SEVERE Hangovers after little aclohol

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VERONICA EMMA CHUNG

New member
About two years ago I started having severe headaches from even one beer.

I've had liver and kidney tests along with ultrasounds of that area.
The only thing I could do was quit drinking:mad: this is from someone
that had 40 or 50 beers a week.

The only good thing about all this is that in the two years since
I have lost 67 pounds.
 
For the past 5 years or so, I often get severe hangovers after only consuming a few drinks or less. When I say severe, I mean severe- I experience symptoms such as cold sweats, shaking, pounding headache, and throwing up every 10-15 minutes, sometimes for 12 hours straight or more- it is as though I have been poisoned, and many times I have been at the point where I wondered if I should call an ambulance. This happens after as little as one drink, and it can take a day or two to fully recover. There is also a lot of inconsistency- sometimes I can drink several drinks and feel fine the next day, and other times the result is what I described above. I have also tried every type of alcohol to see if it is one kind in particular that makes me sick- but again, there seems to be no rhyme or reason. Also, before this started happening, I was able to drink alcohol with little to no problems at all. I am otherwise a seemingly healthy 29 year old female- I am active, I eat well, and I drink a lot of water.
I realize the obvious answer to this problem is just to avoid alcohol entirely, which would be fine with me. I'm not a big drinker by any stretch, I simply enjoy the odd glass or two occasionally. My concern is that these symptoms are possibly related to some underlying health problem with my liver or kidneys, or perhaps a deficiency of some kind. I have looked for answers in many places, but it seems to be an unheard of problem among everyone I ask. Has anyone ever heard of this, and can anyone suggest possible reasons for this bizarre and extreme reaction?
 
Thanks for the suggestion. Obviously I'm not continuing to drink if I'm experiencing those types of results. Like I said, my concern doesn't lie in my inability to drink anymore, I couldn't really care less. It more lies in what the cause of my abnormal reaction to alcohol is. If it could be a serious deficiency in my system, I should probably know about it, and I just wondered if anyone had a similar story and had found out the cause.
 
I also have always had horrible hangovers even prior to having to take antidepressants and anti-seizure meds. I had extensive bloodwork done for food allergies-I'm allergic to alcoholic beverages, and corn, white flour. My body hates simple carbohydrates(sugar,white flour etc.) Sometimes my answers come from unexpected places. Good Luck, and let us know the outcome!
 
Hmm I'd be interested in this as well! Do you happen to take any type of medication? You probably already thought about that though. I just thought about how I've recently been getting MUCH more hangovers than I ever did in the past, even though I drink less. I take Prozac, and even since taking Prozac, my tolerance has cut in half, I often black out and don't remember anything, and I tend to get very, very drunk suddenly. I have to be really careful with that, because I'm usually the type that still remembers everything, even if I had plenty to drink and seem pretty wasted. Ever since then, I also get hangovers much more, even if I didn't get very drunk. I don't get them as severe as you, but I've had times when I went to bed feeling just a little bit drunk, and the next day threw up probably about 20 times and felt absolutely awful all day. There was nothing different about that day! It was just random. I find that for me it really helps to eat a good meal the next day, even though eating is typically the last thing on my mind. I just stick with something very bland and higher in carbs. I also drink plenty of water, even though water will tend to make me throw up more.

I'm not aware of any health conditions that would make your hangover worse, but I'll definitely let you know if I think of anything.
 
I, too, experience the same thing. I also, tried different types of alcohol and amounts; and for me it is sporadic as well. I just limit it or don't drink at all. Do you have other symptoms? Ever had Lyme Disease? That is one symptom of Lyme Disease as well. I have had it (along with Fibromyalgia) and was treated, but I still have the effects of it.
Good luck!
 
About 7 years ago, I started taking Paxil, and then Effexor, and the severe hangovers seemed to start happening shortly after that, so I often wondered if there was any connection. But about 2 years ago, I stopped taking any medications whatsoever, and the disproportionate hangovers still happen. The only pills I take now are vitamins. But I wonder if there is still some connection between the anti-depressants and alcohol. I remember asking my doctor about it years ago, and he said there wasn't any concern with drinking while taking the medication. But I have heard other people say that it does hit them harder while taking those types of medication. However, I have yet to meet anyone who experiences the 12-18 hour ferocious hangovers that I am prone to.
I've tried researching possible reasons for this hangover phenomenon, and have come across a lot of issues with allergies and intolerances, but these cases all seem to experience symptoms like hives, redness and swelling. I haven't yet come across anything resembling my symptoms. It is extra confusing because it doesn't happen every time, probably about 75% of the time, so I don't see how it could be an allergic reaction.
I will keep looking and posting any new information I find, I will get to the bottom of this! And I appreciate any suggestions or information or similar experiences that anyone may have. Thanks!
 
the one thing i would most definitely do at this point just to rule out any possible liver issues that could be underlying that you may not even know you have is get the hepatics run and also ask to be referred for a good abdominal ultrasound as well? getting ONLY the blood labs done which is only checking on overall organ functions and nothing else, only gives you one part of the bigger picture when it comes to any potential issues/problems or even disease processes that you can actually even been born with too? it also involves simply also getting the good 'look' at the organ insides as well. when it comes to esp the liver here,an US really IS ideal for many reasons. it will look at the texture and the overall tissue structures but also really check bloodflow thru all the very critical blood vessels that simply run thru the liver in real time just using the doppler tool to see how things are flowing(looks kinda like you are watching the weather channel there?)? it also uses that too to check out all the intra and extra hepatic bile ducts as well. it does do a pretty darn good job with that liver and really getting that best overview of it just sitting in you and how well it 'looks".

it just really does take getting good looks and that bloodwork togehter to fully 'check out" the liver and other organs too, some better than others. but an full abdominal would aslo show all the upper GI organs like the GB and that pancreas too among other things(these also can be affected by the acidity in alcohol too by the way), all of which just DO have a very direct connection to the liver itself as well. i have to obtain both my yearly bloodwork and USs done on my liver and kidneys becasue of an inhereted form of what started out as just a kidney disease i found out i had had my whole life only ten years ago at already age 40? i am actually having MY US this afternoon beli9eve it or not. had my bloodwork last week but still do not yet know thos4e results,and i am a bit appreahensive here waiting of course.

but if you seriously do want to check things out completely with your liver and all the things i mentioned above just to seriously give you poth parts of that much bigger picture, just get that lab work done along with the US too. this would in almost every case at least show something if something was not excactly 'right' in there somewhere? it would not actually even 'have to" be the liver itself here either like i stated above? just the many organs that are connected to it in some way too which would also be looked at. its kind of the very best thing for you to actually do right now. if nothing else, it would rule out alot of other possibles here, ya know?

the ONE really important thing to remember with almost all labwork with anything is this. the actual lab numbers are gaging functions only in most "panels" that get run on things like liver, kidney.... but those actual numbers will NOT actually change til a very specific amount of underlying and real damage gets done to whatever that organ is that is being tested first(function loss or impairment IS what creates number change). so seeing what any organ actually is 'looking like' before that happens can save an organ or find a process that can also possibly even BE treated well before ANY true function impact is even really done. all just by seeing it well before true function loss changes the lab numbers. pretty basic stuff that i never knew before my crap was found out in me. thought i would pass that along. just ask your doc for thsoe two simple types of testing to be done. considering what your ongoing symptoms have been, it should NOT be a problem and he should want to find this out too. good luck, hopefully this is more of an actual sensitivity to alcohol than something more in depth. it just can happen like any other type of sensitivity a person can have. please let me know how things go for ya hon, FB
 
It is possible to have food intolerances and not have typical allergic reactions. Just think about those with lactose intolerance... this typically involves stomach pains and issues like that, no itching or hives! I'd definitely look into more of an intolerance rather than an allergic reaction. It's possible to develop these with time.

I'm surprised your doctor told you it was okay to drink with your anti-depressants, because it's typically recommended to NOT drink with them. My doctor told me to keep it to a minimum and be very careful. Maybe this is what you meant.... that your doctor said it was okay to have a few drinks every now and then...

With anti-depressants in the past, I would not have been surprised one bit if you were having this happen while taking them, since that can definitely happen, but since it's been a while, I wouldn't think this would still be an issue. For me, it was about 3 months before I stopped feeling anti-depressants in my system in the past when I stopped taking them. I felt back to my normal self. I'd imagine it can take longer for some people, but I couldn't imagine it would be bothering you still after a year!

What kind of vitamins do you take? I once had some that made me feel very, very sick. They were just simple women's vitamins by One a Day. I had to stop taking them. I never figured out what it was in the vitamins causing this, because I've taken many others and been fine.

If it's definitely not the vitamins or medication, I really woudl lean towards an intolerance that you developed. Unfortunately not every doctor checks for this and you often have to find someone who specializes in food intolerances. Many just look for allergies. I hope you are able to find some help though just so you will understand! I agree with the others that for now, I'd lay off the alcohol because it just isn't worth it to feel that bad. For now, I'd look more into what may cause it! Seeing someone about it might even help you find something you CAN drink, becasue it's also possible that not every type of alcohol bothers you.
 
Hi there
I too have very severe hangovers from little alcohol - had liver function tests all fine... Actually lucky enough to have a blood test during a "hangover" showed very low Folic Acid... my diet was not all that rich in folic acid so now take FA supplements and improved diet. Hangovers now seem a lot better in general... look up Folic Acid deficiency + symptoms.... Prob won't hurt to try it!
Good luck
Claire
 
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