I have an intolerance to alcohol, can this be a... - Thyroid UK
I have an intolerance to alcohol, can this be a side affect of an underactive thyroid. One glass of wine makes me feel rubbish.
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Just to keep you going until someone responds...!
Louise
xx
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Thank you Louise
Hi
Yeah I get that! It's become worse as well since starting medication! One pint of beer now and I get a steaming headache and my allergies come on....ie sneezing etc! I've given it up....... For now :0)
Simon
Hi Gracie 01,
I have always enjoyed the odd glass of wine until I was diagnosed with Hashimotos a few years ago and started taking Levothyroxine. This then changed how my body coped with alcohol - I would have a racing heart and short breath after only one glass of wine, and would feel crap all day the next day! I have gradually increased the amount and can now tollerate a few glasses but this can still lead to racing heart and poor sleep. I do feel better if I am properly hydrated before drinking the wine-perhaps you could try having a few pints of water before going out? For me the best way is to increase slowly and to not drink too often, hope this helps xx Claire
Hi - yes I was getting dreadful and undeserved (I think) hangovers before diagnosis. I don't get these now that I am well-medicated, although I do get the racing heart that Claire describes. Not sure why this is. Xx
Thank you for your replies!
This happens to me too. I was always a light weight when it came to drinking anyway, but I have noticed that after just one drink I feel like I have had here or four and later a banging headache. I have adjusted to one glass of wine and then soft drinks. my son loves to take me out as it doesn't cost much lol!
This is one of the symptoms I gave to my GP before I was referred to the idiot endo. One glass of wine I had a hangover. Idiot endo said don't drink a glass of wine then!!! Now I am well on T3 only I am fine on a glass or two of wine.
I suppose that is the simple answer 'do not drink' but it is nice to have a glass from time to time.
He also said a lot of other stupid things when I mentioned other symptoms. Better hair conditioner for my straw like hair, I am not fat so why worry to my I have to have only 800-1000 calories or I gain weight. Just a way of dismissing all my concerns. My good endo took it on board and said that shouldn't be happening and it has stopped, along with my eczema, brain fog, weight gain etc etc etc since getting properly treated. I think it is to do with the metabolism which is why we feel rubbish on one glass of wine.
I've noticed this too and assume that it is age-related (for me, not necessarily for you). One glass of white wine can give me a terrible sense of doom and guilt, with an added flourish of sinusitis. God forbid I actually overindulge; about once a year, I let my hair down and pay for it with a three-day hangover. My 'solution' if you can call it that, is to drink red wine and beer in moderation. The red wine is still a bit too alcoholic for me so it's best consumed with food, and the beer is more of a session drink. I can also have few weak bourbon and sodas over the course of an evening.
I'm a gulper not a sipper, so wine doesn't really suit me and I've never been good at having a glass of water in between drinks. I drink very little now, and I generally stick to beer.
As I understand it -
Low thyroid function = low metabolic rate
Metabolic rate responsible for 'burning off' alcohol in system.
So yes, that's why we can't tolerate alcohol. Thank goodness for alcohol-free lager!
I was the same, one pint of beer and I had a hangover for days, I stopped drinking.
Its paid off in another way because every time my endo tries to reduce my meds on the premis that 'you will get osteoporosis' I can say that I am not in any of the 'at risk' groups and therefore won't be tested unless HE sends me for a test!!
Yes. I definitely can't cope with alcohol like I used to and and one stage was too scared to drink at all because I got drunk so easily.
I also get an awful hungover feeling after not drinking much BUT this all seems to come and go, so sometimes I can absolutely fine and others I'm really not.
This means I have to gauge myself carefully, especially if I'm out, which is not very conducive to relaxing lol I can usually tell after one drink what the effects will be if I dare to drink more!
My Hashimotos came on when I was 19, though I wasn't treated till I was menopausal. I've never been able to drink wine or more than half a pint of beer without turning pink, short of breath and fuzzy-headed. It hasn't improved with T4 or T3, though on T3 only I'm much more well.
I solved my wine problem by just having a gin and tonic when everyone else was glugging the wine. The G & T lasts much longer and I never get that awful heart problem and hangover. Also you can just top it up with tonic and no one else is the wiser. You are still drinking with the crowd!