Can Alcohol and AxSpa Party Together?

I used to be quite a party animal before I was diagnosed with axial spondyloarthritis! When I studied in France at uni, I would go out on Friday and Saturday night and drink quite a fair bit of alcohol. I always liked dancing and going out to clubs with my friends. We would have a good time together and see where the night would take us. Sometimes, we would go to after-party clubs until 8 AM!

When I moved to the UK, I got my first position as a scientist at one of the London universities. I made great friends there; most of them were students finishing their PhDs. Then, I had another go at big parties and heavy drinking, sometimes even during the week. I have to say, it was a lot of fun.

Learning to cope with axial spondyloarthritis

When I got diagnosed with axial spondyloarthritis, my night life took an unexpected turn. I was 33 years old, and I was still going strong, living my life to the fullest, working full time, getting acting training, and enjoying London at nighttime. No need to say, I had to slow down and prioritize where I would spend my little daily energy. I had to say no to many plans and gatherings and felt quite isolated.

My relationship with drinking alcohol changed gradually as I was learning how to cope with axial spondyloarthritis symptoms and live better with it. I remember doctors telling me that drinking alcohol was not very good for axial spondyloarthritis. To be fair, it’s probably not good for many reasons.

Alcohol took the axial spondyloarthritis pain away

I had to make my own experience around drinking alcohol and living with axial spondyloarthritis. Soon after my diagnosis, I was in a lot of pain and quite depressed. I tried to numb myself with alcohol, both physically and mentally. In the moment, it did work, and I was feeling lighter.

I told myself that alcohol was an effective painkiller, and I could function at some parties thanks to the drinks. But the next day would be a car crash, and I would feel physically sick and even more depressed. I realised with time that the initial effects of alcohol were pleasant, but it was also a depressant and would not help with my mental health.

Alcohol affects me differently now

Over the years, I have noticed that the effects of alcohol on my body are not good. I feel it right in my joints after drinking. It feels like the sensation of having some crystals affecting the mobility of my joints. My body is not able to process the same amount of alcohol as before my axial spondyloarthritis diagnosis.

Of course, age is a factor in our ability to handle substantial alcohol consumption, but there’s something else. Maybe my liver has enough work to do with the medication I am taking for the management of axSpa, so it doesn’t need alcohol to deal with on top of it.

Changing my attitude toward alcohol

I had another realization along the way about my body awareness and alcohol intake. I have noticed that I am not as good at visualising my body in space as I was before, and I am not sure if this is a consequence of axSpa or fibromyalgia. I often hurt myself against pieces of furniture and other objects around me, so I can only imagine how much worse that would be if I were drinking alcohol. I have never injured myself badly by losing balance or bumping into things, and I wish this not to happen.

Considering all this, I have changed my attitude towards alcohol, and I have been enjoying a glass occasionally when out with friends. If I know it's going to be a long night with a lot of fun and many potential drinks, I try to drink plenty of water in between alcoholic beverages.

What is your experience with drinking alcohol with axial spondyloarthritis? What changes have you made following your diagnosis?