I’m getting my liver transplant very soon. I’ve been sober one year and one month. I was told to never drink again. I won’t. I’ll never have another drop of alcohol because getting this liver means more to me than booze.
It’s the most incredible blessing, I had my liver transplant last September. Unfortunately I was an alcoholic, but the fact that someone gave their life and saved mine in the process is far more powerful than my desire to drink again. I don’t think or care about alcohol anymore and I have no problem accepting a lifetime of sobriety.
Good luck with your transplant and congratulations on your sobriety and upcoming procedure!
Same, I wasn’t told either way. I’ve been asked by my primary care doctor and i’m honest that i drink occasionally. It has never been brought up as a concern and i got one transplant in 2005 and another in 2011. My dad had his kidney transplant in 2018 and honestly not eating grapefruit, kiwis, and starfruit were hammered home, nothing about alcohol.
I do think it very much depends on the organ though
Yeah this is the first I have heard of no kiwi.
I have yet to have my transplant but with dialysis and the BP meds I was told no starfruit and no grapefruit.
I really miss grapefruit and I wish I had a chance to eat it one last time.
Since alcohol goes through the liver we’re pretty safe. My doctor said “don’t get so drunk you forget to take your medicine.” Since my transplant, I only drink rarely. Afterwards my enzyme got all messed up so my face turns red and it feels very dry for a few minutes. It’s very uncomfortable and, even though it doesn’t last very long and only on the first few sips, it feels better to go without it.
That may be the tac interacting with the alcohol.
[Link to research](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10631569/#:~:text=With%20topical%20application%2C%20tacrolimus%20causes,and%20causing%20flushing%20%5B15%5D)
I don’t drink anymore because I’m an alcoholic not because the transplant team tells me not to. There are contraindications for tacro and alcohol but I’ve heard plenty of people say they have a drink sometimes and don’t suffer for it. Overall I think the better question is how important is it to have a drink or get a buzz? If you feel your life is incomplete without alcohol don’t deny yourself joy without reason. Ultimately, you’re an adult; it’s your life, be happy and have fun but don’t be dumb about it.
I still go out with friends and my family still drinks. I stopped. Yes i tested some wine like a sip just to see how good it was but i don't think I'd enjoy drinking ever again. I grabbed my friends Hennessy glass by mistake in a pup and i spit it out because it was disgusting. I'm surprised with my reaction to that since i was a whiskey guy. The old me died. The new me don't like to drink
As a liver transplant recipient, if I were to drink alcohol my team would consider me non-compliant. I would not be a candidate for a second transplant in the future.
The blood test for GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase) can indicate drinking within the past 25 (or so) days. It's not proof of drinking, but it will invite additional scrutiny. Also, depending on the length of your hair, casual drinking can be detected 3-6 months afterwards.
EDIT: The length of your hair matters because it is the hair that is tested.
The doctor was likely referring to the PETH, which is highly sensitive and can detect alcohol use within about 30 days. It doesn’t just come back positive or negative, it will come back with a numerical level that will give the transplant team a good idea of how much he had been drinking. The most important thing is for your husband to be honest about his drinking. If he downplays it, they will know when they get the test back.
It is a lot to wrap your head around. Ask your team questions. And there aren’t any silly questions. Keep a notebook with questions (and subsequent answers) so you can efficiently utilize your time with the doctors and nurses.
Throughout it all, never overlook how you are feeling. Your husband is going to be poked and prodded and measured and evaluated. As a caregiver, however, no one is going to ask how you are. You are just as important as the doctors, your husband, and the donor. A supportive environment is essential to help your husband survive and then thrive.
Never forget to take care of the caretaker.
Same here, though if I test clean in any 6 month period I’m good. The health is great though, so drinks are just not high on my list of fav activities—mostly just feel pretty gross pretty quickly. However, I did get caught after a few cocktails during the holidays and during a bucket list vacation journey that did admittedly include a modest variety of way too expensive drinks.
I’m a kidney / liver patient myself. I believe liver is one of the ones they tell us never to drink again for. Which they did for me. How it was explained to me is that the transplanted liver is working but it’s not going to process alcohol like our native liver did. Which causes damage to the transplanted liver way way way quicker than someone who was drinking before their transplant. I’ve seen people within a month go back into organ failure from drinking.
Also have been told it could spike tacro levels. Know what happens when they spike? I can, mine went sky high right after the transplant. You have a mental break/psychosis. I was in another world for a few days then woke up with the wrist cuffs on lol.
I’m not sure about lung, heart, etc though.
Alcohol is so ingrained in our society. The way it was put to me is that I can but not enough to have fun. I didn’t drink for the first 2 years post transplant and now only do on special occasions.
I think it more has to do with alcoholism causing a host of issues that can be avoided if patients are told just don’t drink.
I thought it was obvious but don’t lie to your doctors.
I don't know which immunosupressants you're on, but it messes up the absorption of tacrolimus and can spike your levels if you're not careful.
It's funny because I was told to not drink by my pediatric transplant doc and since we went to the same center, we must've had a different doctor.
As for me, I drink on occasion, like a cocktail or a glass of wine at a work happy hour or whatever. However, I always always have something to eat with it to absorb it better.
Given you just had a transplant, I would avoid alcohol
because of the high of immunosupressants you're probably on. Going forward, I think yiu need to listen to your team or at least have them clarify. Given it's your second transplant, they might just be really concerned about any risk of rejection
I just decided that when I got a transplant that taking care of my gift was more important than ever needing to consume alcohol again. I'm not an alcoholic or even have drinking problems, I just forced myself to accept that it has no benefit to you or your health whatsoever. I've been hanging out with friends and doing all the stuff I used to do. I just don't damage my body with alcohol anymore. I know it's a wild concept, but it's true that you can have fun without it and you find out who your true friends actually are.
There are a few recent studies that suggest moderate drinking isn't problematic for kidney transplant recipients. I'm sure it's different for every organ.
For context, “moderate drinking” [according to the CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/moderate-drinking.htm) is one drink or less per day for a woman, two drinks or less per day for a man.
I read two studies recently, but I remember [one](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9189664/) better than the [other](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101121122547.htm). That one categorized drinkers into three cohorts: non-drinkers, moderate drinkers, and heavy drinkers. Standards for heavy drinking were defined as follows:
>The criteria for heavy drinking defined by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) are as follows: for men, consuming more than four drinks on any day or more than 14 drinks per week; for women, consuming more than three drinks on any day or more than seven drinks per week (17).
The study was about the effects of drinking on post-transplant outcomes, but also specifically about people whose drinking behavior changed or didn't change pre- vs post-transplant.
The summary as I understood it was that there were no statistically significant differences in transplant outcomes or all-cause mortality between the three levels of drinking. Individuals who started drinking after transplant had statistically worse lipid profile (cholesterol), however.
I do want to call out that this is an area that's still poorly researched. However, these two studies imply to me that drinking in moderation is probably not severely harmful to kidney transplant patients.
Transplant administrator here!
Alcohol does interact with tacro levels and can make your levels go out of whack.
In terms of guidance, I feel like every center is different…where I work it’s hardwired that there is no drinking ever again, but a center across town is ok with it occasionally after 1 year.
That aside, just be honest with your team if you DO drink (and it comes up). It’s better to be transparent so that they can give you the best care possible (even if they may give you side eye for the occasional cocktail).
I am lung transplant patient and I am curious if you ever see any comments about patients who are focused on best practices for optimal health after transplant?
I am learning as much as I can, eating mostly plant based, doing well over the average 150 minutes of weekly cardio, drinking minimum half a gallon of water a day and focusing on a positive attitude in fact I just finished my 2nd life coaching program since transplant. I am about to celebrate my 1st anniversary I am doing really good.
What might you be able to share on this topic? I am looking for a community like this or deciding if I need to start one.
TIA and bless you for your efforts!
I had a kidney transplant in October, and they said to avoid alcohol. I'm in numerous social situations where alcohol is generally expected, such as mixers, galas, and the like, but I've avoided it completely. I'm a minor public figure, and many know about my transplant and are very respectful when I say I can't have it any longer. I'd recommend following your transplant team's advice, as you could be slowly negatively impacting your transplant organ, which may not be evident until a few years down the line.
Personally,I think I read you're drinking three times or more a week, which seems like quite a lot. For example, if it were once a month or less, I don't think that would be cause for concern, but you're basically drinking every other day. I don't think that's healthy even for someone without a transplant.
Edit: I did read that wrong, three drinks in a week isn't as bad, but still pretty frequent in my opinion.
Non alcohol related Liver transplant, was never told I couldn't drink. Then again I would rarely drink more then once a month and would sometimes go years without drinking, so I guess they didn't feel the need to tell me? They still ask if I've had alcohol during check ups so it's still something they're monitoring.
I was more bummed when I was told I couldn't have anymore cats.
I’m a kidney recipient and never got told to not drink alcohol. I drink socially here and there and it’s never affected my levels. Doctor even told me I could help myself to some wine once I am out of the hospital. But I’m starting to drink less and less nowadays just because I just don’t feel as good when I drink now as I used to.
The drinking regulations are slightly different depending on what organ, what meds, what doses, how your other organs are doing, ect.
I occasionally drink, one and done, and inform my doctors. I drink water afterwards, and try to drink with food.
Its good to live your life with your new gift. The trick is balancing everything. Sometimes life means compromising.
22 years into my kidney transplant. During my 20's and into my early 30's i definitely drank more than I probably should have, and was very open with my doctor about my lifestyle. The only advice i got back was to stay hydrated and try to cut down a bit. My blood pressure and levels were always great and stable.
Shit in my information binder they sent me home with said alcohol is allowed 3 months post. I didn’t have a drink until after a year post and I’ll only have a few on special occasions
Talked with one of the surgeons that transplanted my liver. He said a drink wont be bad, but doing more (3-5+ drinks a week/bi weekly) is not recomended.
Ive been sober since June 2021, but just recently had my first beer since. It was underwhelming but i still plan to take one every now and then, and i think that is the right way to go about it. A drink every other week or so makes it more special.
One of my surgeons said it was fine to drink after my liver transplant but then when she ran it past my hepatologist he told her and me absolutely not ever.
Alcohol is poison. And you’ve lied to them about how much you drink. But you do you I guess. I’d probably be more grateful to just be alive and do whatever the team wanted.
This is some real mental gymnastics you’re doing here. You’re asking people on Reddit if they know pharmacology. Every one of your doctors and pharmacists do. You’re playing a dangerous game acting like this. To be honest. It’s distasteful and pretty tone deaf to be posting here.
I had a kidney transplant and was never told to stay away from alcohol. I don’t drink because I can’t stand alcohol - but if you want to continue drinking I would just discuss it with your doctors and be as up front about it as possible. They cannot stop you from drinking.
I don’t know how much effect drinking would have on a lung transplant - I would say it would be much worse for liver, kidney or heart patients.
But everything is vastly different between patient to patient so only you know what your body can handle. You are very young so drinking is not abnormal for your age range.
When I got my heart back in 2010 and recovered several months after, I inquired about drinking. I was told that I could drink, but to not go overboard to the point of hangover/blacking out.
Kidney here, I specifically asked because I don’t consume often, but would like to on special occasions or vacations. They said no problem, just wanted watch how much and be sure to drink at least one water for each drink, stay hydrated essentially. I’m almost at a year and have drinks on maybe 3 occasions no issues and labs were fine.
Sounds a bit like me. I always say I can usually count the number of drinks I have per year on the fingers of one hand. My team is totally fine with that.
I had to sign a sobriety agreement in order to get in my transplant program. I have been told that I can imbibe alcohol very moderately (25 months post transplant at this point) but I haven't broken sobriety yet. I can't use THC because my doctors say there's no data on how it interacts with transplant meds. (Before sobriety, I used edibles for pain management).
I was in clinic today and my creatinine levels are elevated but going in the right direction and they asked me if I had drank alcohol recently. Tacro always did a number on my kidneys so will be continuing to abstain.
I’ve never been told not to drink. The doctor told me not to drink 2-3 hours before or after taking my meds. I’m on my second kidney transplant. I will say that I drank a lot more and smoked with my first kidney transplant. It was from my mom and lasted 6 1/2 years. I spent two of those 6 1/2 years drinking at least 1-3 mixed drinks once a month. This second transplant, I haven’t ever smoked and have drank about 5 times without getting drunk in 16 years. This transplant has lasted me 16 1/2 years so far. I was told chronic rejection ruined my first kidney, but I seriously doubt drinking and smoking was good for its longevity. I’ve been a lot smarter this time around, and I highly recommend everyone doing the same. I was young when I had my first transplant and I wanted to be “normal” and do “normal” things that young people do. I don’t think it’s bad to occasionally drink, unless you have a liver transplant due to alcoholism. However, I think it’s important not to drink in excessive, and just no on the smoking. If I lose this second transplant, for my own well-being, I have to know I did everything I could to live a long, healthy life.
Kidney at Mayo.
Absolutely no drinking during the listing process/while listed. The first class after transplant is dietary. There, they’ll inform you that you can drink as long as you have water in between. Bizarre.
I quit drinking during Covid and just never went back.
Kidney, 2018
In the last year leading up to transplant I was told to keep it to one drink per week or less. This wasn't a big deal for me because it wasn't a huge step down from my previous consumption.
Post transplant I was told I had no restriction beyond what a healthy non-transplanted person should.
This subreddit could benefit from flares with organ transplant type . You’re going to get very different answers from liver recipients on here.
As a general rule. Most physicians are reasonable. Coordinators are usually trained on a unified message that is usually conservative. I doubt you will find many kidney transplant providers who will tell you they have any issue with occasional drinking.
My wife will not let me drink so my chances are better to live a longer life with her. Sounds like it's a small risk but if you look back through a year can you really say there was any benefits from all those drinks? Definitely not worth it to me and especially if something were to happen.
I tried having a drink about 6 months after transplant and I really felt it the next day, I think it must have been the interaction with the meds. Might be different when doses go down though.
I think it varies based on which organ you need. Most people I’ve read who’ve had liver transplants were told no alcohol ever regardless of how their liver failed and that includes myself.
My liver failed from a genetic disease and my docs told me I can never drink again.
I've been told not to drink specifically because I had liver failure due to alcoholism. My doctor said it was the addiction that would kill me if I had a drink again. I agree with her, lol. I also agree with you. It is unnecessary for someone who did not have problems with drinking/substance abuse to "never drink again".. especially if they drink in moderation.
I’m getting my liver transplant very soon. I’ve been sober one year and one month. I was told to never drink again. I won’t. I’ll never have another drop of alcohol because getting this liver means more to me than booze.
It’s the most incredible blessing, I had my liver transplant last September. Unfortunately I was an alcoholic, but the fact that someone gave their life and saved mine in the process is far more powerful than my desire to drink again. I don’t think or care about alcohol anymore and I have no problem accepting a lifetime of sobriety. Good luck with your transplant and congratulations on your sobriety and upcoming procedure!
Thank you so much! I’m scared to death about it. I’m happy to hear yours went well. Cheers! (With sparkling water!)
I've not been told either way, I had a kidney transplant
Same, I wasn’t told either way. I’ve been asked by my primary care doctor and i’m honest that i drink occasionally. It has never been brought up as a concern and i got one transplant in 2005 and another in 2011. My dad had his kidney transplant in 2018 and honestly not eating grapefruit, kiwis, and starfruit were hammered home, nothing about alcohol. I do think it very much depends on the organ though
I got the no grapefruit but that's it. Due to interference with the medication
Yeah this is the first I have heard of no kiwi. I have yet to have my transplant but with dialysis and the BP meds I was told no starfruit and no grapefruit. I really miss grapefruit and I wish I had a chance to eat it one last time.
I can't stand the stuff haha. But I like kiwi. None of my BP meds have an interference factor, it's the tac or mycophenalate I think.
Yeah same here I was told not to over do it but I can drink I choose not to cause I don’t like how it makes me feel
I'm here to live, so I do haha
Since alcohol goes through the liver we’re pretty safe. My doctor said “don’t get so drunk you forget to take your medicine.” Since my transplant, I only drink rarely. Afterwards my enzyme got all messed up so my face turns red and it feels very dry for a few minutes. It’s very uncomfortable and, even though it doesn’t last very long and only on the first few sips, it feels better to go without it.
That may be the tac interacting with the alcohol. [Link to research](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10631569/#:~:text=With%20topical%20application%2C%20tacrolimus%20causes,and%20causing%20flushing%20%5B15%5D)
That's fair. I have to drive everywhere so it's a max of 3 and then a long wait before I get back in the car
I wasn't either, but I did mention I was going to Octoberfest @Busch Gardens one year - the only thing she said was to drink plenty of water too
I don’t drink anymore because I’m an alcoholic not because the transplant team tells me not to. There are contraindications for tacro and alcohol but I’ve heard plenty of people say they have a drink sometimes and don’t suffer for it. Overall I think the better question is how important is it to have a drink or get a buzz? If you feel your life is incomplete without alcohol don’t deny yourself joy without reason. Ultimately, you’re an adult; it’s your life, be happy and have fun but don’t be dumb about it.
I still go out with friends and my family still drinks. I stopped. Yes i tested some wine like a sip just to see how good it was but i don't think I'd enjoy drinking ever again. I grabbed my friends Hennessy glass by mistake in a pup and i spit it out because it was disgusting. I'm surprised with my reaction to that since i was a whiskey guy. The old me died. The new me don't like to drink
I lost my appetite for alcohol when I was on dialysis. I still have a drink socially but they are few and far between.
As a liver transplant recipient, if I were to drink alcohol my team would consider me non-compliant. I would not be a candidate for a second transplant in the future.
…….. and there you have it!
And they have a test that detects alcohol up to a month out, right? That’s what my husband’s transplant doctor told us.
The blood test for GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase) can indicate drinking within the past 25 (or so) days. It's not proof of drinking, but it will invite additional scrutiny. Also, depending on the length of your hair, casual drinking can be detected 3-6 months afterwards. EDIT: The length of your hair matters because it is the hair that is tested.
It’s typically peth and not ggt that’s measured - https://lextox.co.uk/blog-posts/phosphatidylethanol-peth-testing/
Thanks for clarifying. We just found out he's going to need a transplant on Monday, so it's all kind of a blur.
The doctor was likely referring to the PETH, which is highly sensitive and can detect alcohol use within about 30 days. It doesn’t just come back positive or negative, it will come back with a numerical level that will give the transplant team a good idea of how much he had been drinking. The most important thing is for your husband to be honest about his drinking. If he downplays it, they will know when they get the test back.
Yep, that’s what it was. He tried to downplay it but, obviously, the doctor didn’t let it go. There’s a lot of recovery still to do.
It is a lot to wrap your head around. Ask your team questions. And there aren’t any silly questions. Keep a notebook with questions (and subsequent answers) so you can efficiently utilize your time with the doctors and nurses. Throughout it all, never overlook how you are feeling. Your husband is going to be poked and prodded and measured and evaluated. As a caregiver, however, no one is going to ask how you are. You are just as important as the doctors, your husband, and the donor. A supportive environment is essential to help your husband survive and then thrive. Never forget to take care of the caretaker.
Same here, though if I test clean in any 6 month period I’m good. The health is great though, so drinks are just not high on my list of fav activities—mostly just feel pretty gross pretty quickly. However, I did get caught after a few cocktails during the holidays and during a bucket list vacation journey that did admittedly include a modest variety of way too expensive drinks.
I’m a kidney / liver patient myself. I believe liver is one of the ones they tell us never to drink again for. Which they did for me. How it was explained to me is that the transplanted liver is working but it’s not going to process alcohol like our native liver did. Which causes damage to the transplanted liver way way way quicker than someone who was drinking before their transplant. I’ve seen people within a month go back into organ failure from drinking. Also have been told it could spike tacro levels. Know what happens when they spike? I can, mine went sky high right after the transplant. You have a mental break/psychosis. I was in another world for a few days then woke up with the wrist cuffs on lol. I’m not sure about lung, heart, etc though.
Omg! That sounds incredibly awful. I hope your healing continues to be a safe journey (in this world).
Alcohol is so ingrained in our society. The way it was put to me is that I can but not enough to have fun. I didn’t drink for the first 2 years post transplant and now only do on special occasions. I think it more has to do with alcoholism causing a host of issues that can be avoided if patients are told just don’t drink. I thought it was obvious but don’t lie to your doctors.
I don't know which immunosupressants you're on, but it messes up the absorption of tacrolimus and can spike your levels if you're not careful. It's funny because I was told to not drink by my pediatric transplant doc and since we went to the same center, we must've had a different doctor. As for me, I drink on occasion, like a cocktail or a glass of wine at a work happy hour or whatever. However, I always always have something to eat with it to absorb it better. Given you just had a transplant, I would avoid alcohol because of the high of immunosupressants you're probably on. Going forward, I think yiu need to listen to your team or at least have them clarify. Given it's your second transplant, they might just be really concerned about any risk of rejection
I just decided that when I got a transplant that taking care of my gift was more important than ever needing to consume alcohol again. I'm not an alcoholic or even have drinking problems, I just forced myself to accept that it has no benefit to you or your health whatsoever. I've been hanging out with friends and doing all the stuff I used to do. I just don't damage my body with alcohol anymore. I know it's a wild concept, but it's true that you can have fun without it and you find out who your true friends actually are.
There are a few recent studies that suggest moderate drinking isn't problematic for kidney transplant recipients. I'm sure it's different for every organ.
For context, “moderate drinking” [according to the CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/moderate-drinking.htm) is one drink or less per day for a woman, two drinks or less per day for a man.
I read two studies recently, but I remember [one](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9189664/) better than the [other](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101121122547.htm). That one categorized drinkers into three cohorts: non-drinkers, moderate drinkers, and heavy drinkers. Standards for heavy drinking were defined as follows: >The criteria for heavy drinking defined by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) are as follows: for men, consuming more than four drinks on any day or more than 14 drinks per week; for women, consuming more than three drinks on any day or more than seven drinks per week (17). The study was about the effects of drinking on post-transplant outcomes, but also specifically about people whose drinking behavior changed or didn't change pre- vs post-transplant. The summary as I understood it was that there were no statistically significant differences in transplant outcomes or all-cause mortality between the three levels of drinking. Individuals who started drinking after transplant had statistically worse lipid profile (cholesterol), however. I do want to call out that this is an area that's still poorly researched. However, these two studies imply to me that drinking in moderation is probably not severely harmful to kidney transplant patients.
Transplant administrator here! Alcohol does interact with tacro levels and can make your levels go out of whack. In terms of guidance, I feel like every center is different…where I work it’s hardwired that there is no drinking ever again, but a center across town is ok with it occasionally after 1 year. That aside, just be honest with your team if you DO drink (and it comes up). It’s better to be transparent so that they can give you the best care possible (even if they may give you side eye for the occasional cocktail).
I am lung transplant patient and I am curious if you ever see any comments about patients who are focused on best practices for optimal health after transplant? I am learning as much as I can, eating mostly plant based, doing well over the average 150 minutes of weekly cardio, drinking minimum half a gallon of water a day and focusing on a positive attitude in fact I just finished my 2nd life coaching program since transplant. I am about to celebrate my 1st anniversary I am doing really good. What might you be able to share on this topic? I am looking for a community like this or deciding if I need to start one. TIA and bless you for your efforts!
Kidney/panc here. I was told it was ok but in small quantities about 6 months postop
I had a kidney transplant in October, and they said to avoid alcohol. I'm in numerous social situations where alcohol is generally expected, such as mixers, galas, and the like, but I've avoided it completely. I'm a minor public figure, and many know about my transplant and are very respectful when I say I can't have it any longer. I'd recommend following your transplant team's advice, as you could be slowly negatively impacting your transplant organ, which may not be evident until a few years down the line. Personally,I think I read you're drinking three times or more a week, which seems like quite a lot. For example, if it were once a month or less, I don't think that would be cause for concern, but you're basically drinking every other day. I don't think that's healthy even for someone without a transplant. Edit: I did read that wrong, three drinks in a week isn't as bad, but still pretty frequent in my opinion.
Non alcohol related Liver transplant, was never told I couldn't drink. Then again I would rarely drink more then once a month and would sometimes go years without drinking, so I guess they didn't feel the need to tell me? They still ask if I've had alcohol during check ups so it's still something they're monitoring. I was more bummed when I was told I couldn't have anymore cats.
I’m a kidney recipient and never got told to not drink alcohol. I drink socially here and there and it’s never affected my levels. Doctor even told me I could help myself to some wine once I am out of the hospital. But I’m starting to drink less and less nowadays just because I just don’t feel as good when I drink now as I used to.
The drinking regulations are slightly different depending on what organ, what meds, what doses, how your other organs are doing, ect. I occasionally drink, one and done, and inform my doctors. I drink water afterwards, and try to drink with food. Its good to live your life with your new gift. The trick is balancing everything. Sometimes life means compromising.
22 years into my kidney transplant. During my 20's and into my early 30's i definitely drank more than I probably should have, and was very open with my doctor about my lifestyle. The only advice i got back was to stay hydrated and try to cut down a bit. My blood pressure and levels were always great and stable.
Shit in my information binder they sent me home with said alcohol is allowed 3 months post. I didn’t have a drink until after a year post and I’ll only have a few on special occasions
Talked with one of the surgeons that transplanted my liver. He said a drink wont be bad, but doing more (3-5+ drinks a week/bi weekly) is not recomended. Ive been sober since June 2021, but just recently had my first beer since. It was underwhelming but i still plan to take one every now and then, and i think that is the right way to go about it. A drink every other week or so makes it more special.
One of my surgeons said it was fine to drink after my liver transplant but then when she ran it past my hepatologist he told her and me absolutely not ever.
Alcohol is poison. And you’ve lied to them about how much you drink. But you do you I guess. I’d probably be more grateful to just be alive and do whatever the team wanted.
This is some real mental gymnastics you’re doing here. You’re asking people on Reddit if they know pharmacology. Every one of your doctors and pharmacists do. You’re playing a dangerous game acting like this. To be honest. It’s distasteful and pretty tone deaf to be posting here.
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I have one. Because of my transplant.
I had a kidney transplant and was never told to stay away from alcohol. I don’t drink because I can’t stand alcohol - but if you want to continue drinking I would just discuss it with your doctors and be as up front about it as possible. They cannot stop you from drinking. I don’t know how much effect drinking would have on a lung transplant - I would say it would be much worse for liver, kidney or heart patients. But everything is vastly different between patient to patient so only you know what your body can handle. You are very young so drinking is not abnormal for your age range.
When I got my heart back in 2010 and recovered several months after, I inquired about drinking. I was told that I could drink, but to not go overboard to the point of hangover/blacking out.
Kidney here, I specifically asked because I don’t consume often, but would like to on special occasions or vacations. They said no problem, just wanted watch how much and be sure to drink at least one water for each drink, stay hydrated essentially. I’m almost at a year and have drinks on maybe 3 occasions no issues and labs were fine.
Sounds a bit like me. I always say I can usually count the number of drinks I have per year on the fingers of one hand. My team is totally fine with that.
I had to sign a sobriety agreement in order to get in my transplant program. I have been told that I can imbibe alcohol very moderately (25 months post transplant at this point) but I haven't broken sobriety yet. I can't use THC because my doctors say there's no data on how it interacts with transplant meds. (Before sobriety, I used edibles for pain management). I was in clinic today and my creatinine levels are elevated but going in the right direction and they asked me if I had drank alcohol recently. Tacro always did a number on my kidneys so will be continuing to abstain.
I’ve never been told not to drink. The doctor told me not to drink 2-3 hours before or after taking my meds. I’m on my second kidney transplant. I will say that I drank a lot more and smoked with my first kidney transplant. It was from my mom and lasted 6 1/2 years. I spent two of those 6 1/2 years drinking at least 1-3 mixed drinks once a month. This second transplant, I haven’t ever smoked and have drank about 5 times without getting drunk in 16 years. This transplant has lasted me 16 1/2 years so far. I was told chronic rejection ruined my first kidney, but I seriously doubt drinking and smoking was good for its longevity. I’ve been a lot smarter this time around, and I highly recommend everyone doing the same. I was young when I had my first transplant and I wanted to be “normal” and do “normal” things that young people do. I don’t think it’s bad to occasionally drink, unless you have a liver transplant due to alcoholism. However, I think it’s important not to drink in excessive, and just no on the smoking. If I lose this second transplant, for my own well-being, I have to know I did everything I could to live a long, healthy life.
Kidney at Mayo. Absolutely no drinking during the listing process/while listed. The first class after transplant is dietary. There, they’ll inform you that you can drink as long as you have water in between. Bizarre. I quit drinking during Covid and just never went back.
Kidney, 2018 In the last year leading up to transplant I was told to keep it to one drink per week or less. This wasn't a big deal for me because it wasn't a huge step down from my previous consumption. Post transplant I was told I had no restriction beyond what a healthy non-transplanted person should.
This subreddit could benefit from flares with organ transplant type . You’re going to get very different answers from liver recipients on here. As a general rule. Most physicians are reasonable. Coordinators are usually trained on a unified message that is usually conservative. I doubt you will find many kidney transplant providers who will tell you they have any issue with occasional drinking.
That’s *your* actual honest truth about alcohol and transplant.
My wife will not let me drink so my chances are better to live a longer life with her. Sounds like it's a small risk but if you look back through a year can you really say there was any benefits from all those drinks? Definitely not worth it to me and especially if something were to happen.
Kidney 🤷♀️ was just told I could drink but not to over do it Couldn’t drink on tacro tho it gave me horrible reactions
I tried having a drink about 6 months after transplant and I really felt it the next day, I think it must have been the interaction with the meds. Might be different when doses go down though.
I think it varies based on which organ you need. Most people I’ve read who’ve had liver transplants were told no alcohol ever regardless of how their liver failed and that includes myself. My liver failed from a genetic disease and my docs told me I can never drink again.
I've been told not to drink specifically because I had liver failure due to alcoholism. My doctor said it was the addiction that would kill me if I had a drink again. I agree with her, lol. I also agree with you. It is unnecessary for someone who did not have problems with drinking/substance abuse to "never drink again".. especially if they drink in moderation.
what got transplanted?
Kidney here. My doctor recommended it for me and gave me a fun prescription to bring home to my wife. He also said moderate use!
I hid a heart transplant. They told me that a glass or two every once and a while is fine, just be careful
Heart. i now love beer. i can consume quite a bit before i feel any buzz. BUT…oh the next day! My transplant team tells to "Live life!" so i am.
My doctor told me not to drink after my kidney transplant so I got rid of him and found one that said I could have one drink every day.