Not that I’m a massive drinker (infact, I’m more of a massive light weight) butttt, I’m only 20 and I go into town pretty much every weekend with the girls. I started with all these weird symptoms 18 months ago, pins and needles, loss of co-ordination, balance, eyes and speech going a little bit funny, etc etc. Anyway, because I didn’t have a clue what they were I wasn’t making note of when they occurred, but a few months ago I started noticing that I always feel weird the day after I’ve had a drink. I only had a MRI scan on Friday, so nobody knows whats occurring yet but I was just wondering if alcohol would make symptoms worse OR is it possible that alcohol could be the cause of these symptoms?
- Also, while I’m being honest, when all of these symptoms started I was a bit of a good time girl, I was taking a lot of recreational drugs (which I stopped around a year ago) but is it possible that drugs and alcohol could bring on these symptoms and it’s not actually MS??
Hi, Im sorry I cant answer your post but Im sure someone will be along who can.
I have been involved with drugs only as a worker with people with adictions, however I dont feel I am qualified to make a call here.
Well done on being honest.
Take care
Rhona
hi naomi
i was a heavy drinker before my diagnosis and also smoked a fair few joints.
now i can manage one glass of wine (instead of a bottle) and now a puff of wacky baccy gives me an instant whitey (not nice)
anyway at least i’ve been used to being unsteady and wobbly when i walk.
perhaps its my body telling me to behave and act my age
carole x
I used to give a lecture on this topic. So here’s a bit of an extract.
It is possible for drugs and alcohol to cause neurological damage.
If it is/was your lifestyle that caused your problems, stopping drinking and doing drugs will stop the damage from worsening and some of your symptoms may recover.
Drinking 1-2 units of alcohol a day is generally good for people (including people with MS). More than that can be harmful. Chronic heavy drinking and binge drinking are neurological disasters waiting to happen: they can cause significant brain shrinkage, cognitive, sensory and motor dysfunction. People are aware of the risk to the liver and kidneys; they tend not to know that drinking can make you mentally and physically disabled. Being young is no defence.
Cocaine can cause stroke and psychosis, never mind addiction and all that comes with that.
Speed can cause permanent brain damage, cognitive problems, paranoia, harmful weight loss, etc.
Cannabis can lead to permanent memory problems, paranoia, hallucination as well as respiratory disease and lung cancer, if inhaled. The scare stories linking cannabis to schizophrenia are not just scare stories - I didn’t believe them so did some research: the evidence is convincing.
Please note that I am not saying that your symptoms have been caused by drink/drugs. They may have nothing to do with them. But you did ask!
Karen x
Thanks everyone. I certainly stopped taking any drugs when I started with these symptoms because intially I did think they’d caused it, it was only months after when nothing changed I went to see my GP. I’ve curved any drinking until I know whats going on, I went out this weekend drinking pepsi, and I must admit, I had a brilliant night (with no hangover).
x