Alcahol

I got a question about drinking I have a birthday coming up & I would like to maybe get drunk but my DR says it is not safe to he is religious so I feel that is the reason he said that but I can be wrong does anyone that have a pacemaker drink still & if yes what % do you use your pacemaker mine fluctuates was curious if that might have something to do with it also

16 Comments

Getting drunk

by Good Dog - 2016-03-23 02:03:11

I don't think that anyone here will tell you that it is O.K. to get drunk. However, drinking some alcohol in moderation is certainly safe. Keep in mind that it does have a tendency to increase blood pressure. The more you drink, the higher the blood pressure.

Drunk?

by Miaria - 2016-03-23 02:03:15

As GoodDog said you can probably have alcohol in moderation but why do you have the need to get drunk? Have you been drinking for the past 5-6 years since you've had your pacer. Listen to your doctor.
Pat

drinking

by Tracey_E - 2016-03-23 07:03:15

There isn't a doctor alive who will say it's ok to get drunk, imagine the liability!

Alcahol

by freddyv - 2016-03-23 07:03:48

I drink 1 or 2 beers every so often if I am at a club or hanging with friends not a big drinker since the pacemaker LOL

Go for it freddyv

by IAN MC - 2016-03-23 08:03:06


It is a sad world if you can't drink too much on your birthday ; and my second piece of advice is :-

get rid of your religious doctor : religious beliefs should not impact in any way on medical advice, but they so often do !

Enjoy your birthday

Ian

What's Safe?

by Shaun - 2016-03-24 08:03:50

If you're talking about "safe" there is no safe level of alcohol consumption, but I live dangerously and have a couple of glasses of wine a week anyway.

Brain

by Alma Annie - 2016-03-24 10:03:17

Forget the religion, what about the scientific research and advice. Too much alcohol destroys brain cells. Also what about the next day's hangover? Do you really want to feel that awful? I visited my GP a while ago and was horrified to see he had a VERY black eye and head wound. After enquiring he said that he fell over. I asked if he had been drunk. Absolutely, he said. It was my birthday and I was celebrating. Enough said I think!!!
Alma Annie.

I am a realist

by Good Dog - 2016-03-24 11:03:24

I want to be totally honest on this subject. I mean, who hasn't gotten drunk (I know that there are some....and good for them). I certainly have gotten drunk. More times than I'd care to remember. Though as I got older, I just decided that I no longer wanted to pay the price that went with it.
The reality is, if Freddyv decides he is going to get drunk, he will. Nobody is going to stop him.

Thing is; I just can't imagine sanctioning it. One bit of wisdom I have learned in old age is; moderation.

I don't need to tell anyone (but I will anyway); It is one thing to say it is O.K. to do what you want with your life. However, one only needs to look around at all the lives (including all the family members) that have been destroyed by drugs and alcohol. That didn't happen as a result of someone practicing moderation.
Just my 2 cents..........or about 2 pence..............

Psychologist

by oldearthworm - 2016-03-24 12:03:52

A good psychologist should enter this discussion .. Several beers ..PM or no PM , in my opinion .. no problem .. But to get drunk ? The good thing is ..there is a problem and you seem to know it .. Are you monitoring your numbers , specifically the blood pressure ?
Please don't hold the man's religion against him .. tempting as this may be ..I used to be a drinker, a heavy drinker at times ..big mistake .. I used to be religious ..another error .. But, if the doctor can control his religion .. then ..ok ..
I could not make heads or tails of the remainder of the message .. I guess , I think all of us are 100% on the PM ...

Alma Annie / Nice Niecey

by IAN MC - 2016-03-25 01:03:17

Alma Annie : I loved your tale of the GP with the black eye, at least he is normal . I think I could relate to him.

I used to be a patient in a three doctor practice where the senior partner was a chain smoker , doctor no. 2 was morbidly obese and doctor no. 3 was a religious nutter

Being an atheist health / exercise fanatic I found it difficult to relate to any of them

NiceNiecey: I ended up seeing Dr no. 3 on one occasion and he said at the end of the consultation that he would pray for me. I was singularly unimpressed by this and I explained to him that I only wanted evidence-based medicine.

The same Dr refused to prescribe the contraceptive pill because his brand of religion believes that all contraception is sinful , he was also fanatically anti-alcohol . As you say he couldn't give medical advice without being influenced by his own religious beliefs !

But many patients, including me , did not share his dogmatic beliefs and certainly did not want to be preached at, so we left the practice

It did seem to me from Freddy's post that his Dr may be excessively influenced by his religious beliefs ,hence my comment.

Ian


Drinking

by zo6 - 2016-03-25 03:03:12

I too use to drink, but stopped after waking up one day and realizing I didn't remember how I got in my bed in my motor home.You see, We were drinking next to a nice campfire, six feet from a fifty foot cliff. Also the a-fib part. I had a-fib for two years, it's gone now! and believe me thats something you do not want to take a chance with. Be smart, give up drinking an be happy your still alive and have a pacer, you can enjoy life more being sober. If you need excitement, GO CLIMB A MOUNTAIN !

WOW - IAN, I'm ready to preach!

by NiceNiecey - 2016-03-25 03:03:30

I love all the posts on our site but I have some strong opinions about the comments posted in regard to Freddyv's question.

Ian, how a physician that believes in "a higher power" can give medical advice WITHOUT letting it influence said advice is beyond me. To be blunt, I think it's incredibly narrow-minded to dump a doctor because of his/her religious beliefs: Jewish, Muslim, Christian Scientist, you name it. I draw the line at voodoo. Entire college courses are now taught on Medical Ethics and some institutions even have majors in this area and most are secular institutions! I will not deny my strong Christian faith and, to be honest, it colors everything I do, decisions I have made in my life and business. I make no apology.

Freddy, the truth is, your doctor has your best interests at heart - whether he's religious or a total pagan.

Have fun on your birthday. And by the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY FREDDY! Just remember: actions have consequences, some undesirable.

About 10 years before I got my PM, I was in Italy and drinking the table wine (my daughter's birthday!). I had NO IDEA it was so much stronger than American wine. I was definitely buzzed but the worst part of it was horrible AFIB. I literally spent two nights with almost no sleep because my heart was racing so terribly. I was miserable! Just be aware that no matter how much you're paced (I'm basically 100% in both chambers), booze will DEFINITELY make you more susceptible to an aFib event. I don't know if you have that problem or not but I do. Drinking only made it worse for me. As a result, I have given up alcohol completely. It's one thing in my heart health that I can control.

Niecey

Ian

by Alma Annie - 2016-03-25 11:03:01

Actually I am a christian, BUT my religion and I absolutely believe we should take full advantage of medical and scientific knowledge and research, and certainly not expect medical staff to put their personal beliefs before patients' treatment. I am an ex registered nurse. I know that emergency departments both in UK and Australia have problems with drunk people becoming not only very ill but aggressive to nursing and medical staff. Then there are the drunk drivers on the roads many of which cause accidents not only to themselves but to other innocent people.

For heart health from other posts it would seem good to limit intake, not necessarily giving up altogether. Myself I do not drink, but in the folly of my youth many years ago I did overdo the alcohol so much so that I was too ill to go to work next day!!
Perhaps moderation in all things.

Alma Annie.

but...

by jwrobb - 2016-03-28 03:03:57

....what if you just want to have a few drinks and get a slight buzz on ocassion. Is that not allowed? Im getting a CRT-D in a couple of weeks. does that mean i should give up having a social drink or two as well?

Hi jwrobb

by IAN MC - 2016-03-28 04:03:48

First of all I wish you well with your forthcoming implant

You will find it really is no big deal and any symptoms you have been having because your right and left sides are out of sync should disappear.

So I would think that a few social drinks to celebrate from time to time is a great idea. Life should only change for the better after getting your CRT, cutting out all alcohol would probably be a change for the worse to your lifestyle , so why do it ?

Every time I play tennis or golf I have a beer or two afterwards, I belong to a wine club which holds regular wine tastings ; I usually have wine with dinner .Having a PM has not adversely affected these aspect of my life in any way whatsoever.

There is a small number of people where alcohol can act as a trigger for their arrythmias; chances are that you are not one of them so go for it and enjoy leading a normal life.

Cheers

Ian

drinking alcohol

by Alma Annie - 2016-03-28 09:03:39

There is a difference in having a drink or two socially and getting drunk. Think about your tolerance level.
Alma Annie

You know you're wired when...

You have a T-shirt that reads “Wired4Sound”.

Member Quotes

Your heart’s electrical system has a manmade helper. A helper that only knows to do what it is programmed to do and will perform that function day in and day out, without fail. Now, go enjoy your new grip on life.