Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: How Often Do You/Are We Able To Drink

My very first post on this site, around 5 years ago, was exactly on this topic. At that time, I was using alcohol regularly to manage the pain of IBS. Which, of course, may work at the time but makes it worse in the long run, i.e. the next day. So it was a pretty vicious cycle I was caught in. I also drank for the social component - I moved to a big city and chose the career I'm in specifically because I like the "going out" culture - dressing up, seeing a show, going for dinner, drinks, etc. Not necessarily going to keggers and acting like idiots. But nightlife, dating - all of which are lubricated quite nicely by a drink.

But my priority right now is managing my IBS, which in practical terms means that I just go out a lot less than I used to. To me, it is not that fun watching my friends get drunk while I sip juice. First, I get tired if I'm out at night sober. But more importantly, without alcohol, I'm in quite a bit of pain/discomfort at night. So for the most part I just don't go out anymore.

I do make exceptions on special occasions - once in a while, an event comes up and I decide to have a couple of glasses of wine (and NOT on an empty stomach). That's about the extent of it - probably less than once a month. And I generally feel worse the next day. I also find that alcohol acts more as a depressant the older I get - I notice I feel quite down the next day, often have to have a big cry.

My end goal used to be to able to drink and not feel the effects, IBS-wise. But at some point you have to get real and accept that is not going to happen. So now, my end goal is to not drink, and be able to go out and socialize anyways. Like I said, because I have a lot of pain in the evenings, that's not a possibility right now, but I hope it eventually will be.

You may find that one or two drinks on a full stomach once it a while is tolerable to you - or at least, that the benefits outweigh the costs. But you are not going to find anyone here telling you it's a good idea.

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IBS-C, lots of spasm and trapped gas.

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