Drinking after Radiation?

[Mia]

Hello

Had GK 22/5 and everything went well. Are feeling okay, but a little tired and have to take it a bit easy.
Are going to a dinner party next sathurday and shoud like to have some wine, but are a little bit afraid of how it will work.
Have someone some experience?

Mia

[Mark]

Mia,

Many of us who had CK at Stanford follow a tradition of a glass of wine ( or two) at lunch following the last treatment. To my knowledge there is no connection between a glass of vino and being treated with radiation. It's more a factor of how you feel and doing it in moderation. If you're feeling some post treatment fatigue, then alcohol isn't going to perk you up. Other than that have a party 

Mark

[Mia]

Mark

Tanks for answering. I think I will take the chanse of some wine then, if I feel ok that day.

Mia

[Betsy]

Hi Mia,

Life is too short not to taste the wine!  But if you're nervous about it, take a practice run at home.  Have a bit one night this week, and see how you do.  Then you'll know.

Enjoy the party!

Betsy

[ppearl214]

Mia,

Did they put you on any meds, post treatment (ie; steroids/Decadron, etc)? Please be careful if they did... and if they didn't, heck go for it and have a glass for me

Phyl

[tony]

Sorry to break up the party here
and lets be clear - on a good day I am a 1-2 bottle per night man
(so no angel right ?)
Anyhow one of the most predictable side effects from the rad treatment
is post treatment swelling (soft tissue around the site)
and often steriods are given to minimise this effect
alcohol will tend to exaggerate the swelling tendancy,
and mess up the hydration levels
(something they advise to watch pre and post treatment)
you might be quite unwell
I am being super cautious here....
I might suggest for a few weeks yet you stay
(for example) within the "drink-drive" limit
(and dont attempt to drive on/or near it)
Two years out I can drink like a fish
but the hangovers are rather harder than I remember them
and the balance flips rather sooner
But - Hey  I dont plan on living forever ?
Just a suggestion
Best Regards
Tony

[GM]

I was served wine the night of my GK at UVA with dinner...  They actually have a gourmet Chef that makes the meals for the GK patients...  Man the things some people will do for a good meal    

Gary

[Mia]

Hello

I just had steriods that day I had the GK, no meds. after. So I think I will take the chanse. Not to much, but some
glasses. I don`t think the swelling have started yet, but as I understand that can take weeks to months to happen.
The doctor said that the treatment went very well, and that they could see my facenerve clearly behind the tumor, so
she thougt they have avoided it. My hearing has not changed, and hope it will stay the same!
So now it`s just wait and see. Hope that dam thing dies....

Mia

[pearchica]

Hey Mia- I broke the Stanford tradition by having a glass of wine the first day out! It was fabulous! And I'm probably the only postie on the website that loved my three day regime of steroids- they were fabulous!!  I was a bit flushed- wine, radiation, steriods who know?? Flush went away after about an hour so I am assuming it's the white wine- for some reason I get more flushed on white than red but maybe because I guzzle it down quicker!

tony's right though- We all need to hydrate a lot more often-H20 is the best beverage for overall health.

New regime: glass of wine, glass of water, glass of wine.....   Take care, Annie

[marystro]

Hi Mia,

A little in moderation may be ok.  I had the traditional toast after CK at Stanford.  A few months later, I was on a business trip in Seoul.  And you know how much the Koreans drink.... Oh well, I had a few "boiler makers" and was feeling fine.  That was before swelling set in.  Now I am taking it a little easy since swelling started.  Tinnitus is louder, a little headache, a little sensations here and there...  Not too bad but definitely a lot is happening around the site...

Hang in there.  It shall and will pass.  Look at Mark, Phil and others...

Hey Annie - how's everything going with you?

Mary