  We even have a sign up here at the clinic explaining which drinks we should drink, and which we should not.
Beer is extremely high in phosphorous, AND phosphorous binders work very poorly on liquid. 
Wine is ok in moderation, but can be high in potassium - so watch out.

Vodka baby -
Poor yourself a glass of lemonade on some ice cubes, and use it to chase a couple vodka shots - then become chatty and make a fool of yourself.

[goofynina]

Ohhhh, Vodka,  damn, that sounds good right about now,  what do you know about tequila?    I've been known to drop down a few shots now and then     but i guess its time to switch my poison of choice...    thanks for the tips.