Hey, everyone!
There are a lot of do’s and don’ts that come along with lymphedema, but probably one of the more annoying ones is the effect of alcohol. Alcohol has a diuretic effect, which stimulates the kidneys to excrete more fluid. Let’s not forget to mention the expanding blood vessels, which increase the amount of fluid that accumulates in the body tissues. The lymphatic system is supposed to remove all this extra fluid but, with lymphedema, this is obviously more of a problem.
When I drink, I often feel a tingling in my affected leg, and it will get a little warm and swell a bit. I’ve cut back on drinking recently (mostly due to another medical condition), but it’s very difficult – especially being a college student! I don’t like having to reshape my lifestyle according to my medical issues, but unfortunately that’s what I have do to keep them in check. I’m not gonna lie – I miss drinking, a lot, and I’ll still indulge every now and then. I make sure not to over-indulge, however, and will avoid hard liquor, sticking mostly with beer. I’ve realized that my body is the only one I’ll get, and I have to treat it right.
What about you? Do you find that drinking alcohol affects your lymphedema, or no? How often do you drink? Leave a comment!
excellent point made! young people may not even realize the connection of odd physical feelings with their lymphedema. (when they are consuming alcohol) at least they will understand the consequences ond physical symptoms of drinking. maybe they can learn to slow down when they start feeling certain physical clues. you shouldn`t be drinking at all with lymphedema but —let`s be realistic!j
What about other effects and toxins like poison and liver disease? Tell more, explain more, and live more happy!
I’m a college student too and recently have become more aware of the effects my drinking has on my lymphedema. I find it hard to avoid alcohol considering all of my friends drink and I’m a member of greek life, and us greeks tend to drink more than the average college student! I do find that those nights where I may drink a lot my foot is so swollen that I can’t bear to wear my shoes for another minute! One thing that I find interesting though…since alcohol is a diuretic, shouldn’t the tea that I drink all day in classes have the same effect on me?
Diuretics are a common debate in the lymphedema community, although I align more with the anti-diuretic standing. They just don’t remove the protein-rich lymph fluid effectively, if at all. Some people say it’s alright to use them occasionally, but I’d check with a doctor before trying it out.
Argh, I can’t imagine being a member of greek life as a lymphie! That must be difficult. I’ve been sober for the past three months or so and it’s made a difference, not just with my leg, but it’s a very very hard lifestyle change to make. Moderation is key! Try and keep your feet elevated whenever you can when you’re drinking, or at least try not to be standing for long periods of time. Treat your body right and it will treat you right, too :)
Best of luck to you!
I’ve been dealing with Stage 1 lymphedema for about 5 years and found that I can have small amounts of wine with no negative effects but I have severely restricted my diet. I switched to Paleo eating a while back but recently reduced the amount of protein I eat and upped the fruits and veggies. WOW. what a difference. Avoiding, carbs, salt and dairy is already hard – but worth it so I can have some wine now and then. Check out Paleo – it seems designed for lymphedema? I am not a doctor but so far that is the only thing that’s worked. It also has a nice side benefit of weight loss – which is also good for reducing the swelling. Right now – the most difficult thing is eating at restaurants. The salt monster lurks everywhere. I stick to salads and plain grilled fish/meat. Kinda boring but MUCH better than sitting in a bar thinking about my legs starting to swell while everyone else is having fun :( At home i bake/grill/saute all my veggies with fresh herbs, olive oil and other seasonings. It takes getting used to but I feel so good! I always have fresh fruit salad in the fridge to curb any snacky-carb cravings and of course I am in love with avocados and now brussel sprouts? Very weird to me as a former meat and potato gal! I haven’t been able to give up my black coffee either – but only in the mornings.
Jess – you should be okay in college if you change your diet and drink in moderation. I think most dining halls have salad bars these days – even better if you live in an apartment and can cook yourself. I know that will be hard – I drank a LOT in college, but think of it as a good way for you to do other things? I recommend cycling club :)
One glass of wine and my extremities get puffy. Urgghh. I have to really want a cocktail. Then I drink a lot of water.
Why is alcohol taboo for people with lymphadmea? How much is too much? What does it do? Thank you
Wow! This totally makes sense. I am an entertainer and was hired to work on a cruise ship (I know, a hard life, yeah?) Well this cruise was 20 days long and all inclusive which means all I want to eat (I’m sure quite salty) and drink any time I want. I love single malt scotch and I had a few each night but I don’t usually drink that much at home, in fact I have pretty much stopped drinking at home. It’s very easy to drink however when it’s just flowing with no financial commitment and I don’t even have to drive home. And if your glass is almost empty, they come and pour you more without you even asking!! Wow! Finally had to start covering my glass like if they were pouring coffee. Never experienced anything like it. Well, both of my legs swelled horribly on the cruise. Only one of my legs usually gives me trouble. Then two days after getting home my legs went back to their normal state!! My guess is the combination of the flight, the salty food, and the drinking is what caused the problem.