Drinking after a TBI

[Brian]

Hey everyone,

I'm 21 and suffered a TBI on 11/7/04 (about 4.5 years ago). I'm now a Junior at Penn State and am doing great. I hover around a 3.5-3.6 GPA every semester and am quite involved in different clubs. My athletic ability (or, mainly my right side) is not what it was pre-accident and will likely never be, but otherwise everything is going pretty well.

Now that we have some background information out of the way, my question is about alcohol and the brain. I like to go to the bars or different house parties with my friends on the weekends. I usually buy a pitcher of beer or a few drinks to sip on socially for the night. Occasionally I will drink more, but I've been trying to keep that to a minimum recently.

I have not had any negative effects (my brain power or loss of functionality), but realize that alcohol and brain injuries are not the best combination. Does anyone here do the same, or drink at all post-injury? Should I stop drinking completely, or is a pitcher a night or two a week fine? (Keep in mind that once I settle in after college and have a job, this will end. Just at college bars are the social scene and I enjoy it right now).

I realize this isn't a professional neurology forum, but any opinions are appreciated.

Thanks!

[Chris Mateo]

its not a good idea to drink but a lot of us do, its self medicating, I wish I had your answer but I do the same thing I will keep you in my prayers

[Ross D]

I am doing the same thing, a brain injury dont make us dumb just different, i drink to ease the pain which i know it dont but at the time it helps. we tend to have substance things going on just do the best you can and reconizing it is the beginning now you have to do something with what you learn good luck and keep in touch

[Mykaya]

I hear ya, I am over enjoying the night life sceene too, what does one do though good luck

[Tony Molinaro Jr]

I do realize the pressure or the desire but you need to really ask your self is it really that important or is my health. If you cant recall the pain and sacrifice you already have Indore remember one thing i am sure you dont want to go backwards the future is much pretty er. Also the professional neurologist really dont gain any thing from warning us of the side effects to drinking. It is not like they are a parent saying you are not old enough to drink there reasoning is based on pure medical science. One more thing you state after college this will end truly that is when the partying really begins so if you can adjust to life with out alcohol think of how much easier it will be in years to come.
PS this is written by a previously abused alcoholic who with out having TBI would either be dead or in jail

[Ricky Myers]

man i have been drinking much too, we just do the best we can good luck on your journey

[Tasha Reynolds]

not a good idea to drink to much, it messes up our brains a little dosent seem to hurt be careful

[Ron Grigsby]

Hey brother, i was hit in iraq 3-21-07 and my last beer was with dinner the night before. my docs have told me the alcohol effects the brain chemicals and I could have a seizure. I have seen others go down that road and I will not take that chance. I am now the driver for the other's. It is more fun seeing them make a clown of there selfs. If you'r buddies ask, tell them the drinking could do that and they will not think different of you. Drive on and I do not miss drinking one bit. The others pay for my gas, dinner etc. and they can get crazy, they know I will get them home.

Ron

[Robert Bolhuis]

Before my injury I used to drink quit a bit . Since my injury alcohol effects me a lot more than it ever did before . I now can not drink very much wine at all , and I absolutely cannot drink liquor ! I get absolutely drunk with just a couple of drinks . I still enjoy having some beer , but I can only drink about 4 to 6 of them . I know I shouldn't have any but I still enjoy having a couple of beers. The big trouble for me is realizing that the limit is reached long before it used to be reached.

[Brian]

That's pretty much my story/situation. I can drink liquor if it is in a mixed drink, but shots are not a good idea for me. It's frustrating because I know that it isn't the best idea, but I really enjoy having a few beers some nights or while watching a game/tailgating.

Robert Bolhuis said:

Before my injury I used to drink quit a bit . Since my injury alcohol effects me a lot more than it ever did before . I now can not drink very much wine at all , and I absolutely cannot drink liquor ! I get absolutely drunk with just a couple of drinks . I still enjoy having some beer , but I can only drink about 4 to 6 of them . I know I shouldn't have any but I still enjoy having a couple of beers. The big trouble for me is realizing that the limit is reached long before it used to be reached.

[Dan Johns]

I was hit by a baseball bat in the head last August...broke my skull three quarters the way around, and three kinds of hematomas. Boy, the cognitive deficits are serious.

As far as the drinking goes, my neurologists all said, "don't drink," but I believed they said that because my injury happened while I was drinking at a bar. It does seem to react differently than it used to with my brain chemistry, but I still drink about as much as before. What I can't determine is whether the headaches I routinely get are better or worse without the alcohol. Perhaps someone else can shed more light on the chemistry issue. What I know for certain is that alcohol does react differently in my brain than it did before the injury, though I cannot judge whether that's a good thing or a bad thing. Certainly, at least in my case, it seems to be a "self-medication" style that is less dangerous for me than narcotics. More SCIENTIFIC info would be appreciated.

[Jessica Starr]

My photo here is from New Year's Eve... It reminds me of starting fresh and the last beer I had back in February.

Each TBI survivor is different, but the one thing that we all share in common is neurological deficits. Alcohol is a "downer", where some recreational drugs are used as 'uppers'... and if on medications that recommend avoiding alcohol, it is wise to heed that warning! For me, the comfort of having a drink was the social aspect. Although I haven't been drinking for months now, I did begin with one drink while out with friends and had a great time. Overall, I didn't feel any noticable difference after drinking that wasn't there before. What I did notice was that it took far less drinks to begin to feel the effects of the alcohol and I really didn't want to drink much. Like Ron's post mentioned, being the DD is good. Alcohol is not medicine, unless you get a prescription for it and self medicating may be justified (due to pain), however is inaccurate. Would you go to a bartender for your neuro-surgery? ;) As far as whether or not people with a TBI should drink, I don't believe there has been sufficient research done (that I am aware of) to validate a definite answer. My opinion: People have to live and learn, accept help and set goals- hopefully making the decisions that are most suitable.

[Yasmin]

I understand what you are talking about Brian. Like a few have said before me, every TBI person is different. What my doctor told me and my family was that my brain was trying to heal as much as possible and anything that could kill the brain nuerons that I had left would be erased by drinking. My doctor said that I could not drink for a whole year after my accident when my brain was still recovering and maybe even longer. After my year of being very good and not drinking, (trust me I lost a few potential boyfriends at the time just because the guys thought I was weird, but they were not worth my health anyway and good riddance), I then slowly eased into drinking during my second year. I never drank a lot but did drink lightly because even when I lightly drank socially with friends or at events, it seemed to hit me harder, Now three years later I am now newly married and find myself drinking more than ever before! I do feel guilty at doing that because I know I am damaging my brain cells, but I have not noticed any more damage to drinking again after my accident. Just be careful not to over do it. Good luck and remember that even when when we work out we gain new brain cells, but we should get exercise for our health and mind not for a quick fixer upper after drinking the night before so to speak. I use to do that when I started drinking the day after because I ws so paranoid! Again, it depends on your TBI and good advice would be to monitor your drinking if you do drink, and do it in moderation. The best advice is the advice that I should take myself would be to not drink at all! Remember we kill brain cells faster than the aperson who never had a brain injury. I wish you all the luck! God bless! :-)