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Drinking Beer & Alcohol After being diagnosed with NON-ALCOHOLIC Neuropathy

Can you still drink a few Beers/Drinks after you’ve been diagnosed with Peripheral Neuropathy?

Are you familiar with this scenario?…

So, there you are – at a holiday party or some other social event. You sit there, ignoring your pains and trying to get in the mood for celebrations. You see friends and family having their usual drinks and you’re tempted to join in the fun – but can you?

Sure, you’ve never been an alcoholic, perhaps not even a regular drinker, but you’re sad and feel left out this night. You know a few drinks will lighten your mood, but does having PN forbid you from ever drinking again? Will you ever be able to enjoy a little buzz with your friends or family again?

First off, we all know that drinking any alcohol is bad for Neuropathy. Still, many of us, including myself, find it hard not to have a few drinks on the weekend. (About 5 or 6 Lite beers in my case)

But how much alcohol can be tolerated before it becomes damaging?

Is it different for each person?

Does it matter what kind of beer, wine or liquor you drink?

I was once even told by a doctor that since my PN was NOT from Alcoholic Neuropathy, that it didn’t much matter what I drank. This I knew through common sense was pure horse-crap. …Astounding what some doctors will tell you, isn’t it?

I’ve gotten many different answers on this so far, and I will post my own experiences along with some links and others opinions I’ve gotten from other PN sufferers.

This is a thread I hope will collect lots of new info and opinions, as it’s one that many people seem confused over – including myself. But here are a few more questions to start this off:

Is Alcoholic Neuropathy the same as Diabetic Neuropathy or other Drug/Toxic Neuropathies?


What in Alcohol causes PN? --Toxicity to nerves or lack of B vitamins?

One doctor claims PN from alcoholism comes from the lack of B vitamins and NOT the toxicity from the alcohol itself, while another claims it’s both. Many lab researchers still debate this issue.

For people who have PN, but NOT the alcoholic type, will taking B vitamins and other supplements such as A-L carnitine help protect your nerves when drinking light or socially?

Some say this is true; pointing out that these supplements help protect nerves from certain cancer drugs and other toxins, and thus conclude it will do the same, as long as we don’t “Over-do-it” on the drinks. Can this actually be true?

Some claim that drinking lightly and doing so in a paced time frame is the trick. Does this sound logical?


I hope you all weigh in on these thoughts, so we can get a better understanding of alcohol and how it effects our lives…good or bad.

If you have PN and have been drinking a few beers/drinks from time to time, I'd like to hear about your experiences.

I'm sure we could all benefit from some down-to-earth genuine talk about having a few drinks after being diagnosed with PN (Not Alcoholic PN) I mean. As long as you’re honest about it, we can all benefit in some way or another.

My PN is NOT caused from drinking but I can tell you this, I do not even drink, not really at all but maybe a special occasion..But I was visiting my sister and she made strawberry daquiries and that is like sugar heaven but it had rum, well it killed my feet.

Now mind you, I don't eat sugar either so I am sure it was the sugar and the rum but on that trip, everytime I even touched alcohol I paid for it the next day.

So for me, alcohol triggers a flare up.

It's difficult to discuss these various opinions without links to their sources to examine the source, context, qualifications, etc. If the source is your own doctors, then their opinions are just that -- opinions, albeit medical opinions based on their knowledge, continuing education, and experience.

I think you've really answered your own questions though. Common sense, moderation, and experience govern alcohol consumption for most mature adults who do not have abuse issues, regardless of whether or not they have PN.

I used to be a moderate responsible social drinker. I stopped drinking when I developed chronic pain issues (a few years before PN manifested) because some of the meds I was on at the time would not mix well with alcohol. I guess, as you say, it's different for each person, because I've never once felt tempted, sad, or left out.

Could I try it sometime? Probably, but I don't need it to participate in social situations, and my gut tells me that I would pay for it afterward, and it's not worth it to me now.

A commonality of those here who've learned to cope/live with and/or conquer PN is to listen to our bodies. Bottom line, if drinking exacerbates one's symptoms, either during or afterward, it's probably not a good idea for that person to drink.

Not to preach, but to weigh in with honest down-to-earth genuine talk, one of the definitions of addiction is the continued use of a mood altering substance or behavior despite adverse consequences.

Doc

I agree largely with what you've written here. The odd thing with me is that I feel like I'm more enticed to drink, or more so, look forward to the day on the weekend when I drink a 6-pack more than I did before my PN. I can't drink more than that without getting nauseously sick, so that 6-pack is really the limit for me.

Once, I quit drinking for an entire month and did not feel a bit better at all - I actually felt worse that month. But I figure that was from stress. I also have a spouse that badgers me a lot, so I get more stressed during arguments and that often triggers flare-ups. Honestly, it's her drinking that causes more stressful situations for me than the beer/alcohol itself. I also believe, had I had a wife that did not drink so heavily, that I, myself, would be less tempted as well.

That's not to say it's her fault - I just have to learn how to avoid her prompting (this woman does not believe drinking can hurt people like us, despite the fact that I say that every weekend!!!)

The reason, is that I feel more like relieving stress now than I ever did before, and drinking about a 6-pack of light beer every weekend seems to work fine for me. I can't say that I've noticed it making my pn worse or better. Before my pn, I drank about 8 beers (just 2 beers more than I do now) on a weekend (Friday or Saturday) and this over a long night as well.

Still, I am taking extra B vitamins on the weekend and other supplements known for protecting the nerves, so, there might be some possible shielding factor from the alcohol's overall effect.

Also, I never drink enough to get a hangover, and I do eat in between the drinks. Consequentially, it takes me about 6 hours to drink 6 beers, so maybe that, too, has something to do with my tolerance.

I did however, go to a party some months ago, and drank 9 beers once. I felt quite sick and nauseated afterward and quickly figured out that my body has set limits for itself. Thus I never did that again.

However, I never was a truly heavy drinker and I do not drink during any other days. Despite this, I would be considered a "Binge" drinker, since by definition, it fits anyone that drinks more than 4 beers in one night.

Now, since I no longer have any drug interactions to be concerned about (I quite my clonozepam sometime ago) so, I feel a tad bit safer drinking beer now-a-days.

I have noticed that I get buzzed much faster than I did before pn, and that's probably why I don't drink more than I do.

I listed some links below that perhaps echo what I've said here in some ways.

Mostly, it seems that drinking alchol in "Moderation" is essential to anyone who can't resist taking the drink or the peer pressure of the social climate. My wife is quite a heavy drinker in my opinion, so social gatherings with her are very difficult times, as far as restraining myself from drinking 4 to 6 beers. Still, it's difficult to say what is moderation?

I am 6 feet tall and 240 pounds and it takes me about 6 hours to drink 6 beers -would that be moderation or abuse. ...I do not know???

I'd be interested in knowing what you think of these articles.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4496727.stm

http://www.diabetesmadeeasier.com/av...and-long-term-

complications/neuropathy/is-it-okay-to-drink-alcohol-if-i-have-peripheral-neuropathy

https://www.foundationforpn.org/livi...neuropathy.cfm

http://www.diabetesmadeeasier.com/av...ral-neuropathy


http://alcoholrehab.com/alcohol-reha...nd-alcoholism/

I think 6 drinks in one night is not moderation. One or two is.
Drinking alot and then abstaining has been shown to affect the brain. It is called binge drinking.

If you have symptoms from drinking any alcohol then don't do it.

There are many posts here about this subject that you can search.
I explain about products of fermentation and congeners in those posts.

Type in "alcohol" to our search function on page one of this forum.
Or use the word "congener".

Alcohol which contains YEAST is more likely to trigger PN symptoms IMO. You are drinking aldehydes that the yeast produce during fermentation, and aldehydes are not good for you.

BTW, There is no test to prove anyone's PN is from drinking or not. If your doctor went out on a limb and told you, yours was not I have a problem with that with 6 drinks in one evening! People usually underestimate their drinking data when discussing with doctors. Doctors know this and therefore in their minds actually round up to a higher amount in their heads.

The mere admission of alcohol in a medical interview, is common enough to get a premature diagnosis of alcohol induced PN. We've seen it here, where some posters come on who have been sober for YEARS and still their doctor will not test for other PN
causes!

everyone is different, but personally two beers for me makes me high. i dont think i could drink six. im 6'3'.
I think that the fact that you look forward to and feel compelled to drink a six pack on a certain day or in a certain situation may be indicative of a psychological need that could lead to a problem on its own.
Many people these days go to social events where there is drinking involved by some or many but dont drink themselves. there really is no social stigma to not drinking at parties or even bars anymore as there was in the 70's and 80's. Many people drink bottled water or club soda at bars and clubs.
I havent drank anything in many years because i just dont feel its worth it. Its certainly not going to help and it will hurt long term, for the reasons delineated by Mrs. D above.
Im not judging you and i certainly have plenty of my own faults so im not pointing fingers, but you did ask.

Are you asking for opinions, or validation? I don't care which; I just want to be clear (for understanding) and for anyone reading this to be honest with themselves.

emphasis mine

I think that's your answer/solution in a nutshell.

relieving stress

Doc

Since I figured out I have PN for whatever reason probably alcohol I have pretty much quit drinking so I tried a few beers sometimes only 1 I had no problems at all after quitting for over a month. But like you say when everybody is having a drink on the beach or those special places my will power is put to the test. I went overboard and pounded probably 10 beers for 4 days no flare ups but on day 5 it hit me hard. Full blown flare up with edema could not walk ruined my vacation. So I stopped for 5 days drank 1 beer and flare up was as intense as 10 beers. For me I need to quit all together but I know I will fall again somewhere down the road but 2 is my limit once and a while. I believe you can drink if you are taking the right supplements b1 b6 b12 CoQ10 Slow Mag R Lipoic Acid vitiaman C fish oil and a good multi vitiaman is what I take to a lot of success without a flare up but I had to quit for a while first. Let your body saturate with the good things before you put alcohol back in your body. Lots of fruits and veggies low carb diet. And a light beer you should be ok. My body needs to heal and alcohol just sets me back and that rocking pain makes it easier to quit for me! Good luck!

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Thanks, for being honest and your story is very familiar to me in some sense. Though I could never drink 10 beers for 4 days, even before PN; I certainly understand what you mean.

Not long ago, I went to the show to see the new Superman film (it's great, by the way) and my friend hands me a huge Pink Lemonade. He says there's about 2 or 3 shots of Bacardi in it. I figure 1 shot equals about 1 beer, so I start drinking, figuring I would not drink it all. ....However, I did.

When the show was over, I get up feeling pretty buzzed, but not overtly drunk. Still, he takes out the Bacardi bottle and I see it was a Pint and I notice almost all of it is gone, with him drinking about half of it, and me, the other half.

I was like -"Dude, I thought you said there was only a couple of shots in there. This is like half the freakin' bottle, man!"

He just shrugs and says: "Relax, man, that's not all that much!"

The thing is, when I get home that night, I have a big flare up that lasts until the late morning the next day.

Now, I get angry with myself, first off, there was a huge storm that day, very,very humid and hardcore rain - so, I knew my PN was probably going to flare up some anyway.

Then, I didn't prepare the drink myself (really, really stupid of me) also, for some reason, the drink simply didn't taste very strong to me. Why did I not notice that it had much more Bacardi in it then I thought???

I kind of figured all alcohol is the same for us, but I must say that despite what others claim, hard alcohol such as Vodka and Bacardi does indeed, affect me much worse than my regular light beers.

I don't know why that is? I hardly ever drink hard liquor, and perhaps it's what it is mixed with as well (usually some very sweet ice tea or lemonade).

My lesson was learned very quickly - in my particular case; do NOT drink hard liquor at all!

It is possible that the flare up was caused by the massive storm that day, too, but I feel it was probably a combination of both. Also, the longer, elapsed time I usually take to drink was not in action, as I had drank what equaled to about 6 beers in less than 3 hours that night at the show. I never do that with beer. So, that did not help either.

As it is, using some odd techniques, I have managed to cut my drinking down in half so far without much of a problem.

BTW; despite the Superman movie being about 2 and a half hours long- it was great, full of action and a fine story plot -- it really surprised me how much so...unless of course, my perception of its greatness was altered by me being buzzed. LOL