It is Superbowl Sunday and not just any ‘ol regular Superbowl as my home team is playing! It has been since 1998 that the Denver Bronocs made it (and won) the Superbowl.
I grew up watching the Broncos play and have held as a steady fan, watching every Sunday, even though at times it was painful to watch 🙂
For me football goes hand in hand with a cold beer. This has been a ritual in the past and even after going gluten free, I’d cheat with a nice beer for the Broncos game.
Until last New Years where I made the resolution to stop drinking completely. I made it about six months before breaking that one 🙂
The reasoning behind this restriction came from a memory of pain following drinking alcohol — either as I drank, and most definitely the next day….
Why to Avoid Alcohol With Endometriosis
There are many reasons why alcohol and endometriosis do not mix.Â
The primary one is because alcohol is wearing on the liver. The liver is super important for filtering out toxins and bad estrogens that feed endo.
Alcohol is also said to increase estrogen levels in the body, which can aggravate endo.
I know that on the days following a night of drinking that I definitely feel it. I am exhausted and pretty useless. Often times the day following drinking I’d wake with a horrible headache. Â As if my body just can’t handle it anymore.
Regardless of all of this, there are certain occasions where I am privy to breaking the no-alcohol rule and Superbowl Sunday with the Denver Bronocs — is definitely one of them 🙂
My Choice Alcoholic Drinks
When I do decide to drink I’ve learned that there are choices that don’t have such an impact on me.  So I thought I’d share my two favorite adult beverages with you 🙂
With the sulphite free wine I don’t have this reaction. Double bonus with Our Daily Red is that it is organic. This is a big deal since grapes are often times sprayed very heavily with pesticides.
The best thing about Omission is it tastes just like beer!
On the Positive Side?
The further I come on my healing journey, the more open I am to allowing in that which has been forbidden 🙂 I feel like my body is a lot stronger than it used to be and when I do go off my normal path and have a glass of wine or a cold beer, that it doesn’t impact me as bad.
While I do not recommend making alcohol a normal habit, I do recognize how nice it is to have a buzz 🙂
And it’s been a LONG time since the Broncos made it to the Superbowl — so you betcha I’m going to celebrate! LOL. I find it surreal that we’ve made it to the championship game. And super exciting!
The game’s about on…. So I’m off…. Go Bronocs!
Much love,
why a gluten free beer? Do you eat gluten-free as a means to reduce endometriosis related pain? If so have you found it to be effective?
Hi Shelby – I do follow a gluten-free diet and it has helped me so much!
Here is my take on the diet for endometriosis: http://peacewithendo.com/2014/02/the-endometriosis-diet.html
Also I read in wiki that hops has a major effect on estrogen levels and (for women with endo) should be avoided. I noticed after taking a combination relaxation supplement that my menstrual would come on within hours! And the cramping would be so hard I’d feel it in my butt and feet. SMH! I then remembered that I would suffer horrible cramping after drinking beer as well. I never knew this connection until I read that!
Interesting Kia. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Now my liver enzymes are too elevated for me to drink – I got through the last 5 days of severe cramping without a drop – but I’m 53. When I was younger I discovered that alcohol (any kind) took the pain levels down a lot – often, enough to be functional. Alcohol helped me so much and made a good time out of a bad one. Sure wish I could still drink it when the pain comes on now. I’m surprised more women aren’t doing this but it sounds like some of you react worse to it – what a shame. Alcohol often enabled me to go out dancing too.
Maybe try cleaner alcohols like vodka, brandy (warm in herbal tea), hot sake.
Lidocaine patches worked great and up to 12 hours at a time (the prescribed ones – not the OTC ones.) Now Lidoderm patches have changed and they no longer work for me – I’m going to try a couple of different manufacturers. You can also try Lidocaine ointment Rxed from your doctor too – but that usually has to be reapplied hourly. Or compounded Lido/Ketamine (which in a lotion does not become systemic, it only acts locally.)
Some women can use compounded Ketoprofen or Gabapentin or a combo of them all – compounded creams are expensive but call your insurance company and see if they have instructions for how to get it covered.
Alcohol has always been a problem for me.. After a night of drinking depending How much i drink. I would wake up on my cycle vomiting everywhere. Not able to keep anything down. My body would have muscle spasms that would make me fall to my knees. Ive been having problems for over 10 years now. Im only 27 i just want to live a normal life