Re: some thoughts on the subject of alcohol and Samter's Triad

[Guest guest]

Dave: That is really helpful. I have always wondered why things with corn

syrup ( which is just about eveything) bother me. Carol

some thoughts on the subject of alcohol and Samter's

Triad

>I have been a Sampter's patient since 1974, diagnosed at age 30, one

> of the youngest patients ever identified. Nat'l Jewish hospital and

> Universty hospital in Colorado have followed my case.

>

> I am now 61, regarded as the longest living Samter's patient in the

> state.

>

> I've learned alot through 30+ sinus surgeries, 4 brain surgeries,

> several near fatal asthma attacks, and many many doctors.

>

> Early in my case wine would give me hay fever like symptoms

> (sneezing, runny nose and light wheezing) for 2 reasons - the mold

> in the wine and the added sulfites. I am a sulfite as well as

> asprin reactive Samter's patient and the reationary process to

> sulfites is progressive. Today a reasonable ingestion of sulfites

> would kill me as it nearly did in 1988.

>

> Sulfites occur naturally in wine as in other things like potatoes in

> trace amounts and other food items which can be identfied through

> internet research. One of the most insidious locations for

> sulfites to hide is in corn syrup. You will not find sulfites on

> any labels because the sulfites are used in the processing of corn

> syrup. Nevertheless sulfite residue is in corn syrup. Nearly all

> processed foods contain corn syrup and so sulfite residue. The

> cumulative effect can be very severe.

>

> Patients in my study groups who eliminate corn syrup from their

> diets signifcantly lower their asthma thresholds and are able to

> reduce medication dependence by 50% or more.

>

> Today beer makes me sneeze and my nose run profusely. Too bad I

> liked a beer from time to time.

>

> Hope my experrience willhelp someone.

>

> Dave

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dave, thanks for sharing your experiences. I'm going to National Jewish this wednesday for the first time since moving back to Colorado. You mentioned 4 brain surgeries, are these because of Samters? Rex Youngrex@...On Feb 20, 2006, at 2:39 PM, daddymac7ds wrote: I have been a Sampter's patient since 1974, diagnosed at age 30, one of the youngest patients ever identified.  Nat'l Jewish hospital and Universty hospital in Colorado have followed my case. I am now 61, regarded as the longest living Samter's patient in the state. I've learned alot through 30+ sinus surgeries, 4 brain surgeries, several near fatal asthma attacks, and many many doctors. Early in my case wine would give me hay fever like symptoms (sneezing, runny nose and light wheezing) for 2 reasons - the mold in the wine and the added sulfites.  I am a sulfite as well as asprin reactive Samter's patient and the reationary process to sulfites is progressive.  Today a reasonable ingestion of sulfites would kill me as it nearly did in 1988. Sulfites occur naturally in wine as in other things like potatoes in trace amounts and other food items which can be identfied through internet research.   One of the most insidious locations for sulfites to hide is in corn syrup.  You will not find sulfites on any labels because the sulfites are used in the processing of corn syrup.  Nevertheless sulfite residue is in corn syrup. Nearly all processed foods contain corn syrup and so sulfite residue.  The cumulative effect can be very severe. Patients in my study groups who eliminate corn syrup from their diets signifcantly lower their asthma thresholds and are able to reduce medication dependence by 50% or more. Today beer makes me sneeze and my nose run profusely.  Too bad I liked a beer from time to time. Hope my experrience willhelp someone. Dave

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/18/2006 9:57:48 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, condour@... writes:

But for me, all alcohol has at least some effect, which would lead me to believe that it's not just an additive or sulfite, but the alcohol itself, which probably does affect the same inflammatory system

Alcohol is also a strong, quick vasodilator. Some drugs designed to specifically cause vasodilation also list severe rhinitis as a possible side effect. Might be a vascular connection here. Also, several have mentioned that the prescription anti-histamine spray Astelin is very useful to avoid the congestion reaction from alcohol. I don't know if alcohol causes a histamine reaction too, or if Astelin acts as a nasal vasoconstricter. If it works, which it does, who cares. It beats sneezing into your beer. Or, in my case, a six pack.

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone - I am fairly new to this group and this is my first post.

I have been struggling with Samster's Triad since I was 20 years old

in 1997. I suffer from most if not all the symptoms our members share

with us. Allergic reactions to alcohol, certain types of foods, dry

skin, puffy eyes, fatigue, numerous failed polyp surgeries and

treatments, etc.

Up until recently I thought I simply had acute sinusitis. As it was

explained to me. I was diagnosed in the past 6 months with Samster's

Triad. This came after my first visit to a second opinion ENT.

Almost immediately after explaining my situation he diagnosed me with

Samster's Triad. Great, now I can put a name with my condition.

I found Dave's post interesting because I suffer from the same

symptoms with alcohol as he does. I cannot touch a beer anymore

because I get the worst headache with constant sneezing and a

profusely runny nose.

I guess I am looking to share my story and ask a few basic questions.

Growing up, my mother always said I was allergic to " sulfa drugs " .

To this day, I still cannot identify what sulfa drugs are.

1. Does anyone know if there is any relationship between sulfa drugs

and sulfites or salicylate's?

2. Has anyone tried and been successful at eating a " low salicylate diet " ?

Thank you,

Todd-

>

> I have been a Sampter's patient since 1974, diagnosed at age 30, one

> of the youngest patients ever identified. Nat'l Jewish hospital and

> Universty hospital in Colorado have followed my case.

>

> I am now 61, regarded as the longest living Samter's patient in the

> state.

>

> I've learned alot through 30+ sinus surgeries, 4 brain surgeries,

> several near fatal asthma attacks, and many many doctors.

>

> Early in my case wine would give me hay fever like symptoms

> (sneezing, runny nose and light wheezing) for 2 reasons - the mold

> in the wine and the added sulfites. I am a sulfite as well as

> asprin reactive Samter's patient and the reationary process to

> sulfites is progressive. Today a reasonable ingestion of sulfites

> would kill me as it nearly did in 1988.

>

> Sulfites occur naturally in wine as in other things like potatoes in

> trace amounts and other food items which can be identfied through

> internet research. One of the most insidious locations for

> sulfites to hide is in corn syrup. You will not find sulfites on

> any labels because the sulfites are used in the processing of corn

> syrup. Nevertheless sulfite residue is in corn syrup. Nearly all

> processed foods contain corn syrup and so sulfite residue. The

> cumulative effect can be very severe.

>

> Patients in my study groups who eliminate corn syrup from their

> diets signifcantly lower their asthma thresholds and are able to

> reduce medication dependence by 50% or more.

>

> Today beer makes me sneeze and my nose run profusely. Too bad I

> liked a beer from time to time.

>

> Hope my experrience willhelp someone.

>

> Dave

>

[Guest guest]

Todd,The general consensus among scientists is that saliclates themselves aren't to blame for our problem; it's the specific effect that aspirin has as an NSAID that causes the reaction (which is why other NSAIDS like ibuprofen -- which have no salicylates -- produce the same reaction). Some people do seem to feel better when avoiding salicylates though.

I think everyone here who drinks will agree that they have a reaction to alcohol. Some find it worse with wine and beer (I know i do). But for me, all alcohol has at least some effect, which would lead me to believe that it's not just an additive or sulfite, but the alcohol itself, which probably does affect the same inflammatory system. The best solution was aspirin desensitization, which made it possible to drink alcohol without any effects. (except drunkenness)

-MikeOn 3/18/06, todd.henry <todd.henry@...> wrote:

Hello everyone - I am fairly new to this group and this is my first post.I have been struggling with Samster's Triad since I was 20 years oldin 1997. I suffer from most if not all the symptoms our members share

with us. Allergic reactions to alcohol, certain types of foods, dryskin, puffy eyes, fatigue, numerous failed polyp surgeries andtreatments, etc.Up until recently I thought I simply had acute sinusitis. As it was

explained to me. I was diagnosed in the past 6 months with Samster'sTriad. This came after my first visit to a second opinion ENT.Almost immediately after explaining my situation he diagnosed me withSamster's Triad. Great, now I can put a name with my condition.

I found Dave's post interesting because I suffer from the samesymptoms with alcohol as he does. I cannot touch a beer anymorebecause I get the worst headache with constant sneezing and aprofusely runny nose.

I guess I am looking to share my story and ask a few basic questions. Growing up, my mother always said I was allergic to " sulfa drugs " .To this day, I still cannot identify what sulfa drugs are.

1. Does anyone know if there is any relationship between sulfa drugsand sulfites or salicylate's?2. Has anyone tried and been successful at eating a " low salicylate diet " ?Thank you,Todd-

>> I have been a Sampter's patient since 1974, diagnosed at age 30, one

> of the youngest patients ever identified. Nat'l Jewish hospital and> Universty hospital in Colorado have followed my case.>> I am now 61, regarded as the longest living Samter's patient in the

> state.>> I've learned alot through 30+ sinus surgeries, 4 brain surgeries,> several near fatal asthma attacks, and many many doctors.>> Early in my case wine would give me hay fever like symptoms

> (sneezing, runny nose and light wheezing) for 2 reasons - the mold> in the wine and the added sulfites. I am a sulfite as well as> asprin reactive Samter's patient and the reationary process to

> sulfites is progressive. Today a reasonable ingestion of sulfites> would kill me as it nearly did in 1988.>> Sulfites occur naturally in wine as in other things like potatoes in> trace amounts and other food items which can be identfied through

> internet research. One of the most insidious locations for> sulfites to hide is in corn syrup. You will not find sulfites on> any labels because the sulfites are used in the processing of corn

> syrup. Nevertheless sulfite residue is in corn syrup. Nearly all> processed foods contain corn syrup and so sulfite residue. The> cumulative effect can be very severe.>> Patients in my study groups who eliminate corn syrup from their

> diets signifcantly lower their asthma thresholds and are able to> reduce medication dependence by 50% or more.>> Today beer makes me sneeze and my nose run profusely. Too bad I> liked a beer from time to time.

>> Hope my experrience willhelp someone.>> Dave>

[Guest guest]

>

>

> In a message dated 3/18/2006 9:57:48 A.M. US Mountain Standard

Time,

> condour@... writes:

>

> But for me, all alcohol has at least some effect, which would lead

me to

> believe that it's not just an additive or sulfite, but the

alcohol itself,

> which probably does affect the same inflammatory system

>

>

> Alcohol is also a strong, quick vasodilator. Some drugs designed

to

> specifically cause vasodilation also list severe rhinitis as a

possible side effect.

> Might be a vascular connection here. Also, several have

mentioned that the

> prescription anti-histamine spray Astelin is very useful to avoid

the

> congestion reaction from alcohol. I don't know if alcohol causes

a histamine

> reaction too, or if Astelin acts as a nasal vasoconstricter. If

it works, which

> it does, who cares. It beats sneezing into your beer. Or, in my

case, a six

> pack.

>

>

>

I have always had problems with alcohol (for the last 14 years

anyway) but since my last polypectomy in November the alcohol

problems have vanished ( my asthma has got a lot worse but that is

another story!) My consultant reckoned that as alcohol is a

vasodilator it will have a disproportianate effect on polyps which

have their own blood supply. Maybe the complete removal of the polyps

has (temporarily) fixed the problem. I,m not sure if this helps you,

but if you can have any polyps removed or shrunk it might cure the

problem with beer without the need for antihistamines ( which never

worked for me!)