I am sure that I’m not the first to liken MS fatigue to a hangover; it is the closest comparison I can find to the way I have been feeling for the last few months. In fact, I’ve been feeling so ‘hungover’ lately that it occurred to me that I may actually be in a self-inflicted state of constant hangover rather than the usual MS rubbish. There is actually such a thing as a permanent hangover, it’s called a ‘Hummer Hangover’.
I’ll admit, although you have probably already sussed this out, that I am partial to a glass of wine. Over the past 5 years I have gone from being tee-total to drinking 1 or 2 glasses of wine at the weekend to drinking 2 – 3 glasses a night. It may or may not be coincidence that the glasses of wine consumed have increased at the same rate as the number of children in my brood…
Anyway, sick and tired of feeling sick and tired, I decided that there was only one way to find out if this was MS related or if it was, indeed, a case of alcohol abuse – I needed to stop drinking. The fact that I could stop drinking is a good sign, I was a little worried that my usual kick-ass willpower was going to fail me in this endeavour and unveil me as an actual alcoholic. But I’m not an alcoholic. I have easily managed 2 whole weeks free of the stuff. Trouble is I don’t feel any better for it. I still wake up feeling as though I need another night’s sleep. I still feel sluggish and tired and dizzy and sick and, at times, stressed and depressed. I’ve had MS for around a decade now, so the fact that the symptoms include all of the above is not new news, but for a while there I allowed myself to believe that these were symptoms that I had control over, and I don’t. Sure, excessive drinking isn’t good for you and will undoubtedly worsen any lethargy that you already feel, but on this occasion I can’t hold red wine accountable for this ongoing malaise.
Now, where did I put that corkscrew?
The Wibbly Dinosaur 
funny and heartwarming !
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Thank you!
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I love wine Wibbly but I take one mouthful and I need a wee! I am partial to a very weak G&T but any more than one and I feel rough the next day. I used to be able to drink a lot more pre MS, now I’m a Lightweight.
I put it down to MS Medication too, it’s so unfair. I’m wobbly enough with the booze, unfortunately 😂
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Man, I actually gave up alcohol for a few years post-diagnosis – similar to you, I was wasted after half a glass and felt awful. I have since discovered that this was due to medication that I am no longer on!
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We can’t win can we? I think a little of what you fancy does you good 😊
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I agree a little what u fancy does you good I use to like the odd glass of wine but the last couple of years I find i can’t drink it without feeling unwell I’ve had MS for 11 years secondary progressive for the last couple I put it down to that so I have the odd G and T cos you have to have something ( don’t you ) .
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I’m with you Rita on that one!
SPMS calls for the odd G&T 😂
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I never was a big drinker, but now it affects me so badly. Even more wobbly! I’ve just been realising recently that I don’t have control over these symptoms- scary!
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Thank you, I have had MS for 13 years now and have always had fatigue. I can only tolerate 1 glass of wine or 1 beer. My vertigo always gets worse with alcohol. Yes MS fatigue does feel like a hangover, that’s a really good discription for it. I will use that when people ask what it feels like x
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I too have a permanent hangover !!! Forever feel like I need to sleep even when I’ve had a full night undisturbed (which is rare) everyone has a lot of tips for me to help my fatigue however nothing really seems to help in the way that they’d hoped !! Power on we just gotta keep on going 🙂 xx
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