Alcohol Intolerance

[cj9600]

Hello peeps.

I am 35 year old Asian male who recently got introduced to what is known as Alcohol Intolerance (that's what I have figured out from Google ) when I looked up the symptoms I recently got.

I have been drinking since last 10 years however very recently when I had a glass of scotch within 20 minutes my heart started racing, my face was red and I was swearing heavily. I had trouble breathing too. This lasted for around 20 minutes before I was back to normal. This was the 1st time I went through such an episode in my life. As I live in a dry state in India we often get cheap Alcohol so I ignored the situation however I tried having a drink after a few day from a genuine scotch from UK and faced the same trauma. Could someone kindly help me here as I seriously do not know what to do ?

[AyrshireK]

If that is the effect alcohol is having on you then best advice would be to leave it well alone, stop drinking. As any amount of alcohol is giving you some symptoms you would be best to go and see a doctor and get some basic tests done to ensure all is ok with your liver etc.

Katie

[cj9600 in reply to AyrshireK]

Hi Katie thanks for your kind advice. I have already given up on drinks. My test have shown signs of fatty liver. I am going for detailed Liver function tests shortly.

[cj9600 in reply to AyrshireK]

My Liver Function test shows SGPT(ALT) 80.50 U/L

[Hidden]

I completely agree with Katie.

[Isabelle2]

Hello

Welcome to the forum. It is well known that about one third of people from China, Japan and Korea and others, have problems such as you presented when they drink alcohol. Perhaps you too have the same problem. I believe that some Asians are missing the enzymes needed to successfully deal with the toxins alcohol contains. I suggest, as it makes you so ill, that you should not drink anymore. I am not sure if you would suffer any long term damage but perhaps it might be best to stay off the booze!

Sorry!

Isabelle

[cj9600 in reply to Isabelle2]

Hi Isabelle thank you so much for your kind advice.

[TT-2018]

The danger of illicit or legal alcohol are the same and can cause the symptoms that you describe. The problem is with Methanol and can cause blindness.

So it sounds like you are alcohol intolerant and therefore, like the others have suggested, it is best avoided before you cause yourself long term health issues.

[Hidden]

If you haven't had this issue previously with alcohol, it is unlikely you have the genetic "Asian Flush" metabolism issue. You might want to look into what is known as: "microsomal ethanol oxidizing system" or MEOS.

MEOS typically occurs when the body receives more alcohol than it can easily deal with using its standard alcohol dehydrogenase metabolism pathway. Just a few days of higher consumption can trigger MEOS, which is a quick & dirty system to metabolize excess alcohol. All alcohol metabolism produces toxic acetaldehyde, but the rapid metabolism of MEOS produces a lot of acetaldehyde very quickly which raises blood levels of this toxin to symptomatic levels. When your body is in MEOS mode, the very first drink will often produce the symptoms you describe.

With just a few days abstinence (or even moderation), the body will often drop out of MEOS metabolism mode and back into alcohol dehydrogenase metabolism. Once you've become sensitized it may not take much to kick you back into MEOS though. High levels of acetaldehyde are very toxic to ALL tissues in the body (including brain & liver), and it would be unwise to ignore this if it becomes a recurring issue.

[cj9600 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Metanoia could you kindly explain further in more simpler language please ?

[Julie8]

At the age of 30 I got like alcohol poisoning with wine then lager then Bacardi. I had to stop drinking. It would last for 3 days. So I didn’t drink for 20 years until there was a death in the family and I had a drink of wine. It was ok so I moderately drank for the next 5 years. I then got my liver diagnosis and gave it up for good. Apparently your liver produces the enzyme that breaks down alcohol into a vinegar type solution. I do wonder if this contributed to the liver schirrosis, so if I could go back with hind sight, I wouldn’t have drunk alcohol again. So that is my recommendation to you.

[moonbeam4]

Hello there, good advice from the folks there. Can I ask if you have been or feel sick when trying to drink?. Difficulty getting it down and keeping it there?

[Radnor in reply to moonbeam4]

After having EBV I couldn't even tolerate the smell of red wine! Just a mouthful of alcohol set me off feeling awful! I even wretched and it tasted vile to me. I was once given a ginger beer that was supposed to be non alcoholic. It wasnt ! I dont think I would have made it home on my own either. I slept for 14 solid hours I couldnt taste alcohol in it put feeling flushed down to it being a warm sunny day. I am sure a lot of people on here would prefer to be alcohol intolerant to having cirrhosis. My Nash is down to Methotrexate, If I had drank alcohol as well I am sure I would be in a far worse state. Allergic, intolerant not enjoying drink. You are fortunate cj9600. Your body is is sending a very clear message! - STOP Drinking alcohol.please.Not drinking is seen by some in the UK as odd. However it makes you very popular if you drive.In my last relationship he told all his mates he was a very lucky man. His own designated driver! He would drive outbound to places. I was the driver on the return trip. His luck ran out when drink started to make him a nasty person lol His favourite saying was 'Your not a proper man if you dont drink 8 pints a day'.Only 0.2% of men think this way thankfuly.

[cj9600 in reply to Radnor]

Hi Radnor, thank you so much for your honest and kind advice. I appreciate it a lot. The comments are only making me stronger day by day in my decision to quit.

[cj9600]

I have tried to consume alcohol thrice now within a span of 4 months and each time I faced the same effects; within 20 mnts of consuming one drink my eyes will go all red along with my face, start sweating once I threw up as well while my heart was racing and I fell short of breath. Eventually I have given up the bottle. Now I'm trying to figure out how do I start healing my liver as this is certainly related to my liver I think.

[alxa]

Hey CJ ! That's good if you gave up drinking. Hope now you are well

[SoberDrunk1]

If you cant stay away from booze then its an issue. You may want to visit local AA meetings and see if you can relate to the obsession part. You may not be able to relate to the physical craving part of the alcoholics who once put something in there body they want more of it. Also observe how good you handle your emotions. If you cant handle your emotions disgruntled, snappy, argumentative... all could be related to un-treated alcoholism. The 12 steps can help you overcome the malady.