If youve recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you may not know that alcohol can affect you a lot more than it used to. If you thought having a regular hangover was bad, the night after drinking can be much worse with fibro symptoms, and may make you rethink having that extra glass of champagne during the holiday party.
Journalist Adrienne Dellwo has been dealing with fibromyalgia for years, and writes about her experiences with the condition for the Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue blog at About.com. She offers some reminders about why alcohol isn't a good idea for fibromyalgia patients:
--It's a toxin, and we don't deal with toxins well.
--It has an inflammatory effect on your body, and inflammation can increase pain as well as reduce blood flow to tissues (we may already have reduced blood flow.)
--It disrupts sleep patterns.
--It's a depressant.
Though these are great reasons to stay away from the bar, not all people with fibromyalgia have to become teetotalers. After all, theres no better time than the holiday season to have fun and reconnect with family and friends over a few drinks. Dellwo offers some words of advice to keep in mind when you want to join in the drinking festivities:
--Think moderation!
--Stay well hydrated.
--Take an anti-inflammatory.
--Give yourself extra time to sleep and recover.
--Be aware of how it may interact with your meds, and don't combine it with pain killers.
Most people with fibromyalgia note that they have a decreased tolerance, but that shouldnt stop you from having fun if you know your limits.
Have you noticed a change in your alcohol tolerance because of your fibromyalgia? Do you find difficulty saying no to drinks when youre out socializing with friends? How do you manage your symptoms? Or have you completely stopped drinking?
