One for the PH medics: alcohol allergy

[judas]

Over the past year or so I've found myself drinking less and less because nearly every time I have anything alcohol to drink, shortly afterwards I have a headache. This can be anything from a mild sinusy-type ache to a full blown three day migraine. I had one 25cl bottle of Stella with my dinner last night and within 15 minutes it felt like someone had put my head in a vice. It's still aching now and I've missed a day at work because of this. It doesn't happen all the time, but more often than not and increasingly so over the past year.

As you can imagine this is somewhat , not to mention and , especially with BTaP just around the corner. It's not going to be the same without some and to get things ing.

Anyhow, I've done some Googling and it turns out that, yes, you can be allergic to alcohol! I found posts on allergy fourms describing identical symptoms, but not a lot of information explaining the condition. I've never been a big drinker, but not being able to have a nice glass of wine or a G&T after a lousy day in work is frankly depressing. And not being able to enjoy a pint of Guinness again... Well, it's just not cricket!

Now, seeing as it's nigh-on impossible to get an appointment with my doctor, I was wondering if any of the PH docs have any words of advice (anyone who say just don't drink gets a ). Be afraid, folks; be very afraid - it could happen to you!

[anonymous-user]

My ex used to suffer after drinking Chardonnay....but fine with Sauv Blanc. Maybe you are not allergic to the alcohol but something else in the alcohol....that's your only hope!!!

If I have 20 glasses of wine I end up with a headache too the next morning Is that an allergy?

[tinman0]

yeah, try a different drink. i was always told that the clearer a drink the less rubbish it has - so if i was you i'd get a shot of vodka and see what happens.

[Code Monkey]

is it just with beer, or just wine, or just spirits, might not be the alchohol but the other contaminants within the brew.

[r988]

Gin is made with posionous juniper berries is it not? That supposedly makes for more poison in it and much worse hangovers, vodka is supposed to be the best(?).

[jessica]

well I have no idea why South African wine makes me ill but it does.I only need a glass or red or white and i get the most horendous hangover.
Can drink a whole bottle of any other wine.
No idea why this is, I just dont drink SA wine anymore. which is a pity as it is a tad nice..

[ian_s]

My Dad is allergic to alcohol, non alcoholic wine only from now on.

[judas]

Get the same reaction whatever the type of drink: Beer (Guinness, Stella), white wine (Chardonnay & Pinot Grigio are the two I normally drink - not a big fan of sauvignon blanc), red wine (all kinds), spirits (brandy, whisky, gin). Overall a bit of a pisser really

Thing is, it's not a hangover - not unless they can start within minutes of having the first drink!

[jonscz]

Hi Judas, I can really sympathise with you as I am allergic to alcohol, too. My allergy happened overnight when I was 18ish... was fine one day, then the next I felt terrible whenever I drank even a tiny amount of booze. That was 20 years ago, now!!!! and happens whether I drink wine, beer or spirits.... You do learn to get used to it (the only thing that gets to you is being careful what you have to eat when you go out for a meal as my allergy is so bad that even food cooked in alcohol or food - especially dessert- that has even trace amount of booze in starts my reaction off which is, like you describe, a massive, really painful migrane type headache and "weak" limbs and I go bright red in the face, too (very attractive, I can tell you). The only other thing is the countless times you have to tell people what symptoms you get and put up with the "that must be terrible for you" quotes - you do get used to it (ish!!). Would be interested to hear what the doc tells you. I once spoke to a specialist I met through my work and he told me it is fairly common and in most people it is, indeed, the additives that are added to most alcohols that people are allergic to. Just to let you know it's not the end of the world (I thought so at 18, though) and you might "recover" from it. Cheers and have a Pepsi Max on me. Jon

[vrooom]

Stella is good at making headache drink. try drink different brands of beer.

[wedge girl]

Have you tried organic varieties?

[mcflurry]

I am allergic to one of the E numbers some beers use.

German and Czech beers are fine, no chemicals etc, just water, malt hops etc.
The Reinheitsgebot (sp) act stopped all that stuff polluting German beers

[speedychrissie]

isnt Richard E. Grant allergic to alcohol? if i remember rightly his stomach rejects it very quickly. so much so that during filming of Withnail and I the director made him keep on drinking (and subsequently throwing up) repeatedly until he could hold it down long enough to feel what getting drunk was really like!

chris

>> Edited by speedychrissie on Thursday 17th November 08:49

[Piglet]

I react to the additives in some wine - it's really frustrating as wine doesn't have to list its ingredients I can't work out what it is or when it's likely to crop up. Strangely as someone said earlier I react most to Chardonnay and least to Sauvignon Blanc - weird. If it's additive related try drinking Champagne -it's the one thing I can pretty well guarantee not to react to.

[judas]

Thanks for replies folks!

Back at work now but still have a lousy headache Going to see the doc tomorrow morning so we'll see what's what!

Some interesting suggestions there: German/Czech beer, organic, Champagne - but to be honest I'm loathe to experiment when just one glass can wipe me out for a couple of days.

[tinman0]

jessica said:

well I have no idea why South African wine makes me ill but it does.I only need a glass or red or white and i get the most horendous hangover. Can drink a whole bottle of any other wine. No idea why this is, I just dont drink SA wine anymore. which is a pity as it is a tad nice..

i get that but with most bottles of red (i dont drink white). however, i was quite suprised a couple of weeks ago that at a friends place in france i drank (by accident guv) a whole bottle of some french red that apparently costs a fortune here but was 2.5E in the trade in France.

woke up the following morning bright as a daisy. couldn't believe it.

i'll try and get the name of it.

[judas]

Just been to the docs. He reckons it might be alcohol intolerance, rather than an allergy. Seems as though by body has developed a problem metabolising alcohol and it's getting stuck at the aldehyde stage - one of the many fun chemicals that give you hangovers. Going for some blood and liver function tests next week to see if there's anything else lurking in the background.

If is an intolerance then no more drinkies for me...

[mervynp]

judas said:

Just been to the docs. He reckons it might be alcohol intolerance, rather than an allergy. Seems as though by body has developed a problem metabolising alcohol and it's getting stuck at the aldehyde stage - one of the many fun chemicals that give you hangovers. Going for some blood and liver function tests next week to see if there's anything else lurking in the background. If is an intolerance then no more drinkies for me...

Don't despair, my wife’s family suffer from multiple food intolerances, my wife cannot take dairy, but after a period of abstinence it can improve. For instance when I first met my wife a dollop of cream in a risotto would knock her out cold (saved me a fortune on rohypnol) but now she can eat ice cream as long as it is not too often without ill effect. Her sister also had an alcohol, wheat, dairy etc. intolerance, but she can now put them away with the best of us.

[Big_M]

I have suffered with an allergy to alcohol since I was 18. It is an allergy and not an intolerance. I become very hot, breathless and have a sneezing fit. I feel generally wretched and just want to sleep. Occasionally I have been able to drink without any effect - usually it is fine French wine Chateau Neuf, St Emillion, champagne.

I also have numerous intolerances to food - including dairy, wheat, potatoes. I find that if I stick to my diet then I can drink.

You learn to live with it after a while - and it does mean that you can always drive home

[denisb]

Gary Numan is allergic to alcohol according to his autobiography.