Alcohol and IBS!!
Just recently been diagnosed with IBS, I have struggled for a number of years now especially with alcohol! It started in my early 20’s but I used to just put it down to hangover and if I mentioned it to doctors they didn’t want to know! Know 20 years on it has progressively got worse! I can only have a couple of beers and I feel it the day after! Any more and my stomach feels bloated and painful! I can’t bear the thought of eating anything, spend most of day on toilet!! I don’t believe this to be IBS or does this sound similar to anything anyone has?? I would love to be able to have a drink now and again as it’s got to point know that a just don’t drink!
I don't drink either for this reason. I've just unfortunately found to know that alcohol and digestive issues don't mix. It will always agitate the bowels so if I ever do want to drink, I must with total caution. Here is an article that talks about this topic: https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/alcohol-drinking -Elizabeth (team member)
Thank you I will certainly take a look at that. Has yours got worse the older you have got?
I'm not Elizabeth, but I just wanted to share that I have the same issue and usually avoid alcohol for that reason. Wine is still okay most of the time though, as long as I have one glass. I believe that for me, it may have gotten worse as I got older. But I could never drink a lot, even as a teenager...
Karina (team member)
I have had IBS C all my life. I cannot drink without pain and bloating.
I’m sorry to hear that. Do you tend to avoid alcohol completely?
Karina (team member)
Wow, I've had a very different experience with alcohol. I started drinking a Scotch every evening in 2018. Then it was 2, then 3, and more. Unfortunately, I tolerate alcohol very well. I got up to 10 shots per day.
I couldn't reduce it on my own, so last month, I asked my doctor for a prescription drug for alcohol addiction. My quit date was September 9th, and I've been sober ever since 😀
Consider it a blessing that you cannot tolerate alcohol, my friends. I have an addict's brain. I quit smoking in 2016 and transferred that addiction to food, gaining 30 pounds. I tolerate every kind of food, so it was easy! But it worsened my IBS, changing it from IBS-C to -D. I lost 40 pounds and it changed back to -C. Then I transferred it to alcohol, and abused that too.
As of this writing, my weight is still down and I've quit alcohol. I recently started taking Linzess to get off the laxative roller coaster. IBS-C is severe. But at least I'm not enabling my addictions anymore. --Kim
