My alcoholism has cured itself. AIBU to worry about HOW I have suddenly become intolerant?

[Tliev]

I have always had a bit of a drink problem. As far back as I can remember I could never touch a drop without getting the urge to carry on until I physically couldn't drink anymore.

At 15 I remember being on the floor of a pub toilet completely intoxicated and the pub landlord trying to get me up and out after hours.

There have been numerous occasions where I have shown myself up in front of family and friends by getting absolutely wrecked and needing help getting up/home.

Last year DH and I went to Leeds to see a band and I drank so much I fell over in the street and couldn't get up. DH and some young medical student was trying to get me up and then I was sick all over myself. I remember hearing the young lad say "has she ever been like this before??" And DH replying " errr yes, unfortunately".

Too many examples to mention.

The worst one being my wedding where I was passed out in bed by 10pm.

Anyway about 6 months ago I sat down to my usual weekly Friday binge, had my first drink and felt sick and dizzy so didn't drink anymore. I remember saying to DH "wow, Friday night and I've had one drink!"

Since then I seem to have developed an intolerance to alcohol completely. Whenever I start, I begin to feel sick and dizzy so stop. Recently we had a BBQ party and everyone was drunk - I tried and physically couldn't do it. Good job really as I ended up having to help two very intoxicated guests.

DH and I went away to York for his birthday last weekend. Normally I'd have a drink before we set off, a drink on arrival at the hotel and at least 2 during our evening meal. This time I didn't start until our evening meal and then could only manage half a pint.

So aibu to worry that something is wrong with my liver? Why would someone suddenly become intolerant to alcohol? On another point - I have been trying to stop drinking for years so surely if it was psychological, it would have happened before now? Why now all of a sudden has my body decided enough is enough?

In one way, I'm delighted that my alcoholism has been stopped without any effort from myself but on the other hand, I'm worrying it's something medical?

Beauty and Shiny. How bloody rude and unhelpful for the OP.

Early signs are aches, sickness, bruising ect. NOT intolerance to alcohol. I should know. Have worked with people going through actual liver failure. This post is a little scary, full of people assuming they have Phd's.

Later stages are yellowing plus a multitude of other symptoms. Regardless. If OP is worried, go to the GP for peace of mind.

OP, listen to shinynewusername. GP or not (it's the internet), she makes perfect sense

Good reminder- don't take anyone's word on here that they know what they are talking about, OP.

However I can guarantee you that any poster who has diagnosed you as having or not having liver failure does not know what she is talking about. HCPs know that you cannot make this diagnosis on symptoms alone - all the posters urging you to see your GP are right.

The most likely reason for your symptoms is not liver failure or someone slipping you disulfiram but just that your levels of alcohol dehydrogenase have fallen. That is it the enzyme that (mainly) breaks down alcohol in the body. The more you drink, the more of it you make and when you stop drinking, the level falls and you become more susceptible to alcohol. However, I cannot stress strongly enough that you should not assume this is the reason - see your GP.

but what would your GP do op?
you can't drink any more? where is the probem with that. It is All good and what you want.

do you want the GP to give you the green light to go ahead and drink? if your blood tests come back that your liver is ok will you do that? will you overcome your intolerance?

The OP wants to know if she has a health problem that could be causing the intolerance.
She should be checked.

Op, no one can diagnose you but you do need to see your doc and be honest about your alcohol intake.

The liver can stand some serious abuse and still appear normal (lfts within range etc) until quite late in the disease process. Yellowing of skin etc is a very late stage symptom or a symptom of acute liver injury. The liver has remarkable powers of regeneration to a point but once that point is passed it can no longer recover.
There are considerable genetic differences between people on their ability to metabolise drugs and other poisons. This is why the old 'uncle Arthur drank like a fish and smoked and lived till 98' trope comes from. Unfortunately the other side of that coin is filled with people with lung cancer from passive or no smoking and liver disease from lower alcohol intake. We don't know which side we are on.

It's possible your liver is injured
It's possible you have gastritis or an ulcer
It's possible you have pancreatitis
It's possible you've developed a physical or psychological aversion to alcohol.

Without seeing you and a battery of tests no one can say, but use this opportunity to cut out alcohol completely (use help if you need to) and see your doctor.

Tliev please don't listen to those who have diagnosed you with liver failure when they aren't doctors and haven't examined you! You must go to the doctors though as soon as possible to get it checked out. Hopefully it is nothing serious but if it is, then you can get it treated.

surely OP would realise if he was
You would hope that the OP's DH wouldn't have done this to her and even if he had you would hope that she would realise.

I'd go to the GP and get a liver function test to be on the safeside. To all the people saying that OP is too young / doesn't drink enough to cause damage - I was a binge drinker from the age of 16 -24 and stopped because I had liver damage. My liver has recovered but I know I can't drink again.

This is quite common I think - your GP will be able to tell you the science / why it happens etc... It happened to a family member who is an alcoholic. He rarely drinks now because every time he does he has an allergic reaction- face swells/ severe vomiting & stomach cramps.

If there is liver damage, it could be due to other causes, not just drinking.

In any cases, any major changes like this should always be checked out.

Hi everyone
Thanks for the reports about this thread. While Mumsnetters are often, a frankly superb source of advice, we can't stress enough the importance of seeking RL medical advice from a professional when it comes to your health concerns.

Hoping you go to your GP and ignore the excuses on here. Good luck.

Hi op, I know just how terrifying it is to face the prospect of liver damage. Please feel reassured it probably isn't but you must see a health professional and get checked. There is no plan B.
I've recently had clear LFTs back (recovering alcoholic) which have reassured me. Just think how relieved you'll feel to know you're ok.
Wishing you strength

Tliev how are you doing? I hope you haven't been scared off from going to the doctor due to some of the scaremongering responses on here? Send me a PM if you want to chat privately. I'm thinking of you.

Same happened to me, my liver was fine! I just don't drink ever now, after 1 drink I feel queasy tired and have to go to bed.

GP, GP, GP. Doubt anyone on here is a doctor.

A mate of mine has the same issue, used to be able to drink a lot, sudden couldn't, she has become allergic, same has happened to multiple people I know with gluten over the years. I was told the more you consume something, the more likely you are to become intolerant. Please see your doctor.

It's unlikely the OP's DP has slipped her anti alcohol meds, you can't just get them over the counter. A friend had to beg for her DH who was a bottle of vodka twice a day type til he started the meds.

This could be a sign of celiac disease or an allergy to an ingredient in the alcohol you drink.

Reverse tolerance caused by liver damage means you would get extremely drunk after a small amount of alcohol because the liver can't process it properly. It doesn't mean that alcohol makes you feel sick. Unless you have other symptoms I highly doubt you have liver failure so don't listen to the scaremongers in this thread! It sounds like not being able to drink is a good thing for you but get checked out by your GP just in case

If OP developed this intolerance 6 months ago, wouldn't she have more symptoms by now of (whatever terrible thing)? It sounds like she has stabilised & could continue as she is forever without needing to see anybody about it (did OP ever say she has anxiety?)

6 months of this, so She already has stopped drinking without terrible effects,if I read OP right. So I'm not sure why people R doom-mongering about why she shouldn't stop completely.

:( that OP needs to ask though. Alcohol is still so emotionally important to her.

Thanks everyone. It occurred to me whilst talking to a friend that I went through this same thing about 6 years ago. I suddenly came to a point where the thought of alcohol made me feel anxious and ill. In retrospect it was probably a fear of being drunk more than anything else but it felt like a physical intolerance. I remember going out with friends and telling them I was on jack Daniels and coke when really it was just coke ... they used to rip the piss out of me so I made out that I was on antibiotics and all sorts to get out of drinking. I can't explain it.
Obviously 5 years later I was back to being a heavy drinker again but now I seem to have come to a standstill with it again. DH thinks I have a psycological balancing act where I subconsciously realise I need to dry out for a bit and stop drinking but it's such a strong feeling, it feels like a physical intolerance.

I'm the same with food - if I get to a certain weight my addiction to chocolate suddenly disappears and I start to feel intolerant of all things sugary and fatty until the weight is lost. Maybe it's a subconscious control thing?

I'm stressed out at the moment because I've promised a friend I'll go on a night out with her tonight but obviously I can't drink - she's planning on going out getting wrecked so looks like I'll be on the 'JD' and just coke all night

good luck for tonight. sounds very hard when you are surrounded by hard drinkers. join the thread that has been mentioned already

Good luck.

And have a think about whether you want to remain friends with someone who would mock you for drinking Coke. If I go out (not that I do these days with a baby) then some drink, some don't. People have everything from water to coffee to several drinks and no one cares at all.
The last thing you need as a person trying to rein in their alcohol consumption is to be surrounded by heavy drinkers.

I still think you should see the gp.
It could be psychological, but it could have a physical reason.

Still, I think you should own up to not drinking and the reasons for it. Make your own conscious decision not to drink, and, eventually, to only drink a few.
You'll feel like a grown up by standing up to your friends' teasing. And you can ask them what's so great about getting so wasted that you can't remember what happened or aren't in any control of your actions. Not to mention what you're doing to your livers.