Having extreme stomach discomfort after drinking alcohol is an unusual problem, but it's not uncommon. The participant who replied first to this question said that the problem is very easy to explain. Apparently, it's the alcohol that irritates the digestive system by making the stomach to produce more acid than usual.
When this happens, it usually can cause gastritis and it can lead to the discomfort.
The solution, according to this answer, is to quit drinking alcohol.
The discomfort described in the discussion was presented as a group of symptoms that may include:
- severe abdominal pain
- nausea
- bloating and gas
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- back pain
The symptoms for many who reported the problem occurred not only after heavy drinking but also even after having a sip of a particular alcoholic beverage.
Even a small sip of anything would cause extreme pain and usually throwing up.
Many who feel the discomfort after drinking beer, scotch, whiskey or anything with barley in it, could blame the gluten in the alcohol or their grain allergy that can cause bad bloating, severe stomach pain, and gas after drinking. One participant said that he's doing much better after he went on a gluten-free diet.
However, many felt the problem even after drinking other drinks that don't contain gluten, such as wine. This eliminates gluten sensitivity as an exclusive cause of discomfort.
I know that my problem started with a stomach virus - and even though the virus is long gone I still have trouble with alcohol.
As several participants noted, a stomach virus could indeed be a possible culprit that irritates the stomach lining and alcohol may only make it worse. Appendicitis was also listed as one of the possible causes. For one participant, the appendectomy cured the problem. Another member reported that he also had a rare form of appendicitis. After having his appendix removed he could drink mixed drinks again.
However, another participant said that removing appendix didn't help until his doctor diagnosed him with pancreatitis. For many who discussed this problem, pancreatitis was the main cause of discomfort after drinking alcohol. However, the diagnosis required several checkups and second opinions.
Quitting drinking alcohol has been suggested by many as a solution to this problem. Doctors also recommended diet changes, i.e. eating food that is not greasy, spicy, and does not have lactose in it in order to let the stomach heal. One participant reported feeling much better after being on a diet for a few weeks. However, the most important thing is to diagnose the medical condition that may have caused the discomfort and treat it.
Claims verification
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anyway, it is very easy to explain - alcohol irritates your digestive system and you should quit drinking alcohol.
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/alcohol
What do experts say?
Alcohol irritates the digestive system. Drinking alcohol – even at small quantities – increases the production of stomach acid, delays stomach emptying and can cause gastritis (the inflammation of the stomach lining). Any of these factors can cause stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and, in heavy drinkers, even bleeding.
Gastritis and alcohol
Most common causes of gastritis are bacteria called Helicobacter pylori and regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Emotional distress and certain illnesses such as Crohn's disease can also cause gastritis. Heavy drinking can b blamed for what is known as alcoholic gastritis. Drinking alcohol will also make existing gastritis worse, so the best solution would be eliminating your alcohol intake.
Signs and symptoms of gastritis may include:
- abdominal pain or cramps
- upset stomach
- burning pain that occurs 1 to 5 hours after meals
- burping
- bloating
- chest pain
- acid taste in the mouth
- vomiting
- weakness
- fever
- loss of appetite
Appendicitis and alcohol
The appendix is a small finger-shaped pouch on the right side of the abdomen, connected to the colon. It can become swollen, inflamed, and filled with pus usually when a stomach infection moves to the appendix or a hard piece of stool becomes trapped in the appendix, causing an infection known as appendicitis. The first sign of appendicitis is often pain across the abdominal area, which, as the infection progresses, becomes more defined in the lower right-hand side of the abdomen. Appendicitis, however, is not caused by drinking alcohol. If you feel pain on the right side of the abdomen, it should be because other organs may be affected by alcohol consumption, such as the liver or pancreas.
Pancreatitis and alcohol
Alcohol usage may be connected with pancreatitis, both acute and chronic, which can present with serious or persistent stomach discomfort, positioned at the center of the abdomen, or in some cases heading around to the back as well. Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas - a gland that produces digestive enzymes and hormones, such as insulin -becomes inflamed and its cells are damaged. There are two types of pancreatitis: acute and chronic.
Acute pancreatitisAcute pancreatitis is a sudden short-time inflammation that that may range from mild discomfort to a severe, life-threatening condition. Most people with acute pancreatitis recover completely after getting the right treatment. One of the most common causes of acute pancreatitis is gallstones. The other leading cause of acute pancreatitis is heavy alcohol use, especially if combined with tobacco smoking. While most people who drink alcohol will never develop pancreatitis, certain people might after drinking large amounts of alcohol (over a period of time or in a single binge). The symptoms of acute pancreatitis may include:
- Upper abdominal discomfort or pain that radiates into the back (may become worse after eating)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal bloating
Chronic pancreatitis is a long-lasting inflammation of the pancreas most often caused by heavy alcohol drinking. Damage to the pancreas from heavy alcohol use may not cause symptoms for many years, but then the person may suddenly develop severe pancreatitis symptoms. The symptoms of chronic pancreatitis are similar to those of acute pancreatitis. Patients frequently feel constant pain in the upper abdomen that radiates to the back. Symptoms as diarrhea and weight loss may also occur. Chronic pancreatitis can also lead to diabetes if the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas are damaged.
Anyone diagnosed with acute pancreatitis should stop drinking alcohol and start eating low-fat foods. This would reduce the risk of developing chronic pancreatitis in which pancreas stops working properly. The damage to the pancreas in case of chronic pancreatitis is irreversible, meaning that people diagnosed with it require permanent treatment to help their bodies digest food and maintain blood sugar levels.
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Discussion highlights
What symptoms have been reported, i.e. the location of pain, what made it worse, etc?
- the last time was pretty bad i had consistent back pain which went on to a shooting pain at times.
- THE PAIN IS SO EXTENSIVE I FEEL IT IN MY SHOULDER BLADES.
- lately (in the last month or so) when i drink alcohol i experience severe stomach pain.
- like horrendous gnawing, churning, mouth wateringly bad pain.
- accompanied with nausea, serious bloating, gas, and tonight after having one glass of white whine my pain and nausea were so bad i vomited.
- it wasn't consistent, every time i drank, up until the last two weeks and now it has been every time i drink any amount of alcohol.
- I am also having a similar problem - pain in the entire stomach region after even a sip of wine.
- Even a small sip of anything would cause extreme pain and usually throwing up.
- This happened to me too, everyone thought I was crazy for feeling it in my right shoulder.
- i too had bad bloating, sometimes severe stomach, pain after drinking.
- it happens when i drink wine too.
- WHENEVER I DRINK A MIXED DRINK I GET THIS HORRIBLE STOMACH ACHE FOR ABOUT 15 TO 20 MIN.
- IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY!
- i am not cut out for this enjoyment of alcohol and good timery thingy that is going on, bye folks!) it's very painful.
- :-( the pain is also always located upper abdomen.
- under my sternum pretty much.
- One beer and I am bent over in pain and nausea that night and the next.
- now 1 is too much trouble and not even worth it.
- Have a friend that went through the same problem of nausea and vomiting after drinking beer for a whole month.
- but the pain really completely stopped.
- for like 2 weeks whenever i drank .
- no pain.
- it's back though.
- i just had a light beer.
- But anymore, my body knows what it's capable of doing to me and from time to time I can't take a swig of beer without gagging to save my life.
- I too used to not be able to drink anything other than wine or beer.
- For about 6 months now I have been going through this same thing.
- I don't drink a lot and i don't get sick right away but i get gassy and sometimes nauseas but other than that i'm fine.
- Been there, hurts like hell and I now have a calcified pancreas.
- He is a very light drinker, however periodically has been plagued with the same symptoms listed above after just a single drink (mostly mixed drinks, he does not drink beer).
- Severe abdominal pain, massive bloating and gas followed by diarreah.
- It was so bad this weekend when he was traveling alone, that he nearly called an ambulance to take him to the hospital.
- Since this does not happen every time he drinks, it has been difficult to pinpoint a cause.
- I had one rum and coke last night and a few hrs later had serious bloating and gas, you could see it a stomach in my intestines and then this morning diarrhea.
- It happened last time I had ONE drink too.
- I'm a 24 year female have had my drinking days in the past but now I don't really drink i have a glass of wine with a meal or the odd beer with friends but 7months ago got this where if I have a sip of alcohol the next 2 days I spend in pain.
- I have severe abdominal pains and nausea its really getting me down iv had so many different tests done but nothing seems to tell me what it is and how to deal with it!
- The same thing happened to me off and on a year ago.
- I have had the stomach pains after drinking off and on for years now.
- I had a drink when guest first arrived and it basically spoiled the night for me , there was pans and pans of good food, that just had no appetite to eat, and of course the leftovers here.
- smh.I woke up with the stomach pains everyone is talking about and the pain seems to not be as bad as when I woke up, but still no appetite.
- I discovered this recently when I was having the pains and my hubby made me drink water.
- I too am on Wellbutrin and concerta and after drinking a little too heavily last night I am bent over with sharp stabbing pain.
- I have the same problem everyone else has laid out except for one detail: it only happens to me with beer.
- I basically stopped drinking beer altogether and I haven't had the problem of nausea, abdominal pain lasting 1-2 days, and vomiting.
- Hello, I get the severe pain for about 10-20 min.
- I don't get it everything I drink.
- sometimes one beer does it.
- But other times can have 8 beers and nothing happens.
- Mix drinks seem to activate it more often.
- I'm experiencing severe stomach pain - almost like a stabbing pain, severe nausea - after a single beer tonight.
- I've had the problem before.
- It seems that my pain flares up mostly over American light beers - Miller Lite, Michelob Ultra, etc.
- I've been getting the severe stomach pain with small amounts of light beer for a few years now.
- It doesn't happen every single time but often enough that I'm wondering why I even try to chance it anymore.
- I have that problem with liquor, I feel it in my shoulder blades, back and chest.
- 1 shot of a sugary drink and shoulders feel like they are going to explode and my heart pop.
- I got this sore stomach after drinking vodka for about the 2nd time now it's brand new to me and it feels very painful!
- And when I get something real yum to eat to sober down I feel like I'm already full and I can't eat this amazing food for me to start sobering down!
- And on top of that I bust to go toilet and I haven't even eaten anything.
- I have been suffering from the same sort of thing mine is only pain in my stomach but no nausea or vomiting it has been happening for a while and I've not really thought much of it only lasts about half an hour but is absolutely excruciating, curling me up in a ball to try and ease the pain but it didn't seem to help it decreases so I on-time to drink but after another 2 or three drinks it will come back no worse or no better but I am curious to find the cause
- I have the same thing and I'm on effexor as well
- I drink approximately twice a year and it doesn't happen every time.
- Does not seem to matter whether it is liquor, wine, or beer.
- Always happens even after 4 oz or less.
- Pain becomes excruciating - epigastric area - then I will have one episode of vomiting and then I am fine.
- Yes, in my shoulders!
- About 15 minutes of pain and nausea then it is over just like that.
- Mixed drinks usually, I rarely drink.
- Im effexor and yes stomch hurts whenever i drink.
- The last two times I drank with friends, I had one Mike's Hard Mango wine cooler, and all of a sudden I had severe abdominal cramps that I could feel in my shoulders too.
- But not like gassy cramps, more like burning muscle cramps.
- Like when you exercise.
- I am 27 and the first time I experienced this I was 22 or so.
- I also have the pain in my right shoulder!
- High in my abdomen, right under my sternum, almost in my back.
- Always right after a drink, but certainly not every time.
- Never beer, only after mixed drink or wine.
- I drink very occasionally, maybe one a week.
- I’ve found it’s worse if my stomach is empty.
- It does go away after about 20 minutes.
- I know this is an old post but I have been experiencing what seems like a similar kind of pain since I was about 12 years old, and am almost 25 now.
- It comes on with alcohol, but also will just happen randomly too (obviously I wasn’t drinking at the age of 12 lol).
- I guess alcohol is definitely something that exacerbates it but it is not the only time I get this pain.
- It’s upper abdomen, sternum area.
- Doesn’t radiate to my back or into my heart or whatever but is actually crippling it hurts so much.
- When I first started having extreme stomach pain, alcohol was not always the trigger but now it definitely is.
- It started just with red wine, then white, and now all alcohol, even just a sip will cause stomach pain and bloating.
- When I was in college sugary drinks like Mike’s Hard Lemonade would cause extreme shoulder pain, everyone thought I was crazy!
- My stomach pains last hours, sometimes even days.
- I realized with me, I can drink beer and be pretty safe but not wine.
- And my pain is so extreme, I can tell when it's about to happen and then it's like a Charli house we times ten right under my sternum in the diaphragm area.
- I sweat like crazy and practically strip my clothes off in need of relief from nearly unbearable pain.
- I might add that it has happened without alcohol too twice.
- Mine also is with mixed drinks.
- For like ten minutes.
- Mouth watering pain I feel in the pit of my stomach up to my shoulder blades.
- Almost want to throw up its so intense.
- Just last Saturday and it was by far the worse.
- Okay literally same but past year (I drink very rarely) and when ever I do I end up in the fetal position clutching my stomach last time it was as little as a shot of rum and a glass of Coke that did it!
What diagnosis has been made?
- It took me 38 years to realize that I am allergic to barley.
- it was pretty much pancreatitis in my case.
- He finally seen a different doctor and found out he had appendicitis.
- I conducted a thorough medical examination and the doctor concluded on a 'slightly' irritated stomach with some reflux issues.
- Turns out I had a stone that was obstructing a bile duct therefore the alcohol was overloading my liver.
- I once was told I had irritable bowel syndrome.
- I suffered from acid reflex from when I was a kid.
- i found out when i went to the doc after several times of ignoring it and i was checked.
- He went to the doctor several times but they kept sending home, telling him it was a virus.
- I had some rare form of appendicitis in April of this year.
- Been there, hurts like hell and I now have a calcified pancreas.
- They at first thought I had an ulcer but then ended up violently throwing up so I headed to the ER.
- So after reading through the many post and seeing the different ideas on what might be the cause I've come to the conclusion that we all.are having these pains after we drink, but I think the reason people can't find a cure/remedy is because it's not just one cause why alcohol effects stomach so it's hard to pin done one cure/remedy.For me I think it's related to acid reflux that I was diagnosed with years ago.
- has something to with stress
- This happened to me and that's what I was diagnosed with.
- It's probably an ulcer.
- Just an opinion, but as someone who suffers from Celiac Disease I, too, have experienced these same symptoms and they are even worse the next day.
- I went through a ton of medical testing and everything came back normal except for some inflammation at the very top of my stomach.
- I did a genetic health test and the results came back that I had an increased risk of celiac disease.
Some reported the problem after consuming alcohol with medications, such as Wellbutrin and Effexor
- Is anyone else having this problem that is on Wellbutrin Xl or Effexor XR?
- I too am on Wellbutrin and concerta and after drinking a little too heavily last night I am bent over with sharp stabbing pain.
- I'm on Wellbutrin SR and it happens to me too!
- If you're taking Wellbutrin/bupropion, you're not supposed to consume any alcohol.
- You're not supposed to drink on Wellbutrin
- I have the same thing and I'm on effexor as well
- I'm having this problem and am on Effexor.
- Im effexor and yes stomch hurts whenever i drink.
In conclusion
If you feel any discomfort or pain after drinking alcohol - even smaller quantities - the rule of thumb is to quit drinking alcohol and seek medical help.