Six-month hangover for 60-pint Scotsman

Ow ow owww my head

By Lester Haines • Get more from this author

Posted in Biology, 9th November 2007 11:40 GMT

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A 30-year-old Glaswegian has suffered what may go down in history as the greatest hangover west of the Mississippi - a six-month headache induced by sinking 60 pints over four days.

According to The Lancet, the unnamed man presented himself in a Glasgow A&E last October complaining of "wavy" vision and a relentless headache he'd been suffering for more than a month.

The case report from from Southern General Hospital said he "had no history of head injury or loss of consciousness; his past medical record was unremarkable, and he was taking no medications", and that his body temperature and blood pressure were both normal.

It was only when an eye specialist gave the poor bloke the once-over that the truth was revealed. He was suffering swollen optical discs, greatly enlarged blind spots and "flame haemorrhages" - bleeding nerve fibres.

When quizzed, the patient admitted he'd sunk the aforementioned 60 jars following a domestic crisis. The resulting dehydration had caused cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) - a rare condition which can lead to seizures, impaired consciousness, loss of vision and neurological damage.

Cue six months of blood-thinning treatment before the chap's vision returned to normal - and his headache finally subsided. ®