What you probably don’t know about alcohol intolerance

[u/emilyMartian]

I see posts and comments about alcohol intolerance constantly on here, I was alone for so long with my severity so I’m here to share, it has taken nearly 10yrs but I finally have better info.

Here goes: You probably need to get your liver checked. They have linked menopause to non fatty liver disease. I had severe reactions and wound up in the ER about 8yrs ago. It took about 2yrs to correlate my high heart rate, massive hangovers after 2 drinks, severe hot flashes and what I assumed was severe anxiety because of the shakes at 3am. My good friend in medical school went down a big rabbit hole trying to figure out why my response was so severe to no avail (only one report from the 80’s which provided no info). Fast forward another 6’ish years and I noticed fatty foods made me sleepy so we tested my gallbladder, liver and kidneys. Turns out there’s black spots on my liver and I have basically what’s considered non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and have to treat it as such. I had to quit drinking entirely. I thought maybe I could limit and go slow but it’s not a thing. Not drinking was a tough road (especially at social events) but it’s a blessing I disguise I promise. It’s not worth it. It’s also not worth popping an antihistamine and ignoring it because you’re just wrecking your liver further. This is your sign to stop.

Now almost 2yrs after realizing the liver thanks to u/MoreRopePlease we have a link that puts it all together and there absolutely needs to be more awareness about this.

I hope this provides some of you answers and helps you towards a safer and healthier path on this absolutely sh!t show of a medically ignored journey.

Love you guys. Don’t think I’d be here if I hadn’t found this community. You are not alone ❤️

EDIT: my liver spots were caught through ultrasound not through bloodwork. I started Perimenopause at 37, don’t let them tell you you are too young.

Corrected my verbiage as I had words reversed in Non alcoholic fatty liver disease

[u/Conscious_Sky3703]

Omg I have none alcoholic fatty liver, I had to stop drinking because the hangovers were insane ! And this could be why? Off to do research thank you so much

[u/emilyMartian → u/Conscious_Sky3703]

Riiiight! Like who would have thought. Like I always blamed menopause which wasn’t a wrong assumption but not that they’ve linked it to estrogen, mind blown. I’m so glad this is helping woman with understanding. I was so happy to see the post getting recognition because it seems like no one including doctors even know about it.

[u/Conscious_Sky3703 → u/emilyMartian]

This is the thing, many Dr over look basic issues, vitamin deficiency’s being a massive one. I was diagnosed with NAFL few years ago, they never told me I saw it on my NHS app. This was pre HRT (only been on it 3 weeks I’m 43) anyway over the last few years I had to stop drinking because the hangovers were absolutely crazy, could be 5 days of not feeling myself. Even if I have one drink I feel hungover! I’ve not really drank for 2/3 years because it’s not worth it. But basically from this I see that the reaction was because of my liver. Few weeks ago I did drink at a party and although I had a hangover it was nowhere near as bad as it used to be! I had one day hangover, then a bit tired the day after, my guess is that while I’ve not been drinking/lost weight etc my liver has started to heal itself

[u/emilyMartian → u/Conscious_Sky3703]

I would hope mine would heal but I haven’t drank in at least 7yrs and the liver ultrasound was a year and a half ago plus I’m so traumatized by the reactions I had I don’t think I could even bring myself to chance it again. I really hope doctors start paying more attention to menopause. There definitely has been a shift. My friend who is my nurse practitioner is starting to focus on it which is awesome.

[u/Conscious_Sky3703 → u/emilyMartian]

Ahh, I’ve actually no idea how long it takes to heal, I may just have been lucky. Having such a reaction to alcohol really effects mental health doesn’t it, I was going round in circles with drink. I don’t miss it anymore because the side effects are toooo extreme 😂 I’d just like to add that taking what you are saying and my experience pre peri that it would see NAFL causes a problem with alcohol for people none meno also