8 replies to this topic

[MrsMozza]

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Hi all,This is my first post so bear with me!For about 10 years now I have experienced severe back and stomach pain the day after drinking alcohol (mainly wine). I used to get the pain after drinking too much (when I was younger and didn't know any better!), but I get the pain now after 2 glasses of wine. I have tried other drinks (vodka, beer) but it doesn't make any difference. The pain usually starts in the lower part of my back then moves round to me lower stomach and travels up my back to my shoulders and neck, until my whole abdominal area hurts. The pain is like a tight gripping pain, almost like a dragging pain in my stomach.I have been going to the doctors now for 10 years with it. I've had a scan on my kidneys, liver, gallbladder, etc which was fine. The doctors keep telling me that it's IBS and that I should stop being in denial about it and just accept it, but I'm still not convinced! The reason I'm not certain that it's IBS is because I've had griping pains before from having an upset tummy and the pain is completely different to that? Also, I don't get the pains with any food, it's just always alcohol. Also, alcohol can cause me to become constipated, which has got quite bad at times and sometimes caused blood in my poo (lovely!!).I am not a big drinker, but do enjoy a glass of wine at the weekend. I don't drink at all during the week and usually just have a couple on a saturday and sunday night but the pains that it causes really worry me. I don't want to have to give up my wine! It's my only little pleasure in life! I was wondering if anyone else with IBS has the same kinds of pains after drinking? Does it sound like IBS to you or do you think the docs are just trying to fob me off because they can't find anything wrong with me?Thank you for your help.Ruth

[Jesse T]

Hello there!This is also MY first post here. So we can share that with each other...I also had the same question about alcohol! If it does make our IBS worse, why?? I drink on occasion, and have really never had a problem with it until this last week. I drank mainly vodka two nights in a row, and the next mornings I would pay. Even with me taking my necessary fiber that I take once a day (Which usually keep my IBS symptoms in check). The only difference in my last week was STRESS. My brother just got married yesterday, and I've been thinking about it the last week, and maybe the fact that my stress was mixed with alcohol make my stomach that much more sensitive? Ruth, do you usually drink wine to un-stress? So far I've found it that alcohol with no stress = I'm fine. But this last week I had lots of stress, and the alcohol made me suffer. :| Also, I usually stick with vodka, because any other alcoholic drink is too hard on my stomach. Beer and wine is way too much for me, and i tend to avoid those completely just because my stomach can get so sensitive.. Not sure if any of that helped. But, I hope it did a little bit at least! Thanks so much for asking this question,Jesse

[MrsMozza]

Hi Jesse,Thanks so much for the reply. I do usually drink wine to destress I suppose. I love nothing more than to share a nice bottle of wine with my husband whilst we watch a movie on a Saturday night and a lovely bottle with Sunday dinner! I also drink wine during social occasions and when I go out for meals with friends and family. I swapped to vodka last weekend as my friend had a house party and I was in a lot of pain with my back and stomach the next day so it seems to be the alcohol that upsets me, regardless of what type of alcoholic beverage it is! Rubbish!!It's strange because I don't seem too stressed before I drink. It's more the pain itself that stresses me! I get the pain when I drink on holiday too and I am the most relaxed then I suppose!It just drives me mad as I find it quite dull when I'm going through a period of not drinking! I didn't drink for 3 months to give my body a break from the pain! But as soon as I had a drink the pains started again. During that time, when I went to social events, I just wanted to go home early because everyone else was enjoying a couple of glasses of wine and I was sat swigging my fizzy water!What was your pain like? Did you experience similar pains to me, in your lower back and tummy?Thanks again Jesse!

[BQ]

Never heard of this in regards to IBS. Perhaps it is just something unique to you.

[Matt-Yuck-gutz]

I do know Alcohol is bad for IBS. It can flood the gut with yeast and put a damper on things. Most people with IBS cannot handle Alcohol. At best a clear desert wine maybe. Its the only thing I can semi handle. Most of the time you just have to decide is the pain and bad day worth one night of drunkeness. lol As for your pains. We def can get pains all over from IBS. I get back pains and whatnot at times but never in my shoulders unless I get loaded with gas. But I no longer have a Gulbladder so it happens often. I hope you get things worked out.

[Jesse T]

Hmm, maybe your poor stomach just can't take the alcohol. There are many things I have had to stop enjoying completely because every single time I indulge, I pay. So maybe wine is something you need to cut out? OR, you have to find something that you can start taking before you drink wine. A friend of mine has serious colon problems, and before she eats ANYTHING she has to drink a fiber supplement. My father has my exact IBS problems, but dairy kills his stomach unlike it does mine (So far). So he takes lactase pills before he enjoys ice cream. And he usually ends up alright. So maybe you should start to research things on to how to prepare your stomach to enjoying some wine. Also, make sure you're getting plenty of water! I have found that with my drinking if I'm not fully hydrated my after effects are much, MUCH worse. So drink plenty of water before and after enjoying your wine. Also, the morning after. Water is a magical healer! Lol!Hopefully you don't have to cut out wine completely. :(And most of the time after I drink I'm totally fine. Even if I have a crazy night. That's because I keep water in me, and never over do it. But after drinking I've only experienced my normal extreme D, and lower stomach pains. I've never had back pains because of eating something! :0 I always have back pain because my back is messed up, but not because of eating. :|

[katiebabe]

Hi ruth.I've been suffering from post infectious ibs for the last 14months.Before I could drink and nothing out of the ordinary would happen.Now if I drink 'depending on how much- if its quite a few glasses of something I will get terrible pains in my stomach like someone is punching me.The pain dosent go off until the next morning- this has always led to me having to leave and go home. 'I say always- I've only tried it twice as the pain was so extreme its put me off' but I too want to enjoy having a drink without this happening.I too have heard alcohol dosent mix well with ibs for certain people. Maybe we are just unlucky.Keep me posted of how you get on. I also suffer from constipation but I haven't noticed a change if I've been drinking.Kate xx

[Lancschic]

I don't know if you've seen big brother this year or if you hate it! Lol but lydia on there is allergic to alcohol not saying you are but its a thought?

[jmc09]

I never had any problem with alcohol at all,it used to be a benefit at times actually.