Alcohol and Drugs after open heart surgery

[bw00]

Hi everyone,

Something completely different. I'm not sure if everyone is comfortable discussing this, but this is the only place where I thought I could ask this question. Obviously alcohol and drugs are a no go for everyone who wants to live a healthy life. But, is there more risk for people with replaced valves to use for example alcohol, weed or xtc? I talked about this with my cardiologist but I got the 'well drugs and alcohol are bad for everyone so no one should consume it' answer. I don't want to step on anyones toes discussing this, but I am just curious. Here in the Netherlands, weed etc is legal, and it is very normal to talk about this. I talked about this with my friends and often got the question whether I could use drugs or not, and it got me curious. Don't worry, I am not a drug-user or whatever . I was just wondering if any of you know more about this! I hope my English is acceptable and I wish you all a great day!

Berit

 

[pellicle]

Hi
to the best of my knowledge there is nothing you need to worry about in terms of "will the drugs effect the valve", however there are sometimes other issues which I can only speculate are related to minor nerve damage around the surgical site. In my case after about half a bootle of wine my heart beat feels much much more pronounced than it ever did. I'm not sure if the heart rate is elevated (as I'm sure its elevated when drinking anyway) but its definately no longer a comfortable feeling.

So aside from that point I have no issue with drinking as much (or as little , it depends who of my friends you ask) as I have always done.

you don't mention what your surgery is, are you just speculating?

Also with regard to:

Obviously alcohol and drugs are a no go for everyone who wants to live a healthy life

I would disagree somewhat, and feel that this is the case for the extreme and those of extreme views. The previous generations to us drank hard and worked hard and managed to be stronger than us and probably even remain stronger in their later age.

Drinking or drug taking to excess is of course a serious negative detraction, but if eating vegan gruel and doing yoga and careful exersize was to make you able to live to 150 would you want that? I lived in Japan for some hears and knew people from Okinawa as well. There the attitude to drinking is quite different to western wowser-ism. Its not uncommon for someone in their 90's to have a couple of Sakes every night (with some Sho-chu {which is 40~60%}) from time to time too.

Live to enjoy

Best Wishes

 

[Agian]

Hi Berit, inhaling Cannabis would probably cause as much harm as smoking cigarettes to your vascular system. I wouldn't have thought alcohol is a problem.

A glass of red wine a day helps prevent plaque in your arteries.

 

[bw00]

I had a ross procedure myself. @ Pellicle It's interesting to hear your response to alcohol! I haven't noticed anything like that yet.

 

[Agian]

A glass of wine raises my hr by about 10bpm.

 

[big_L]

I have a couple of snorts most nights and yes, I'm on warfarin. So far, I'm fine. Moderation is the key. I can't comment on the cannabis, although I suspect that the smoking isn't good for you. Brownies or something might be easier, long term, on the cardio system.

 

[tom in MO]

Weed should do no harm. Drinking won't either, even if you are on warfarin, unless you get so drunk you fall down and bleed internally. LSD, mushrooms and peyote should be ok unless you are the type to get panic attacks. Don't know about the rest, but coke, crack and speed may be more dangerous since they can have negative heart effects for ordinary people. I would be very careful about taking drugs of unclear origin. For example, LSD can be cut with speed. Often what is received in illicit drugs is not what has been paid for.

 

[Cooker]

Interesting ... I asked about pot smoking almost 10 years ago and was almost flamed out existence ... today I choose to take the high road (no pun intended) and refrain from all drugs including alcohol. My drug of choice now is home made banana pudding ... best high there is and provides potassium :-D

 

[tom in MO]

Got a good recipe for your drug of choice? I love banana pudding and all my girl does with old bananas is make bread. If I left a "ape-certified" recipe with her, I may get lucky.

 

[Tteale]

In my case after about half a bootle of wine my heart beat feels much much more pronounced than it ever did.

I get the exact same after a few drinks. Might the ‘pronounced’ beat be a negative thing?

These days I try my best not to go too hard but occasionally blow out and have 15 beers or so (2-3 times per year). I feel my heart beat become really pronounced and the next day I’m riddled with anxiety.

 

[tom in MO]

I get the exact same after a few drinks. Might the ‘pronounced’ beat be a negative thing?

These days I try my best not to go too hard but occasionally blow out and have 15 beers or so (2-3 times per year). I feel my heart beat become really pronounced and the next day I’m riddled with anxiety.

You could ask your cardio's nurse or your cardio at your next check up. It might just be the anxiety not the beer

 

[pellicle]

heart beat become really pronounced and the next day I’m riddled with anxiety.

Do you think the anxiety might be related to issues surrounding your lead into and subsequent recovery from surgery? Have you ever considered discussion with a psychologist about this?

 

[esvaja]

Hi everyone,

Something completely different. I'm not sure if everyone is comfortable discussing this, but this is the only place where I thought I could ask this question. Obviously alcohol and drugs are a no go for everyone who wants to live a healthy life. But, is there more risk for people with replaced valves to use for example alcohol, weed or xtc? I talked about this with my cardiologist but I got the 'well drugs and alcohol are bad for everyone so no one should consume it' answer. I don't want to step on anyones toes discussing this, but I am just curious. Here in the Netherlands, weed etc is legal, and it is very normal to talk about this. I talked about this with my friends and often got the question whether I could use drugs or not, and it got me curious. Don't worry, I am not a drug-user or whatever . I was just wondering if any of you know more about this! I hope my English is acceptable and I wish you all a great day!

Berit

I've decided that I will try cannabis for pain management if needed after the surgery. I live in Michigan where it is legal. The cardiologist did not say no, he just cautioned me re: unknown side effects since it's new re: pain control

 

[esvaja]

Hi
to the best of my knowledge there is nothing you need to worry about in terms of "will the drugs effect the valve", however there are sometimes other issues which I can only speculate are related to minor nerve damage around the surgical site. In my case after about half a bootle of wine my heart beat feels much much more pronounced than it ever did. I'm not sure if the heart rate is elevated (as I'm sure its elevated when drinking anyway) but its definately no longer a comfortable feeling.

So aside from that point I have no issue with drinking as much (or as little , it depends who of my friends you ask) as I have always done.

you don't mention what your surgery is, are you just speculating?

Also with regard to:


I would disagree somewhat, and feel that this is the case for the extreme and those of extreme views. The previous generations to us drank hard and worked hard and managed to be stronger than us and probably even remain stronger in their later age.

Drinking or drug taking to excess is of course a serious negative detraction, but if eating vegan gruel and doing yoga and careful exersize was to make you able to live to 150 would you want that? I lived in Japan for some hears and knew people from Okinawa as well. There the attitude to drinking is quite different to western wowser-ism. Its not uncommon for someone in their 90's to have a couple of Sakes every night (with some Sho-chu {which is 40~60%}) from time to time too.

Live to enjoy

Best Wishes

it's very European too. I was given a honey, liquor lemon tea growing up for bad colds & congestion.

 

[esvaja]

Hi Berit, inhaling Cannabis would probably cause as much harm as smoking cigarettes to your vascular system. I wouldn't have thought alcohol is a problem.

A glass of red wine a day helps prevent plaque in your arteries.

edibles.

 

[pellicle]

it's very European too. I was given a honey, liquor lemon tea growing up for bad colds & congestion.

nice blast from the past ... I miss Agian ... one less Ozzie in the mix

 

[pellicle]

edibles.

not without issues
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/marijuana-rehab/risks-of-edibles

 

[Chuck C]

edibles.

Just be really careful with the amount that you ingest with the edibles. It is legal here and a couple of years ago I tried an edible, not wanting to get any smoke in my lungs. They delivered a brownie. I ate about 25% of it. Felt nothing. Ate another 25% of it, still felt nothing, then another 25% of it. About an hour later I felt like I was having the worst acid trip of all time, not that I would know what one is like. I felt like I was going to die. I called the vender and they said: "You ate 3/4 of it? Man, I always recommend not to eat more than 25% of one on someone's first time." Would have nice to know that beforehand. I threw the last 25% away and don't plan to ever do that again. It was a terrible experience. Took about 6 hours to come down.
If you try edibles, learn from my mistake and take a very small amount, then wait at least 90 minutes to see how much it is affecting you.