Alcohol and Celiac Disease

Try Greenes gluten-free beers from Belgium. Those are much better than any of the other beers I have tried.

To all: I'm an undiagnosed celiac and have been gluten-free for a year now. Sometimes you feel like food is the enemy. It's a matter of learning to think differently about food. Among an extreme range of digestive issues my skin also breaks out and I get moody, irritable and depressed when consuming gluten products. I have found that most beers hurt. There are some brands of white wines that don't bother me (Hardy's Stamp of Australia, Spirit Bear) but I've found that most vodkas bother me (Chopin, Grey Goose are the only ones that have been ok so far) Rum seems ok, but I've only had Appletons, gin is horrible, and I find clear tequila is ok. When I drink regular stuff I get really drunk really fast and have a 2 week hangover and rash. When I drink gluten-free stuff I can actually have a couple drinks without the disproportionate hangover.

Some of the coping mechanisms I've used in dealing with celiac is that I know I'm not likely going to be able to consume anything anywhere I go. I eat before I leave, and provide my own beverages. I was an apprentice chef before I figured out my allergy, and I've had to literally change the way I think about food, and I was already a health nut, about how I make everything from scratch and have hunted out the places that sell gluten-free flour or mixes; biscuit and pancake (as those are easier at the moment) After a couple months the cravings go away and it gets easier to cope. Knowing what a normal BM (yup I said it) is like is a novelty to me, and its worth it, not only that my skin is healthier and I'm happier and more stable than Ive ever felt in my life (PMS has gotten less too!) Just keep to it, its hard but it makes life so much better in the end. Hope this helps!

Hi Phil, blackouts are not normal! Please check out A.A. only you can decide if you are an alcoholic. I never got a DUI, always worked, never arrested, responsible, etc. However, I am alcoholic. Try some controlled drinking. If you are truly alcoholic, eventually you won't be able to stop. A.A. works.

Drink Magners Irish Cidre. Pint glass full of ice. It'll eventually get you pissed and will not bother you at all.

Loads of my family are celiac. We have no problems with Magners.

Also, come on..... If we Irish don't know about Celiac, then nobody does!

I'm a self diagnosed celiac just within the last 6 months. I went to the doctor for the blood test which came out negative (I was already gluten-free for 4 months at that point) I've been stellar about foods, no issues there. But I find that when I go out or have drinks at friends houses, I have diarrhea the next morning. I'm just wondering if there is a list out there of okay drinks. I drink a lot of wine and tequila (margaritas) but there has to be somethings that are not okay. When I drink apple or pear ciders, I'm completely okay. Now that I've got food under control, the booze is next. Any help is appreciated!

Ok, all great comments on gluten-free alcohol. But I would like to say a little something on the matter. Having celiac disease means that even if the alcohol is considered gluten-free, you still may have a reaction to it sometimes because of the very fact that your intestines are in the healing process and any alcohol can have an adverse effect, gluten-free or not!

I was an undiagnosed celiac for over 20 years. I was tested for 101 different ailments: depression, change of life, etc. It seems to have been going on forever. The nerve endings in my feet & arms have been live and very painful. I have been gluten-free for just one month and I am already feeling so much better. The nerve endings are still live but that will hopefully improve the longer I stay away from gluten. It is all a big change but it is so good to know what is wrong with me, and that I am not going crazy. I am helping myself back to health with a strict gluten-free diet. Morgan's rum & coke seem to work for me, but I do miss that cold beer (not the hangover though: that was just torture). I am so glad I can gain strength from others' advice and experiences. Onward & upwards.

I am so glad to have this to go by and so glad I'm not alone. The past 4 months have been awful until I self-diagnosed myself. I started gluten-free last week and the results have been amazing. I feel great! My husband thinks it's all a big pain, but not me. I haven't eaten out yet since 2 Wednesday's ago when I had my last celiac episode and have had no alcohol either. I am still a little scared, but I'd rather repair myself first. Thank you for all of your comments and positiveness! I can't believe this hit me at 31 years old!

Sake is rice-based, and true Japanese sake production is very regulated. Sake can be consumed heated, but the better grade of sake is served cold and mixed with other fruits/spirits. Karlsson's gold potato vodka from Sweden has its own distillation facility dedicated solely to potato distillation and nothing else (and no color additives).

I was diagnosed with celiac disease back in 2005. Since then, I've lead a very strict gluten-free lifestyle. I even try my best to stay away from grains and yeast. I don't drink often but if I do I usually get wines or drinks that contain rum. I went to a wedding this weekend. The drinks must have been watered down. I had a few drinks, felt no buzz, but had to leave the party early b/c my stomach was so upset. The wedding was on Saturday. It's now Tuesday and my stomach is still very upset. Everything is running through me (gross, I know!) I'm wondering what I did wrong. Is this a stomach virus or something to do with my celiac issue? Should I eliminate all alcohol entirely? Anyone have similar issues?

Thank god someone else feels the same!! I get sooo tired of people saying "oh no it's fine my symptoms aren't as bad as yours so I can eat this pizza". Grrrrrr!!!

Kasie, it may be the Coke, not the Malibu!! I drank a whole bottle of Sainsbury's own Coke after a night out on the drink, and that made me ill for a week.

Me too... I was just diagnosed 2 weeks ago. I am alcohol and wheat free. We all know alcohol can cause depression, but is it worse for celiacs?

I was diagnosed a couple days ago wih this condition. I was eating pasta and bread right up until I was diagnosed. Every time I consumed alcohol (even 1 drink) I would vomit violently for hours. The sickness wouldn't hit me until a few hours later. I havent had a drink for a month and I am afraid to try again. I am going to wait 6 months for my stomach to heal. Up until 2 1/2 months ago, I would drink 1-3 times a week and it never bothered me. Talk about a new life!

Tito's vodka is gluten-free. It's not very expensive, and most bars carry it. When in doubt, I sneak in my own...

How do you test to see if you have infections in the small intestines? My liver functions seem normal, but I have never been advised to test my small intestines for infections?

You are absolutely correct!

Hi Emma,

I have recenlty had the same experience, how did your court go have you found and further information?

Thanks

I've found that alcohol magnified symptoms so much. I took a shot of whiskey (by accident) a week ago and still am pretty sick.

I've found that you can't actually trust all rum (or is that just me?) rum like Captain Morgans is spiced, and I believe led me to react pretty severely. anyone else had similar problems with rum?

Sorry Sir, But I too tested over the legal limit with a very small amount to drink. My hearing for my license is today. My husband is a physician, and we beg to differ. I am also TBAC licensed and in the medical field. I am in the process of researching this for my lawyer. Without going into too many specifics, we have an enzyme that helps process/eliminate alcohol in our lungs...

There seems to be a connection with celiac and this enzyme-lack of.. I scored a whopping 1.5 after 2 glasses of white wine over a 3 hour work dinner. We were home, but my shoe (high heel) came off as I was applying the break to park, and I hit the accelerator, running into the wall in the front. We were fine -- but it was late on a Saturday, I passed the field sobriety test and am very sober in my video, but he said he could smell the alcohol on my breath and to our surprise, took me in.

I, too, have issues with most alcohol and some vodkas. I cant drink much, because I actually start to get a headache while drinking (and heartburn). A nice glass of red wine on occasion is pretty much it for me. If there is an occasion, I am usually the DD. I am a HUGE proponent for getting drunk drivers off the road, so I am infuriated to find myself on the other side of this issue. Research is needed --police officers need to focus on the REAL drunk drivers out there. (side note, the arresting officers partner told my neighbors--when he was asked why in the world I was being cuffed, he replied with, "Oh, he's the best at bringing them in."

And on the note for liver function--absolutely agree.

I was diagnosed in 1992, in UK, and feel very fortunate that I have been diagnosed, as there are so many people suffering with digestive problems and nothing diagnosed except irritable bowel which is what doctors come up with if they cannot be bothered to listen to and treat the patient properly. They think we are a bunch of hypochondriacs, but everyone may not have the same experience. I drink wine only, mostly, and Greens beer is good. When I was first diagnosed, I thought Whiskey was OK and a friend of mine came to stay with me from Ireland and brought a bottle of whiskey with her, and needless to say, we had a little party. I felt so bad for the next 4 or 5 days, I felt that I was going 'mad' and that it would take little to push me over the edge. I have never touched whiskey since that. I overdo it on white wine at weekends, and get a very blocked nose, dry mouth etc. and tell myself I won't do it again, but we all need a treat at the weekend, when working all week, don't we? It also leaves me very depressed but I still like the buzz that I get from the nice feeling of being half pissed. Also, I love chocolate and crave for it when I have a few drinks. I still get rashes, itchy patches on my legs and front of my neck, but take antihistamines and use hydrocortisone to keep it under control. I had to take Dapsone a few years ago because of itching all over, which the Dermatologist told me was caused by ingesting gluten, as no other reason was found. The diet is difficult and I do my best most of the time, but hidden gluten is a big problem. However, we coeliacs should focus on what we can eat and not what we can't eat and we are fortunate to be diagnosed as many people are suffering badly. My friend died from lymphoma last year. Shewas older than me when diagnosed, and probably had a lot of damage done to her small intestine over the years. She was only in her sixties. It is a serious disease if not diagnosed and if diet is not followed strictly, which I have found over the years. I also have allergic conjunctivitis, which is treated with Vexol eye drops. Coeliacs can get a lot of different problems if the diet is not followed, which don't seem to be related to the disease, but I feel that most of my problems have stemmed from being coeliac. Wish I could give up the wine, but feel that a treat at the weekend is vital. Also the chocolate but we gotta have a life.

I think that I may have celiac disease...often I feel like there are shards of glass in my stomach and have trouble with evacuating my bowels or taking a crap. Every time I do there is a white goo on top of everything....should I see a doctor about this?

Hi; I am going through a similar experience. What was your outcome?

I agree with all of you thank you for saying that I get tired to of people saying the same things.

You don't have celiac, Graham. Educate yourself. Celiacs have damaged guts from the gluten, we have holes in our guts which allows food and alcohol to enter our bloodstreams directly. Many, many celiacs have complained of feeling drunk after a small amount of alcohol. Celiacs and gluten issues are new and still being researched.