Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Alcohol and AS

How many people here use alcohol to cope with AS, pain, etc.? How many believe that it makes the pain worse?
Fiat

Hi,

Now I just can't cope with it at all, not worth the extra pain.

David

Hi Connie,

Believe it or not it's actually in my medical notes that I use alcohol to treat the pain!

I don't find a small amount has any effect other than as a simple de-stressing relaxant which is very useful. However I do find that red wine in any quantity will cause a mini-flare the following day. Other brewed alcoholic drinks also cause flaring problems the following day the if taken in quantity. There is a link between both bakers and brewers yeast and inflamation. If Evelyn see this she might provide the link.

So, ridiculous as it seems, yes I use it to treat pain and yes I believe it makes it worse! (I think it's just a matter of what and how much.)

     Loz



"Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people." William Butler Yeats (1865 - 1939)

I use to drink ALOT... now, just the thought of it makes me gag.... BARF!! Can't handle it at all anymore. Don't recall if it made AS worse, but I sure felt like death warmed over for the following week...

Stacie

Hi Loz,
It does seem that the red wines do cause next morning inflammation. I wonder if that has anything to do with sulphites in the wine. I'm allergic to sulpha drugs and can't take sulphasalazine.
Beer seems to be less inflammatory, but only a glass or two at the most.
Still seems to have an effect.
The alcohol does take the edge off of evening pain. But then meds sometimes
have to be taken in the morning, so as not to mix the two.
Right now I don't have to take pain meds, as I'm in a good place with my AS.
So I figure if I drink in moderation I might get by without too many side effects.
I'm sure most agree we'd do better without it. But my Irish-side and German-Bavarian-sides sees it otherwise.
Would be interesting to know what ingredients cause us to inflame.

Thanks for your input!
Cheers!
Fiat

Hi David,
I understand sometimes the alcohol is just not worth it. When I had my last major flare-up I didn't drink hardly at all. When pain gets to that level it really isn't worth it!
Hope you have as pain-free a day as possible.
Take care,
Fiat

Connie
nice to see you again. I can manage a beer or a glass of wine but only limited amounts, more a stomach problem than flare problem, but line up the malt whiskies and I am your man, no probs.

Stay Well
Paul


"If life is a waste of time, and time is a waste of life,
then lets all get wasted and have the time of our lives."

Hi,

I was n't always like that, I quite like my beer but you've gotta to listen to the pain! Eventually you learn!

Enjoy!

David

An idea Connie, if you're concerned about ingredients, is to try pretending you're Ukranian and sicking to the vodka for a while. Vodka is the purest of all the commercial spirits (if you get a good one).

That'll help you determine if it's the alcohol or the flavouring ingredients that are the problem.

Wow, Bavarian/Irish huh? Cheers!!! :)

     Loz



"Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people." William Butler Yeats (1865 - 1939)

I have seen a great improvement in my conditions since eliminating sugar, caffeine and alcohol from my diet. Mixed drinks with soda or syrup mixes seemed to have the most affect on me. I like a couple glasses of wine very blue moon because I still like the “warm fuzzes” it gives me and haven’t noticed any adverse side effect.

Cheers!!