Alcohol does not affect me the same after chemo

Hello!

I have had 3 lumpectomies and 6 rounds of TAC chemo (awful) and just learned that my last surgery still did not have clear margins so I may need a mastectomy before radiation...blech. However - that's another topic. Right now I have a random question!

A friend I met in a support group mentioned the other night that having a beer doesn't really affect her any more. I've totally noticed that too - alcohol barely has any effect on me at all, nor do any drugs that I'd normally feel - like lorazepam or pain pills. I thought that was just me.

But then my friend Debbie whose going thru chemo right now (done with AC, now on Taxol) jokingly mentioned on FB that she'd drank all afternoon at a SXSW thing and felt nothing. She asked me about it and we both agreed that after chemo it's Iike the body is numb to chemicals.

Now here's the WEIRD thing - I mentioned this to my oncologist - and she said, no that's wrong, what happens is most people are MORE affected by alcohol after chemo - they are a "cheap date" - getting tipsy on half a beer.

So I researched it on Ye Olde Google and found nada.

Huh? Am I crazy? I'm curious! I feel like my entire body chemistry is different now. I sometimes wonder about things doctors say - like we don't get the whole story...

So it's not really important but I'm curious - is it common for people who've gone thru chemo to have an altered experience later with other "chemicals" like alcohol or anti depressants or anti anxiety drugs or pain meds? Like they have no effect? For how long?

What experiences have you guys had?

Thank you!

Amy