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Becoming tea total!!

(64 Posts)
Loobs Thu 11-Apr-19 12:22:48

Well, the time has come and I now need to give up alcohol completely. I have found over the past few years that the effects of just one or two small glasses of alcohol are becoming extremely unpleasant. I very rarely drink in the UK but my husband and I spend several months a year in France and our life here is totally different - lots of socialising and plenty of wine being consumed. Strangely I feel really cheated - I feel deprived in a way I never did when I had to completely give up gluten 5 years ago (although I could still be reduced to a green eyed monster when I see someone eating a Greggs sausage roll) nor when I had to give up cows milk - in both those cases there are 'replacements' but a glass of a beautiful rich red wine - not so much. I am writing a bit 'tongue in cheek' - it isn't life changing - but wonder whether many others have found this to be the case? I find that within a few minutes of simply starting a drink I get light headed and flushed, get 'squiffy' very quickly but 3 or 4 hours later is the worst - my heartbeat becomes very rapid and extremely strong (for want of a better word - if cuddled up to my husband he can feel it thumping) and it keeps me awake and I can feel rubbish the next day even after only a couple of glasses of wine at dinner? Soooo, no more alcohol of any sort for me - Perrier anyone??

Gma29 Fri 12-Apr-19 16:24:03

I enjoy a glass of wine with a meal out, but am not particularly bothered otherwise. I find as I’ve got older it doesn’t suit me over well, so I rarely have it now. I get dreadfully flushed and hot, after only a small glass of wine. (A pub measure!).

It is strange that if someone offers you a drink, and you ask for something non-alcoholic, it does seem to cause difficulties. I’ve been asked to choose ’a real drink’ before now. I upset an acquaintance recently by leaving a drink I hadn’t asked for, and didn’t want.

eilys Fri 12-Apr-19 18:53:23

Have drank alcohol for many years, but now find I get palpations when I drink wine,also feel my head is going to burst so I have stopped but Sunday after lunch I enjoy a small g&t noproblems

Grandmama Fri 12-Apr-19 18:54:49

I like a small glass of white wine with my dinner (main meal eaten at lunchtime) but sometimes I've felt a bit squiffy in the afternoon. However, I abstain in Advent, Lent and at several other times in the year so for about one third of a year, no alcohol and after the first few days I don't miss it. I recently read about the beneficial effect on someone's liver after quite a short break from alcohol. But I think I'll return to my small drink at Easter. It seems to make the meal more of an occasion.

quizqueen Fri 12-Apr-19 18:57:16

I have never drunk alcohol other than the odd shandy a few times a year. I have never seen the appeal or liked the taste of anything. I hate to see people out of control drunk or even tipsy; a waste of grapes and a total waste of money, in my opinion, and it very often ends up down the toilet pan!!

lmm6 Fri 12-Apr-19 20:26:24

I've just given up alcohol due to high BP. However it isn't much fun. I pour a spoonful of cider vinegar into a wine glass and top it up with water. It tastes like absolutely disgusting wine so I have to use my imagination to the full - however, as I said, it seems to be working.

MooM00 Fri 12-Apr-19 20:33:24

Olive2709 like you as a recovering alcoholic of 20 years. You get people that ask you do you want a drink and you say No they certainly don't know what that means. Then you get the people who know you and say just have the 1 and don't understand why.I have never had just 1 drink in my drinking life.

fizzers Fri 12-Apr-19 22:15:23

I can take it or leave it, usually leave it unless it's Christmas time or some other occasion or celebration, never liked wine, never really drunk alcohol in the house , it's always on a night out

Colverson Sat 13-Apr-19 06:15:30

It's rubbish to say people live longer if you drink alcohol and the only reason some get upset if you don't drink and they do is it shows up their need to drink Sadly I gave up going out with a group of people cause afew got so smashed that it was usually unpleasant by late evening

Lilyflower Sat 13-Apr-19 07:19:35

I drink at the weekend and it makes my temperature rise at night which wakes me so I cannot sleep.

I will give it another twenty years or so to see if I can push through.

NanKate Sat 13-Apr-19 07:38:08

Lily ?

I gave up alcohol for January once and felt NO benefit at all.

I’m not a big drinker but certainly occasionally enjoy a drink whilst getting the supper. Roast beef and a glass of Merlot is great. A white wine spritzer on a warm evening is refreshing.

I usually just have a drink at the weekend. Cheers folks ?

BlueSky Sat 13-Apr-19 09:09:54

NanKate that sounds just right. Don't worry about being T total as the statistics say their life expectancy is less of those who have one drink daily! Cheers! ?

dogsmother Sat 13-Apr-19 09:11:20

If you feel cheated and don’t want to stop it would be wise to speak to a pharmacist and or get your thyroid levels checked. As we get older it seems we do need less of our thyroxine so it’s a possibility that it’s as simple as sorting out that.

Boosgran Sat 13-Apr-19 22:08:54

I’m sorry dogsmother that is not correct. The OP could have a thyroid condition where levels fluctuate and so may or may not need an increase in replacement. Getting older does not mean we need less thyroxine as this is dependent on what condition she has.