Has anyone been given any advice on having the odd glass of wine with chemo? Was looking forward to having a glass or two over christmas but as my 4th chemo is on Xmas eve the chemo unit said I should avoid all alcohol at least while I am taking the steroids. Doesnt usually bother me not drinking but was sooooo looking forward to at least one glass to pretend its a normal Christmas! I forgot to ask my oncologist when i saw her this week and feel its to trivial a question to phone up about!
Grateful for anyone elses input/advice/experience!
thanks - and wishing all of you the best possible Christmas and New year!!!
Karen xx
I wasnt told to avoid alcohol but found that i could not tolerate any amounts on chemo as it made me feel so ill.
I know a fairly large number of women on the “diagnosed in may” thread that definartly drunk their way through chemo!!!
good luck trying it out and merry christmas
S
When I started my FEC the nurse said that it was alright to have the odd glass of wine. However I have not really felt like it.
RP
I was told the odd glass would not be a problem, and I have had quite a few!!! I tend to avoid the few days before and after a treatment simply as dehydration isn’t any good for the veins, but have had the odd glass here and there the rest of the time.
My work’s Occupational Health nurse said to avoid it for the reason that your liver is trying to process the drugs, therefore processing alcohol on top can strain it a bit, but she was referring to having a binge rather than a glass or two.
Evie (Sue); I wouldn’t be one of those ladies you’re referring to by any chance, would I?!
Karen; I’m not proud to admit it but I have drank like a fish all the way through chemo. The only time I haven’t had a drink is for about 3 days after each chemo, but that’s only because I’ve felt so nauseous that I haven’t felt like it! My onc actually encouraged me to drink (although, I’m not sure he meant to the extent that I have, lol). Anyway, finished chemo a couple of weeks and my liver appears to have held out I’d say, have a drink if you fancy one. Cheers!
xxxx
Yep Caro your’re one of them!!! Im only jealous!
thanks all for that - feel like you have all given me permission!!! If I wake up on Boxing Day feeling like s… I will be blaming all you lot!!!
Saying that, the first 3 days are my best each cycle, flying high on the steroids and anti sickness so hopefully wont affect that!
Have a great one all of you, I hope some of the positive Christmas and new Year spirit manages to overcome the negative c and health vibes!
Karen xx
Hi Ladies
If it helps the only thing I wanted to do during chemo was drink! Wine of course. Food was a no no and I lost loads of weight. Great stuff.
Raise that glass!
Love
Dilys
xxxxx
im so glad to see quiet a few of you ladies are enjoying your wine, the first four or five days after chemo i can’t stomache the thought of it, but boy do i make up for it for the next two weeks! i really enjoy my glass(es) of wine but do worry that im overdoing it sometimes…but not enough to stop lol
Merry Christmas to allxx
Yep another confirmation on having a glass or two at Christmas. There’s no reason not to have a glass except to remember that your liver and kidneys are on mega overload trying to process the chemo and has been said, your veins don’t welcome dehydration. That’s really why we don’t all want to drink for that first 3/4 days to a week later, and why you should avoid it for a few days before the next round. We’re hearing our bodies.
Raise a glass - just don’t finish the bottle till you get to week 3 and give yourself at least 48 hours no alcohol before the next round. That’s how I did it.
Hi Karen
Apparently it can stimulate your appetite if taken in moderation,I will have a glass with my meal on Friday as I think I will be having to stimulate my appetite.
Carole x
I was told, and my little books says, avoid alcohol 48 hrs post chemo. After that enjoy sensibly - ?!
So have a “merry” Christmas!!! P x
Had 4th FEC on Xmas eve and was greeted at the door by the sister in charge of the chemo unit and offered a glass of champage. I asked about drinking on steroids and she said yes, enjoy it but in moderation - anything that helps get you through should be welcomed with open arms! I had a bottle of wine but spread out from midday to 2am and dont seem to be any of the worse for it and it certainly helped with the chemo fog so thanks for all the advice and thoughts! ( I did also have loads of water, tea and orange juice in between to stop the dehydration!) Sadly Carole, I dont need it to stimulate my appetite - i eat anything and everything non stop for the whole cycle, hence the weight gain of over a stone! OH has now labelled me the eating machine! If he buys anything to eat later he has to hide it as there is no ’ later ’ in our house now!
Hope you all had as good a Christmas day as you could possibly do. I am sure we will all keep up this positive fighting spirit in 2010 and hopefully by this time next year a lot of us will be healthier and joining in with the other fantastic ‘oldies’ on site and helping support the next ‘newbies’.
Merry christmas everyone - happy boxing day!
karen xx
Karen glad you enjoyed some wine yesterday. Unfortunately I overdid it slightly on the champers and wine and am feeling a bit worse for wear today, lol. Must be time for a hair of the dog Merry Christmas! xx
Ahh sounds good!! Me and the mother in law shared 5 bottles of fizz yesterday (we did take all day over it!). But I’m now off the booze as next treatment is on Wednesday.
Happy boxing day!!
Flora xxx
Oh my god carole, flora and caro - theres me feeling guilty over 1 bottle but 5 between 2 - well, you go girls!!!
I seem to have major chemo bloat this time round - so much fluid retention - guess the alcohol doesnt help although Im taking it with lots of water etc or maybe its just the effects of the 4th fec - lots say it gets worse from now on. Feel like my skin wants to burst all over! oh well, will calm down a little now and see if it disappears!
Hope you all had a great boxing day and if you were brave enough to hit the sales, you managed to come through with lots of bargains! Im giving it a miss this year!
Happy Sunday everyone - enjoy and keep positive!
karen xx