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Original poster

To think I had a near death experience because of my own stupidity?

215 replies

Sleeplessworried · 15/12/2024 01:02

I was out for Christmas drinks with friends last week.
I rarely drink but had 2 Proseccos, 2 cocktails and a shot. This was from 5pm to 11pm. Not crazy but a lot for me.

I got home at around 12am and took two paracetamols 500mg each, thinking I was getting ahead of the hangover. I felt fine at this point and my friend even said I didn’t even seem like I’d been drinking before she dropped me off home.

I went to bed and jolted awake at around 2.30am. What followed was room spinning, struggling to see, the worst diarrhoea of my life, rounds of vomiting, stomach pain and hours of lying sweating on a bed while itching and shivering.

I know this is silly but because I don’t drink much, I had no idea you can’t take paracetamol after drinking. I realise now this is totally dangerous and stupid.

I remember panicking on the bed wondering if I’d been spiked and actually worrying that things were going to worsen and maybe I’d been poisoned. I know that sounds dramatic but I felt like I was going to die.

Anyway now I am feeling so embarrassed and stupid for taking paracetamol after alcohol.

It ended by me continuously putting fingers down my throat to encourage more vomiting and feeling slightly better after my stomach was completely empty. I managed to sleep from around 5am to 9am and felt only slightly nauseous in the morning.

Just wanted to write it down as I can’t tell any of my loved ones. I wouldn’t like to worry them and don’t want them to know how bloody clueless I am! It feels good to get it off my chest though.

OP posts:
CactusSammy · 15/12/2024 01:48

I don't think you had a near death experience from taking 2 paracetamols after a few drinks.

Stop worrying, you'll be fine. But don't do it again 😉

TriesNotToBeCynical · 15/12/2024 01:47

Sounds like food poisoning from bacterial toxins in some meat or dairy snack that had been left out too long.

Havingaswimmoose · 15/12/2024 01:45

To think I had a near death experience because of my own stupidity?
You weren't near death at all.

Just being drunk and scared isn't anywhere near death.
Perhaps you could clarify how the above might prompt your dramatic question.

Hopefully you can become more aware of your exaggerations. Others are actually nearing the end of life.

Original poster
Sleeplessworried · 15/12/2024 01:43

Thanks @ChiliFiend. Had some diarrhoea for days afterwards but mostly better and thank god that headache is gone. I’ve never felt anything like that, it was like it was going to burst from my skull!

I’ve been unwell before. Been in hospital for serious infections and heart issues etc and never felt that level of fear or panic at how out of control my body was. I know it sounds dramatic but I have been really ill before but that was something else entirely. So glad it is over.

OP posts:
WearyAuldWumman · 15/12/2024 01:41

ChiliFiend · 15/12/2024 01:39

You poor thing, that sounds appalling. Those symptoms don't match up with too much alcohol or paracetamol after alcohol. You were either spiked or had noro (or another virus) or food poisoning. Hope you are feeling much much better now.

Spiking was my first thought, to be honest.

duc748 · 15/12/2024 01:40

It's vastly more likely you've picked up a bug such as Noro virus than anything else. It will not have been the paracetamol.
it might have been more alcohol that you're used to, but objectively it's not a lot of alcohol.

I agree with @SnoopySantaPaws .

thescentoflillies · 15/12/2024 01:40

As you don't drink much generally, you probably just have a low tolerance for it, and unfortunately drank more than your body is used to which made you feel absolutely rotten. Easily done, in my experience!

ChiliFiend · 15/12/2024 01:39

You poor thing, that sounds appalling. Those symptoms don't match up with too much alcohol or paracetamol after alcohol. You were either spiked or had noro (or another virus) or food poisoning. Hope you are feeling much much better now.

Original poster
Sleeplessworried · 15/12/2024 01:39

@rayofsunshine86 do you think he’s allergic to alcohol? Has he always been like that? I used to be fine drinking years ago.

OP posts:
WearyAuldWumman · 15/12/2024 01:38

The one time in my life that I had my head spinning after drink was on my 21st. No hangover, though. I think I had water before I went to sleep.

I'm told that it was a really good night, but I didn't see much of it. One, maybe two glasses of champagne in the afternoon; two vodkas in the evening and one glass of whatever was in the punch....

Original poster
Sleeplessworried · 15/12/2024 01:36

Would norovirus clear up so quickly though? I’ve had it before and think it lasted 3 days

OP posts:
WearyAuldWumman · 15/12/2024 01:35

You can't?

Don't laugh...I'm 64 and had no idea.

Kittylickingplate · 15/12/2024 01:33

You poor thing, you must have been so scared.
I am glad you are okay now. Drink lots of water and no booze for a minute.

Sunshine1500 · 15/12/2024 01:32

It’s not paracetamol that’s making you unwell, it’s the alcohol or a bug/virus

rayofsunshine86 · 15/12/2024 01:32

This happens to my DH when he drinks more than 2 pints. It's horrible, but definitely not because of paracetamol.

SnoopySantaPaws · 15/12/2024 01:32

It's vastly more likely you've picked up a bug such as Noro virus than anything else. It will not have been the paracetamol.

it might have been more alcohol that youre used to, but objectively it's not a lot of alcohol.

it was not 'near feath' it just felt like it.

it is very scary being extremely unwell alone in the house.

have you asked the friends you were drinking with how they were?

MartinCrieffsLemon · 15/12/2024 01:30

It sounds like food poisoning to me

stiffstink · 15/12/2024 01:28

The symptoms you're describing are norovirus, not near death from 5 drinks in 6 hours.

Floralnomad · 15/12/2024 01:26

Sleeplessworried · 15/12/2024 01:14

@Floralnomad well this thread is making me realise that but honestly I felt horrendous and it was scary being unable to see. I was so out of it. At the time I thought someone had put something in my drink or something which was panicking me.

That is actually more likely than it being 2 paracetamol unless ,as somebody else said , your liver is shot .

Trivium4all · 15/12/2024 01:23

Alcohol and paracetamol both challenge the liver (big reason why they shouldn't be combined), which sounds like it took a little bit of a pounding. From your description, your drinks spread over 6 hours don't sound crazy, and your best defense against a hangover would have been to drink plenty of water along the way.

Popadomorbread · 15/12/2024 01:22

Unless you already have a severely compromised liver you can take paracetamol and alcohol together. And I would hope if your liver was in bad shape you wouldn’t be consuming alcohol!!

despairnow · 15/12/2024 01:22

There is no rule about taking not paracetamol after drinking alcohol. That motion probably comes from deranged liver function tests / live disease and paracetamol.
Paracetamol doesn't provide an explanation for the itching, D&V and vertigo. Sounds more like intoxication or allergic reaction.

Original poster
Sleeplessworried · 15/12/2024 01:20

@SnowFrogJelly it says on Google it can have a lethal interaction with alcohol because of the strain on the liver.

OP posts:
SnowFrogJelly · 15/12/2024 01:17

Could be allergic reaction to the alcohol

Franjipanl8r · 15/12/2024 01:17

Sounds more like nasty bacteria.

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