Alcohol Survey

[KimC]

Any thoughts on whether or not it's OK to drink wine and beer pre-surgery? I've read that anyone w/ CHF symptoms should NOT drink but does this apply to AI?

I drank two glasses of wine tonight and noticed that my pulse is up. I only noticed it because my pulse feels much stronger; my head and neck are throbbing. I thought alcohol was supposed to depress your BP?

Hmmmm ... I guess I'll be overanalyzing everything until I see my cardio again next month.

Cheers,

 

[Ross]

You should probably abstain until your fixed up, but I don't think 2 glasses is going to hurt anything.

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey Kim,
If I were you I would check with my Dr. just to be on the safe side.
Alcohol works different on people. Some it will lower the pulse and others it will rise it.
Take Care.

Dave
__________________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical
Heart Center of the Rockies

 

[Nancy]

This is just something to think about. As Kim mentioned, people with CHF should not indulge. This is what we've learned.

Joe has had CHF for many years, and it has gotten progressively worse over time. Because of this he has a condition called cardiac cirrhosis, which acts like regular cirrhosis, although it has a different etiology. When fluids accumulate in the liver which can happen with CHF, it can cause it to expand, and form scar tissue. Joe's was so bad that his liver actually went into spasm and seized up to the point that I could see it poking out just below his rib. His spleen was also enlarged, and he lost his appetite. It was a very painful condition.

Now that he has proper treatment for his CHF and is eating a virtually no salt diet, this condition is a thing of the past. His liver functions are now OK. He cannot have any alcohol of any kind as a result.

I don't like to think of what might have happened, if the condition went on without help.

So we've learned the hard way that you have to tailor your life according to your medical problems.

I agree with Ross that you should probably abstain until you have things fixed up, especially since you experienced some feelings that were uncomfortable, even though you do not have CHF.

Here is a link for cardiac cirrhosis:

http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic275.htm

 

[KimC]

Thanks. I'm not too happy w/ myself after last night. I drank two HUGE sifters of wine, something I haven't done for a long, long time and certainly not over the past year while I was pregnant.

I woke up at 2am sweating with a heart rate twice my normal one -- 100 versus 50. (I have bradycardia). I felt like I had been working out. I noticed the accelerated heart rate earlier in the night but thought that rest would take care of it.

The palpitations were unprecedented. I plan to call my doctor tomorrow and abstain from alcohol. I'm a rebellious person by nature but not stupid. I'll adjust.

Thanks for listening to me whine and worry.

Peace,

 

[pillarpaul]

I think you uncovered the key by comparing what you were used to with what you had the night before. I have a couple of glasses of red wine with dinner about two or three times a week. I kept that up until two days before my surgery. I only had AI, not CHF. Didn't change my pulse at all but again, I was used to it. And, of course, it's OK to "wine".

Paul

 

[epstns]

Another thing to consider -- are you taking any BP or heart meds? There may be inter-actions there, and I would certainly discuss it with your doctors.

My own experience (I'm still pre-surg for AVR) is that alcohol conflicts with my Avalide (High BP med) and drops my blood pressure way, way down. Not too neat, so I rarely indulge these days.

You're on the right track -- ask the questions here and at the doctor's office.

 

[Peggy in Alaska]

alcohol

alcohol

I'm still a ways from surgery [at least I think/hope so] and my docs. were more concerned about caffeine than alcohol.

 

[mamsram]

BLOOD PRESSURE

BLOOD PRESSURE

Hey Epstein, isnt the purpose of the med to lower the blood pressure? Maybe if you control the amount you consume, maybe you will also control the plunge???
My wife does not drink, so when we came home after I had four beers with my son-in -law she wanted me to check my bp. It read133/76. It seems to lower mine nicely. however if I had 9 or 10 beers It may be a different matter and I"m too much a coward at this stage of the game to experiment.
Peggy, hows things in the big one? Went to Denali a couple of years ago, was told Mt. Mckinley was just 5 miles out there. Had to take their word for it couldn't see a thing.

 

[Peggy in Alaska]

McKinley

McKinley

ram:

I haven't been to Denali for several years now. Been there, done that. Too bad you didn't get to see the mountain, it is spectacular, but as you experienced, it is often not seen from the park because of weather. We took a small pressurized plane up and around the peak, beautiful views.

We see it often from high spots in Anchorage.

 

[Mara]

Kim,
That same thing happened to me once before my surgery. I went out for a friend's birthday and drank 2 long islands. woke up with sweats and rapid heart beat. I did not have alcohol for the next three years. I had maybe one or two drinks a year for the three years right before my surgery. Now, no problems at all, except after local German fest, one too many Warsteiners gave me a headache!

 

[KimC]

Thanks, Mara. The writing's on the wall: no more alcohol for Kimbo, (my nickname). I'm OK with a small glass of wine, but I got carried away on Sat. We're were at the beach, etc. It was fun for awhile anyway! Sigh ...

 

[rcatalano]

Home Brew

Home Brew

Uh oh, getting bored here convalescing, I made a batch of home brew. Should be ready next week. Haven't tried this is in years. When I open up the first bottle, I'll be lucky if alcohol is the only harmful ingredient.

 

[Jennie]

Hi Kim!

A little situation I found myself in:
1. very severe aortic regurg
2. BP meds
3. nice bottle of champagne
4. hot tub

BAD COMBO!! I knew it wasn't a good idea, but WOW!! When I got out, I almost passed out, had to sit with my head between my knees for quite a while until I could stand up, then was majorly sick in the bathroom for another 45 minutes or so....

All of these serve to expand your veins a bit (I can't remember the word for this anymore), but too much of a good thing isn't always good. Caffeine also sent me into palpitations. Take notice of these when you use these and see if you notice any effects.

Jennie