To give up drinking booze totally (perimenopause hangovers)

[Onedaylikethis21]

I don’t drink much anymore- maybe once a month at most and I have extended breaks of a few months too. But when I do it’s literally awful - lying in bed this morning after having a few glasses of Prosecco at a party and I have a terrible headache, nausea, anxiety etc. I didn’t have that much to drink.

I am 48 and in perimenopause and I think that is what has tipped me into deathly hangovers - I don’t even really enjoy drinking anymore either. Has anyone else stopped completely? I feel like I am at that point now-it’s taken me a while to get here.

Aibu to just knock it on the head? I have kept drinking as a social thing I think but now I am not even bothered about that!

I stopped for other reasons, but hangovers definitely became worse with age. I don't miss alcohol at all and I never love waking up feeling good to go.

Totally agree, I don’t even enjoy the drinking of it in the first place anymore tbh. Was out last might for dinner and ordered a small glass of Sauvignon, hadn’t even had two mouthfuls before I thought urrrgh, what did I do that for. Had water instead. Alcohol seems to really ramp up the peri symptoms too - even a little bit of it.

Yes I stopped 3 years ago for the same reasons. It's fine. I don't miss it. Honestly.
It took a while to adjust the mindset of regarding drinking as a 'treat' but I'm not bothered now. Life is much easier without hangovers, worrying about taxis, anxiety etc.

I stopped for similar reasons in January, best thing I've ever done. I drank a lot more than you do and the hangovers were getting worse and worse. I was initially worried about social occasions and feeling like I was being a party pooper but I'm not bothered about that at all now.

Yep! I'm 49, most definitely in peri menopause, I rarely drink now. When I do the hot flushes the next day are absolutely unbearable, to the point of feeling faint. I've got to the point that it's just not worth it.

@HemanOrSheRa yes! Literally just had an awful hot flush & went really dizzy! Really makes it all so much worse! It’s like nature telling me to stop with the booze!!!

I hardly drink at all now because not only is a 12 hr hangover not worth 3 hrs being chilled - I don’t even get the chilled sensation either.

And it’s not just the physical hangover (on hardly any alcohol) it’s the mental stuff / anxiety etc from peri - I feel that there is no extra headroom for additional unnecessary mood/anxiety changes.

Alcohol is a poison/toxin to our bodies, giving it up is sensible. The alcohol industry sells us a lie.

I gave up completely 7 months ago, best decision I ever made.

I’m lying in bed feeling pants after daring to drink one measly glass of Prosecco last night ! I’m menopausal….

Just grabbed some paracetamol and waiting for it to work 😱

I feel everyone’s pain ….

I have not been drinking for a month as I am training for a race (usually just have a few glasses of wine in a week and a g and t or equivalent on a Friday). I haven't missed it at all and I agree it makes meno symptoms worse, as does sugar and no exercise. Stupid age forcing me into health.

Similar age.
I gave up drinking and it’s been life changing. I feel so much better not wasting a weekend feeling rough after a couple of glasses of wine.
You won’t miss it.

I can't tolerate wine or Prosecco at all anymore. The hangovers are horrific and last all day! I'm ok with gin though so find a couple at the weekend don't knock me around. It's a shame as I used to love a glass of wine

Yanbu.
I had to stop even having a small glass of wine with loads of food. My body couldn't handle it at all.

I went TT during the peri; I was getting terrible 3 day headaches on even a glass of wine.

Out on the other side now, I can have a couple of glasses without ill effects, but no way can I drink like I did in my 20s and 30s.

I gave up completely in mid 40s, It started giving me headaches whilst drinking. Now early 50s, don't miss it at all.

I’m the same. About five years ago (I’m 52 now) I decided I’d had enough of the headaches, nausea and general self loathing that followed a couple of glasses of wine. These days I’ll have a drink maybe once a fortnight and stop at one. Works for me but it does seem to disappoint friends that I don’t want to drink more.

I'm feeling the same - it's been getting to this point slowly for a few years now. Had a few drinks last night and I feel rough as anything this morning, not worth it any more. I'm 43.

I haven't drank in over 5years and don't miss it one bit. I don't think I could survive a hangover now...

YANBU there is zero benefit to drinking.

No benefit at all.

I’m 44. Gave up alcohol completely 18 months ago for a range of reasons, and it’s been such a good decision. I found getting through the ‘firsts’ - first social events and parties, first Christmas and birthday, first work networking event etc - without booze tricky, but after the initial social discomfort, I don’t miss alcohol at all and it is AMAZING to never wake up with a hangover and know I never will again.

Feel your pain. I’m menopausal (49). Last night I had two cocktails - champagne/gin/Italico. Not mega strong. Lovely cocktails But I can barely move today and am crippled with anxiety . Essentially waiting fir the family to go to various activities so that I can do away with the act and crawl under the duvet. Living my best life here

I’m 42 and drink one glass of something if we go out but otherwise I can’t handle it anymore. Up to a year ago I drank loads more and loved my evening glass of wine and Friday night cocktails. It’s not worth it anymore though, the no sleep, heart palpitations and hot flushes are grim.

Yep. The anxiety is the killer for me. Lasts for days. The nausea is over in matter of 12 hours.

I rarely drink more than 2 these days and mostly nothing at all. It's just not worth it.

Also 43

[quote Onedaylikethis21]@HemanOrSheRa yes! Literally just had an awful hot flush & went really dizzy! Really makes it all so much worse! It’s like nature telling me to stop with the booze!!![/quote]
It's grim . I wish I could suggest something to help, but I can't. Well, apart from lying in a cool dark room with a fan on you, complaining a lot. Be prepared for a night of even worse night sweats too (if you a suffering the joys of those).

I'm so pleased I came across this thread, I was going actually to start one myself yesterday but in the end didn't.

I went out on Friday evening with a friend who I hadn't seen for ages. Im not a big drinker by any stretch so had ONE solitary glass of white wine and didn't think anything more of it. I got home about 10.30pm and was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open, went to bed and I woke up with a hangover the likes of which I haven't had since the heavy sessions of NYE in my twenties. I had a banging headache and there was actual 🤮 involved - one glass, that was it!

I was so 😮 I even googled to see it it was vaccine related. It hadn't occurred to me it could be due to peri/menopause (I'm late forties and I'm fairly certain I am in the peri stage).

Guess wine is off for me from now on.