perimenopause and alcohol

[TheEverlovingFork]

Hi all,

Suspect I'm entering peri - right age, periods irregular or skipped, skin texture change (??), the RAGE. One thing I've started noticing is I can no longer tolerate alcohol - if I have some red wine - or anything really - i not only feel absolutely deathly but it seems to have started making the skin on my face raw and bumpy - almost like becoming allergic to it!

Did anyone else find this?

Yes! This happened to me! I wasn't much of a drinker to begin with, but used to enjoy a good tempranillo or malbec from time to time. But once menopause kicked in I began experiencing reactions like you're describing. Even small amounts of red wine made me feel generally unwell and I'd immediately start getting rashy, particularly on my face and underarms.

Yes, me! I enjoyed a few drinks a week until about a year ago, now even 1 just makes me feel generally unwell - tired, moody, like I've been mildly poisoned. I do not get a rash though.

No rash but I can’t stomach more than one drink, and I get awful hangovers and anxiety. I’m pretty much tee total.

Yes - this is it exactly - bit rashy plus that 'mildly poisoned' feeling a PP said. I used to love a nice Malbec so I'm gutted - it has only started happening since my periods changed.

Same! I do find red wine is particularly bad, I’m not so affected by white wine. Though still would feel rough the next day if I had more than a glass.

Yes, red wine sometimes gave me 3 day migraines, which I am gutted about. Even just 1 glass. I read somewhere that the cheaper stuff is less of an issue which I need to test.

Resorted to an occasional whiskey for now which seems less problematic.

Gin for the win. You’re welcome x

Yes- became “allergic” to red wine. Good stuff cheap stuff all of it. Blocked nose, rash, tightness of breath! Crazy.

move stopped alcohol altogether as I feel I sleep so much better without it.

Same here - I can tolerate a couple of small glasses of white wine (always been allergic to red) and one home made (ie double) G&T but any more and I'm tossing and turning all night, stomach churning, feeling sick just like I used to get after a heavy night out. I also can't tolerate mixing drinks anymore so can't have a glass of champagne on arrival then a glass of wine with a meal. Or one G&T in the bar then a wine with the meal. If I do that I spend the evening throwing up! Probably a good job I never go out these days

I still have my periods normally but I am 46 (my mum was menopausal before she was 50 so I suspect I will be similar).

I cannot drink red wine, it gives me diarrhoea the day after, even if I drink a very small amount. As some other poster, white wine not so bad but also affects me. I can tolerate beer in small amounts every now and again but I have moved to alcohol free mostly now. I also thought I was having some type of allergic reaction to alcohol, can this be related to perimenopause? Is this a thing??

My skin doesn't flare up, but it generally looks AWFUL if I've been drinking on and off for a while.
I'm not talking gallons, but maybe a couple of glasses mid week, a bottle over the weekend. Maybe a pint on a dog walk.
My skin looks tired and dull and saggy.

Two weeks off and I look much brighter! Mine is red wine too. It ALSO makes me lose my memory a bit. I mean more than half a bottle and I can't remember conversations I've had.

I'm going to try and keep a lid on it from now on.

Am mid 40s and 💯 peri.

Oh wow, I'm so sorry we're all going through it but also glad to find out I'm not alone with this one!

Yes, I stopped drinking all together as it was more hassle than benefit. Got on hrt patches. Still mentally dealing with the fact I'm getting old, but keep reminding myself this is my second spring.

Yes, same, including the rashy red face. I end up with broken capillaries on my cheeks after only one glass. It slows me down next day, I'm sure it affects my memory too, just not in that fun way of your 20s when if you drank a lot you can't remember details of the evening except having a great time. I'm talking about a noticeable difference in actual loss of a memory which was there the day before when it happened at work, say, which I would normallly remember no problem next day IF I'd had no alcohol at all that evening. But with just one glass that evening with my dinner...it feels like it destroys some memory cells so that the next day when I'm in work I find it harder to pull certain memories from my brain.

I don't think I've described that well, and sometimes it happens even without any intake of alcohol because that's just perimenopause for you.

But yes, that feeling of it being more toxic to my body than it ever was before is definitely there now.

What a dilemma - a glass of wine really does help with my peri anxiety of an evening. But it's clearly not being helpful generally.

@TimeForTrumpton gin did nothing good for me, but I imagine you could try it and find out either way...

I'm going to try some of that Sentia when I get round to it. It's AF, but gives you sociability and relaxation. (I'm not advertising I promise)
https://sentiaspirits.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA2eKtBhDcARIsAEGTG424fxC2aZ4GSgVXEw01VOvjaxzWSvKcyDBs6mu30Dpf6lDlR-WKCTIaAiaOEALw_wcB

I used to enjoy a glass of wine or two regularly, but now find I rarely fancy it. It was quite a sudden change.

It’s something to do with histamines - we are less tolerant through peri (more inflammation?). I get sneezy! Then I can’t sleep and I’m awake for hours. The exhausted for days…I miss wine!

I’m enjoying Trip drinks. Have tried Sentía but didn’t realise there was a difference between the black and red versions! Red one chills you out and black one perks you up. I couldn’t get to sleep until 1.30am after the black one.

I had Trip, they are nice and do work. Not as strong effect as wine, but you do feel relaxed.

The green Trip ones are nice - lemon and basil. I find them relaxing and I think they help with sleep a bit.

Oh, I will have a look at those CBD ones - thank you!

I like ginger ones and blood orange are also nice. Ginger is my favourite though.