Non-alcoholic beverages

[Guest guest]

I've seen several posts in recent months re avoidance of alcohol. Heidi

mentioned

avoiding non-alcoholic beers & wines since they still contain 0.5% alcohol, and

she or

someone warned also about cough medications that contain alcohol and even

mouthwashes because of possible alcohol absorption.

What I am wondering is if that's essential advice for me. I have had no pain

or other

problems since surgery in July 2005 to drain large pseudocyst, so hopefully the

pseudocyst was the major residual problem. Blood count is improving but still

below

normal range. I am not diabetic, even though all but 25% of my pancreas

necrotized

during my acute pancreatitis attack in May 2004 (idiopathic, cause unknown).

For 40

years before my attack I averaged one beer or a small glass of wine maybe twice

a month,

and that was only with a meal. Have totally avoided alcohol since then, and

have no wish

to consume regular beer or wine. If I did try non-alcoholic beverages I would

not do so

until I have had a substantial period of good health. I have no obsession

about it--could

go rest of my life without them, although I do miss that rare glass of wine. My

family were

always very conservative drinkers. My father bought beer by the case--but

understand

that was one case per year, and that included consumption by guests.

I forgot to ask my surgeon or GI at recent followup visits. Nurse Practitioner

who works

with my surgeon said she saw no problem with an occasional " non-alcoholic "

beverage,

but I've had too much experience to rely on the opinion of one medical person.

Does anyone have an opinion on this or had experience with occasional

non-alcoholic

beverages after acute pancreatitis?

Kurt (CA)

[Guest guest]

Hi Kurt, I enjoy non-alcoholic near beers quite often. I never had a

problem and I suffer from chronic pancreatitis and have so since 2001.

I am very careful however of cough medicines. Nyquil is 20% alcohol or

40 proof. I didn't know this in 2002 and took some for the flu and

ended up in the ER. The best tasting near beer is O'Doule's Amber, in

my opinion. Hope this helps, Jim in Vermont

[Guest guest]

Sandy wrote:

> If it were TRUELY non-alcoholic, my 14 year old would be able to

purchase it. He can't. That tells me all I need to know. <

Terrific example, Sandy! I never thought of it that way, and that

tells me all I need to know, also!

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

hhessgriffeth@...

www.pancassociation.org/anthology#Heidi.html

SC State & SE Regional Representative

Pancreatitis Association, International

Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or

opinion only, and should not be substituted for professional medical

consultation.