Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: Carla Maria on July 22, 2019, 11:29:44 AM
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Hi all,
Has anyone noticed that they are drinking more alcohol since experiencing any symptoms of menopause/perimenopause? I find that my anxiety and hormones just before a heavy period (getting them all the time and very heavy at the moment - I'm 48) are out of control. The only way to calm me down is with alcohol and obviously that then makes matters worse. Just wondered if anyone else was experiencing a need for alcohol around this time. Thanks and hope you're all having a lovely day.
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Hi Carla Maria
Not much help but I've totally gone off alcohol in the last 6 months and it just doesn't agree with me anymore. I could of easily drunk a bottle of rose or Prosecco at the weekend with no ill effects. Unfortunately just one glass gives me a headache and I feel dizzy and my hot flushes go haywire! I just choose not to drink alcohol anymore. Another pleasure this menopause has taken away🙄 sorry if I've not been much help x
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Had to give up alcohol over the last 3 years, it makes me feel rough and it's just not worth it. I have succumbed a couple of times thinking it was my imagination..but no...it definitely makes me feel rough...so now I just don't do it anymore xxx
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Yup, me too, in the last year or so alcohol has become an almost no go area.
I too keep trying again as I thought I was imagining it.
But nope even a couple of glasses of wine leaves me feeling rubbish.
I am now trying out different alcohol free lagers.
Some are not to bad.
I don't feel pressure to have a drink, but I do drink the lager at a slower pace than say coke which just fills me with air. Very uncomfortable.
Maybe it will pass one day and I will be able to enjoy some wine again. I really do miss it🍷
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Drinking made me feel awful, so I stopped for years, even just a half pint lager would make me feel weird....BUT, I have just started to have a half, and I've even had a pint, and I've felt ok....I don't drink all the time, I don't want to push it....
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During Peri I started to dislike the taste and the effects of alcohol but happy to report since I was post meno i handle it much better again
My mum turned to drink during her meno bless her, such a horrible time for us who lived at home still x
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Thanks everyone. I think it's much better to stay off it isn't it?! Need to find something else to deal with the hormones! ;D
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Hi all,
Has anyone noticed that they are drinking more alcohol since experiencing any symptoms of menopause/perimenopause? I find that my anxiety and hormones just before a heavy period (getting them all the time and very heavy at the moment - I'm 48) are out of control. The only way to calm me down is with alcohol and obviously that then makes matters worse. Just wondered if anyone else was experiencing a need for alcohol around this time. Thanks and hope you're all having a lovely day.
TBH Ive always used a glass of wine as anti anxiety medication, to halp me relax and to help me get off to sleep. However, although I never drink more than half a bottle (as I suffer with headaches) the dr has advised I need to cut down especially being menopausal and on HRT, as he says that alcahol doesn't suit me and that I am just unlucky (possibily affecting liver and kidney function, which came back as unsatisfactory). This is really hard. I am ok with not drinking my two glasses of wine, but it is really hard to sleep. Also hard when it is holidays and everyone around me drinks , OH and 20 year old son back from Uni. So I'm trying and my blood test came back normal after a month of having alcahol free days.
So yes I know where you are coming from!
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If 1 is using alcohol as a sleep aid then 1 may be addicted. It's certainly not the way to medicate! I haven't touched alcohol other than a sip if a bottle if opened to try it since the 1990s. Alcohol is also a depressive.
Anyone who wants alcohol in this way should talk to a Professional.
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I've never had a cocktail how sad is that ;D - DH told me last night that a friend mixed him one B4 he and I were married, I have no rememberance of that evening ::)
He would go to the alcohol aisle but I would never think to walk by the magazine stand to the drinks ;D
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Pre HRT I went through a phase where I couldn't drink alcohol as it set off my hot flushes and night sweats.
But I do now enjoy the odd glass of wine during the winter and there's nothing better than an ice cold G&T in the summe but I only drink for pleasure.
Lanzalover x
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Shandy anyone ;D :-X too sweet for me ::)
Maybe stop drinking for a few years, one can return - it doesn't have to be forever?
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If 1 is using alcohol as a sleep aid then 1 may be addicted. It's certainly not the way to medicate! I haven't touched alcohol other than a sip if a bottle if opened to try it since the 1990s. Alcohol is also a depressive.
Anyone who wants alcohol in this way should talk to a Professional.
I think we all do what we need to. I'm a complete control freak so am very moderate in my habits so I'm not worried. Always had a problem with sleeping and suspect this will always be the case, being an anxious / hyper kind of person.
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I have nights when I don't sleep but would never think of alcohol .......... reading a book or making a cuppa .......... I am so boring ::)
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Definately the more healthy option my dr would say!
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What, reading a book :D
I would love to enjoy a glass of good wine :-\ ........ but can't see the point in a cocktail ::)
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Which ship would that be exactly!
Stops to explain to Carla - jaypo loves a cruise, several times a year ;-). Where apparently 1 can drink 24/7 :-X :P
I can't eat ice due to sensitive teeth :D
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Well it's been quiet in recent days ..........
Carla - what would your tipple be on a hot evening?
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Sorry been offline for a while! My fave tipped was Cava or Prosecco. I am pleased to report that I haven't had a drop in over three weeks. Not sure I'm feeling any better to be honest but I will keep at it! lol.
I'm going to try and see a specialist with regards to my hormones as my GP is no help (as I'm peri and not full blown menopausal). I've always had massive mood swings and it would be good to do a bit more research in this area. Hope everyone is A OK today! xxx
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Yes, Carla, and then I realised I was drinking way too much, couple of large glasses of wine every night, occasionally a bit more. I did 'Dry January' because I basically thought I was heading towards (or was already in) alcohol dependency - not saying that's the case with you. Felt better, as did my wallet. One of the doctors at work did it for pretty much the same reasons and was explaining to me how alcohol affects people's inflammation responses, essentially, it kicks off your immune system, so it wears you down over a prolonged period of time, produces anxiety, low mood, interferes with sleep patterns, etc. So that I could be a bit more conscious about what I was drinking, and make active choices, I downloaded the Drink Aware app and stuck to the weekly limit, working my way to being under said weekly limit. Part of the trick for me seemed to be not thinking that I was giving something up, or limiting something, as that was a bit grim, instead I opted for 'want to be better hydrated' and tasty herbal teas. It had to be a positive move. I'd say it took a good three months to settle into it and reverse thinking, so rather than 'not allowed wine tonight', it changed to 'have enjoyed that wine tonight' (and then forgetting to drink more the next night and the night after that).
The big issue for me is that I still need a crutch. Up > work > home > emotional labour feels like it should be supported with something. Not sure what that something is though.
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Oh well done both.
That crutch for me is variable: hot buttered toast, chicken curry .......... occasionally chocolate. I used to drink sherry, any one remember schooners ::). Tia Maria these days is too sweet. Ice hurts my teeth :o
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Schooners, yes, and 'ladies glasses' in the pub :)
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well done Elkwarning, glad you are feeling the benefit. Amazing how the body works! x
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Elkwarning - I totally know what you mean!
xx
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I find I can drink a small red wine if its before 6pm, if we have a late dinner out and I drink this after 9pm, my night flushes are worse and more intense, so its tonic after 6pm..no gin in it though ;D x
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My recentl breakdown & suicide attempt eas most definitely partially fuelled by alcohol - have always used it as an emotional prop, but since my menopausal problems started its got worse & worse. Had got to the point where I was drinking a bottle of wine a day & hurtling towards alcoholism. Now been dry for nearly 3 weeks & I definitely feel better for it. My aim is never to touchbit again - going to an alcohol support group to keep me on the straight & narrow! X
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Thats great racjen, well done 3 weeks, have you found it a horrendous struggle or as you've mentioned before your emotional/mental health symptoms are better off alcohol, has that made it any easier? Hope the alcohol support group is a help to you. x
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So far it hasn't been a struggle at all - I was lucky I hadn't reached a stage where I was seriously physically dependent, just psychologically. So I haven't had major withdrawal symptoms to cope with. I buy myself a reward every week I make it through, and I feel so much better without it I'm really determined. Alcohol support worker phoned me yesterday and was wonderful, going to start going to local support group next week x
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Well done racjen, so pleased you have a local support group.. :-*
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Hi all,
Yes I too have taken drinking for support.
This morning, I really felt bad, probably low sugar levels from the amount I consumed during the summer months and insomnia.
Starting from next week, I'm not going to drink as much and see how I feel.
This menopause is soooo hard and it's the only thing I can relax with but on the down side, makes it all worse.
It's a catch 22 situation ladies
I'll keep you all posted.xxx GR
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Exactly, you get caught in this vicious cycle where it helps in the short term, but you just don't realise how much worse it's making everything in the long term. I'd been told but I just didn't believe it. Now I do, because I've experienced it for myself. Go for it x
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Hi racjen,
I was reading your story and am so happy for your speedy recovery! May it continue, you have truely suffered a lot!
Please note that you have not experienced any withdrawal symptoms because you are still (I believe?) on a high dose of diazepam. Diazepam is one of the benzos used to alleviate alcohol withdrawal. I don't believe that you weren't physically addicted, with a bottle per day, but the medication you are on now is helping you not feel the effects of not drinking.
Did your support professionals discussed a taper off the diazepam? It can be very addictive in itself and I hope there is a good plan up for you!
I hope you continue to stay well, you seem such a courageous woman!!!
Milamam
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Thankyou Milaman, yes that's a good point I hadn't thought of, that the diazepam would be having that effect. I've been in this position before (in fact worse because I went up to lorazepam) but I did manage to taper it off very gradually over quite a few months. My Mental Health Care co-ordinator said that was one of the things we'd discuss in our next meetings. It really is time to come off it - makes me feel like drug addict having to have it doled out once a week...x
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Yes Carla - far too much in my late 40s to deal with the tiredness and anxiety and low mood. I found it made things worse in the long run. Didn't realise that drinking wine most nights and moreso at weekend was only making low mood and sleeplessness worse.
Managed to cut right down but can still overdo it now and then but the hangovers get so bad that they are a real deterrent I found. Good Luck in cutting down. Alcohol is so addictive.