What is wrong with me? Hangovers

[rcpratt]

Since the answers to all ills lie within, here goes...

I woke up this morning with a hangover. Been almost completely useless except for dragging myself through getting the kids dressed and taken to school before it fully hit me. It's 1PM and I'm just now able to sit in front of a computer screen, but still feeling it. Last night I had one 12oz beer with dinner (6%) and then had one little 12oz premade moscow mule cocktail can (5%) later in the evening.

Now, this isn't exactly new for me. I've always had what you might call a weak stomach when it comes to alcohol. I'm a decently big guy -- 6'2", 190lb -- but it's not entirely uncommon for me to be hungover if I have more than four or five drinks. I'm too old to be hungover now, so I've learned to regulate pretty well in most situations. But only two drinks -- that's a new low.

I've tried throughout the years to pay attention to what makes me sick and what doesn't. Both of these drinks were things I've had many times. I don't know if it was the combination or the order that caused the issues (beer before liquor...), but it's really not uncommon for me to mix. I drink beer, liquor, and wine pretty regularly. Many times I've had beer/wine, beer/liquor, or even all three over the course of a night and been fine.

What the heck is going on?

 

[BudAshes]

Maybe one of those germ factories they call children got you sick.

 

[nakedfrog]

Maybe you were already a touch more dehydrated than normal, so it hit you with less alcohol consumed?

 

[dasherHampton]

Food poisoning? What did you eat?

 

[WelshBloke]

What the heck is going on?

Probably not a hangover. That was just over a pint of standard beer with food.
There's no way that would give you a hangover into the afternoon the next day.

 

[herm0016]

were you dehydrated more than normal before those drinks?

 

[K1052]

Once in a while I hit on a combination that really leaves me feeling like shit the next day even if the actual amount of alcohol I had was modest.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

Drink more water. For every 'unit' of alcohol, you should have one 'unit' of water, so 8oz beer = 8oz water, what is it, a glass of wine? = 8oz water, and a shot? = 8oz water.

Yes, it's a shitload of water. Your body uses a shitload of water to process alcohol.

 

[Greenman]

Could be you just need more practice. You can't get good at anything without working at it.

 

[deadlyapp]

Sure you didn't just develop an allergy to beer? Pretty common. Or maybe something in the mule (ginger? type of vodka?).

Beer doesn't make me feel great anymore, but doesn't ever give me a hangover unless I have 6-8.

 

[MrSquished]

Get some bloodwork done, make sure you don't have an organ failing. You know. Just in case.

 

[snoopy7548]

Dibs on OP's stuff.

 

[Torn Mind]

Maybe you have severe fatty liver or other damage, thus affecting your alcohol metabolism...
Alcohol contributes to fatty liver, but so does sources of fructose. If you have consumed both a lot in your life...that increases your chance for fatty liver. Most drinks contain a lot of easy fructose, including juices

Since you say you drink regularly, it is likely your old workhorse called the liver has done a lot of work for you.

Hangovers Really Do Get Worse As We Get Older, And Here's Why

<p>Hangovers seem to get worse as we get older — and it’s not your imagination. It is, unfortunately, science.</p>

www.nbcnews.com

 

[balloonshark]

“Beer before liquor, never been sicker; liquor before beer, you’re in the clear.”

This is something you should have learned in grade school.

 

[Captante]

Perhaps you've simply become old and frail ??

Or.....

 

[Red Squirrel]

I guess I'm lucky, I don't get hang overs at all. Not a big drinker in general but even when I do drink a lot I'm fine. I think the key is to drink slow enough, and sometimes drink water or pop in between drinks.

 

[skyking]

you can develop allergies later in life, they sneak up on you. My mom was able to drink wine, until one day she couldn't. It just wiped her out.

 

[ISAslot]

without a lot of water only one drink could slam me

 

[dank69]

I am guessing you don't drink nearly enough water on a daily basis.

 

[rcpratt]

Thanks for the usual array of witty responses!

It was definitely a hangover and it was definitely aided by dehydration. I've gotten bad about drinking water, especially working from home. The last few times I've been drinking I've made a focused effort to drink a lot of water, and it has definitely helped. I just still can't believe I had a hangover that bad with two drinks, but lesson learned.

 

[Muse]

Probably not a hangover. That was just over a pint of standard beer with food.
There's no way that would give you a hangover into the afternoon the next day.

I have never had a hangover in my life. Of course, I don't drink a lot of alcoholic beverages. One 3 ounce glass of wine or one 12oz bottle of brew is all for me, most times. Unless it's a family holiday, then maybe 8-12oz wine. One time when I was 20 I drank one rum and coke after another as an experiment and spent the night vomiting. Don't remember having a hangover, though. Just a memory of an experience so bad I haven't had a rum and coke since.

I am guessing you don't drink nearly enough water on a daily basis.

I hardly ever drink water. I drink a lot of coffee, get most of my fluids from that and the food I eat.

 

[Hans Gruber]

It's either not a hangover or you are lying about your height, weight and total amount of alcohol consumption.

 

[Muse]

I guess I'm lucky, I don't get hang overs at all. Not a big drinker in general but even when I do drink a lot I'm fine. I think the key is to drink slow enough, and sometimes drink water or pop in between drinks.

Yeah, I've always noticed that when people drink alcoholic beverages they drink them way way way slower than when I see people drinking other beverages, e.g. soda, water, lemonade, what have you. Why do you suppose that is?

 

[GrumpyMan]

It's a toomah, as Arnold would say.