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Original poster

Does anyone else find alcohol makes them feel awful?

29 replies

RedorangeyellowBLACK · 03/06/2022 21:43

I’ve never been a drinker, I have never liked the way it makes me feel.
I am in the minority within my circle of friends, they all drink loads and think I am strange for not drinking.
I did a favour for a neighbour the other week, she thanked me with a bottle of Chardonnay (always makes me laugh when people automatically assume you drink). It’s been in the fridge, I was waiting to give it to a friend but ds cracked it open, tried it and said it was disgusting and so I thought I would have a gulp to try.
Literally, that’s all it was, a very large gulp.
20 mins later and I feel crap. My stomach feels like I have swallowed acid (I do have IBS) a d is now gurgling, my thighs and lower tummy area feel weirdly heavy and I feel like I need to pee. I feel really hot and flushed and just off. Also feel nauseous.
I feel like this every single time I drink any kind of alcohol, it’s weird but it obviously does not agree with my body. It’s been like this since I was a teen (49 now).
My sister says she is the same but apart from her everyone else I know has no issue.
Does anyone else feel like this with alcohol?

OP posts:
Skinnermarink · 03/06/2022 21:46

That’s just Chardonnay I think.

ABC. Anything but Chardonnay

Original poster
RedorangeyellowBLACK · 03/06/2022 21:47

I get the same symptoms with all alcohol though.

OP posts:
Ohhelpicantthinkofaname · 03/06/2022 21:49

Chardonnay is gross.

but no one the whole I don’t feel like that with alcohol. I’m not a huge fan of drinking at home though. Been out tonight and come home tipsy. I like having a drink when I’m out. But once I’m home I’d prefer to just be completely sober. Don’t know why.

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Twinstudy · 03/06/2022 21:50

Sounds like you could be allergic to alcohol.

Original poster
RedorangeyellowBLACK · 03/06/2022 21:52

Twinstudy I just googled alcohol intolerance and I do get all the symptoms, so maybe that’s why I’ve never had much luck drinking? It’s always left me feeling horrible, I still feel crap now!

OP posts:
yesthatisdrizzle · 03/06/2022 21:52

Yes, OP. I'm just like that. Anything more than a thimbleful of alcohol makes me feel absolutely dreadful within a few minutes.

I used to have a normal tolerance, but then stopped drinking altogether when I was pregnant with dc. After she was born, I didn't drink much but when I did, I'd get these awful symptoms. My system just decided that it didn't want alcohol any more, thanks very much, and that was that.

justasking111 · 03/06/2022 21:54

All alcohol so it's sulfites then. Histamine can also affect you. You're allergic unfortunately

RampantIvy · 03/06/2022 21:57

Skinnermarink · 03/06/2022 21:46

That’s just Chardonnay I think.

ABC. Anything but Chardonnay

That's utter nonsense. You can get nasty chardonnay, and you can get extremely good quality chardonnay.

DH is very knowledgeable about wine so we never buy nasty wine.

Skinnermarink · 03/06/2022 22:00

RampantIvy · 03/06/2022 21:57

That's utter nonsense. You can get nasty chardonnay, and you can get extremely good quality chardonnay.

DH is very knowledgeable about wine so we never buy nasty wine.

Show quote history

yeah, I know wine.

but Chardonnay is awful, and that’s ok, there are plenty of lovely wines.

Heavymetaldetector · 03/06/2022 22:04

Am exactly the same now. I used to be able to drink anyone under the table but now I got straight to nausea, need the toilet, flushed etc. So have I grown into an allergy?? I do have a disability though, and although it's pretty steady and under control right now drinking is something I just can't do anymore.

Lavendersquare · 03/06/2022 22:07

@RedorangeyellowBLACK I'm exactly the same as you with alcohol I just can't tolerate it, even in small amounts. For me it induces a migraine like headache and even after one or two sips I can feel my head tightening like a screw being applied.

As a result I just don't bother with alcohol and no longer miss it at all. It doesn't bother me but others seem to think I need tempting which is tedious. To avoid this I just volunteer to drive, much easier all round.

RampantIvy · 03/06/2022 22:08

Chardonnay became very popular in the 1980s and 90s, and a lot of people still (mistakenly) associate it with the mass produced stuff that was available then, but wine production has come a long way since then. The ABC mantra is way out of date now and is usually used by people who are influenced by the media.

Some chardonnays are used in the most expensive wines in the world - Champagne, for example uses chardonnay grapes among others.

Not everyone likes Chardonnay, but to dismiss all chardonnay wines as cheap, mass produced rubbish is simply ignorant because it isn't true.

Regularsizedrudy · 03/06/2022 22:10

You’re obviously allergic

Original poster
RedorangeyellowBLACK · 03/06/2022 22:18

Looks like I probably have always had an intolerance then as I’ve always had this reaction.

OP posts:
skybluee · 03/06/2022 22:19

not in the same way as you. i can have one or two drinks and i feel OK (actually feel fine, i feel very warm and actually healthy which is weird) but then as it wears off i start to feel grotty then what happens is i literally cannot sleep and i feel off and nauseous, just really shitty. it's like i can't process it or something. i haven't drank more than that for years and years, but the last time i went out and drank a lot i threw up for two days and it really scared me, i felt severely unwell and couldn't really eat for three days. it knocked me about so much there is now some kind of negative association and the thought of it makes me feel sick!

it sounds like you have an allergy like other people say.

Maytodecember · 03/06/2022 22:28

Yes, started about 40-ish. Was never much of a drinker, very lightweight and noticed one Xmas Bailey’s gave me a blinding headache, then white wine did the same. Last time I tried alcohol I drank half of a ( very) small glass of red— it put me in bed until the following afternoon. I shake, feel sick then crashing, stabbing headache, sensitivity to lights. Obviously not touched it for years.
Can remember someone telling me he was allergic to alcohol and drs reckoned it was because he was given alcohol as a baby, dummy dipped in brandy, that sort of thing. No idea if that could be true.

Pinkbonbon · 03/06/2022 23:55

Beer and whisky cause my hands and face and lower legs to go all numb and tingly. Can only assume it's an allergy to something in them both as I can drink other alcohols (clear ones at least) with no issues. Usually lasts about a day too.

Oddly enough though, I had irn bru extra recently and it does it to me too. A scot who can't drink whisky or irn bru ffs!

NigelWithTheBrie79 · 04/06/2022 01:18

I stopped drinking when I started to get hungover within a couple of hours rather than the following morning. I'm not teetotal. I can handle the odd cocktail or bottle of lager here and there but I rarely bother. Plus on a darker note I grew up in pubs and had to put up with alkie parents who beat the shit out of each other and would lie in bed till the afternoon leaving me to care for 4 younger siblings. I fucking hate drunk people.

ShesAPeachSconeBob · 04/06/2022 01:22

I once had the mispleasure of accidentally taking a big gulp of Chardonnay that had corked. For years I couldn't bear the smell. I tried some not too long ago and it was OK just a bit too dry. I prefer White Zinfandel if I have to have wine.

Londondreams1 · 04/06/2022 02:42

Yes.

I partake in other substances, which are far kinder to my body, in my experience

Londondreams1 · 04/06/2022 02:45

You might have a genetic inability to digest digest it like many East Asian people. I dont have that, I just don't like how out of control it make you, plus dehydrates and ages the face like no other substance

Rubyupbeat · 04/06/2022 04:41

I used to be able to drink like a fish, as in I never even experienced a hangover.
But for the last 15 years at least, I am in my late 50s, I only have to have a couple of sips and I feel heavy, my stomach hurts, it's awful, the next day I will have constant diarrhoea. Needless to say I am completely teetotal now and don't miss alcohol at all.

autienotnaughty · 04/06/2022 05:17

I do like a social drink but not bothered about regular drinking. Sometimes (like maybe 1 in 5) when I drink I get this ache down my left arm and into my chest. Mostly quite mild and passes after a few minutes. A few times over the years the pain is quite intense although still only lasts minutes. I never really thought about it when I was young 🙈 only as I've got older I've thought maybe it's an allergy, iAnd maybe I should not drink?? It seems an over reaction to go doctors. Never figured out what alcohol causes it although I definitely got it more drinking alcopops in the 90's.

fridaRose · 04/06/2022 05:27

I wish I was like that. I try not to drink loads as I've had issues with alcohol previously.
I use it as medication when I'm going through things emotionally. I use it as a reward. As a relaxation companion. I just do love alcohol.
I don't drink often these days but I do wish I didn't love it as much!

MrsDThomas · 04/06/2022 06:44

Could probably be the chardonnay (its rank)

I can easily have a drink most nights. Just the one, be it wine, gin or a beer. But i dont get drunk. Haven’t been drunk for over 21 years.

any more than one (or 2 depending on the drink) I can’t sleep, im twitchy

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