The aftermath of a boozy night out with kitty (Hangover Prevention, Cures & Advice)

Member Name: kittykat18

Product:	Hangover Prevention, Cures & Advice
Date:	26/01/03 (633 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Minimise risk

Disadvantages: Hangovers are nasty

I don't suffer too badly from hangovers. I was fairly drunk last night and I feel fine today, like I could run a marathon if I wanted, or alternatively just go back to the pub later. In the past I have suffered from hangovers and that?s usually because the circumstances provoked one.

For example, a few summers ago I was working on a summer camp and had been out one night drinking various concoctions. Admittedly, I was drunk that night but however, if the next day I had been allowed to sleep it off I would have been fine. Unfortunately my job entailed starting work at 7 am, and my boss is so kind that he put me in charge of the deep fat fryer, cooking bacon. The smell of cooking fat and bacon turns my stomach when I'm sober so you can understand why I spent every 5 minutes dashing out of the kitchen to be sick. And so unhygienic was that workplace that it was at least an hour before the chef took pity (or disgust) and sent me back to bed. A few hours later I had slept it off and was fine.

Another embarrassing hangover incident happened about a year ago. I was temping in an office and had been out clubbing the night before. I don't remember much about the night out other than standing on some ornamental mushrooms and singing songs from the pirates of Penzance. My usual quiet night out. I felt a bit queasy in the morning but thought I would cope. I hadn't bargained on having the worst bus driver in the world, who swerved and braked badly. I suddenly had that nasty sensation "I'm going to be sick" but by then it was too late. I put my hands over my mouth and to my shame, on that crowded morning bus, the sick seeped through my hands and into my hair, on the seat. Old women stared in disapproval, school children jeered, but I was late for work and had to sit out the shame and attempted to use one of the free newspapers to clean it up. I was rather amused when, a few stops later, a lollipop lady came and sat next to me and s
tarted to read the soiled newspaper.

My point is, had it not been for the evil chef who put me on deep fat fryer duty and the mad bus driver, I would have been fine, like I am today. I go out quite a bit, I like to have a good time but I don't like drinking too much and have some tactics to avoid hangovers.

First of all, PLAN carefully. Preferably you need a free day the day after your night out, or if you're studying, no morning lectures.
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Before you go out, make sure you eat a GOOD MEAL, something like pasta, which swells up and lines your stomach is a good choice. If you don't eat you will get drunk much quicker, which is something you may desire, but don't say I didn't warn you.
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Don't MIX your drinks. I used to be guilty of this as I got bored of drinking the same thing or I went for whatever was on offer. If you go from lager to vodka to wine, the chances are you are going to get very ill! So stick to one kind. The darker a drink is, the more likely it is to give you a hangover because of the toxins it contains. Vodka will still give you a hangover, no doubt about it, but allegedly it's not as bad as a red wine or port hangover.
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You're supposed to alternate non alcoholic drinks with alcoholic drinks when you're out but I have to admit I never do this, it's expensive enough to go out as it is (although last night I managed to spend only about £12-woohoo!).
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Know when to stop. Personally when I'm happy and feel a bit pissed, that's when I need to stop and switch to soft drinks. I don't always stop though, that little voice in my head says "go on Katy, have another one then the night will be good". When I was younger, I didn't know when to stop but now I recognise the signs in my body.
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Be wary of drinking if you are on medication and read the instructions, because some medicines react badly with alcohol.
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Women, be awa
re that your hormones and menstrual cycle affects the way you react to alcohol. I find that I get drunk a lot quicker just before and during my period, and a hangover on top of period pains is not a pleasant experience.
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When you go home, have 2 paracetamol and a big glass of water. Make sure you have a wash and get into a nice clean bed, this will stop you feeling quite so grotty. Have a window open in your room so you can get some fresh air and keep some water by your bed.
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Sleep as long as you need to, which should be at least 7 hours.
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Be gentle on yourself the next day. If you can't handle the thought of food straightaway, just have a glass of fruit juice. When you're ready to eat, do what suits you. Some people love a fry up for a hangover, personally I like to have a more healthy breakfast with a boiled egg and lots of salad, but then I'm odd.
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If you are throwing up, just let it happen, drink lots of water and try to sleep it off. If you followed all the other tips though, you shouldn't be sick in the first place.
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Spend the day lazing about, chatting on the phone, watching TV and recovering. In the afternoon or when you feel up to it, go for a walk to the park or round the block to refresh your head.
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Happy drinking!

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