alcohol anyone?

Hi. I've got a post running in the exercise section but have another question.

I make my own wine and beer and it's a big passion of mine. I started making wine when we were sailing for 2 years down the Pacific side of Mexico and Central America. When we came back to "landlubbing" I began working more with high quality wine kits and making my own beer. Joined a brew club here in York, PA, and absolutely love the history, process, and experimentation with all the variations. I cook with both wine and beer (not usually in the same recipe) and even make a wonderful chocolate stout cherry bread! Since the alcohol cooks out I don't worry about that.

Now my GP says NOT even a SIP of alcohol because it is toxic to my heart! My EP also says I should stay away from it but did not voice it strongly. It's been a real blow as I was just checking into going to brewers school. I have been trying to adjust...I can do without the drinking of it, but wanted to be able to at least taste what I am making. Certainly when I am first making wine or beer there is no alcohol but that is not like being able to taste the middle of the process and then the final product and judge it's finish.

I am seriously looking at giving up this wonderful hobby and selling the equipment I use for it. It's breaking my heart (oh, I forgot that's already that way! LOL).

I'm trying to stay positive and getting into charcuterie (the old process of preserving meats by making them into sausages, salt curing etc). I already know not to eat too much salt etc, so I just eat small amounts and not often.

But to be told to not even have a sip of wine seems so extreme to me. What have been your experiences and what were you told about alcohol?

11 Comments

sailingez

by dual pacer - 2008-08-26 01:08:21

Ask the two new drs. what they think. inform them of the amt of beer you will be taking in. how offen is your club? Then make your own decision on what you want to do. dont give up on something you enjoy. life is to short esp. for us to dont do what we love. good luck
DH

If it's toxic...

by dward - 2008-08-26 01:08:50

Wow, that's a tough one! I can't imagine life without BEER!!!
Seriously though, if I were told it was toxic to my system - well, that pretty much settles it.

I've said this a few times in my postings, so forgive in advance...

The most important thing in life is how you DEAL with what it brings. After you strip away all the emotion, tears, pain, crap, etc. - it still comes down to how YOU respond.

If you can't do something anymore, start searching for something else to enjoy! You may even stumble across something even MORE enjoyable!
OR
Be sad and gloomy. Focus on what you can't do.

Again, it comes down to your choice.

It sounds like you respond pretty well to life's "curve balls" - so keep it up, stay positive, keep smiling!



suds and salt

by verger - 2008-08-26 02:08:10

ah the deprivation and misery that we must deal with.
first of all, YES, your doctor is right, alcohol is a toxin to the heart...that is ,if it has in anyway been compromised. i don't know your history, but i can only speak for my condition. but in general
alcohol will only worsen things.
i have CHF, and lived in France for 15 years. i am told to give up alcohol. that's like telling an italian to give up olive oil. i do my best, but do cheat from time to time.
i must say any time that i do cheat, be it one glass of wine or beer, i feel the effects the day after right away. my lungs are more congested, i find it harder to breathe, etc .
i hate to agree with my doctor because i love the nectar, but i speak from experience.

anyone else who does not have any heart compromising conditions , yes, are encouraged to partake in the nectar, red that is, a glass perhaps, actually helps more than hurts.

i know your loss,
but really, turning to salt, salted meats,sausages charcuterie, even pickles...., depending upon your condition, will probably cause worse damage than the booze.

i love it all, but it is all bad for you and your heart. same trip, if i eat a salted meat, i will retain about 5 lbs of water the next day. can't win. and it takes more than 1 lasix and one day to get rid of the water.

take up sushi making or smoking fish(not salted), much better for you.

just be careful of your hobbies

verger

Comments to Alcohol anyone?

by winelover - 2008-08-26 02:08:38

I don't have your heart trouble - "only" 3rd degree heart block and a valve leaking and I am lucky not to have to take any prescription medication, so I of course don't know what it would do to you. For me, I am a winemaker and would surely be dead by now if my heart could not handle drinking wine. My dr. has no problems with me drinking wine every day - especially when I bring him a bottle, LOL - , and yes, at work it is sip and spit but it still gets into your blood stream especially after tasting more than 100 samples, at home - I don't spit. All in moderations of course.

Hey sailingez

by joy1 - 2008-08-26 07:08:35

You sounds like you have things pretty well in hand with the quality of your care and knowledge. So, it remains to you to decide what is important to you. Like has been said... knowing the consequences of your actions is really important but don't ever leave out quality of life considerations.

I was unaware that beer tasting involved drinking it but it doesn't surprise me. I think with all the "tasting" activities that take place the taking of pleasure with friends is what's the motivating factor of your hobby. Like you said "keeping as much flavor in your life" is important.

There is so much stuff I can't do now. I struggle with depression because of not being able to partake of my hobbies and life's pleasures I used to enjoy. Even typing is problematic for me. It's why I stress quality of life versus quantity of life considerations. Everyone has to find a balance which is acceptable them.

I will be very interested to know what the other doctors have to say,

joy

Seems extreme

by Suze - 2008-08-26 10:08:36

While I don't know your entire story or what exactly your heart problems are (besides needing a pacemaker), I'm surprised you were advised against even a sip of wine!... Maybe because of some meds you are taking?
I was told by a cardiologist, an EP cardiologist and a GP that an occasional glass of wine would be fine. And I've had no bad effects from that. But I'm sure we are all different.
I hate to see you give up a hobby that obviously gives you so much enjoyment.

Suze

Tea totalling?

by joy1 - 2008-08-26 12:08:35

Hey sailingez,

Like what has already been said, what you were told sounds pretty extreme and doesn't make much sense unless it might interact with the medications you are on. It sounds like you have a pretty robust constitution to have done the sailing you mentioned.

Personally, I don't drink and when I do, it is only to have a sip or two, alcohol makes me not feel well and that's because of my meds in combination with impact on my BP where I become faint.

There is alot to be said for Quality Of Life and having hobbies you enjoy, find satisfaction in, and are still able to do physically after developing a heart condition (all of us don't bounce back as well as others) Is incredibly fortunate. Having lived in northern CA, I am some what familiar with wine tasting and generally the tasting is not swallowed but you probably enjoy imbibing of the fruits of your labor ~wink~. I would get a second opinion. As for the sausage making, the same things apply and I would think the salt is far more of an issue because of interference in any diuretics you might be on and also other physiological effects.

Like I said, Quality of Life is really important to the well being of heart patients. Get a second opinion and then choose what's most important to you.

Good Luck and let us know what you decide,

joy

clarification

by sailingez - 2008-08-26 12:08:57

Just want to clarify a few things..I really queried my doc on the alcohol comments...he's not against alcohol by the way...just against me drinking it. He said while in general wine and beer (in moderation) are good for the heart, because of the condition I have (LBBB and a-fib, and thickening of my heart wall on 1 side), it's toxic to me.

I am going to see the EP next week and the day after getting a second opinion down at John Hopkins, so both EPs will be queried extensively.

While wine is usually spit out, beer is usually swallowed when tasting at our club. My brew club often has as much as 17-20 different beers to taste, so even a sip adds up! LOL. I am the only woman who brews in the club and we are a very beer techy group.

I agree the salt is more of a problem, or at least I think so...and I do keep my salt levels way down compared to most of the people around me. But take away alcohol, salt and fat, and life is pretty darn flavorless as far as I am concerned. I've always loved cooking and it's such a passion of mine. I'm working around it all as best I can and keeping as much flavor as is healthy for me...but it's difficult.

Alcohol

by Stacey28 - 2008-08-27 08:08:41

I don't know what your heart problems are but I do know if you are on any blood thinners such as Coumadin that you should not be having any alcohol at all. It can raise your PT/INR. Since I am on Coumadin I know to stay away from consuming any alcohol but I think its okay to eat food that has wine in it since the alcohol hopefully we be let to cook off.

Sincerely,
Stacey28

Live longer?

by ElectricFrank - 2008-08-27 12:08:09

Skipping the alcohol may not make you live longer, but it will sure make it seem longer.LOL

Seriously, you can only guess. At 78 I have lived through having meat, potatoes, and gravy be good for me to being bad for me. Then there was take salt tablets in the summer to salt is bad. Coffee has gone back and forth from good to bad for years. So has alcohol. Spending time in the sun was good for me as an infant. I have pictures of my mother sunning me au natural with no sun screen. I haven't used it except rarely during my entire life and have no skin problems. Recently, they are finding a growing number of people with vitamin D deficiency from lack of sun. Who knows what the next fad will be. Interestingly, no increase in skin cancer has been found amongst nudists.

If you think it is harmful to you it probably will be. With any of it moderation is the best approach. Beware the food police!

cheers,

frank

making it but not drinking it or eating much of it

by sailingez - 2008-09-03 10:09:36

Just wanted to check back in. I'm staying away from drinking alcohol but will continue to make the recipes that I know work and how they taste for now. I have faced the fact that I just can't dink it.

While I do make salami and duck prosciuto, etc., I eat very little of it. I try to watch the salt intake. My big thing is making us self-sufficient for our sailing and lifestyle.

I've appreciated all the comments and feedback. I had to laugh at Frank's comments. In fact I also remember taking salt pills when living in the desert. While sailing in the tropics we had to be very aware of watching the our salt intake and the amount we sweated, making sure we didn't let our salt intake fall too low. By the way did you know that 1 part salt water added to 8 parts plain water will return your electrolites to a balanced state. Good thing to keep in mind when getting dehydrated on the high seas.

Anyhow, thank you all so much for your comments, support and encouragement, and especially your empathy.

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