Alcohol and Fibromyalgia (Page 1)

i have tight muscles but i only noticed that it helped me relax to go to sleep. i felt nothing in the morning that was different than usual. Alcohol is not a medication and there is the danger of addiction. please be careful with this

My FM symptoms get profoundly worse the next morning when I've consumed even a small amount of alcohol the night before (but it's even worse if I consume a lot). In fact, the fact that I do experience worse symptoms correlating to alcohol intake was one of the key reasons a FM specialist gave me the FM diagnosis.

I think drinking acohol makes me better. I know it shouldn't do this but when I drink it steadies me. I don't drink alot or very often, or at least I didn't until I realized how it helped my balance. This is totally opposite of how it should be.

very slowly and without me realising alcohol is making me worse. No a little but so much so i can get up. im only 26 and i cant even enjoy a drink to relax anymore. Fm is ruining my life far more than the Lupus i have suffered with since i was 13yrs. I think alcohol white bread pasta and anyhing high in suger is making the symptoms so much worse. avoid my friends.

I have serious mixed feelings on alchohol and also question its side effects on my fibro - I understand all the negatives of alcohol - when I was 14 I spent 60 days in a treatment center for alcohol and drugs and learned everything you could ever want to know about it - Never really was a "drinker" until the past 10 years - I am 37 now. I have fibro and HAE - and have unfortunatly used alcohol to help keep me going - I can go days/weeks without it and have talked seriously with counselors whether or not I am an alcoholic - We don't seem to think so - I would have to say my biggest problem is - I feel great when I have a beer - I never really get intoxicated (maybe 4-5 times a year) but I love drinking a few beers after work - I have managed to get myself to an awesome place with my fibro - I work full time - walked a half marathon in May - and live fairly normal - Mostly pain at this point....So for me - It SUCKS - as I know all the "bad" things about alcohol - but it makes me feel so good...and living with fibro is painful - so I have a difficult time justifying the negative effects of alcohol when it helps me so much. I really do not take any prescriptions anymore - Vicadin and occasional Valium...and that is it - so what is worse - taking tons of rx's that gave me horrible side effects - weight gain, high blood pressure and elevated liver enzymes - or drinking 2-3 beers a night - and losing the weight I gained - blood pressure if perfect and no liver probs what so ever....So why the editorial? I guess because I need to convince myself that it is okay to drink - I have literally given everything else up - changed my lifestyle drastically - am a vegan who eats no sugar, or white products with a high focus on fruits and vegetables - 1 cup of coffee a day - no salt - or basically anything "unnatural" - But I drink "Clean Beer" meaning trying to stay with Hefewiezen's, Porters etc....I don't know what is "right or wrong" anymore - but I do know people are very suprised when I tell them my age - as I look 10 years younger than that - and my health has tremendously improved since I stopped listening to my doctors advice and started being proactive in my health - and searching for answers in alternative medicine - that is when I changed....so as long as I am careful - Only have a couple beers - water in between - I am able to enjoy alchohol and accomplish a lot more tasks and enjoy life more - If I overdo it - I pay - but the couple beers a night for me are far more worth the health risk if I can feel good and be with my friends and feel "normal" for a few hours at night.

Hello, i read your report and totally agree with the "feelings" alcohol paradoxally gives Fibro patients or a window of relief for a few hours. I am craving to find and join some kind of Fibro association to share these findings. The doctors dont get it. We all know that. But I salute your courage for sharing. I never drank until I got Fibro and PTSD. I hate it. But whatever Rx i can get my hand on, a shot of bourbon and a few thereafter are gonna do much better than any medications. I am aware it is hurting my body but "WE" want to feel life and feel alive. Not Drunk! Simply feel some kind of relief for a few hours. And yes, we pay for it the morning after. Its been 30 years now and Hopkins hasn't yet figured out anything about Fibro...Go figure! But We are not alone. So let's make our voices heard. Take care. God Bless.

This is exactly how i feel. I enjoy a few beers at weekends, if i over endulge my legs play up real bad next day. I stopped smoking etc to be healthy, need 1 little vice lol.

I've had Fibro for 20 years. I have been on very restrictive diets, alcohol abstinence, many useless RX's and many moments of despair. Nothing has given me more relief than alcohol and finally Lyrica (very small dose of 25mg X 2 daily). I only need to drink when I am physically working or playing the few hours a day that is afforded to me to be up and about. When I was part of a support group in 2000, I suggested to people to get away from extreme diets and have a drink or two each day. Three of the participants eventually did that and began enjoying a little better life experience and began to sleep better. Drinking more than 3 to 4 ounces of liquor a day for me (230lbs) can have long term negative effects. This is likely due to information I was just told today by a doctor that I have a exteme redundant colon. This condition may have been aggravated during gall bladder surgery, which is coincidentally the same exact time as the onset of my Fibromyalgia.

Its a catch 22.
The alcohol is one of the only things that nyubs the fibro pain for a while. but the next day is certainly not the hang over normal people experience. Its fatigue to the MAX

I've had fibro for over 10 years and never seemed to have trouble until suddenly after two margaritas last night I can hardly move this morning! I am miserable!!

What can I say! Alcohol does nothing but give you DUIs (if you're driving), and worse... no need to list them here.

As I have said before FMS is a friend to RA and SLE. They are are all connected to each other. It has already been determined that when you are diagnosed with RA, FMS is also detected. Or if you have SLE, FMS and/or RA will be there as well.

No one is going to escape the wrath of these three. These are the results of downstream inflammation. Why do we need drugs that suppress the situation?

If you can abate it from the source, you are going to see brighter days. Mmmm...

I have terrible muscle pain, stiffness, and achy joints the next day after I drink alcohol. If I have one I'm ok, but any more than that and I hurt.

Fibromyalgia is a horrible thing and it affects so many things in your life. I am 27 years old. I have had it for 7 years or more and I hate it!

Thanks for posting this...I often wondered the same thing!

Only recently have I noticed that the pain from my Fibromyalgia is significantly worse after an evening "out", especially my neck pain.

The only good thing about having alcohol is a slight interruption in the pain. But alcohol is a drug and a downer as well as making you relax. It is no better then anything else you can do and can be a lot worse because of the side effects. I honestly suggest finding a better way to relax. Perhaps simply a muscle relaxant or if you can a massage. One drink is has never bothered me, more then that and it makes things worse.

Hello,I can not believe some of these stories.I have had no alcohol since diagnosed.Im 39 & was sick for 3 1/2 years,Never new what I had!6mo''s ago I was told I have fibro,ulcertive colitis,and IC. What a gift!!!"NOT". IM on 33 pills a day.Feel horrible, almost everyday im on a good for me diet.Doing everything im suppose to.Nothing works!Now I thought if i had some alcohol, I WOULD DIE! 33 Pills and some alcohol. I know I have no life anymore, It feels like.My life has changed so so much,I don''t even know who I am anymore.But,I do know, Not having a life, is better,Than a ALCOHOL life. I CAN NOT, Imagine a hang-over with fibro.When i feel like a hang-over everyday. THANKS,4 letting me reply. c.c.

I''ve found that if I drink alcohol, one to three beers in an entire evening, that I feel better. That "edge" is mellowed and I am happy for once, just for a little while.

If I go over that limit, I truly suffer the next day - worse aches, more severe headaches, symptoms of dehydration... if I drink water and regular drinks with electrolytes in them (i.e. gatorade, NEVER with FAKE SWEETENERS!!) that I am able to bounce back fairly quickly.

So, my question is: what in the alcohol is helping me? Is it on my brain, slowing down or mellowing the receptors telling me "I hurt"; or is it that it is desensitizing/relaxing my muscles (or whatever it is that actually is painful)?

If we/me can figure this out, I hope to recreate it by some other means - OTC with low side affects, preferred.
random thoughts: melatonin, St Johns Wort, etc
or types of muscle (um? not relaxants, perhaps) hhmm idunno here...

I do know for a fact that MSG will send me in a terrible spiral; too much salt will as well. If I drink anything other than a regular beer (I put it on ice and try to take out many of the bubbles) or vodka, it kills me the next day. Also, that carbonation hurts me (also that p acid, whatever? in colas) And any/all fake sweeteners bring on the pain.

Thoughts? =D

b-fibro sufferer

Fibromyalgia has to do with muscles cells that constantly contract, thus preventing the circulation of blood which leads to a build up of toxins that cause pain. Alcohol does two things, one is to constrict the blood vessels and the second is cause dehydration. Both of these things prevent your body from getting rid of toxins and and therefore in a large enough quantity which will vary from person to person, make pain worse.

Alcohol also thins blood. Thats why drunks bleed so much when they fight. Has there ever been a study as to the comparison in percentages of blood thinning vs blood vessel shrinking? My theory is that bacteria effects joints in probably 75% of all people, and the ones who got the bad bacteria, or have the worse blood flow to tendons etc..suffer the worse symptoms. Bacteria thives in places where blood flow is bad. I think its the blood thinning effect alcohol has on people that allows them temporary relief, then its the dehydration and toxins that amp up the pain the next day

I find that alcohol relaxes the muscles and actually calms down the nervous symptoms. This makes sense as alchohol is a depressent on the nervous system. Right after having some surgery, I was on oxycodone which is also an opiate, or CNS depressant and it did the same thing. Trazadone, Paxil, and others do not have the pain stopping affects of alcohol. However, if I over do it, and stay up to late, than my fibro symptoms are worse.

Dear Koiotic; Is it easy for you to get organic food all year long? I want to be vegan. Supply is poor here, too far north. I want to start a co-op and get some good quality organic food from B.C. Meanwhile, I''m going to groove to the music.....Money''s too tight to mention, mm, mm, money, money, money, money.

This has been really interesting to read all your replies. I have suspected that I have FM for a year or more now. The aching/ fatigue etc so had blood tests a year ago, nothing came up. Aching and fatigue continued and got really bad last month. More tests, waiting for results (doc mentioned rheumatoid arthritis but to me symptoms seem to fit better with fibromyalgia). Been living pretty healthily since my bad period last month - no drink, lots of vitamins, lots of green leafy veg. But last night I had a couple of drinks, not enough to be drunk, but a little bit relaxed and merry. I've woken up at 5am with pain all down my right side. Had eureka moment that whatever I have is definitely worsened by alcohol and now really very convinced that this is fibromyalgia. Bummer.

This has been really interesting to read all your replies. I have suspected that I have FM for a year or more now. The aching/ fatigue etc so had blood tests a year ago, nothing came up. Aching and fatigue continued and got really bad last month. More tests, waiting for results (doc mentioned rheumatoid arthritis but to me symptoms seem to fit better with fibromyalgia). Been living pretty healthily since my bad period last month - no drink, lots of vitamins, lots of green leafy veg. But last night I had a couple of drinks, not enough to be drunk, but a little bit relaxed and merry. I've woken up at 5am with pain all down my right side. Had eureka moment that whatever I have is definitely worsened by alcohol and now really very convinced that this is fibromyalgia. Bummer.

I have had FM for 10-12 years (yes, lucky me) and as time has gone by (and particularly recently) I have found that alcohol absolutely wrecks me the next day. Consequences are severe dehydration, fatigue, pain, feeling just damn sick (like you're operating at 5% of capacity which given I have FM means about -30%).

All in all it's just one big all round gigantic nasty hangover. If I am going to a dinner party (or having one), I now know not to organise anything the next day because I won't be in a state to cope with it [alcohol +late night +more energy used in talking, laughing etc = total wipe out]. After the hangover, which involves not getting of the couch all day, it then takes me another two days to fully recover to my pre-alcohol intake level.

The sad part about this is that it occurs from just 2-3 glasses of wine. Sometimes less. I can't imagine what would happen if I drank vodka or some other kind of spirit! Quite possibly it would kill me.

So the short of all this is that after being totally wiped out yesterday from 3 glasses of white wine on Friday night I have finally decided it's just not worth it (okay, so I'm a slow learner). Managing FM is hard enough without the added 'bonus' of a three-day hangover every few weeks.

I agree with many of your posts that alcohol does numb [depress] the pain, and relax the body and mind (at the time you're having it). It's called self medicating, and believe me if you have lived with FM as long as me you kinda figure you deserve something enjoyable, relaxing, and pain relieving. I figure the reality of alcohol (for me) is just one more life enjoyment that FM is taking away (add it to the list of exercise, coffee, a normal life, ability to work full time, ability to earn a decent living, ability to have normal relationships because who wants to hang out with someone who's sick all the time).

So. Down here in the land of sweeping plains, where grog is a way of life and pretty much the most used and abused drug in our society, I'm becoming a tee-totaller. From now until Christmas no more alcohol! (Okay, so going without it for a lifetime is a wee bit overwhelming). It will be interesting to see if, and how much, my health improves. Certainly there won't be any more wasted days. This can only be a good thing because it's spring now and the days are getting longer and warmer. My garden beckons, my pushbike is calling out to me, and it's time to start swimming again . Hopefully I will be well enough to do some of these regularly. Wish me luck, just as I send health blessings to each and every sufferer of this debilitating and secretive condition.

Val62
I HAVE HAD FIBRO/CFS for over 2 yrs. now and I feel horrible when I have a night out with friends and a few drinks whether it be wine or beer. I'm happy to have read what everyone has said and learned that I'm not the only one wondering about alcohol and Fibro. I have a liscence for medical marajuana to help ease my pain and doesn't leave me with a hangover or on the couch for a couple of days due to a night out with friends. I will now stop drinking alcohol and stick to my M.M. and I also take a light dosage of ativan to help me at least sleep for about 6 hrs. If you live in Canada you can get a perscription for medical marajuana to help ease the pain and relax you too. All my blessings to everyone out there.

Hi to all to all the good people out there who soldier through life with CFS/FIBRO.. Good news; all the research labs pooled their info together & found out that we all have 14 extra proteins in our cerebro-spinal fluid compared to healthy patients in the clinical trials.This is a major breakthrough leading to a new medication that will counteract the pain-causing extra 14 proteins in our cerebro-spinal fluid(done by a spinal-tap).So,soon we will live healthy lives. In the meantime, stay away from de-hydrating alcohol.Yes,it brings negative relief but your liver will metabolize the alcohol you consume into sugar.This excess sugar hurts all the muscles.Sound familiar? I'll say it again,'Stay Away from the Alcohol'. Wait for the new Med that will reduce or eliminate the extra 14 proteins in our cerebro-spinal fluid(that fluid affects our head & our body. OUCH/Double Ouch(all-muscles hurt & head aches also). Four basic meds in the meantime are;Ultram,Flexeril(both for muscles),Ambien/Melatonin(you need quality sleep) & Xanax(limit your intake of all four of these Meds:a little goes a long way. Be open-minded to Medical Marijuana(small amount only). Chiropractic,Massage & Accupuncture will improve us but only if we refrain from alcohol(too much sugar gets into our muscles).Eat your Veggies(i'm serious). Fibromyalgia is no little thing.Listen close to your Family Doctor.She/He understands..........God-speed.

Hi Boston177,
how are you
I am a gulf war /desert storm veteran with fibro, ibis, and chronic fatigue, My question is about the 14 extra proteins? are these meaning = equal to 14 extra amino acids? I am prescribed gabapentin, tramadol, ambien, and xanax plus more etc... by the VA and still am feeling like I'm dying on most days - I've had to abstain from any drink due to supporting my fiance through her alcoholic rehab. I have found that the drink was one of the few things that actually gave me relief, Now no relief except from opiates that are probably even worse - where does it end ? I use to be a competitive surfer, bodybuilder, personal trainer, & now cannot get out of bed at age 40.

Hi t2thej,
I have had fibro since 06 and living in tX as the heat and humidity make life almost manageable. Now that it's Nov the weather changed I am miserable. New symptoms of neck muscle spasms, never had them before. i discovered alcohol the other day, just two drinks a day, helps me TREMENDOUSLY. I can actually get arounand do things and muscle spasms/stiffness has decreased. we are all different, and this helps for now. Family history of alcoholism, but it has never been an interest of mine other than a drink of two every few months at the most. At this point in my life, I am going to do whatever works! I need the few good days I can get! I also use a bath spa mat twice a day and that helps alot too! I am 42, female, single parent, retired AF, Civ service employee. I know what you mean about can't get out of bed. It's a struggle to do what you have to every day, and still keep your head up! Hang in there!

What a terrific post! I totally hear you...a couple of beer a day, makes the pain meds go away. Fibro is a tough nut...but we're in this together and realize that, what works for one, may not work for another, and that it is more than o.k. to listen to your body-it's essential!

I've noticed that drinking exacerbates my FM symptoms. I've suffered with FM for about 5 years now. I've only ever had one super bad hangover in my life and that was nothing compared to how I feel after drinking while having FM! I experience pain relief for about maybe an hour after drinking, but then pain symptoms are much worse than before I'd started drinking. My preferred drink is the 99 proof Vodkas, which end up making feel sick as a dog after 3 shots, whereas a whiskey with less alcohol content won't make me feel nearly as bad, but the pain relief is not the same degree and I'll still end up in more pain the next day. I had 3 shots of 99 Grapes tonight, and while pain relief was good for maybe an hour, I began feeling sick and in much more pain shortly after stopping my consumption. I have decided that from here on out, I would rather take my meds that help just a little, than to ever drink and end up feeling so much worse. While alcohol may provide very brief pain relief, it is not worth the hangover times 10 shortly afterwards that it creates in my body. Even the withdrawals from the Fentanyl patch don't seem to be quite as bad! My recommendation for those with severe, unmanageable FM pain is to try the Fentanyl patches. Yes, they are 100 times more potent than morphine, but the relief for at LEAST 48 hours is WELL worth it!

What a terrific post! I totally hear you...a couple of beer a day, makes the pain meds go away. Fibro is a tough nut...but we're in this together and realize that, what works for one, may not work for another, and that it is more than o.k. to listen to your body-it's essential!

t2thej,
I'm sorry that you came home from doing such important and brave work --- thank you for that --- only to end up with Gulf War Syndrome. You mentioned several medications that you are taking. Have you tried any supplements? I'm not sure that the VA would necessarily focus on a more wholistic/naturopathic approach to dealing with your condition. But I was very luck to find an amazing doctor. With his help, we put together a regimen of supplements for me that made an enormous difference. I went from being mostly bedridden and nonfunctional to being able to have a decent quality of life and I'm now planning to go back to work finally. For me, it all started with those supplements. Of course, I've done other things to help myself get better too. But the supplements were what made the biggest difference. See if you can find a practitioner near you who know about it. It might be enormously valuable for you. Good luck.

hey, i know this is brutal to say and for the last year people have been telling me this. I feel better than i have in the last year and a half, because this christmas i made a strong decision to push through the pain and get my strength back. protein which is what our bodies are made out off is more easily and readily broken down than fat , so when we are tired and not moving our bodys use what we arn't using which is our muscles. Before christmas this year ever holding a half fulll glass of water was painful.
this time last year i couldn't even do up my own zipper and Iam 21 years old.
i am a firm believer that everyone with fibromyalagia are very sensitive people.

plus the situation that you seem to be in seems stressfull to the max. My first recommendation is too try different natural ways to get a boost of energy. For me quality brand vitamins helped. i made a huge effort to push through the pain inorder to get back some functional muscle . It is a great idea to workout the muscles that allow you to do the things that you love!
Since i was in pain working out or not i though i might as well work out. Since you use to personal train you most likely know that there are many modifications. personlly for a push up or table top I use every modification possible. But this working out makes me happy and builds my endorphins, plus heklps me sleep better.

Me personlly my dad has a drup problem and my mom a drinking problem. so that is where my stress stremmed from. then through on the crazy pain.

It is going to be a process but in the last few months i have gotten better and better.

Another thing that really helped me was mindful relaxation, not just watching tv. Oh and i use sooo many things to help me have good posture. for example i can't use a lap top.

Sorry iam rambling on i just really want to encourage you not to give up, because i was pissed that this disease wasn't even killing me slowly , because i couldn't think of a long life like. But now i can actually see the blessings it has given me in life.

I think it is really important to find someone to talk to about all the dark things you keep inside. something free, and something you enjoy, this takes patcients as well but it is well worth it.

From my own experience speaking to my recovering parents was never a good idea because they weren't quite with reality. plus alot fo the time talking to them just made me more stressed and more in pain.

another thing that sounds really cheesy but i swear helps, is when you wanna complain in ur head out loud or anything, stop your self and try really hard to say Iam doing better and better in everyway, everyday.

life still isn't perfect, but I don't believe there is such thing.

stay positive and believe that you will be healed. there is alot of scientific proof for this. When we are stressed or negative our limbic system in our brain becomes stimulated, and for our brain to pick up on pain the signals enter the limbic system first. plus everyone can relate with the fact that increased stress comes with increased pain and fatigue. We can also grow our good feeling pathways of neurons if they are the ones we concentrate on. Stoke patients with enough patients and determination can actually regrow there nerves in there arms that were killed by the stroke. i know some of them personally, and they started with only being able to slightly move their pinky.

when iam in pain i use hot cold, a fan , or apply cream so i can concentrate on a different stimulus and actually work on firing up the good feeling receptons making the path easier for them to go to good feelings then bad ones,


Any ways, i will be praying for you and i just want to encourage you not to give up. you have more to give, do and joy to experience in this world.

Good luck !!!!!!!!!

Hi to all to all the good people out there who soldier through life with CFS/FIBRO.. Good news; all the research labs pooled their info together & found out that we all have 14 extra proteins in our cerebro-spinal fluid compared to healthy patients in the clinical trials.This is a major breakthrough leading to a new medication that will counteract the pain-causing extra 14 proteins in our cerebro-spinal fluid(done by a spinal-tap).So,soon we will live healthy lives. In the meantime, stay away from de-hydrating alcohol.Yes,it brings negative relief but your liver will metabolize the alcohol you consume into sugar.This excess sugar hurts all the muscles.Sound familiar? I'll say it again,'Stay Away from the Alcohol'. Wait for the new Med that will reduce or eliminate the extra 14 proteins in our cerebro-spinal fluid(that fluid affects our head & our body. OUCH/Double Ouch(all-muscles hurt & head aches also). Four basic meds in the meantime are;Ultram,Flexeril(both for muscles),Ambien/Melatonin(you need quality sleep) & Xanax(limit your intake of all four of these Meds:a little goes a long way. Be open-minded to Medical Marijuana(small amount only). Chiropractic,Massage & Accupuncture will improve us but only if we refrain from alcohol(too much sugar gets into our muscles).Eat your Veggies(i'm serious). Fibromyalgia is no little thing.Listen close to your Family Doctor.She/He understands..........God-speed.

I had quite a few drinks last night and although I had a rough morning with stiffness, which I contribute more to the dancing than the Fibro, I feel really good today. I have had less pain today than I normally do. I even had less sleep. I'm wondering if maybe the alcohol did me some good. I also have to say that I also wonder if the dancing helped too, which I was able to do since I was drinking and didn't feel the pain.

I am 46 female who has given up evrything from drinking to smoking you name ai don't have it or do it any more.
I have akway hada drink here and h=ther but for tha last ten years nota , I feel as I have ni life I enjoy having a few beer at night but because of all the med for the fibro and sezure I do not drink if it was nit fro my two kids and grandbaby I would have given up longg ago. I think I am much to young to live like this. I am thinking about stopping th meds so I can have a little enjoyment in life.

I am 46 female who has given up evrything from drinking to smoking you name ai don't have it or do it any more.
I have akway hada drink here and h=ther but for tha last ten years nota , I feel as I have ni life I enjoy having a few beer at night but because of all the med for the fibro and sezure I do not drink if it was nit fro my two kids and grandbaby I would have given up longg ago. I think I am much to young to live like this. I am thinking about stopping th meds so I can have a little enjoyment in life.