Hashimotos and Alcohol

[Newyorkhashi]

I have not been able to drink for 15 years. Even the slightest bit of alcohol, one sip, will cause me to wake up a few hours after falling asleep with heart palpitations. It’s very scary. Once the palpitations get under control and I fall asleep again- I’ll wake up immediately with more palpitations -this will continue all night. has this happen to anyone else?

[Mostew]

No . Unlikely to be from a sip !!!

Any ideas what else it could be . ? Association with memories of something to trigger it when you drink ?

[sbadd]

Large amounts of alcohol definately increase heart rate but wouldnt think a sip would, have you had thyroid levels checked recently because heart palps can be under or over medicated?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Perhaps you have low vitamins...especially low B vitamins

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking?

Are you on adequate dose levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

If/when also on T3, or NDT make sure to take last third or half of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

Is this how you do your tests?

Are you on strictly gluten free diet?

[Julesboz]

Hi there, I haven’t been diagnosed with hashimotos or officially diagnosed with hypothyroidism, but I have got a sluggish thyroid after a hemithyroidectomy and take Metavive 1. I’ve suspected a dodgy thyroid for at least 5 years. I’ve had multiple symptoms and one of them is some food and all alcohol intolerance. If I have even half a glass of wine I have palpitations, chest pains, a headache and feel like I’m going to die! Needless to say I stopped drinking (I never drank much anyway) and haven’t had a drink for about 4-5 years. I’d love a cider in the summer or a G&T but it’s not worth the way I feel afterwards! I’ve asked doctors about it but they just shrug and seem uninterested, but to be honest they are like that about my thyroid! You are not alone.

[Ansteynomad]

For me, one of the benefits of adequate treatment was finding that I was able to drink alcohol for the first time in my life.

[pffft2017]

The only time I get palpitations is when I drink spirits or take too much T3 medication.

I guzzled a full bottle of red wine for my birthday the other day and very nice too, but I don't feel the ill effects, eg; hangover until 3-5 days later, it completely knocks the T3 out.

Might be worth getting your ticker checked as a precaution.

[posthinking01]

Hello - yes I have had this - I am now 71 yeas of age and at 22 years of age - I realised I was 'allergic' to alcohol and haven't touched it since.

Years down the line even a small amount of sherry in a trifle made me very ill - this is because some thyroid patients do not have the enzyme needed to assimilate the alcohol via the liver - if this is the case then you need to stop drinking altogether (sorry) because it will get worse and worse and put extra strain on a 'thyroid liver' which has its own problems day by day to cope with.

[Newmummy82]

I get this as well, exactly the same. Palpitations, sweating and sudden waking about an hour after falling asleep. Needs to be more than a sip and doesn’t happen every time I drink but thinking it might be time to give up

[Newyorkhashi]

Yes! About an hour later I wake up with like a panic attack but I don’t normally suffer from panic attacks! So weird. I’d like to know WHY?? what is happening AFTER I fall asleep. It won’t happen while I am awake. So strange! You are the first one I’ve met to experience this. Thank you for sharing

[Dai7777]

Hi! I have Hashimotos and been looking on the web about this symptoms after alcohol consumption. Wow! Your situation is the same thing that happens to me everytime I drink a glass of wine! I thought I was getting crazy! Yesterday night, I just made a two hours night sleep because of the insane heart palpitations that woke me up suddenly in the middle of the night! And I drank less than a glass of wine! I was even thinking it was a panic attack, and have been all night thinking about potential triggers to a non existent anxiety! It is a huge relieve ti read your experience and confirm that I am not hypochondriac or crazy. Hashis can give you lots of different symptoms in a lot of ways! I have to make the decision of not having any more wine, unfortunately! Hope you are good and thanks!!