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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Beer Question
        
(Message started by: IpityU on Mar 20^th, 2006, 11:25am)

Title: Beer Question
Post by IpityU on Mar 20^th, 2006, 11:25am

My husband loves his beer as so many others do too! Every time he has a beer I cringe! He is in cycle, and you all know the story! My question is this..While at the Dr. office on friday, I mention beer being one of his triggers and the doctor suggested he try Michelobe. Said that is one of the few beers made with rice rather than yeast (I think). Any find this beer different? I guess I could just go out and buy him a 6 pack, but I would rather not advocate drinking beer during cycle. (I would feel really bad if he had a doozy with the devil)
Thanks~
Lizah

Title: Re: Beer Question
Post by marlinsfan on Mar 20^th, 2006, 11:56am

Hi Lizah,

The difference is rice vs. corn. This is where the starch in the beer comes from. The premium beers use corn, and the cheaper ones use starch (I went to the Budweiser beer school in Busch Gardens in tampa a few years back!) All beers use yeast, it's the bacteria that helps the sugar break down and ferment. The beer's label will have the ingredients listed. If it says corn malt or corn syrup, you know it's not a rice-based beer.

Interesting idea, though. It's worth a try, but I say that cause I'm PF at the moment. When in cycle, I wouldn't dare try, especially knowing that the cycle ends and beer-time starts!!

Please do post the results if your husband tries it, OK?
PF wishes.
Jose

Title: Re: Beer Question
Post by Bob_Johnson on Mar 20^th, 2006, 12:03pm

Please, stop taking responsibility for him! He knows that alcohol triggers an attack. It's up to him to accept the consequences if he continues to use alcohol, in any form, while he is in an active cluster cycle.

If he won't stop drinking, even though it triggers an attack, then it raises the question: Does he have a problem WITH alcohol rather and FROM alcohol?

Title: Re: Beer Question
Post by floridian on Mar 20^th, 2006, 12:18pm

It is the alcohol itself that is the trigger for a very large percent of clusterheads.

Some people might be be more susceptible to kegged beer than bottled, or to red wine compared to white wine. But that is for migraines, not for cluster headaches. I think your instincts are right - it will probably make things worse.

Title: Re: Beer Question
Post by IpityU on Mar 20^th, 2006, 12:20pm

Hi Bob,
The problem is I think he is in denial!!( Ch are new for him..He is only in his first cycle) he does not have an alcohol problem. He usually only has one an evening if at all. Unfortunately his attacks are at 9:00 pm. A couple times he has obstained from drinking and has still had an attack. (so that, I guess, seemed to be his proof) He is on Kudzu now and it has done wonders for him.I just was hoping to avoid any triggers, if at all possible. I guess what I meant when I stated "I cringe" is I kinda feel like he is playing "Russian Rulet"
Great advise though, perhaps I should just leave it alone and let him figure it out for himself. Possibly I am playing "mother hen" a bit too much! This is all new too me, I need to learn to listen to others as well!! Thanks for the "wake up" Bob.
Lizah

Title: Re: Beer Question
Post by Bob_Johnson on Mar 20^th, 2006, 1:44pm

Essential "first cycle" information:

Here is a link to read and print and take to your doctor. It describes preventive, transitional, abortive and surgical treatments for CH. (2002)

http://www.brightok.net/~mnjday/chtherapy.pdf

------
MANAGEMENT OF HEADACHE AND HEADACHE MEDICATIONS, 2nd ed. Lawrence D. Robbins, M.D.; pub. by Springer. $49 at Amazon.Com. It covers all types of headache and is primarily focused on medications. While the two chapters on CH total 42-pages, the actual relevant material is longer because of multiple references to material in chapters on migraine, reflecting the overlap in drugs used to treat. I'd suggest reading the chapters on migraine for three reasons: he makes references to CH & medications which are not in the index; there are "clinical pearls" about how to approach the treatment of headache; and, you gain better perspective on the nature of headache, in general, and the complexities of treatment (which need to be considered when we create expectations about what is possible). Finally, women will appreciate & benefit from his running information on hormones/menstrual cycles as they affect headache. Chapter on headache following head trauma, also. Obviously, I'm impressed with Robbins' work (even if the book needs the touch of a good editor!) (Somewhat longer review/content statement at 3/22/00, "Good book....")

HEADACHE HELP, Revised edition, 2000; Lawrence Robbins, M.D., Houghton Mifflin, $15. Written for a nonprofessional audience, it contains almost all the material in the preceding volume but it's much easier reading. Highly recommended.

Title: Re: Beer Question
Post by Steve_Gn on Mar 20^th, 2006, 6:08pm

Best bet is to lay off the beer.
If I am in a cycle, any alcohol will trigger a CH in minutes.
When not in a cycle, I can have a beer or 12.

Title: Re: Beer Question
Post by chewy on Mar 20^th, 2006, 7:48pm

Quote:

"I cringe" is I kinda feel like he is playing "Russian Rulet"

He is. Alcohol is a common trigger.

Title: Re: Beer Question
Post by thebbz on Mar 20^th, 2006, 10:32pm

You poor thing.
Drinking when in cycle is like sticking your hand in the meatgrinder. Yeast corn whatever its the alcohol. I wouldn't feel sorry at all. I hate it for ya.
jb

Title: Re: Beer Question
Post by JDH on Mar 20^th, 2006, 10:39pm

For me it's a no brainer, if I'm in a cycle and drink I will hurt.
I'd rather not hurt.

Jim

Title: Re: Beer Question
Post by burnt-toast on Mar 21^st, 2006, 6:35am

A beer or two while cooking was something I used to enjoy but not anymore. It is not worth the agony.

I've read posts that indicate alcohol is not a trigger for some sufferers during cycle. In my case alcohol = excruciating and extended attacks that cannot be stopped.

Tom

Title: Re: Beer Question
Post by Dragnlance on Mar 21^st, 2006, 9:48am

Ok, time to make some corrections here. All beer has yeast. Alcohol is the by-product of the yeast eating the sugars found in beer to start with.
Corn, rice and wheat are ADDED to beer for flavor, but all beer is made with Barley. The barley is carmalized and then boiled in pure water until the sugars are released from the grain. Hops are added for the bitterness to balance out the sweetness of the brew.
Additional things like corn (Miller beer uses corn) are for color. Rice and wheat add flavor.
Yeast causes what we know as fermentation. This is where the alcohol comes from. After the sugars are used up, the yeast dies, and the beer is aged to make certain yeast is dead and to allow the flavors to blend together well.
Some people have reactions to live yeast, most are sensitive to the alcohol. (i react to both)
I suggest your husband skip the beer until he is past his cycle.

Dragnlance

Title: Re: Beer Question
Post by jmorgan52 on Mar 21^st, 2006, 12:57pm

Giving up booze when in cycle is not easy. During the average 4-8 weeks cycle time there are many social events where the urge to join in the fun can get the better of you and you succumb to that beer. Not to mention peer pressure if you are younger. In the past (when I was much younger ;;D ) I tried various drinks to see if they all had the same effect. I found that Scotch and water seemed to have less of a trigger effect, but beer and wine hit me every time. Unfortunately In later years Scotch began to have the same effect as a beer on my CH. :-[

Now if I am in cycle I avoid all alchohol and then at least I have a fighting chance of making in thru the social event without the embarresment of an attack. I stick to Tonic (looks like a G&T) or similar "cocktails".

Out of cycle I can drink with the best of em.

Title: Re: Beer Question
Post by floridian on Mar 21^st, 2006, 7:32pm

on 03/21/06 at 09:48:50, Dragnlance wrote:

Corn, rice and wheat are ADDED to beer for flavor, but all beer is made with Barley. The barley is carmalized and then boiled in pure water until the sugars are released from the grain.
Additional things like corn (Miller beer uses corn) are for color. Rice and wheat add flavor.
Dragnlance

One correction to the corrections: Not all beer has barley. My wife (gluten intolerant) can drink only specialty brews that contain no wheat or barley. Millet beer is big in Africa and Asia. Sake is a beer (or malt-liquor, if you prefer USian terms) as it is made from fermented grain. Hard cider is a wine, as it is fermented fruit.

Title: Re: Beer Question
Post by Jonny on Mar 21^st, 2006, 8:06pm

on 03/20/06 at 11:25:45, IpityU wrote:

My husband loves his beer as so many others do too!

Who really gives a shit whats in it....it will be a trigger or it wont!

If a dudes favorite beer is a trigger, he wont drink it in cycle. Not many guys like a change in their beer ;;D

I could be wrong, im 30 years chronic and have not found anything that triggers.

Title: Re: Beer Question
Post by _Lee_ on Mar 25^th, 2006, 8:37pm

Lithium and possibly shrooms may stop this reaction to alcohol, beer, wine or Jack Daniels. Since I started lithium long before shrooms, I would say lithium is more likely to stop alcohol related cluster headaches. As I think jonny may agree as He might not consume shrooms.

To add

I recall Pinkfloyd and I consuming vast quantities of alcohol
one evening, neither one of us came down with a cluster. I don't know about PF,s lithium usage.