Alcohol

[Diesel]

Okay everyone.. being young and new to coumadin, i need some facts from poeple who have experineced this. Not just the "info" from my doctor who has never been on coumadin....

So my INR level is at 3.83 they want to keep it between 3.5-4.0 i doubt he'll (my cardio) will be too upset if its around 3.0 BUT anyways.. to my point...

If i choose to go out with my friends and drink (hey im 25! and female!! i dont want to say i'll never pick up a drink again...ill be honest) But how much does drinking effect my levels... and HOW does it effect it.. Does it make my levels go up higher?? If i know im gonna drink that evening should i just take a smaller dose of coumadin (with out telling anyone????) (i know that would be wrong but i want to feel "Safe" while drinking...)

And what is a good rule of a limit per say.. like how much alcohol (hard) and or (beer) will effect this...

I know this might sound catty or even risky.. but i just would like to hear of some REAL PEOPLE and REAL EXPERINECES vs.. my doc whos never been on it and saying "yeah ummm.. alcohol.... yeah it will effect it... blah blah blah"

Thanks everyone...
Diesel

 

[Karlynn]

Diesel,
It's not that you shouldn't drink alcohol, it's just that you shouldn't go out and consume a lot. I have a glass of wine 3 or 4 days a week. On weekends, if we have social occasions, I'll have a few during the course of the evening. And yes, I will admit that at 46 I have been known on rare occasions to have too much (which for me doesn't take much, I'm a lightweight). Earlier on in my Coumadin history, I didn't drink at all, fear and lack of knowledge 13 years ago. Now that I do consume "adult beverages" in moderation, I don't find that I have any more issues with regulating my INR than when I didn't drink at all.

For some, the danger isn't necessarily the INR level, but if they have unknown conditions such as ulcers, that alcohol can cause to bleed.

So I would say to enjoy yourself. Don't binge, be responsible and keep track of your INR (do you home test?). You may want to start keeping a log of what your INR is a few days after you've had an evening out.

As we say, it's consistancy that counts. Now you don't want to be consistantly drinking a 6 pack each day, but this consistancy rule has given me the permission to enjoy that nice glass of red I like 3 or 4 times a week. Sometimes I'll substitute the wine for a rum and coke.

 

[Gnusgal]

I do NOT suggest changing your dose because you want to go out to drink. For one thing, it won't do a darn thing to your INR that day, but it will drop it like a rock a few days later. Just keep taking your normal dose.

I admit it, on occasion I drink. Sometimes it's in moderations (one drink) and sometimes I decide to have a bit more fun (when I'm out with friends or whatnot). I haven't done any studies to find out how it effected my INR, so I can't tell you what it will do to you, but my guess is that whatever it does won't be long lasting (only as long as the alcohol is in your system?). But if you have a home test kit, maybe you can do this study yourself?

Remember, I'm not a medical professional, so don't take my word on any of this. I just know that I have tried my best to not let coumadin disrupt my life any more than it has to (remembering to take the pill and test my levels, and take precautions before tests/procedures.). If I let it do more than that I think I might go crazy!

 

[catwoman]

Diesel:
Last weekend I was at a convention and attended an elegant formal Saturday. I got a martini before dinner. Went inside the banquet hall. One of the honorees gave dinner guest (400-500) a coupon good for a free drink at the cash bar. I chose white Zinfandel wine, but didn't finish the glass.
I seldom drink now, not necessary because of the warfarin, but because it's a lot of empty calories.

A warfarin patient who drinks may be at risk for a head injury & subdural hematoma if overimbibing causes a fall.

 

[Karlynn]

I do NOT suggest changing your dose because you want to go out to drink.

Very good point. My daughter's diabetic friend adjusts her insulin if she knows she is going to be drinking - but this is a very different cause/effect relationship than Coumadin. You are better off doing some testing to figure out what a "normal" social weekend does to your INR by testing and then adjust your drinking if you find that it's affecting it too much.

 

[Ross]

Where's the alcohol? Darn it all to heck, I was tricked again!

Anyway, some peoples INR changes, some do not. You cannot be a heavy duty everyday stoned drunk or your doomed from the get go. A couple of drinks per week is fine so long as you do not have any ulcers or GI Bleeding. Alcohol will aggravate it and Coumadin will keep it going until your in danger.

Now, I'd like a Bloody Mary in a tall glass please.

 

[Barry]

There's been a number of threads on this, you may want to try the search engine. One of the more interesting was one in which a fellow with a forum-name of "Moo" posted how much he'd been drinking and what his INR levels were.

I tend to agree with my cardiologist, who told me that the real hazard of drinking when you're on Coumadin isn't so much how it affects your INR, but that when you're on Coumadin head injuries can be very serious, perhaps lethal. And that you really don't want to get drunk and then fall down and hit your head. FYI, father of a friend of mine was on Coumadin and died when he accidentally hit his head against a wall when seated in a booth in a restaurant.

Basic point for me being that power-drinking is a high-risk activity when you're on Coumadin, but I wouldn't worry about a couple of drinks. And a case could be made that even getting smashed is OK so long as you are aware of the risk you're taking on by doing so: Have you considered wearing a motorcyle helmet when you go out for drinks?

 

[Gnusgal]

Have you considered wearing a motorcyle helmet when you go out for drinks?

Hee, hee! I like this solution!

I must make sure to mention that when I do drink more than just one or two drinks I do not every drink to the point where I feel I will pass out or not remember what happened that night. However, I do enjoy sporting a light buzz throughout the evening. I just don't like hangovers thankyouverymuch. So, plan your drinking well. Pace yourself. Don't slam it all at once so that you're at risk of falling from your chair. At 25 I'm sure you're past this point, right? I can't imagine it would be safe to go out in public and get that drunk even without coumadin anyway...

 

[Guest]

I have never seen anyone who had a problem with two drinks.

I know of one death from a guy who got drunk and fell into a pile of wood chips. He did not have a mark on the outside of his head but the autopsy showed that he died of a bleed into the brain.

 

[Granbonny]

Al

Al

Not to hijack diesel's thread......but a neighbor of mine refused to let his wife turn on the outside lights after they came in from grocery shopping after dark..Tripped and fell into his woodchips. There was not a single part of his body that was not covered..that was cut..scrached ect. He is a bald man..and was he ever ugly.... The poor guy looked like 100 cats had bit him on face, ect. Thank goodness, we don't have wood chips lining our sidewalks. Yes, I enjoy a few beers, too....but never drink outside my home..... and never go ouside..... B/T/W....INR never changes with a few beers..... Bonnie

 

[William]

I like the picture, Ross! Any idea of what animal it is? About drinking, I drink every night. I always have, always will. After my replacement, I try and keep it around 2 drinks/glasses. I don't know if the type of alcohol makes any difference, I'm a wine and beer person. Coumadin seems to balance with your life style, do what you do and the Docs will adjust the dose. Will

 

[Barry]

Never drink anything stronger than gin before breakfast.

 

[Ross]

Never drink anything stronger than gin before breakfast.

Ya know, once upon a time, my breakfast was 151 rum! Ever wonder why Bacardi uses the Bat Device? Have some of that before sun up and you'll see more then bats!

William, this is my bearded Lemur.

 

[Guest]

*raises eyebrow*

Hmm...maybe not drinking alcohol is part of my problem with the ladies, eh?

*shrugs*

All kidding aside, I always believed that alcohol was not a good idea for me ... and, as such, have never really drunk and partied like some of my friends. I've had sips of wine and downed a couple of a buddy's amaretto stone sours ... but that's the extent of my drinking.


Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 31swm/pig valve/pacemaker
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"I could never get enough" ... Eddy Raven ... 'I Could Use Another You'

 

[Karlynn]

Ya know, once upon a time, my breakfast was 151 rum! Ever wonder why Bacardi uses the Bat Device? Have some of that before sun up and you'll see more then bats!

William, this is my bearded Lemur.

One of my son's friends bought him a shot of 151 (flaming) for his 21st birthday. The friend ended up wearing it on his shirt, but not until after it had been consumed.

 

[Ross]

One of my son's friends bought him a shot of 151 (flaming) for his 21st birthday. The friend ended up wearing it on his shirt, but not until after it had been consumed.

Karlynn if you'd of known me in my younger days, you'd most certainly have nothing to do with me. None of you would. I look back at it now and shake my head, wondering how I ever survived it. We had a motto back then, "If your gonna get stupid, get really stupid". Can't say that I'm proud of any of it in the least, but it's something I did and it haunts me to this day.

 

[Karlynn]

Karlynn if you'd of known me in my younger days, you'd most certainly have nothing to do with me. None of you would. I look back at it now and shake my head, wondering how I ever survived it. We had a motto back then, "If your gonna get stupid, get really stupid". Can't say that I'm proud of any of it in the least, but it's something I did and it haunts me to this day.

We all have regrets, some of us pretty big ones. I keep telling my kids that one of the goals of life it to get through it with as few regrets as possible. They are just beginning to realize what a tough job that is.

I have no regrets about your life Ross. It's molded you in to the person you are today - and I think that person is pretty darned special. You would be surprised, even a bit shocked, at the past of some of my most valued friends. After all, how is iron made?

 

[Diesel]

wow!

wow!

WOW thanks for all the responses everyone!! Some of the stories are diffinatley funny, they should keep on comming.

It sounds though, that most people stick to around two drinks/glasses.. Which will be a BIG change for me if i only have two.. but i guess two is better than none!! But i need a little slack since i am single and 25 and like to go out with friends right???

So i guess i'll start with two, and see how my levels are affected.. If they seem to stay within range.. i'll probably up it to THREE!! Even then, thats a change for me!! Wowzers.... A whole six pack will last me a week!! Man, never thought i would be saying that!! haha NOT saying that im a lush, but when I DO drink, its more than just 2-3.... All my friends are gonna wonder what happend to ME!!!

Anyways, thanks everyone.. keep the posts comming if you arent bored. I deffinately have liked some of your stories and experiences!!

Diesel

 

[Ross]

Diesel if you ask Moo about it, he'll tell ya we are full of it because he likes to indulge a couple times a week. I cannot say to do that. I know being your age, you want to do more then the normal, but please be mindful that your not bullet proof. I always thought I was and it was about your age that my days started with 151 rum. The problem is, your body will only take so much abuse and then you don't have it anymore. So be careful!

If you want to really do some reading and see the seriousness and silliness, see this thread:
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10677&page=1&pp=20

 

[perrybucsdad]

... it was about your age that my days started with 151 rum...

So how did you quit or cut back? I drink, and I know I should cut back, but have had a hard time with it. I only have a few beers, so I don't consider it a problem, but I enjoy the beer. Nothing like working outside on a warm day, and then drinking a cold one when you are all done. I know it would be healthier if I didn't but I've had a hard time with it.

- John