Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Alcohol


Curlyqueen

Recommended Posts

Curlyqueen Rookie

Hello!

My 21st birthday was the last time I was able to drink alcohol. I must admit I drank too much but it was the last time I was able to drink alcohol with out get instantly drunk. After that birthday a lot of my symptoms began. My symptoms were mainly due to a b-12 deficiency and resolved with supplementation but returned and gradually turned into digestive issues. Most of my digestive issues have cleared up since going gluten free October '11 but I still can not drink alcohol. The first time I relized I couldn't drink alcohol I took 3 sips of beer( before going gluten free) and I could barely walk straight. I felt hot and kind of sweaty. My stomach was in such pain. My stomach felt like it was in knots and I was so nausea. After that I didn't try alcohol until after I went gluten free and had been feeling pretty good. The second time which was a few months ago I made sure I had eaten something and after a few sips( 2-3) I felt the alcohol. I guess it was the equivalent of a buzz but it wasn't pleasant feeling. My heart felt like it was beat fast. I felt kind of warm and slightly impaired. It took about an hour for it to go away. After it went a away I felt a little hung over but the next day I felt ok(not great but ok).

Every doctor I have told this too pretty much brushes it off but I'm concerned it is the symptom of a bigger issue. But I'm concerned for several reasons. In the past I was able to drink alcohol. I was still a light weight and lots of factors would influence how drunk I got. I never had a big tolerance but I could at least have one drink in a social situation. Now I don't want to go near the stuff. So I think there is a health connection. Maybe some pancreas, liver or maybe even kidney disfunction. Maybe a deficiency in digestive enzymes? I do not have celiac disease ( non celiac gluten intolerance) and I was told I have a leaky gut ( but no kind of testing was done). I also have other symptoms that suggest that it would be worth considering if this is an issue related to the pancreas as I have been experiencing hypoglycemic symptoms.

Anyway I was wondering has anyone else experience difficulties digesting alcohol? Are there any solutions to make consuming alcohol easier? Any advice, suggestion or anything would be GREATLY appreciated.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



bartfull Rising Star

After I had been gluten-free for about six or seven months. i went to a friend's birthday party and drank tequila. Tequila had bee my drink of choice for many years and believe me, I could put away a LOT of it. But that night I had about two drinks over the course of four hours.

I was SO drunk and SO sick, I vowed I'd never drink again. And I haven't. And that's fine with me.

Curlyqueen Rookie

After I had been gluten-free for about six or seven months. i went to a friend's birthday party and drank tequila. Tequila had bee my drink of choice for many years and believe me, I could put away a LOT of it. But that night I had about two drinks over the course of four hours.

I was SO drunk and SO sick, I vowed I'd never drink again. And I haven't. And that's fine with me.

Ouch! Yeah I have no problem with not drinking. I'm not a fan of alcohol in the first place but I'm just concerned it is the symptom of something else or the sign of something greater( at least for me). It might be that alcohol is not for those who need to be gluten free :-(. Thanks for sharing your experience. I know I'm not alone

Lisa Mentor

Yup, your tolerance will change. Be careful out there. B)

Mateto Enthusiast

I don't drink alcohol. I've had wine, beer, whisky/whiskey......never again. I never got drunk, I only had sips. It makes me instantly sick, so it's safe to say I'm alcohol-intolerant. But do be careful! Mouthwash has a different alcohol in it which can also make you (it does me) sick. You may want to see a doctor, but it doesn't seem to be causing you any side affects? Maybe you just cannot handle alcohol?

lovegrov Collaborator

My tolerance didn't change. I could still drink just as much as before, maybe even more as my weight went up. You are right in that a sudden intolerance or strange reactions to alcohol can also be a sign of something else going on.

rihard

Juliebove Rising Star

Yep! No alcohol for me. Two sips leaves me loopy. Wasn't that way many years ago but it is now. Gluten isn't an issue for me so I don't know what it is.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Guest retes231

I also get drunk easily everytime I drink alcohol. It also makes me very sick that it made me never want to drink again.

IrishHeart Veteran

For many years, if I wanted to, I could drink 2 Bombay Sapphire martinis ice cold/up (that's a lot of rocket fuel ) and feel "just right". :)

This was before I was very sick from celiac disease and lost 90 lbs.

I did not touch alcohol for 2 years because I was ill and my gut was a mess.

Now, I am a wimp. Cannot do what I used to do.

I asked the doctor his thoughts. Is it because I have minimal body fat now? Is it because of gut malaborption? is it because I am so "clean" in my diet? Do I suddenly have an intolerance for booze?

He said "Who knows. Maybe your tolerance level has changed because of your gut alteration." He was just speculating.

So, I rarely drink now and when I do, I have about 1/5 of what I used to have and make sure I EAT.

Austin Guy Contributor

I find alcohol to be very irritating to my digestive system so I stay away from it. It fires up the leaky gut very quickly.

sjpatt37 Newbie

Prior to going completely gluten free, I had a fairly decent tolerance of alcohol.

After, my tolerance changed tremendously.

This was at first a surprise, but, not an unwelcome one.

Since growing older the desire to drink until drunk, gave way to a pleasant having a cocktail or two without ever getting to the point of sick.

For me, it's now one or two drinks, occasionally... Most of the time I never make it to drink number 2.

I do agree with many of the others, a sudden and drastic intolerance may point to something else going on.. Be very careful.

lovegrov Collaborator

Not to scare anybody, but a sudden weird reaction or intolerance to alcohol is a symptom of Hodgkin's. With that said, I imagine the odds are MUCH higher that it's something else. However, if you have other symptoms or strange stuff happening along with this sudden intolerance, see a doctor.

richard

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,696
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Kerrie C
    Newest Member
    Kerrie C
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • RDLiberty
      So, I've been using a gluten free labeled toothpaste since being diagnosed with celiac. No big deal, the toothpaste seems to work. Question is, I just realized it contains hydrated silica.  Now, I've heard that silicon dioxide can cause issues in some people with celiac (was that ever confirmed though?), so to be safe, I cut it out of my diet entirely. But, as I understand it, hydrated silica is related to silicon dioxide. Is that something to worry about, or is the hydrated form not known to cause issues like the silicon dioxide form?  I've never seen it in food, but nearly every toothpaste I look at contains hydrated silica?  Issue or not?  Any scientific research (Not opinion pieces, not health bloggers, you get my gist), but actual science, that says it's an issue? I have a hard time believing 99% of what I read on random internet searches.    Thanks so much, Renee. 
    • Gigi2025
      Since 2015 we've spent extensive time in Italy and I've been able to eat their wheat products without incident. Initially, I was practically starving thinking foods in Sicily were not gluten-free.  An Italian friend who had lived in the US for over 20 years said she had celiac/gluten-free friends from the US who could eat Italian wheat products without problems. Hesitantly, I tried little by little without issues.  A few years later at a market, I asked a bread vendor if they had gluten-free loaves. Turns out she had lived in LA, said groups believe it's not the gluten that's causing our bodies harm, but potassium bromate; these groups have been trying to ban it.  Bromines and other halogens wreaks havoc to our endocrine system and, more specifically, our thyroids and immune systems. When bromines are ingested/absorbed into the body, it displaces iodine causing other health issues. Potassium bromate is a powerful oxidizing agent (dough 'conditioner') that chemically changes flour to enhance elasticity, bleaches the dough, and ages the flour much faster than open air.   Shortly thereafter while visiting friends in California, one family said they had gone gluten-free and the difference was incredible. The reason they choose this path was due them (a biologist/chemist/agriculturist scientist) having to write a portion of a paper about a certain product for the company he worked. Another company's scientist was directed to write the other portion. All was confidential, they weren't allowed to know the other company/employee.  After the research, they learned gluten was being removed from wheat, sent elsewhere, returned in large congealed blocks resembling tofu, and then added to wheat products. Potassium bromate has been banned for use in Europe, China, and other countries, but not in the US. Then we have the issues of shelf preservatives and stabilizers. What are we eating?  Why? We spend long periods of time in Italy and all has been good.  We just returned from an extended time in Greece;  no issues there either.  There is a man there we learned about on a travel show about Greece who walks the hills, picking herbs, pods, etc.  He is a very learned scholar, taught at the university level in Melbourne. It took a few days to locate him, but were finally successful. He too, is concerned about the additives and preservatives in American food (many of his customers are Americans, haven't been in the best of health, and have become healthier after visiting him). He suggested taking a food product from the US and the same product in Europe, and compare the different ingredients. Then ask why these things are being allowed in the US by the 'watch dog' of our foods and drugs. It would be amuzing if it weren't tragic. I'm presently looking for flour from Europe that I can make my own bread and pasta as the gluten-free bread is now $7.99 a (small) loaf.  BTW, studies are showing that many gluten-free individuals are becoming diabetic. My guess is because the gluten-free products are high in carbs. This is only my experience and opinion garnished by my personal research.  I hope it helps.  
    • knitty kitty
      Symptoms that get worse if you don't supplement is a sign of malabsorption, possibly due to Celiac disease. Blood tests for nutritional deficiencies are not very accurate, and should be done when you have been off of supplements for eight to twelve weeks, otherwise the vitamin supplements you've taken will be measured.  The blood circulation system is a transportation system.  It transports the vitamins you've absorbed around the body, but blood tests don't give an accurate picture of the vitamin and mineral stores inside organs and tissues where they are actually used.  You can have "normal" blood levels but still have deficiencies.  This is because the brain demands stored nutrients be put into the blood stream to supply important organs, like the brain and heart, while other organs do without.   If you are taking Thiamine Mononitrate in your supplements, you are probably low in thiamine.  Thiamine Mononitrate is used in many supplements because it won't break down sitting on a shelf.  This also means Thiamine Mononitrate is difficult for the body to utilize.  Only thirty percent of Thiamine Mononitrate on the label is absorbed and even less is able to be utilized by the body.  A different form of Thiamine called Benfotiamine has been shown to promote intestinal healing.   Talk to your doctor about doing a genetic test to look for Celiac markers.   I'm concerned that if you do a gluten challenge (10 grams of gluten per day for a minimum off two weeks) in your weakened state, the nutritional deficiencies will become worse and possibly life threatening.  
    • ElisaAllergiesgluten
      Hello, good afternoon!   I apologize, I didn’t see a notification and I’m just reading this. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and the link. Yes you are absolutely right, even so trying to get a response from them has been extremely difficult. They don’t answer but I will your practice of “guilty until proven innocent.”   I like and have a sense of trust here in this website, everyone is honest and thoughts are raw. The mutual understanding is amazing!   thank you Scott!
    • Scott Adams
      I'd go with a vodka tonic, but that's just me😉
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.