How have you changed your alcohol consumption since you started living with fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS)?
Notice I didn't ask whether you'd changed it, just how. That's because most of us discover that we just can't handle alcohol like we used to. During the holidays, it's harder not to enjoy a drink now and then - a glass of wine with Thanksgiving dinner, a champagne toast, or a beer to unwind after shopping. As with so many other things, the key is knowing your body and your limits. Some of us can handle a drink or two OK, while some can't handle any at all.
So far, this aspect of our conditions hasn't gotten a lot of attention from researchers, so we don't know why we tend to develop alcohol intolerance. What we do know about alcohol, in general, is:
- It's a toxin, and we don't deal with toxins well.
- It has an inflammatory effect on your body, and inflammation can increase pain as well as reduce blood flow to tissues.
- It disrupts sleep patterns.
- It's a depressant.
These are all good reasons to stay within your limits. If you do choose to drink, do what you can to mitigate the negative effects:
- Think moderation!
- Stay well hydrated.
- Take an anti-inflammatory.
- Give yourself extra time to sleep and recover.
- Be aware of how it may interact with your meds, and don't combine it with pain killers.
How has your illness impacted your alcohol tolerance? Share your experiences here, or in About.com's Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome community forum (under Newsletter & Blog topics.)
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Alcohol by its nature causes many of the same symptoms of a FM/CFS-related condition which often remains undiagnosed in people with FM/CFS.
Alcohol is a vaso-dilator, slows down blood pressure. Red wine is often recommended, per research, for its antioxidants and ability to lower blood pressure, though there are plenty of other food sources for both.
People with FM/CFS have a 40 percent chance of having OI (orthostatic intolerance) particularly NMH (neurally mediated hypotension).
Alcohol mimics the symptoms of NMH. I have sometimes awakened with a feeling of a hangover when I have had no alcohol for years. I have the OI condition of NMH, haven’t been able to handle alcohol for 25 years.
Starchy, sugary carbohydrates also dehydrate and lower blood pressure with symptomatic consequences for OI-NMH/CFS/FM people. Starchy carbs like bread, potatoes, beans, even fruits, cause release of insulin, another vaso-dilator.
Lowering blood pressure in NMH patients causes similar feelings to suffering from binge drinking or feeling incredibly depressed when we are suffering exceedingly low blood pressure rather than depression.
Exceedingly low blood pressure for an NMH patient makes it nearly impossible to want to do anything, may cause feelings of hopelessness similar to but not depression.
I wish to heal and feel better, so alcohol can wait for a day I no longer have daily symptoms of a condition, OI-NMH, mimicking symptoms of alcohol consumption.
I learned a long time ago that alcohol doesn’t agree with me…so I don’t drink.
Happy Holidays all.
I have had ME/CFS for almost a year now and hav noticed I ave developed an alcohol intolerance along with it. I am beginning to research now more about it as I am worried incase it is harming my body more. I always thought after a night out drinking I just had over done it and that is why I was feeling worse afterwards but the more I am reading I am begining to wonder if it is just the alcohol as some nyts I am only sitting in having a drink and within the next couple of days I am bed ridden.
If someone new any more about it I would really apresiate if you would share with me as I am not sure wat it could be doing to my body?? :S HELP
I noticed about 8 years ago a sudden change to my alcohol tolerance. I chalked it up to a chemical change in my body and for the most part just stopped drinking… the achy feeling in my muscles that would last a couple days was just not worth it.
I wasnt diagnosed with Fibro until about a year ago, after MANY medical diagnosis’ over the years. (Seemed like one thing at a time and one thing after another) finally my doctor sent me to a Rheumatologist who tested me for everything under the sun, after ruling everything else out, wa-la Fibro. At least now I have some answers, still although they say it’s not a progressive condition, I seem to be getting “progressively” worse. I think I have probably had Fibro for a LONG time, but it wasnt serious or inhibiting really… but with the shocking death of my husband and the Dx of PTSD it has hit me like a speeding train.
I am trying my 2nd medication now, and feel some relief from them, it’s just that their side effects can be worse than the pain. I hope I even out soon, and I am sorry for all those out there dealing with what seems to becoming more and more common… I wonder WHY that is???
Im going to take a gander a say, well I think its a eppedimic and that it has something to do with the ( GULF WAR SYNDROME) Just do some research on it. Its truely scary what you will find!
I have. An intolerance of alcohol I drank on fri and I was so so ill violently ill passesd out and have had a massive flare up so never again I’m getting worse it horrid xx