To think I had a near death experience because of my own stupidity?

[Sleeplessworried]

I was out for Christmas drinks with friends last week.
I rarely drink but had 2 Proseccos, 2 cocktails and a shot. This was from 5pm to 11pm. Not crazy but a lot for me.

I got home at around 12am and took two paracetamols 500mg each, thinking I was getting ahead of the hangover. I felt fine at this point and my friend even said I didn’t even seem like I’d been drinking before she dropped me off home.

I went to bed and jolted awake at around 2.30am. What followed was room spinning, struggling to see, the worst diarrhoea of my life, rounds of vomiting, stomach pain and hours of lying sweating on a bed while itching and shivering.

I know this is silly but because I don’t drink much, I had no idea you can’t take paracetamol after drinking. I realise now this is totally dangerous and stupid.

I remember panicking on the bed wondering if I’d been spiked and actually worrying that things were going to worsen and maybe I’d been poisoned. I know that sounds dramatic but I felt like I was going to die.

Anyway now I am feeling so embarrassed and stupid for taking paracetamol after alcohol.

It ended by me continuously putting fingers down my throat to encourage more vomiting and feeling slightly better after my stomach was completely empty. I managed to sleep from around 5am to 9am and felt only slightly nauseous in the morning.

Just wanted to write it down as I can’t tell any of my loved ones. I wouldn’t like to worry them and don’t want them to know how bloody clueless I am! It feels good to get it off my chest though.

The itching you described in your OP could be linked to the liver. You’ve had health issues in the past so it’s no unfeasible you could have an undiagnosed liver problem that, when combining paracetamol with alcohol, meant your liver was overwhelmed. I would get a liver check to be sure to be honest. It was likely the effects of alcohol alone, but could be a warning something isn’t quite right.

I would say from what you describe it's more likely that it was a bacterial infection like staphylococcus probably one of the people making your cocktail didn't wash their hands properly or something.

Disappointed. I love an NDE story. This is not remotely an NDE. Sounds like a bug.

Yes. It sounds very much like a hangover from alcohol - mixed in with still being a bit drunk.

I used to get the spinning and vomitting. Can't drink enough now to.get the spinning because I can't handle that much alcohol without being violently sick and having a massive headache before I reach that stage.

Since I've got.older my hangovers r much worse. I can vomit after just one drink.

You drank too much and your body reacted. I doubt it was anything to do with the paracetamol.

Probably one of stupider NDE's the staff have seen, and I don't remember anything about it (no bright lights, no dead relatives, just a blank like time skipped) but I later read that apparently 700 people a year in the UK actually die from falling down the stairs so I guess its not that unusual.

The terrible employer didn't have the nerve to charge me for the laptop and I got a really great job not long after.

if your liver is overloaded itching is def a thing that happens.

Sounds like you could do with a liver check up and see if there is damage either from prior or post paracetamol incident. I wouldn't say its normal reaction unless other things are at play.

I unfortunately have indicators of two autoimmune diseases that mean my liver is particularly vulnerable both to drinking in the first place but also the amount of damage I would sustain if anything went wrong (missing protective proteins for liver and lungs so no smoking either) so I just stopped alcohol, its just not worth it for the damage it could do, even a small amount.

This might be something you have to consider, but def go and speak to GP about what it could mean and see if they will do some bloods for you

I hate our drinking culture - does so much damage

Haven’t RTFT from here on but this applies to people with livers severely compromised by liver disease. People who definitely shouldn’t be drinking alcohol. It doesn’t apply to healthy livers. Don’t believe everything you read on Google!

Sounds FAR more like a Norovirus type thing {so say doing the rounds at the moment} - Norovirus can come on hard and fast {within half an hour} -
I don't drink alcohol, but have known people who do drink take paracetamol?

I have done this too. I didn’t realise it was not recommended.

People take heroin after drinking too and loads of cocaine, what you did was not that bad. Have a dioralyte for yourself and put it behind you.

I feel exactly like that after drinking, that’s why I don’t drink! It makes me so unwell for days.

OP I had your symptoms once after a trip to the cinema, bad pick and mix food safety standards.

Far, far more likely it was food poisoning. The vomiting and diarrhoea is your body's way of expelling the toxin.

Alcohol is SO ingrained in Western society.

If it was to be 'discovered' as a drug these days, no way would it be legal.

It is a toxin, revolting.

Half a lager shandy on a hot day is acceptable, but people in UK especially binge drink.

Sounds like food poisoning or spiking too me, definitely not the paracetamol unless you have liver problems which I’m assuming you would know about

I just had a bit of a flash back - the only time I had a reaction like yours after a night out it was actually a gallstone issue. I had 2 glasses of wine and a meal - was shattered as had a v long week little sleep and had a violent reaction with as you say V&D that was extreme. (have to say this was 25yrs ago hence forgotten about) and later the Gall bladder issues were diagnosed and a small stone had passed through. I couldn't figure out at the time why I was so ill

Mixing your drinks is probably what did it - I have to stick to the same thing once I start or I feel absolutely horrendous.

Sounds very much like a vertigo attack, the symptoms are, the room spinning, sweating, shaking, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Had you had an ear infection recently? Or it can be related to migraines?

Sounds like a horrible hangover to me!

I wouldn’t rule this out

Sounds more like alcohol poisoning. For people with alcohol-related liver damage, it’s best not to take meds that are metabolised by the liver like paracetamol. But the paracetamol in your case is v v v unlikely to have caused those symptoms.

I think you need to avoid binges like this, that’s all.

I spent about 5 years of my life "beating the hangover" never has those effects.

I'm guessing you either ate something that didn't agree with you or picked up this awful tummy bug going around.

Alcohol poisoning symptoms from nhs website:

Check if it's alcohol poisoning
Symptoms start after drinking a lot of alcohol and may include:

• confusion
• slurring words or being unable to speak
• being unable to coordinate movement, for example, being unable to stand, walk, or pick things up
• being sick
• peeing or pooing yourself
• pale or blue-tinged skin - on black or brown skin this may be easier to see inside the lips, on the gums and under the fingernails
• slow or irregular breathing
• having a seizure or fit
• loss of consciousness

Of course you can take paracetamol with alcohol… This is definitely a bug, not alcohol induced. Also not a near death experience.

Thanks @SnoopySantaPaws. I was alone and so out of it and don’t think I could have called for help in my state. I couldn’t use my phone to contact anyone as couldn’t see, so it was scary!

I would definitely get checked out by a GP. Even for a non drinker that amount of alcohol over that period of time doesn't sound excessive enough to cause such severe symptoms. Also seems odd that you went to bed fine but woke later with the symptoms.

I'd not heard about the paracetamol thing either but if you have an undiagnosed liver issue I can see how this could have made you worse. It's the itching that stands out for me.

Don't take paracetamol immediately after drinking.
It sounds like you might be allergic to something. (I know someone who is allergic to alcohol.)
But don't beat yourself up you made a mistake. We all do it x

I very much doubt it was alcohol poisoning - she really didn't drink that much!