Becoming tea total!!

Here's what my dil advised. It's an Australian article but I know it applies to most countries:

www.purewine.com.au

And there are some non-alcoholic wines about but I've never tried them.

OK I used to get through a litre bottle of brandy ( preferably Cognac) a week so 40 units! Shocked? I was when I realised the amount, but never drunk on it as I just sipped it through the day. As I said I felt good on it. Wouldn't have stopped if for an unrelated matter, I went off it. Now I can manage with a single shot a day after stopping altogether for 6 months.

DH had to give up alcohol post stroke. He tried non alcoholic wines and they were pretty vile. We both find non alcoholic beer much nicer, especially the lager types like Becks Blue. He says the only thing he misses after 10 years is a glass of port with cheese. I do find it’s not tempting to open a bottle of wine and drink on my own so it’s much better for me too.

I have enjoyed a drink all my life. Nowadays I have a third of a bottle of Guiness with my lunch and a small glass of red wine with my evening meal.
When my son was in the States some years ago he had some minor heart problem. He was given a diet sheet by the American Heart Foundation and they advised a daily glass of red wine.

Do check your medications in case there is something there that is known to interact with alcohol in this way. For example, Metronidazole can be very nasty if you drink within days of taking it.

I drank more before I had children but I've never been a heavy drinker. As I've got older I seem to drink less and less, preferring to have just half a glass - unless the wine is really nice!
I find that some of the "oakier" wines give me a hangover very quickly, particularly the whites. I can tell as soon as I smell them that this will happen and usually just leave them in the glass. Its a bit like the nausea that you experience when pregnant, if you go off particular foods. Strangely I find that some cheaper whites (e.g. Aussie Sauvignon from Lidl) are much better for me than mid-priced wines, some of which have oak flavour added.
I don't mind having a small beer if it goes with what we're eating: curry, sausages or tortilla.

I do take medication - I am on Levothyroxine and blood pressure tablets but I cannot say that I can see any clear connection (time wise) between either of those medications and my reaction to alcohol. I genuinely think that I have become allergic to alcohol now and because the consequences of drinking even a little are so worrying I am going to have to give up completely. Like I say, it is not life changing really, I am just so surprised at my own reaction to it - maybe that feeling of 'missing out' says something about my relationship with alcohol. I think it is common to view a drink as a 'reward' for a hard day or a method of relaxing and that could be why I feel deprived. I will just have to get used to it for the benefit of my health - I genuinely find the heart rate increase frightening.

Loobs, is is possible you're on slightly too much thyroxine for your needs? The symptoms you describe sound very much as if you're on borderline too much and so the slight effect alcohol has on everyone's heart rate takes your heart rate right over that into uncomfortable tachycardia. It might not hurt to get your levels checked again in case you could cut back on that dose.

I am unable to drink alcohol without feeling quite ill, wine gives me horrendous heartburn with the exception of pink champagne which I sometimes have as a celebration.

Five years or so ago, this happened me. I used to enjoy a glass or three of red wine, maybe, now and then a single malt whisky when 8 felt my nose going numb, getting very giggly and face flushing. My grandchildren thought it hilarious but it put paid to any alcohol. It wasn’t difficult t9 give it up, I’d been living 8n Germany where, as I used to drive everywhere, I’d got used to Apple Schorle (Apple juice with fizzy water) as it wasn’t worth risking my drivers licence, they’re very strict. Shame, did enjoy a tipple but no more.

I too have found that even one glass of wine gives me a tipsy feeling and heart palpitations... have put it down to a less than healthy liver so only drink very occasionally now... always ask for a large glass of water with ice and a slice when out and resign myself to this for health reasons.

Also Loobs, if your blood pressure medication is beta blockers and you're used to taking them first thing in the morning, it could be that the beta blocker (which controls heart rate) is wearing off around that time in the morning and so all the things are coming together and with the additional effect of alcohol is resulting in those night time problems. You may be able to change what time you take your medication so it covers you overnight better, therefore still allowing you a drink in the evening.

We got into some bad alcohol habits after retiring and meeting new boozy friends. We have seriously cut down on our intake and I can't drink any New World wines at all, even a small glass, without getting a migraine. A G&T still goes down well but we are careful to use a proper measure. Out with friends I drink slimline tonics and let them think I'm on the gin.

I've cut right down since Christmas and now drink alchohol free wine which is really rather nice. A favourite is 'Nosecco' (can be bought in ASDA) - all the fizz and taste!

Hooray for the couple of people who don't feel guilty about drinking. I have a drink if it makes me feel.good and stop if it makes me feel bad...easy. I know when I have had enough and often leave half an inch of wine in the bottle, which bemuses my daughters. At 79 I am not going to worry about long term effects!
A recent discovery has been all the lovely new gins, and the range of tonics to accompany them. I can't believe all the years I've had a boring bottle of gin sitting in the back of the cupboard from one Christmas to the next!

I am not on medication but have, for some years, found that alcohol effects me in the way that you describe. Red wine seems to be the worst offender but a very occasional gin and tonic seems to suit me better. Maybe worth trying.

Why the need to 'pretend' you are drinking alcohol?

I gave up just over a year ago. Wasn't a big drinker- special occasions only- but while I can do k on my medication it says it may increase side effects. Just easier not to have any. Yes I do miss it. Seeing the new year in with a decaff coffee (yep caffeine went as well) just wasn't the same.

Tanith I found that simply telling folk you dont want a drink doesn't work ...not where I live .I'd end up with 5 or 6 drinks sitting in a row in front of me .Now I say I'm on medication and that stops them buying me drinks I dont want.People who do drink think everyone else must drink with them .

I gave up alcohol 28 years ago when pregnant and never went back to it.
These days I'll just have half a glass with Christmas lunch and don't finish that.
I've never missed it but as someone else mentioned other people find it hard to accept sometimes and try to press it on to me.
They get used to it though.

I don't drink because I have yet to find an alcoholic drink that tastes better than a cup of tea! On the odd occasion when I have had a glass of wine at a social occasion I always develop a headache.

I know how easy it is to become dependent, though. A friend had difficulty with getting to sleep, after her husband died. She found that having a drink before bed helped with the problem. Unfortunately she found, after a while, that she needed two, then something stronger, and didn't realise that she was getting hooked on drink.

It was only when her family and friends became aware of how it was affecting her that she realised that she had a problem. Luckily it was a wake-up moment for her, and she managed to stop. She doesn't drink at all now.

When I was young - late teens - I was quite a heavy drinker but got things under control when I got a car when I was about 20. When I was married we always had a glass of wine with our evening meal but I started diluting it when pregnant and carried on with half and half after that. Since my divorce and children leaving home I decided not to drink alone so only drank socially when out for meals etc but having been given a lovely bottle of damson gin by my DS and DIL for Christmas I have had a few drinks on my own in the last few months. I don't ever want to become dependent on a drink though, as I know I drank too much years ago so keep a tight rein on things. I do enjoy a bit of rum in a cup of coffee too but that is about flavour not alcoholic effect! My understanding is that an occasional glass of red wine is good for you and very moderate drinkers live longer than those who are TT.

As a recovered alcoholic of 19years , it's other people who cause you problems they have trouble understanding the words no thanks, don't drink, apart from my dd&ds there is no one in my life from the old days. So they has never known me to drink some still try to get me to have alcohol

When we're in France we often by an alcohol free drink called Festillant (I think that's right). No substitute for a glass of red as they only do fizzy versions but it does make a nice change from other soft drinks and is a nice aperitif.

Since the menopause I too have had the same reaction to drinking wine as the OP. A few years ago I was out having a meal with friends and telling them that even one glass of wine made me feel ill the next day. It was as if I’d drank a whole bottle! There was a man sitting at the next table who it turned out was a wine importer. He told me to keep away from the full reds and go for Pinot Noir instead and only drink Sauvignon Blanc as they were light wines. He said I was allergic to the preservatives ( sulphites?) that are added to some imported wines. I have to say it works for me though I still only drink wine occasionally. Any other alcohol still makes me feel ill.
My friends say it’s because I don’t drink enough ?