ramakentesh Posted December 30, 2008 Report Share Posted December 30, 2008 Over xmas I caught up with some friends and I had a beer with them at my place. Actually I did something really stupid and had more than 1 beer - I actually got pretty semi drunk without intending to.I planned on one beer with these guys - but one of my mates had come back from two years in europe and they were kinda convincing. before I knew it I had had about four beers and to be honest I felt fine - in fact I felt pretty good. I ended up having about 6 beers. This is the most Ive drank in a fair while!When I woke up in the morning i was pretty concerned about how this would play out for me and my POTS which is currently in a flare up. But in all honesty I had the best day ive had in ages. Slightly hungover, but a significant improvement in my POTS symptoms. They returned the next day but not any worse than previously. Im quite surprised and puzzled by these results.Im certainly not suggesting or endorsing drinking with POTS - its totally forbidden in most texts and Im not going to upset that applecart. But for me it seemed to actually help somehow.Ive given it thought - alcohol raises blood pressure in some people during injestion and during a hangover, alcohol can act as a potent antihistamine and alcohol is a potent vasodilator (a no-no for POTSIES but could it be helpful in overconstriction cause by excess NE due to faulty NE transporter activity?). Alcohol is also a potent GABA agonist - perhaps in itself supressing the sympathetic nervous system and thereby supressing the overactivity exhibited in POTS patients after orthostatic challenge???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GayleP Posted December 31, 2008 Report Share Posted December 31, 2008 I've always found that I feel better after a small glass of wine or a beer. And I've never understood why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliegee Posted December 31, 2008 Report Share Posted December 31, 2008 Ditto to Gayle. I'm not a beer drinker, but a small glass of wine usually makes me feel better, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelissaCrystal Posted December 31, 2008 Report Share Posted December 31, 2008 I "self-medicated" with alcohol for like 3 years during college. Not to party, but to feel better in the evenings when my body would give me trouble. That was the only sleeping aid that worked on me too. I started having pretty low BP in the mornings though because of it, so I stopped.I've always been mystified that I feel better with alcohol. It makes my BP too low though usually, but that isn't one of my worst symptoms ;p If I overdo the drinking though, I feel like I could die, hah. So I have to be careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jump Posted December 31, 2008 Report Share Posted December 31, 2008 I sometimes feel better with alcohol, too, as long as I stay well-hydrated. I always assumed it was because alcohol improves your circulation (is this even true?? ) and I am frequently overwhelmingly cold. All I know is it helps my hands and feet to warm up. But if I don't also drink a lot of water, then my symptoms are usually worse the next day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flop Posted December 31, 2008 Report Share Posted December 31, 2008 Alcohol causes vasodilation (widens blood vessels) this can lead to low BP, but it also means more blood flow to the extremities which is why they warm up.I have stopped drinking alcohol but previously I could enjoy a glass or two of wine without having any major worsening of my POTS symptoms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iheartcats Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 Crap, Guys. You don't know how bad I want a good delicious expensive glass of wine. Now I'm tempted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelissaCrystal Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 Crap, Guys. You don't know how bad I want a good delicious expensive glass of wine. Now I'm tempted.Just don't stand up, and maybe you will be able to enjoy it? With low BP passing out will be easier, but it really does make me feel nice... and more energetic for some reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yogini Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 I think we're only human and it's OK to not follow the "rules of POTS" sometimes . Besides, I think alcohol is supposed to be "avoided", but isn't really a strict no-no for us. I think a lot of people have a drink or two sometimes.I stopped drinking after getting POTS, except for special occasions. When I know I'm going to be having a drink, I try to load up on extra salt and fluids the day before. Half of the time, I have hardly any problem. Other times, I do feel sick for the next day. At this point, I think it's more of a hangover than a POTS flare up, because I've lost my tolerance. I only wish I felt better after a glass, so I could do it more often! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramakentesh Posted January 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2009 Im glad Im not the only one. In the past when ive had to socialise and i wasnt feeling that well I would have one beer as it seemed to help my brain keep up with conversations and stuff, but this time I had more than one! I mean we've got to live sometimes!! I might send this link to my doctor to see what he thinks. Id be totally guessing but maybe when it vasodilates it does so without lowering BP much in me, and reduces the norepinephrine-mediated vasoconstriction of my carotid arteries? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firewatcher Posted January 2, 2009 Report Share Posted January 2, 2009 Before I had my prescription for Inderal, I had a tremor specialist (neurologist) actually suggest that I try drinking to control the tremor! I tried it once so that I could get some work done. Let me tell you, quality control goes down hill fast after the third shot of Tequila! It did help the tremor though, just not as much as the Inderal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainsunflower Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 I feel worse when i drink, even a sip. My heart rate goes up immediately, and I get very dizzy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelissaCrystal Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 I feel worse when i drink, even a sip. My heart rate goes up immediately, and I get very dizzy.It's weird that sometimes this happens to me and sometimes it doesn't. But I have noticed it depends on what meds I'm on---and yeah, I know, I wasn't supposed to be drinking while taking them =x I never drink a lot though--only a little. (no excuse) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramakentesh Posted January 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 Im from australia so for years my mates have been giving me strange looks when i tell them that i cant drink...Its not illegal and as far as I can tell it hasnt adversely affected me. Im not gonna go back to my heady days of university but if a few beers on a friday night makes saturday slightly better symptom wise and without any further worsening of my symptoms assuming my doc doesnt pull the pin on the idea I might keep it in my reserve of things that help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammy Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 I also can't tolerate any amount of alcohol as it affect my heart rate and rhythm. It's like poison to me. Wish I could though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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