drinks with friends?

Yes it's fine to have some drinks. Everyone is different so you will have to see what you can tolerate. I'm fine with wine and mixed drinks. I don't like beer so I don't know how I would be with that. Just remember alcohol is very dehydrating so you will have to make sure to re-hydrate.

I can't handle beer either for many years and I do miss it. Everytime I drink beer, it feels like I swallowed a cannon ball so I avoid it.

Wine though is a different matter. I love a good red wine. I have had no bad affects to my gut even when I have gotten drunk a few times. Or maybe I don't remember because I was drunk.

Oh well.

Rocket

It isn't a problem for me. I had to be careful with having a few drinks when I had the loop ileostomy because it was very hard for me to stay hydrated and alcohol increased my output, but since my takedown I don't notice any change in my output when I drink. The evening is when I usually have the most BMs though so if I want to go out with my friends and really not think about it I try not to have a huge dinner. Otherwise it is no different than pre-UC days.

No one can guarantee you'll have the same outcome, but it's definitely possible!

It has never been a problem for me

alcohol stimulates the gut. I'm 6 weeks post takedown and if I drink on an empty stomach I will go every hour or so.

Last night I had four beers after a large plate of pasta and went 4 times in four hours plus two trips at night.

My GI always said that diseased colons don't like alcohol. The reality is sure, maybe you'll get away with a drink with dinner with no ill effects, but you wont ever be able to drink carefree again.

Salmak - you are only six weeks post takedown. There's no reason to assume that your experience now is your "forever", and absolutely no reason to tell people considering surgery that they will "never" be able to do things. There are two people just in this thread who are able to "drink carefree" as you said with j-pouches. Stay optimistic!

To be honest, I'm not sure how alcohol will interact with my pouch as I decided about a month pre colectomy that I would not drink anymore as a trade off for successful surgeries. I do know ppl that have pouches and drink with absolutely no problems whatsoever. So, much like anything else it all depends on the individual. I just know for me personally, my pouch helped me in ridding my life of anything that would harm my body... Alcohol included. I'm not against people that drink socially, to each their own but as for me I'm almost 10 month's without a drink and I'm happy. Just as you will you have to do with food and activities I'm the beginning of your recovery, experiment and see what works for you but as Liz touched on what works for you or doesn't work for you in the early stages of recovery won't always be the long term answer because this road is full of many twist and turns but in the end I'm sure it will all be worth it. Good luck.

Not only do individual tolerances vary, but people also vary enormously in what they would call "a bunch of drinks." Pay attention to your body and treat it like it's worth something and things are likely to be fine.

I went to a CCFA Fundraiser last week which was a "wine tasting" in Bethel, CT, with a friend of mine who has had UC for 30+ years. It was actually the best wine tasting I have ever been to because in addition to a wide assortment of red and white wines, they also had spirits and cordials being offered by the participating vendors.

I tried the following:

Single malt Scotch Whiskey
Bourbon
Lemon-infused Gin
Dominican Rum
Amurula (South African Cream Liquer, similar to Bailey's)
Moscato (I tried a few kinds, on the dry side for Moscato I have tasted)
Port
Riesling
Chardonnay
Pinot Grigio
A sparkling rose wine, slightly sweet
some others I don't remember

I can generally drink anything except that most red wines have tannins I cannot digest (port is an exception).

Highly individual like many things.

By the ways at the spirits table they also had some kind of tequila. It was the only thing at the spirits table I did not try.

My J-pouch is alcohol-friendly. I'm not a big drinker and never was. On very hot days I love beer. No problem. Typically, my preference is for one or two drinks but preferably gin martinis.....usually two. No problem. I don't remember how drinking was with me when I had a temporary ileostomy. My version of temporary was a full year. So, it must have been okay because I don't remember giving up drinking.....or eating. I just tried new things in steps and if a food/drink didn't "work" one week or month, I'd try it again later. It has been 12 years or so since my takedown and I have been able to eat and drink whatever I want. I am 73 years old. So, I wasn't a youngster when I had the initial surgery about 12 years ago. I guess age doesn't matter! Best wishes!