Hi, newbie here...

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Sid

New member
Hello! I just joined and thought I'd introduce myself. I'm 22, from central Florida, getting my BA in English between bouts with the lungs. I was diagnosed at 2, and currently can't complain much. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

I also have a question for you guys. I guess I can ask this on the adult boards. I was told the other day that, as someone with weak lungs, I have to be very careful of how much alcohol I drink because it could fill my lungs and I could actually die from overdoing it.

Has anyone else heard this? I thought it sounded rather outlandish, but I wasn't sure, and couldn't find anything about it when I googled, although admittedly I didn't search through all the results. Anyone?

Thanks! I look forward to meeting everyone!
 
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JazzysMom

New member
First of all WELCOME! The biggest thing with drinking & having CF is the dehydration. Thats the last thing we need is something else to suck us dry. The other one is the liver problems. We already have liver or potential of liver issues so drinking (especially heavily) can add to that. Someone can get alcohol poisining if that is what you are referring to. Just like overdosing on some type of drug in pill form, you can overdose on alcohol. Most people dotn do that because their bodies will generally get sick (oh the joys of puking from alcohol) or pass out not enabling the person to consume anymore! The way that you are referring (or the way I am reading it) directly related to CF I have never heard of! Anyone else?!
 
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JohnnaMarie

New member
Welcome to the site! You have found a great place to find answers. Alcohol is a depressant. It can cause your breathing to slow down. In my opinion, you would have to drink quite a bit of alcohol for it to stop your breathing all together. It is possible for that to happen, but it would take quite a bit of Alcohol. I have noticed in the past that when I drank alcohol it seemed that is was harder to breathe. Almost like my chest was a bit heavier. And when I drank I seemed to not cough and so things got built up a bit in my lungs. When I stopped drinking for the week or whatever my lungs got caught up and I was fine in a day. That was back in my wild days. Now, I am just pretty mello, got a baby on the way. Have not partied like that for years. Hope my info shed a bit of light for you. I have really good lung function and am one that people would look at and not have a clue I have CF. PFt's are at 125%.
 
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bgchastain

New member
Welcome!
Yeah- I'm with Melissa on this one. I've never heard of that either. But being in Fl. I'm sure you already know hydration is important (I'm in south GA), and alcohol does zap that. But like anything else, just know your limits and pay attention to your body, and moderation is key!!
 
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gsplover

New member
Hi Sid,

I have never heard this but I know when I drink too much my lung infections flare up. I partied pretty hard in college and I am still alive...some times I wonder how. I do know that alcohol does thicken the secretions in your body. Since we already have thick, sticky mucus, it just makes it even worse.
 
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Brenco

New member
hey kay and welcome,
i drink a fair bit when im not on iv's or sick, but i've never heard of such a thing happening, do u drink much?
 
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thelizardqueen

New member
First of all, welcome to the site. I'm sure you'll find a lot of support and valuable information here. Secondly, I've done my fair bit of drinking, and I think its BS that your lungs will fill up with alcohol and you'll die. The only thing I would worry about is like everyone said: liver problems and dehydration.
 
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anonymous

New member
I have also been told by my doc, that if I drank enough to pass out I could die. Basically when you pass out, your breathing slows way down and that I probably would not be getting enough O2 and could either die or cause stress/damage to my body and organs. Now I think he was saying some of this to scare me into not drinking, but I do imagine there is some truth to this.
 
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NoExcuses

New member
Welcome!

Let's go back to anatomy 101:

When you drink, alcohol goes down your esophagus to your stomach. From your stomach, alcohol goes to your intestines, where it is absorbed into the blood stream.

Blood is filtered through your liver. Blood goes everywhere in your body.

The only think that your lungs are connected to are to your blood stream and your trachea to your mouth.

So lungs filling up with alcohol (unless you asperate it from choking) sounds rediculous to me.
 
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Tess

New member
Hey kay and welcome .... I'm thinking this is an out there myth or something ..
I have ALWAYS been rebellious type ...... and have drank until I have blacked out in some episodes ... My lungs never filled with alcohol ... might have been to a point i shouldn't have but I'm still here and rarely do tricks like that now...
 
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Diane

New member
Welcome Kay <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"><img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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coltsfan715

New member
Hi Kay,
Welcome.
I don't drink much, but have been informed by an endocrinologist to be careful drinking - because I am diabetic. He said not to take extra insulin just for drinking that I need to eat something as well. This is apparently because the body can only use the liver to process the alcohol and get it out of your system or the pancreas to process insulin and sugars. That is why it is important to let the people you are drinking with know that you are diabetic - because if you do pass out it might not be from alcohol your blood sugar could have caused it.

Also in regards to the "your lungs filling up with alcohol" I don't know how that could happen. Unless you passed out and were vommiting and just so happened to suffocate on it. A nasty thought I know but that is why they turn people on their sides if they are unconcious and vommiting.

Other than that I can't imagine how that could happen. I do know that alcohol can raise your blood sugar and there by cause inflammation (info I got from my endocrinologist). When your B.S is high your body thinks you are sick and sends messages to your immune system to attack whatever is causing the problem. The problem with that is just because your sugar is high doesn't mean you are sick and in the event you are not it is attacking your healthy lung tissue and causing inflammation and causing you to cough, possibly have a hard time breathing and so on.

Have a great day,
Lindsey
 
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Momtana

New member
Welcome, Kay. I have used alcohol since I was a teenager - except during pregnancy. Now that I know I have CF (dx 3 yr ago at 50) I am trying to drink only occasionally - big behavior change. I have had no guidance from the CF center about NOT using alcohol. My blood tests for pancreas and liver have been fine. Thanks to all for the education about CF and alcohol use.
Momtana
 
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anonymous

New member
Wow, thanks for all the info guys, I appreciate it!

When I drink, I usually just have one and leave it at that, but I've recently had some friends giving me lots of pressure to drink more, and I suspect the person who told me my lungs could fill up with alcohol was just trying to counteract that pressure. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

I agree with those of you who said moderation is key - as always!
 
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