Dark Liquors and Muscle Cramping

[AllGoodHere]

A few people (BCFS-ers) have told me they have this problem with dark liquors/alcohol increasing cramping and fasiculation 2-10 hours after consumption (and it doesn't occur with light liquors). And you don't have to over-imbide to get a negative effect (this quantity is as variable as we are). Any of you have had this reaction or heard about it? Well, at least it can be fun to test.....So I did some research and found that the darker a liquor, the more congeners it contains. Congeners are by-products of fermentation and are the number one culprit to blame for very bad hangovers after dehydration and plain outright overconsumption. (Google congeners+alcohol+medical to screen out some of the weird web stuff) Many are also somewhat toxic so perhaps our already stressed nervous systems can't take them? A Harvard site also points out that some congeners have histamine qualities. So that may affect our immune system? I have also noticed this same excessive and sudden cramping following consumption of fish sauce for me (very often used in Thai, Viet, and other Asian cusines) - which, BTW, is also a fermented product. So, another question is: what other fermented products have these effects and why? Any dieticians or nutritionists out there that can answer this?I edited this post because there were no responses - so if you think you've seen it before - you have. Let me know if you think dark alsoholic beverages affect you, OK? It would be good to see if there was a consensus - the information may help some people.

 

[ZekesTraveller]

My last meal before getting full blown BCFS was a Chinese restraunt. Honestly one of my friend thought it was funny that the waiter was a flaming homo. But it did not bother me that he was sooooooo gay but my friend would not stop make fun of the guy.Maybe his intended target was not the final recipient of his fish out attack. Maybe the hit was placed on the wrong guy....ME ! Honestly I have though about this but with all the weird stuff coming from China. Well then what? Good investigation! It makes me feel that my coco ideas are shared by others. And they just may be true!

 

[zinflodia]

The Germans are big on histamine intolerance causing all kinds of systemic problems. They even list histamine content on their food packaging.

 

[GolferGalaxy]

I've noticed my internal tremors/shaking is much worse if I've consumed any whiskey the night before. I will usually wake up in the middle of the night feeling as if my whole body is buzzing.CDC

 

[LeftyCanuck1]

Hi Guys: I like this type of Brain Storming. It looks like the next step is to try some anti histamines and see what theeffect is. Only thing is I bet some one has already tried them.Lefty C

 

[alyLeoNCali]

Apparently some on this board have found that antihistamines reduce their symptoms.--alyLeoNCali

 

[AllGoodHere]

Oh, the histamine thing does connect with cogeners (good lead you guys) as histamine content is high in all fermented foods (and liquors). See this article if you are interested: So what does this mean? Gad, who knows? At most it may mean that I may personally be better off staying away from histamine rich foods and maybe a few others may benefit. This may be preferable to taking antihistamines regularly - they make me pretty drowzy. A trial of one.I agree - brain-storming is good. Knowledge is power. I feel less powerless. Well, that lasted a few minutes.

 

[jamietwist]

Although oddly, the antihistamine Benadryl (diphenhydramine hydrochloride) has a side effect of twitching. The more likely connection, especially with fish sauce and alcohol, is glutamate function.

 

[AllGoodHere]

Glutamate function? I thought that only had to do with the central nervous system rather than the peripheral? Please explain.I used to use antihistamines for sinus stuff but oddly, since I've had pnhe I haven't been bothered by sinus problems. Benedryl always made me drowsy - never twiched with it. The twiching is not that bothersome to me - it's the muscle spasms & cramps often followed by sprains, strains, etc. that are difficult.I'm into this histamine research now and am trying the histamine free diet which is pretty difficult for me since it omits many of my favorite foods, juices, etc. I found it on a website for idiopathic urticaria, an autoimmune disorder, which has a few similar symptoms as bcfs/pnhe. Noted especially the panic attack symptom which it appears many people here suffer from since several have mentioned needing calming Rx's. Anybody have input on this?