Severely ill after drinking alcohol. - Healthy Eating

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Severely ill after drinking alcohol.

Jemcc22 profile image
26 Replies

Every time after I drink alcohol, whether it’s one drink or 5, I can seriously ill the next day. I get nauseous, vomiting, diarhea, sharp stomach pain, pain on right side under ribs, extreme tiredness and muscle aches. I am like this for up to a week and unable to do anything.

I don’t mix drinks, I don’t drink much and this has only started happening the past year.

Does anyone know why or what could possibly be causing this??

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Jemcc22 profile image
Jemcc22
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26 Replies
Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27Administrator

What are you drinking? Beer, wine, spirits? Does it affect you the same way regardless, or do certain drinks affect you worse?

What is your lifestyle like? Are you active? Did you drink much before this started?

Jemcc22 profile image
Jemcc22 in reply toCooper27

It happens with anything alcoholic. Wine and spirits only that I’ve tried.

Yes I’m 24 with two kids, I’m active although don’t excerise much I walk a lot, slim built. I used to be able to drink whatever and how ever much without any effects except the obvious hangovers. But the past year I get severely ill. I’ve been out once every 2/3 months the past year and it’s happened every time.

The first time it happened I was stuck in bed for a week, I can only have 3 drinks maximum until I start being sick then end up ill hours later for a while.

Depending how many drinks I have, my symptoms get worse - if I get drunk I get severely ill. If I get ‘tipsy’ I get poorly but able to function.

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27Administrator in reply toJemcc22

I had a couple of thoughts, but if it's happening with different types of drinks, it makes it hard to judge.

First thought is an intollerance to sulphites (in wines and a lot of foods), but if you've had nights with no sulphites and still get ill, then maybe not.

Coeliac disease is maybe one, because it would affect your gut lining and your symptoms sound like what happens when a coeliac eats gluten. If you got ill after beer, I'd definitely suggest coeliac disease.

Did you have anything like pizza before you had the drinks?

Only other thing is medication. A friend at uni would have to be carried home after just 1 drink, but we found she was drinking on medication that caused the reaction.

Jemcc22 profile image
Jemcc22 in reply toCooper27

No medication and no pizza. I mainly drink vodka and lemonade. This time I tried cocktails. And another time before that was wine. I guess I won’t be drinking again until I find out the cause. My right side has sharp pain every time. I have booked in the doctors but that takes two weeks unfortunately.

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27Administrator in reply toJemcc22

It's tough to see a common link in your diet/lifestyle, so I hope your GP can come up with some ideas for you!

It'd be worth taking 5 minutes to write down what you recall drinking/eating each time, just in case the doctor might find it useful. Sometimes it's hard to remember everything when you're on the spot :)

Hope you get some answers :)

Penel profile image
Penel

Good idea to talk to your doctor. Alcohol can damage the stomach lining, especially if there is already a problem (which you may not be aware of).

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14

Sounds like you need to see a Dr

Get some blood work and have an abdominal assessment.

I'm thinking of a few things it could be but we can't diagnose here.

So I'm just recommending a visit to the md.

I would stop drinking till you get evaluated.

Jemcc22 profile image
Jemcc22 in reply toDolphin14

Yes I understand you can’t diagnose here but while I wait two weeks to see a doctor I was wondering what could be possible as I don’t want the doctor to fob me off

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14 in reply toJemcc22

Do the symptoms go away when you don't drink?

Jemcc22 profile image
Jemcc22 in reply toDolphin14

Yes, although some months only once a month I get sickness and Diarrhea and pain in my side for no reason and just for a few hours as if I had a sickness bug but that is not the case. Weird really. I’ve had blood work done and all come back fine in the past

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14

oh Good I'm glad it's been checked in the past.

And as long as the md knows it happens with alcohol he would be looking at the right things.

Mayb the next time you feel so crappy you should go to the ER and have blood work checked to see what's up.

Either way it sounds like the md will probably telling you to stop drinking. It doesn't seem to be good for you.

I hope you get some answers. Best of luck

Lesley1234567 profile image
Lesley1234567

Oh Jemcc22 that is awful, generally having an occasional glass or two of alcohol can be good and enjoyable. I wonder if you have just become allergic to the alcohol. You say you are slim, so I’m guessing you are not here to lose weight. If your only reason is because of your reaction to alcohol, it could be you are not eating enough to absorb the alcohol. I’m not very scientific at all but there is a saying ‘before you go out drinking alcohol, line your stomach with food, generally carbs’. This could be outdated now, and I may get told off by admin for saying it. But, and it is only my opinion, you should look at the food you eat before you drink. I could be wrong. I agree with others too you should get it checked out with the doctor. Hope you are okay soon.

Jemcc22 profile image
Jemcc22 in reply toLesley1234567

Thank you. It is not the food either that’s the problem. I’ve been up all night sick and stomach pain in my right side. I’ve booked an emergency appointment so hopefully I’ll get answers today or soon.

Lesley1234567 profile image
Lesley1234567 in reply toJemcc22

Good I hope it is soon sorted for you. Take care.

rachelleigh profile image
rachelleigh

Hi Jemcc22

Just worth a thought perhaps: but alcohol is not compulsory 😊. I'm speaking as someone who used to drink a wee bit more than I should at times and who definately felt that a drink was an almost essential part of a good night out (and a good many nights in too sometimes!)

Since starting HRT I have had a major rethink about alcohol because of my increased risk of breast cancer. And I don't miss it as much as I thought I would. Without alcohol I feel healthier, have lost weight and saved myself a small fortune in what I would have otherwise spent on Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc 😂. If your body is telling you it can't cope with alcohol - perhaps it's worth a listen? Sometimes it's incredibly challenging to imagine changing a much loved habit - but I just wanted to throw that idea out there. Wishing you lots of luck either way x

Jemcc22 profile image
Jemcc22 in reply torachelleigh

Thanks for your concern but I barely drink, only on occasions and then it’s only 2/3 drinks maximum. I’ve been to the doctors today and there looking into pancreatic problems/insufficiency.

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14 in reply toJemcc22

Keep us posted on that. I was thinking pancreas so will be interested in what they find.

Hope you feel better

Lulububs profile image
Lulububs in reply toJemcc22

Hey

I have ex same prob, used to b able to drink like a fish... about 5 years ago got a tooth infection and they put me on these weird antibiotics that put me in hospital in intensive care for 5 days and since then i cannot stomach alcohol!

They think because liver may have been damaged in the allergic reaction to the antibiotics?

So have u had alot of antibiotics of late?

Or make them do bloods and check ur LFTS( liver function)

Jemcc22 profile image
Jemcc22 in reply toLulububs

They’ve checked my liver 3 months ago and it was fine. And no I haven’t had antibiotics in years

Lulububs profile image
Lulububs in reply toJemcc22

Weird! Cant think of anything else apart from pancreas or gallbladder?

Or may ur just becoming intolerant to alcohol... if u go on ibs network site on here there is 100s that cant do alcohol...

so it mayb u have IBS

Jemcc22 profile image
Jemcc22 in reply toLulububs

Yes I have ibs also but it’s my other symptoms that are worrying me. I’ve had a lot of tests and blood tests and nothing has yet showed positive so this is supposedly why they’re testing for pancreatic insufficiency. I’m just really worried as this has been getting worse since January and I’ve no answers, now I’m getting so weak I can’t function some days and then it’s weird why i get so ill after alcohol. Although I am not worried about drinking but I’d like to find the cause out.

I remember being seriously ill I ended up in a and e 2 years ago with a bad stomach and severe pain but got sent away with gastritis. And ever since I’ve had the same symptoms plus more.

Sorry for long post.

Lulububs profile image
Lulububs in reply toJemcc22

Hey no prob.

Yeh i think u should go onto IBS NETWORK pages on here, i kinda fell into ur post as just so happened to look at all of them That had been posted that day and when i saw yours i just thought IBS!!!

I have had alot of stomach pain for years and years like u ending up in a&e quite few time doubled up in pain, always test and test and nothing....

Then one of the a&e head physicians looked back through my files and said “ has anyone ever mentioned IBS”!

I said “ isnt that what u say when someone got bad stomach and u just cant figure it out so u send them home and go oh it ibs”

He was a sufferer of ibs.....

So he sat me down and explained ALOT...

Then sent me to a gastro dr who helped me who suggested a test for intolerances( not on nhs, u have to pay for that) ...

On test, i was yeast, gluten and slightly dairy intolerant ..

So i left that day and cut everything out...

Including alcohol as i noticed that mad me ill to..

3 years on no stomach or pains in ribs or back or groin or anywhere in gut, no sickness and i have never felt better...

So i think mayb u should look into what u could b intolerant to....

See i have now re introduced a ceratin amount of dairy and im good with that...

As i think my real prob was yeast and gluten coz i cannot eat that at all without throwing up.

SORRY FOR LONG POST

Jemcc22 profile image
Jemcc22 in reply toLulububs

Yes I do need to look into it more I’ve not really bothered, it doesn’t affect me to much. This pain and other symptoms I’m getting now are not ibs as I’m seeing a gastro specialist and she agrees it’s more than ibs. I’ve had a colonoscopy also and nothing showed.

That’s good it all helped you, I always thought they said ibs to fob people off also.

Lulububs profile image
Lulububs in reply toJemcc22

Yeh it so true the ibs excuse!

If in doubt say it ibs.

Sadly if u have it u know it the most severe pain i have ever experienced when it flares up...

im no wuss with the old pain threshold neither after breaking wrist, dislocating jaw and having it wired up. Ripping ligament in knee and slipping two disks in back...

Having alot of ops

But IBS pain is still up there with that pain

Cb1963 profile image
Cb1963

Alcohol and smoking are irritants to the stomach, and you may have to try a more subtle drink that agrees with your stomach, to be honest with you I only used to drink for the 'effects' of the drink, and I didn't even like the taste of most alcohol drinks, so I decided to go tea total, I haven't had an alcoholic beverage for nearly 8 years, and I don't miss it one bit, each to their own, I'm not one of those do gooders telling them what to do, I can still enjoy myself without a drink, so enjoy life, and hopefully you'll get the stomach issues sorted out, thanks.

Freesia3 profile image
Freesia3

What about your liver? That is on the right side, fairly high up just under the ribs. I’m not criticising but you did say you used to drink quite a lot.

Good luck, whatever it turns out to be 😊

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