What am I on antibiotics for?

[Wingingthis]

V. early pregnancy and going out for work drinks tonight. Using the classic “on antibiotics” excuse for not drinking. What could I be on antibiotics for that wouldn’t have obvious visible symptoms?? Very close to a couple of people so don’t feel like I could just say something like “an infection” as they’d ask for details!

UTI?

An infected bite on your bum?

Cystitis? You might have to do some fake runs to the loo, to make it realistic.

You could just tell them. It's such a classic line that they'll probably guess anyway.

Wisdom tooth.

I would say cystitis. It's also a reason not to drink in itself. People may guess though.

Dental abscess. They've kicked in really quickly so the pain is next to nothing but its Metronidazole that you're on and they are strictly no alcohol. I took them a few years ago and I asked the doctor what would happen if I did drink while on them: "instant regret, copious vomiting, potential hospitalisation."

Wisdom tooth. Most antibiotics are fine with alcohol actually. If you are taking Metronidazole, the one they give for infected impacted wisdom teeth, you really very specifically cannot drink with.

Antibiotics is such an obvious excuse! Can you not be driving?

The other option is to order your own drinks instead of rounds and still have "alcohol". A half glass of lemonade with a slice of lemon is a G&T, water in a shot glass, alcohol free beer poured into a glass and the bottle left at the bar, etc.

Thanks everyone!! Open to a better excuse than the antibiotics one btw. I can’t use driving as it’s walking distance from my house.

Stonking hangover from last night? One fake drink to try and cure it then say it's made you feel sick so you're going to stick to soft drinks.

Nothing - the will know you are pregnant if you use this line. Hangover, diet or healthy eating are more believable.

Any infection which uses metronidazole to treat it. You categorically can't drink any alcohol when taking it or you will be quite unwell.

I’d go for ‘ear infection’... and then if people start asking you awkward questions, you can say: “Gosh so sorry, my ear’s really blocked - didn’t quite catch that, oh did you see Corrie last night etc etc.”

"I'm avoiding alcohol at the moment as I've been having problems with heartburn and drink makes it a lot worse."

*drinking

Up to you but I had 100% failure rate claiming antibiotics! Fake hangover was more convincing (especially as I literally felt hungover the whole time and looked like shit). I don’t think I could have claimed to be on a diet either, unless there is a beige food diet...

Claim a hangover or a strict diet. Antibiotics is a klaxon for someone hiding early pregnancy. The only antibiotics that stop you drinking are for serious infections. Usually dental or vaginal. So not a great cover really!

I can't lie to friends, if they're that close they will guess but hopefully will not say anything and wait for you to tell them.

They’ll see through it . If you drive, I’d take the car and use that as an excuse. Otherwise you need to say you’re on Metronidazole, it’s the only antibiotic where alcohol is contraindicated. A gum infection would be a good reason for it to be prescribed.

True that the AB excuse is the worst there is.

Can you claim you are driving because you need to go somewhere else and not none?

Not home.

Stomach upset covers plenty. Also excuses any morning sickness.

Had a 2 day team building event with all sorts of activities & wine tasting. Colleague with an upset stomach was treated with great sympathy. 6 weeks later, whrn she proudly showed us 12 week scan pics, the penny dropped! We didn't suspect a thing.

If you had an upset stomach I'd wonder why you were out tbh. Couldn't you say you need to get up at the crack of dawn for an early meeting/event etc? Or say you've had too much to drink recently and fancy a night off?