hi, I'm seeking some advice and consolation, here's the story;
Im a 17 year old female who has struggled in the past with depression. On Saturday night I had a heavy night of drinking, I had a lot to drink but I felt fine all night and had an awesome time, I got to my friends house around 2 am and crashed out. The next day I woke up feeling terrible (Sunday morning) went to the bathroom and was almost sick a couple of times and then had bad diarrhoea. After having the bad diarrhoea I went back to bed and fell asleep again. Once I woke up I felt a lot better, I got up and got dressed and went to the bus stop and got a lift home. At this point it was around 2 pm and I was hungry so had some noodles. After having noodles I began to feel extremely sick and ended up going back to sleep. When I woke up I had this horrible numb feeling in my feet, it wasn't completely numb but the texture of rubbing my feet together felt very abnormal and like my sense of touch was delayed or dulled, I have only ever felt like this before after smoking weed but usually I'd just sleep that off and it would be gone so I tried sleeping again. When I got up it was gone and I felt a lot better so I walked around the house, got a drink etc then had a shower. It was only when I sat back down on my bed all hell broke loose, the feelings came back only this time it was much worse, I ended up almost having a panic attack but managed to calm myself down. I put it down to lack of sleep and went to bed at 9.30 and slept till 6.am where I woke up feeling the same weird sensations and panicking so I got up and demanded my mum to take me to a and e, we got there and they checked my blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen levels... All was normal so they put it down to anxiety and sent me home. I should also note that I have just restarted my antidepressants (Prozac) again and that's a week today so I don't know if it's the medication and alcohol mixed badly or not.... I, just terrified as these feelings won't go away, I just need some help and consolation from you guys. The feelings are in my face hands and feet, please help. -Ella
1. stay away from alcohol, it will never help you. for goodness sake you are 17! if you want to feel good, don't put poison in you!!! no brainer.
2. get tested for Celiac disease. noodles, booze most have gluten and if you have CD it will make you violently ill.
3. If you insist on drinking, make sure you drink lots of water before, during and after you do, and eat a meal of meat and veggies before you leave. For every alcoholic drink or pot smoking session, drink lots of water.
4 you are 17. what are you drinking for? is there nothing else to do? Seriously? what a waste of your life. I hope you find a more constructive hobby, you are worth a lot more. I am sure your parents would not be pleased that you are making yourself ill. I know I don't even know you, but people like me, care about people like you! PLEASE, be good to yourself!!!
It is likely that your medication did not mix well with the alcohol. Since you've had your vitals checked it is safe to say that you'll be okay, as they would have detected something major. But please never drink while on medicine, especially in excess. That can cause bad reactions. You'll be okay friend, just try not to let the feelings cause you panic. Best xxx
Thanks for the advice, my parents allow me to go out to parties and usually im very responsible, this time i went a little overboard i will likely not drink again because these feelings are horrible. Thanks for all the advice though. Xx
On Saturday night I had a heavy night of drinking, I had a lot to drink but I felt fine all night and had an awesome time, I got to my friends house around 2 am and crashed out.
I should also note that I have just restarted my antidepressants (Prozac) again and that's a week today so I don't know if it's the medication and alcohol mixed badly or not....
Ok, I don't even know where to start. Do you value your liver? Or your brain? Do you think you would be fine without them? You're looking for a consolation here? No, there will be none. What you did to yourself was utterly stupid – you deliberately put your health at risk and now hope that everything is going to be fine. Maybe it will, maybe not – it’s time to grow up and face the consequences of your actions.
Sorry for sounding harsh but this is the truth. You’re seventeen, you have the right to engage in social life, but you also need to understand how to do this responsibly. Taking antidepressants (like fluoxetine, aka Prozac) and depressants (like alcohol) simultaneously is like asking for troubles. Having Prozac in hour system means that it becomes way more difficult for you to get drunk. You need to drink more in order to feel the same ‘social effect’. This means that while someone who is not on SSRIs would pass out (which would protect him/her from drinking more!), you continue to feel good and drink. After some time, the concentration of alcohol in your body is so high that it starts damaging your liver and neurons – the two types of cells that are particularly susceptible to ethanol toxicity. While the liver has the ability to regenerate in time, the neurons stay dead forever. The numb feeling usually indicates problems with signal transmission within the nervous system.
I suggest seeing a specialist and telling him/her the whole story. You need to have your liver enzymes checked and if what I wrote above is unfortunately right and you see elevated levels of ALAT and ASP, it will take you some time to get better.
So please, next time someone asks you to drink, say no. Prozac or any other antidepressant should NEVER be mixed with alcohol.
Because it is not up to the A&E department to 'check you properly'. They made sure that your life is not in danger, which is exactly what they were supposed to do. Your current condition is not life threatening and does not require emergency care.
As I mentioned before, if the feeling of numbness does not go away within the next few days, try to see your GP. You’re young so it’s probably not permanent, but it may require a longer time to heal.
Again, sorry for sounding harsh. It’s just… You see, I work with young people and see this kind of situations frequently. In many cases youngsters fail to understand the consequences of their actions or don’t even think that what they attempt to do may trigger a surprising response in their bodies. Friends, trying to be cool, social pressure, likes on Facebook – all of this encourages youngsters to explore their limits… and sometimes it ends in a tragedy.
Thank you for your words... ill book an appointment with my GP if the feelings arent gone by thursday. In the mean time im gonna eat loads of fruit and veg, keep hydrated and try to power on. Its likely thay i wont touch alcohol again. Thanks so much though, it reassures me to know im not dying i think my anxiety is making things much worse, i had two panic attacks the weekend before i drank so i think its contributing as well.