Alcohol: Hi now i'm not a big drinker... - Fibromyalgia Acti...

Fibromyalgia Action UK

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Alcohol

26 Replies

Hi now i'm not a big drinker but i do like the occasional drink....like 4 times a year and my normal choice would normaly be cider based however in the past year i have found that 2 to 3 sips into a botlly of cider my body goes through an incredibly painful process. Firstly it starts in my legs and travells up to my arms Nd neck, it's as if my body has been filled with lead and is getting sucked into the ground and it lasts about half an hour.

I just wonder if anyone else suffers similar?????? :(

26 Replies
SootyB profile image
SootyB

Yes, I'm afraid so. I'm normally not too bad if I stick to one drink - either clear spirits or a fairly low percentage ale - but any more than that, and I feel awful. I'm not sure if it's fibro, or the meds we take for it, but a lot of us seem to react badly to alcohol.

Sara xx

Ah i know it's not my meds as unfortunatly i'm intolerant to anti inflamitorys and most pain kilers so i live on Paracetamol and amatryptalin and tens machine, strange tho as i have had fibro for 9 years and never had a problem till recently but like you i can drink certain drinks but i do love my pear cider and fruit cider and considering i don't smoke I don't go out to pubs, and have had to stop drinking coffee ( we almost it's an addiction but im down to about 5 cups a month from 15 a day) I feel it's just flipping unfair that i can't enjoy my favourite tipple but at least i will have a healthy liver hehe

Rachie xx

SootyB profile image
SootyB in reply to

Yes, our livers may thank us, one day! I tend to find that cider makes me feel like I've been kicked in the ribs, as well as the awful, lead-legs/arms sensation. Which is annoying, as - like you - a drop of pear/fruit cider used to hit the spot in the summer! I find that alcoholic ginger beer treats me slightly better, especially if mixed 3:1 with lemonade, but it's not the same!

Sara xx

fairycazzie profile image
fairycazzie in reply to

hi Rachel i too allergic to anti-inflamatories and now i find a lot of drinks give a lot of acid so i have a fortified wine and mix with lemonade or coke. in small glasses and it helps as i have IBS and Gerd so its a shame we have to restrict our intakes now, but i set myself a limit and never ever go over it now. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

ladymoth profile image
ladymoth

I have problems with any sort of alcohol except clear spirits.

I get on fine with vodka, gin and white rum so long as I don't have a great deal, but wine and cider make me feel very ill indeed, which is a pity as I love good red wine.

I can cope with beer shandy, which I enjoy with a ploughman's, but I suppose the beer content is minimal.

Ah well, as previously commented, our livers will be glad if nothing else!

Moffy x

phlebo123 profile image
phlebo123

I have gradually become "tee-total" -- the awful reaction I experience almost immediately from even a few sips of wine is just not worth it!! The symptoms you describe Rachie sound like mine. Just stick to orange juice now. When I was younger could manage a whole bottle of wine with no bad effects -- so I am sure that it is a consequence of the fibro. Our livers may be happy with no alcohol but I dread to think what all the pain-killers might be doing to it :(

irenegee profile image
irenegee

I'm not a heavy or a frequent drinker but I do now make it a point to go out with the girls/family or boyfriend about once a month and I have found that for me to enjoy the night I need to beat the pain by getting tipsy.

we all meet at my house for drinks and nibbles before we hit the town giving me time with friends and be relaxed until the alcohol kicks in. I drink vodka and lemonade and have a few shots before going out and it is the only time I am pain free but as i begin to sober up thats when the pain comes back with a vengeance.

But I have found it to be worth it, as I had a good time with friends etc had a dance and made memories.

if i go out socializing without a drink I find the pain just ruins my fun.

irenegee profile image
irenegee in reply to irenegee

I should mention I don't take painkillers often as I don't think they help so my liver should be good

fairycazzie profile image
fairycazzie

i have become intolerant to lots now wines, spirits etc i have a fortified wine that i drink and i dirnk 1-2 on evening after a long day with work . I think ahhh well atleast i will not become addicted hahahah.

It depends on each individual really and what you can tolerate and what meds you take,

i am no professional or expert but with working in pharmachy for a lot of years i do know of one medication you must NEVER drink on the rest is down to discretion and what your advised.

I had 3 special occasions anniversary, birthday and New year and drank a rose (i love rose) and it numbs parts of me either arm, leg or speech .. i either can not stand and go numb waist down wards, or my speech is bad or my arm does, so now i do not do anything and it prob is cos of meds but thing with me i prefer my medication to alcholol as the meds help more than alcholol does.

I do not mind 1-2 and i use a small wine glass and mix with pop lol and have 4 which makes me feel i had a few when in fact i had one or one and half or 2 just depends on tiredness from working.

Why should we not be aloud some pleasjure for goodness sake every thing else has been restricted , Work, friends, socialising, walking, shopping and much more my gym sessions my dancing nights out, so i will enjoy a drink!! ;-D xxxxx

glochessum profile image
glochessum in reply to fairycazzie

Do tell, what's the medication you must never drink alcohol with? I'm intrigued now

in reply to fairycazzie

I do occasionaly have a big wednesday with Paul but only when he's on Holiday. I get my pleasures from foood oh i just love food, shame about the wasteline tho :p

i cannot drink alcohol now wotsoever and have a bad reaction to it and taste and smell etc.i also get very hungover next day so dont drink at all now.

ladyyingtong profile image
ladyyingtong

OH HECK - IT'S BAD ENOUGH SUFFERING WITH FIBRO WITHOUT BEING UNABLE TO HAVE

THE LUXURY OF A WEE TIPPLE!! UNFORTUNATELY I CANNOT NOW TAKE

WINE - BUT AM STILL ABLE TO IMBIBE IN A GIN & TONIC WITHOUT ANY

SIDE EFFECTS. READING ABOUT CIDER HAS CLARIFIED SOMETHING THOUGH, SO THANK YOU TO THE MEMBER WHO MENTIONED THIS. I THOUGHT MY SYMPTOMS WERE WORSENING, BUT HAVING HAD A GLASS OF CIDER THE OTHER DAY - I FEEL LIKE I'V BEEN KICKED BY A MULE! NOW I KNOW TO AVOID CIDER!

ladymoth profile image
ladymoth in reply to ladyyingtong

If you feel as though you've been kicked by one, why not try the cocktail called 'Moscow Mule'? 'Tis loverly!

It's vodka, lime juice and ginger beer all poured over ice.. mmm- mmmm!

ladyyingtong profile image
ladyyingtong in reply to ladymoth

Cheers Ladymoth - sounds good. Hubby is barman these days.

Will pass this on

SootyB profile image
SootyB in reply to ladymoth

Even nicer with a dash of ginger wine as well as the ginger beer! It's a Kicking Moscow Mule (as designed by me, when I'd run short of ginger beer and was making these!) xx

ladyyingtong profile image
ladyyingtong in reply to SootyB

Hi SootyB - this sounds delicious - think I'll have to get

hubby to make 'em all

Cheers

julieevh profile image
julieevh

A nice bacardi Breezer goes down well once every few months, I never was much of a drinker so it doesn't bother me much. I'd be way more upset if I had to give up Tea; I've just discovered Twinnings Everyday and am getting adicted to it!

Which reminds me - its just the right time for a nice cuppa :-)

Julie xx

That cocktail sounds delicious Moffy, I am definitely going to try that! :)

I am fine with vodka, white wine, lager, ginger wine and alcoholic ginger beer! I need the odd drink occasionally as it's a great relaxant. That's my excuse! ;)

Bacardi Breezer's are lovely too and don't affect my Fibro! :)

ladyyingtong profile image
ladyyingtong in reply to

Hi LibertyZ - sometimes a good slug of alcohol can help wih even the

roughest of days! My hubby makes a stonking gin & tonic but have to

stay off wine - but may just persuade myselftotry a vodka!

Cheers

in reply to ladyyingtong

Yes I agree, I have been known to resort to the odd tipple here and there! ;) Cheers indeed lol! ;)

Sooty, I adore ginger wine, so warming and soothing too! Love it! :)

Please be careful folks about drinking alcohol when taking medications, take care!

ArctoLindy profile image
ArctoLindy

I gave up drinking quite a few years ago because alcohol made me feel so ill. The bright side is that on the rare occasions I manage to get out for a meal with friends of mine, I make the perfect designated driver! :)

SootyB profile image
SootyB in reply to ArctoLindy

I tend to be the designated driver - if I'm honest, I like the control of not having to rely on someone else!

I'm lucky, as my boyfriend can't drink much either (a low level of some enzyme that breaks down alcohol, apparently), so we know how to enjoy ourselves without, and neither makes the other one feel bad for not drinking.

Sara xx

fibro profile image
fibro

Can't drink at all now. Everything just tastes so different, mind you I dont think i can take alcohol with the meds anyway, but if I have tasted a sip of wine from OH glass it just doesnt taste the same any more. so it never gets inside of me to see what effects it might have lol xx

Midori profile image
Midori

I've always been a lightweight with alcohol, so I limit myself to one alcohol to two or three soft drinks. That way I may be able to take two alky drinks in an evening, But only when I'm out with friends.

Extremelygrumpy profile image
Extremelygrumpy

I am on dosulepin and clonezapam at night... I do get a nights sleep but both meds say clearly on the instructions avoid alcohol... I tried weaning myself off them so I could have a drink but the effect wasn't worth it could not sleep at all so gone back on them but I do miss my odd glass of wine.

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