Is it possible to have a sugar hangover?
Last Friday night I was looking down the throat of my Saturday birthday with absolutely no plans. Nothing. Zip. Nada.
Last week was a long week, with a lot of overtime to get several systems up to date. It was a week of late nights, quick meals, and not nearly enough sleep.
Or, as they say, “a day in the life of the typical IT guy.”
By Friday night, I was beat. With nothing going on, I headed home, opened a bottle of tasty sake, and settled down for a lazy evening of geek television. (Oh, Eureka, you’ve reinvented yourself this year into all kinds of awesome. Haven, I know you’re trying to fill the giant shoes of the X-Files (well, the first few seasons at least), but you’ll really be a better show when you find your own voice…)
About 10:00, a text came in from a friend, mentioning an idea that I’d brought up earlier in the week but hadn’t received any response on. Suddenly, I’m sending texts and messages back and forth. Before I knew it, plans were set up to see an airshow the following day, dinners, drinks, etc. By the time the weekend was over, I’d gone to the airshow, tasted (and thoroughly enjoyed) my first kobe beef burger, and attacked the richest chocolate desert I’ve ever had.
I even got a fireworks show on Saturday (courtesy of a friend and the local fair). That’s a new one on my birthday, that’s for sure.
Then I spent Sunday at said fair, eating all things fried and wonderful. I think the healthiest thing I had all weekend was the pulled tri-tip sandwich. Or maybe the wild rice… that was served as a side to the fried chicken strips appetizer on Saturday.
So, yes, it was an awesome weekend… until I woke up this morning.
And seriously considered calling in sick.
I can’t say the symptoms were exactly like those of a hangover. Less headache, more stomach ache. But the same overall feeling of “ugh.” I still feel it tonight as I write this post.
I sure hope this isn’t another sign of aging. I already gave up onion rings years ago…
The GeekHiker 
woah, i’m totally jealous of your birthday fireworks 🙂
not sure about a sugar hangover though … maybe something gave you mild food poisoning?
i’m also jealous of all the food (even with the followup stomach ache). especially the kobe beef burger. i had one while in LA maybe 3 years ago, and that was one delicious burger.
By: seine on August 10, 2010
at 12:02 am
Happy (belated) birthday! That sounds like an awesome one! Maybe it wasn’t sugar (it was just ONE chocolate dessert, right?), but the grease? Nonetheless, glad you had fun!
By: K on August 10, 2010
at 7:37 am
I’m sure your body was just going through fried/meat/cake withdrawals. Hopefully it passed.
Happy Belated Birthday!
By: Mel Heth on August 10, 2010
at 9:12 am
Sounds awesome …except for the stomach stuff. Hope it’s not food poisoning as Seine wondered.
By: Homer-Dog on August 10, 2010
at 11:18 am
While I feel like I have a pretty good stomach for sweets, I’ve noticed I can’t handle fried + sweets all day any more.
I know this sugar/food hangover you speak of and it is not fun.
Hope you’re feeling better now!
By: Single And Blogging It on August 10, 2010
at 5:08 pm
It sounds like a general shock to the system. Have 3 more days like that and call me in the morning.
By: thecoconutdiaries on August 10, 2010
at 9:47 pm
If you were female, I would helpfully say, “Maybe you’re pregnant!” 🙂
Hope you feel better soon.
P.S. I was just reading in Discover Magazine last night that “Before the invention of refined sugar, cavities were rare”. For some reason, that surprised me.
By: tgaw on August 11, 2010
at 7:49 am
Happy (belated) Birthday!
i was almost at the airshow… how was it?
Wings over Camarillo is August 21/22 in case you need another one!
(Lots of Vintage stuff… it’s very cool)
You’re not getting old… you’re just gastrointestinally abusing yourself!
By: Piper on August 11, 2010
at 9:51 am
happy birthday, GH!
what is it about lots of greasy and decadent and sweet foods all in one outdoor venue that make one feel like the cast-iron stomach still exists?
By: blakspring on August 11, 2010
at 12:10 pm
You’re never too old for a tummy ache after too much junk food. I can still recall the summer of Twinkies…
I am so happy you had a great birthday!
By: missmccracken on August 11, 2010
at 3:00 pm
Seems you’ve become intolerant to something. Either that or it’s food poisoning.
By: Gany on August 12, 2010
at 7:55 am
dude, you had fireworks for your birthday. you can’t whine about anything anymore for the rest of the year.
By: narami on August 12, 2010
at 7:08 pm
Happy birthday!! My first thought was that it wasn’t age as much as food poisoning too? Well, it sounds like an awesome time either way.
I’ve never tasted a Kobe burger but they sound good. mmm
By: spleeness on August 17, 2010
at 8:22 am
Happy Belated Birthday, GH.
By: ruth on August 23, 2010
at 1:42 pm
Seine – Thanks. I don’t think it was food poisoning; didn’t feel indigestion, just a sugar crash. I will need to do the kobe beef burger again…
K – Thanks! Hmmm… grease is a good theory…
MelHeth – Probably so. And, yeah, I was fine a day later.
Homer-Dog – Nah, I just need to eat healthier.
SingleAndBloggingIt – Maybe it’s just one of those things that happens more often as one gets older. *sigh*
TheCoconutDiaries – Yes’m!
TGAW – LOL, I hope that’s not the case! And bravo on the interesting fun fact!
Piper – The airshow was pretty cool, though I’m not into them like I was when I was a kid. Didn’t make the Camarillo show though…
BlakSpring – Thanks! As for the cast iron stomach, maybe I’ll have to test it again at the LA County Fair…
MissMcCracken – The summer of Twinkies?
Gany – I’m still sticking with the sugar grease theory. LOL
Narami – Okay, okay. 🙂
Spleeness – It was indeed. And you need to try that burger at least once!
Ruth – Thanks!
By: geekhiker on August 24, 2010
at 9:32 pm
Well it’s definitely possible to have a sugar hangover, but for the love of all that is holy, you really shouldn’t give up onion rings.
I mean, they’re-well-perfection.
Your descriptions of all this yumminess made my tummy growl, but I’m sure after indulging I too would have a tummyache.
Cool blog.
By: wanderingmenace on November 23, 2010
at 8:20 am
WanderingMenace – Thanks for the compliment. I hope you’ll stick around until the blog becomes more regular! LOL
By: geekhiker on November 26, 2010
at 5:54 pm