Alcohol sensitivity, anyone familiar or know what this could be?

[stealthmode]

My dh has been having strong physical reactions to alcohol for the last couple of years. Until recently, it's been hard to pin down the cause. After one or two drinks, he'll feel fine until the middle of the night or morning and then have a terrible headache, diarrhea, and feel nauseous, sometimes for the entire next day. We thought at first maybe it was from beer, which led us to consider gluten as the culprit. We recently went gluten free, but then a couple of nights ago, he had a small drink made with grain-free alcohol, and had the same reaction as usual. I feel sad for him because he recently got into beer brewing and is a scotch enthusiast, and now it looks like he might not be able to enjoy those things anymore.

I have looked up alcohol allergies, but the symptoms for that seem to be pretty instantaneous, and this is happening several hours later. It isn't the end of the world for him to stop drinking completely. I'm more concerned that this is a symptom of a bigger problem.

We are totally new to food allergies or sensitivities so I don't know what to do from here. Should he see a doctor about this? What kind of doctor? Any ideas as to what could be causing such a violent reaction in an otherwise-healthy guy?

[mbbinsc]

It could be a sulfite reaction.  I think there was a thread in this awhile back. 

[stealthmode]

Originally Posted by mbbinsc 

It could be a sulfite reaction. I think there was a thread in this awhile back.

Thanks, I will do a search! Do all alcoholic beverages contain sulfites? For some reason I thought that was just a wine thing...

[Panserbjorne]

does he get buzzed off those drinks?  Have you ever tried giving him glutathione or vitamin C when he starts feeling awful?

You could also see if nux vomica homeopathically helps.  I'd give it at night and then follow up in the morning with a few doses too.  Nat phos cell salt may help quite a lot too.  That I'd just put in the water and have him drink continuously.

Has he ever had liver issues in the past?  pain?  elevated enzymes?  anything like that?

[CrazyCatLady]

Thanks for starting this thread.  The same thing happened to me and my ex-husband years ago.  We were both pretty frequent drinkers with high tolerances.  Then pretty much overnight we got to a place were even having one beer could lead us to a day of feeling like crap (same symptoms as your husband).  My ex-husband and I also developed lactose intolerance, IBS, and other stomach issues around the same time...so it wasn't too weird.  But I've always wondered what it could be that changed.  What specifically we became allergic to.  I don't have much interest in drinking anymore anyways.  But it does suck not to be able to have a glass of wine with the family during Christmas and other things like that.

I will be reading with interest.

[stealthmode]

Thanks for the responses--reading from my phone this evening so I can't quote easily, but I just wanted to say I don't think he's had any kind of liver testing done in the past. It's been years since he had a blood test to my knowledge. I'm thinking I'll push him to see a GP for a physical and bring this up with the doc, who might be able to order testing or at least refer him to a specialist. I'm worried that this could be a symptom of something else. He's only 26 years old and has never had a health issue like this.

He was having a drink just about every evening, but stopped completely after getting really sick again a few days ago. He said today that he's been sleeping amazingly well the last few nights and has been feeling better in general. Hard to believe one drink per day was having such a negative effect on him! I'm just glad that right now, it seems to be an easy fix.

I used to be a bartender so this is kind of a bummer, to say the least.

[Koalamom]

My dh drank wildly for years and stopped for several years and just recently we started drinking wine with dinner and it gives him the runs in the morning. Years ago it never bothered him. We are joking that he angered the alcohol gods, now it is payback. Lol! It is kind of lonely drinking wine by yourself at dinner. He has liver issues with a rare disease that can effect him there. Probably caught up with him. Not sure there is anything to do about it though.