I have had to stagger out of the Cairngorm mountains of Scotland before now with legs like jelly, forcing myself over the last pass, a step at a time, with fading light. Pause, regather some strength, another pace, another pace.
This is same struggle, just it lasts for years.
I felt something similar my first time in Belfast after my first pints of (UUGH) Harp...staggering through Ballyhackamore...