Son Thinks I Lied

I'm sorry to hear that! I bet this is a very frustrating situation for you. Not that it helps, but I will tell you that I am allergic to sulfa drugs (and a few others)... I probably found out about the sulfa allergy when I was in junior or high school. I don't think we were told to stay away from alcohol. I did drink a bunch in college, but not much now (I'm 32). No harm done (although I know everyone is different).

Hi D.! I found several websites that prove you correct go this link http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alcohol-allergy/AN00818 and also http://www.allergycapital.com.au/Pages/alcohol.html. Both of these articles speak of sulfa and or sulfites being present in alcohol and the allergy and reaction it can cause. I hope this can help you. Don't buckle though you are the parent.He should listen and stay in a child's place.

Hello D., if you go to Google.com and request a list of things to avoid allergic to sulfa. You will find a list of foods to avoid including Wine which is an alcohol beverage. I hope this website helps you. I too have a 17 year old son and we too have a very close relationship.

L.

I did some research on sulfa drugs and alcohol and here are a few things I found on different sites. Hope this helps.

Sulfite Allergies

A group of sulfur-containing compounds known as sulfites occur naturally in wine and beer, and they help inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. Vintners sometimes add additional sulfites to wines as preservatives. In susceptible individuals, sulfites can trigger asthma attacks or even anaphylactic shock.

For most sulfite-sensitive people, the asthmatic response is dose-sensitive and very low amounts of sulfites do not trigger a response. U.S. labeling laws require any food with sulfite concentrations greater than 10 parts per million (ppm) to be listed on the label using the term "contains sulfites," and for the vast majority of people, concentrations too low to require this warning don't cause problems.

If your allergist has alerted you that you may be at risk of anaphylaxis or other systemic reactions due to sulfites, however, you should avoid all wine, since there is no such thing as a truly sulfite-free wine. Organic wines are, by law, not allowed to include added sulfites, though some do include enough natural sulfites to be problematic for some asthmatic individuals.

Sulfa Drugs - Sulfa drugs are anti-infectives which are used to treat stomach and urinary infections.

Some commonly used sulfa drugs: co-trimoxazole/Bactrim, Septra sulfisoxazole/Gantrisin

Interaction - Avoid alcohol, as the combination may cause nausea.

Which Foods Contain Sulfites?
Greater than 100 ppm of sulfites (very high levels, strict avoidance advised in people with sulfite allergy)

* dried fruits (excluding dark raisins and prunes)
* bottled lemon juice (non-frozen)
* bottled lime juice (non-frozen)
* wine
* molasses
* sauerkraut (and its juice)
* grape juices (white, white sparkling, pink sparkling, red sparkling)
* pickled cocktail onions

Between 50 and 99.9 ppm of sulfites (moderate to high levels of sulfite, avoidance advised in people with sulfite allergy)

* dried potatoes
* wine vinegar
* gravies/sauces
* fruit toppings
* Maraschino cherries

Between 10 and 49.9 ppm of sulfites (low to moderate levels of sulfite, may cause symptoms in people with severe sulfite allergy)

* pectin
* fresh shrimp
* corn syrup
* pickled peppers
* pickles/relish
* corn starch
* hominy
* frozen potatoes
* maple syrup
* imported jams and jellies
* fresh mushrooms
* imported sausages and meats
* cordials (alcoholic)
* dehydrated vegetables
* various cheeses
* corn bread/muffin mix
* canned/jarred clams
* clam chowder
* avocado dip/guacamole
* imported fruit juices and soft drinks
* ciders and cider vinegars

Less than 10 ppm of sulfites (very low sulfite levels, generally do not pose a risk, even for people with sulfite allergy)

* malt vinegar
* canned potatoes
* beer
* dry soup mix
* soft drinks
* frozen pizza and pie dough
* beet sugar
* gelatin
* coconut
* fresh fruit salad
* domestic jams and jellies
* crackers
* cookies
* grapes
* high fructose corn syrup

My husband is 44 and is allergic to Sulfa. He has never avoided alcohol and was never told to avoid it. So, I am unsure about what you were told. He does drink a beer almost every evening and will have something if we are out. Never any problems with that. Perhaps the ER nurse was not correct...

So...In researching your question, I do not think you lied, so much as you were misinformed. I think perhaps if you put it to your son in this light, he might be a bit more understanding. Information changes so much as technology increases over the years and what could have been thought true at one point can be proven wrong now, etc.

In my research it was thought that people with sulfa sensitivity or allergies would have a reaction to wines, but it has been determined more recently that it is probably other things in the wine that causes the reaction than the actual sulf.

The link from my research which explains the whole thing in detail is:

http://www.itmonline.org/arts/sulfa.htm

I hope that this helps.

I am sorry that you are in this predicament and you may want to seek family counseling with both of your sons to help reconnect with them. ;-)

Hi D.
This is the 14 yr old correct? Well I suggest you take him to the doctors have him retested and have the Doctor tell him. You showing him websites is not going to prove that he is allergic. And maybe the doctor can help inform you more also (what to avoid - maybe even some helpful websites)or maybe - is this something he can grow out of? or will it be all of his life? But I do believe whatever the case, that if he heard it from a Doctor there would be less doubt.
Good luck and GOD Bless.

Take him to the dr. and let the dr. tell him he his this allergy and what items has sulfa. Maybe if your son hears it from the dr. he will begin to believe.

Dear D.,
I too am very allergic to sulfa drugs. As I was growing up, I also drank and never could understand why I always felt so sick afterwards, I am now in my 40's and was recently told by my doctor exactly what you were told. For years I suffered with this problem, please show this to your son, maybe he will understand. All of my friends thought I was just being a wimp and couldn't handle my liqour. I feel so much better since I don't drink any more. I wish all doctors would make this known.

Can you get medical records that show he is allergic to sulfa drugs? Or get him to go to the doctor with you? There are tests that can be done to prove if he is allergic to it.
My husband is allergic to sulfa drugs and we occassionally drink but he's never had a problem. Maybe just some types of alcohol have the sulfa in them.

Here's one.

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diseases/dangerous...

Maybe I am reading your post wrong, but is it your 14 year old son who is angry about not being able to drink?? If so, (as a mom of sons 25, 24 and 20), I would would have a long heart to heart talk about why he is concerned about this at such a young age. (There is a chance he is already being pressured--by himself or others--to drink.)
Blessings,
D.

I would think that the age of 14 would be mature enough to cart your son to the Dr. and have the Dr. confirm to him that what you have been telling him since infancy is true. And what dangers to his health may incur if he ignores the facts. Talk to your dr. about this. M. K

D.,
I am sorry to say, that was irresponsible nursing. The component in alcohol she is referring to is "sulfites" in wine. It is not related to "sulfa" containing antibiotics. It is possible to be allergic to sulfites as well, but it is distinctly different from sulfa. I hope this helpsin your internet search.
K. Sanders

I don't know a website for you, but I am allergic to Sulfa drugs. I have never been told to avoid alcohol because of this, and I have had a drink from time to time. It has never harmed me. Either way, I think I would have a talk with both sons to figure out why they think you would lie to either one of them. I would also explain to your younger son about when you found out he was allergic. It may help put some perspective for why he doesn't remember anything about it. Your older son was 5 or 6 when this all happened, he may not remember, either.

Good Luck!

Have you thought about taking him to the pharmacist. He could inform him. So he doesn't feel it is set up let him pick the pharmacist. Call several places and make sure they will give him a consult about it, then if so, take him. Have you asked the older son why he has done this? My younger son used to tell his older sister she was adopted, but she wasn't. Kids, they will drive you crazy just for the fun of it. Good luck

Here is a link to wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfonamide_(medicine)
The article describes all the sulfa drugs available. It does say however that allergies to sulfa drugs has nothing to do with allergies to sulfates and sulfites (which are additives in alcohol) so despite what the ER nurse said he should have no allergic reaction to alcohol. Most sulfa drugs are used as alternatives in cases where the bacteria is resistant to traditionally prescribed antibiotic or in urinary tract infections. Hopes this help. Tell your son you didn't lie that the ER nurse was misinformed. He should also carry the list of drugs his is allergic to now that he is older and more interested in his medical history.

D.,

I am also allergic to Sulfa Drugs. Noone ever told me not to drink alcohol. I do drink in moderation. Perhaps the nurse thought that the sulphites in some wine would cause an allergic reation. This is not the case in someone who is allergic to sulpha drugs. I googled sulfa drugs and got lots of info. Hope this helps.

I have been allergic to sulfa drugs since I was seven years old. My grandmother was allergic to them as well. Neither of us has ever had a serious reaction to alcohol, but I know some forms of alcohol tend to give me a headache while I am drinking them (wine, most cheap beer -bud, etc..). I usually drink "good" beer or Rolling Rock (made from rice) or rum. Also, I don't drink very much as I have never been as "thrilled" with the effect as most people. If I were you I would do more research on the alcohol connection and find out where the problem lies. A quick internet search found me this website as I was interested in the subject never having heard it before:

http://allergies.about.com/od/foodallergies/a/sulfites.htm

It seems to suggest wine, potato-based alcohols, and on a smaller level beer would have an effect. This may mean other forms of alcohol would be safe for your son and if you could find out which ones he would know you weren't just trying to keep him away from alcohol. By the way, I am also an asthmatic so it is possible that some of my mild attacks have been caused by the sulfides, I am unsure though as I have never checked for a correlation.

You could also ask your doctor on your sons next visit, well or sick, about the subject and let your son know that you aren't trying to keep him from alcohol and you want to find out just what the problem is as well.

If you have a moral issue with alcohol or have someone in your family who is an alcoholic and have other reasons for wanting your son to not drink alcohol as an adult be honest with him and tell him exactly what those reasons are and why. If not, let him know that you have no problem with him drinking you just want him to wait until he is a responsible adult. Include him in researching the problem with sulfa and alcohol so that he knows you aren't hiding anything and even share all of these responses with him so he knows you care. Then if you uncover a problem he will be fully educated on the issue.

Have you tried to get a copy of his early medical record or taken him to the doctor to let the doctor tell him this... That could be one way. Good luck! teens can be challenging

I could be completely wrong but I break out in a rash everytime I had any Rx with Sulfa in it. I drink and I dont have any reaction. Would love to know what you find out about alochol and sulfa? Kids are resilient and they cry wolf he will get over it.

I would be very upset with your older son. He is old enough to know better then stir the pot. I would have a serious conversation with him.

If your son belives that you are that clever to come up with this sort of "lie" to prevent him from something that he won't have to address for (hopefully) years to come....

Bottom line is he's 14 and people are drinking around him. I would guess. He has either had something to drink and didn't have a reaction so he thinks you are lieing or wants to try and is scared. Either way the issue isn't you..it's him. We often jump up and down and yell at someone when we have done something wrong.

Now- I would visit a allergist to gain more information. Some allergy reactations you have when esnu are young you can grow out of or are misdiagnosed.

Talk to a person who is educated in this. I am not saying an ER nurse isn't educated but she isn't a chemist. I am not either but I am wondering if she means the sulfites in wine. They are not in hard alchol.

You sound like a great Mother with three great children. Rember the youngest always will push you!

Cheers,
Youngest four and have had Asthma and allergies all my life. FYI: My mother told me not to drink wine and beer because they will irritate my condition. She was right but it took a while to listen.

Late 30's, 17 month old girl and fabu hubby!

HI D. . I'M VERY SORRY TO HERE THAT ABOUT YOUR SON BOTH HIS ILLNESS AND THE LIEING PART . MY FRIENDS DAUGHTER HAS THAT AND THIS IS THE SITE HER DR REQUESTED http://www.kdfoundation.org/ ALSO THE EMAIL TO ASK THE QUESTION ____@____.com WHICH MY FRIENDS GIRL CAN NOT TAKE ANYTHING WITH SULFA TOO !!!! HOPE THIS HELPS !!! AND ALSO MAYBE YOU GUYS SHOULD LOOK TOGETHER AT THIS SITE AND LET YOUR SON EMAIL THE QUESTION SO THERES NO CONFUSION AND THAT TO ME SHOWS YOUR CONSIDERING MAYBE THE DOCTOR WAS WRONG ABOUT THE SULFA!!!! AGAIN GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS,JENNY
P.S. SOMETIMES KIDS CAN BE SO SILLY WHY WOULD WE WISH A SICKNESS ON THEM JUST TO STOP THEM FROM DRINKING OR EVEN DRUGS I MEAN I DON'T WANT MY BOYS DOING THAT BUT IF I SET A EXAMPLE THEN HOPEFULLY WITH GODS HELP THEY WONT!!!!!! GOOD LUCK!!

I agree with Dequa S. Take your son to a doc and have him tested. Let the doc tell him what he can and can't do while having these allergies. Everytime a person is exposed to their allergen, the reaction gets worse. If your son has upper respiratory or oral reactions, he could have anaphylactic shock as an eventual reaction.

That was really crappy of your other son to say that everyone knew. Get a confession out of him in front of the allergic son.

I am also allergic to sulfa, and I can not drink American grocery store beer because it makes my face break out in hives. Of course, every person is different, so your son may have a different reaction.

I also have a serious problem with Gun Shot Residue. I discovered this when I was in the Air Force. I had requalified on the M-16, and sat in my GSR covered uniform for the rest of the day. By 7 p.m. that evening, my sinuses were SO swollen you could see it under my eyes! My husband is a cop, so if he fires his weapon he has to shower as soon as he comes home from work and put his uniform in the wash for me. If I fire a weapon, after coming home, I put my outfit in the wash, and shower immediately.

Okay, all I can do is relate my experience with a sulfa allergy. I was not officially diagnosed until I was in college, but my first "bad" reaction was after sharing a bottle of cheap red wine with some high school friends. I broke out in hives around my hairline and face. Luckily, I did not have much of the wine, and the hives disappeared overnight. The second, and far more dangerous, reaction occured after drinking far too much cheap red wine while in college. I again broke out in hives, but this time the swelling happened on all extremities and down my neck and chest, and I was having difficulty breathing. Luckily, my sober roommate rushed me to the ER where I was given a shot of adreniline to counterreact the reaction. The doctors then informed me I had a sulfa allergy. The swelling in my face took weeks to subside...I could have suffocated if not for my dear roomie. Yes, sulfa allergies are lethal, and yes, they are tied to alcohol, specifically cheap wines that have lots of sulfites. (I do drink wine now, red or white, with no problems -- I suspect that it's because I don't drink the cheap stuff anymore).

As an adult, I had reactions when I took ibuproferin (sp? -- like Motrin) and aspirin. The aspirin reaction was a surprise, as I had taken aspirin all my life. I just all of the sudden started developing the hives after taking some for a headache. When that happened, I realized one thing I should always have on hand is Benydryl. I'm sure there's some other medicine I could be carrying around if I have a breakout, but the Benedryl is cheap and easy. So, I avoid cheap red wine, aspirin, and ibuproferin, and of course, all sulfa antibiotics. Good luck getting more info on the web. You might find talking to a doc more productive.

have an allergy test done on him. Usually your insurance will cover it, and it will tell you everything that he may be allergic to. Also, see if you can find his medical records that say that was the diagnosis. If he is old enough to think that you are lying, then he is old enough to see the facts.

Why don't you call a doctor's office that specializes in that disorder. I'm sure the nurse will give you any info you want for free. Also, you can have your son research this. Tell him you did not lie. This is what you were told.

You should probably have him tested, because if he IS allergic then he could die if he has it. According to this http://members.aol.com/nosulfites/where.htm

it's most important to stay away from white wine and dried apricots but there's a huge amount to food with sulpher...but that's foods not medications and as you have already heard there are differences in the meds vs the foods. So there again, an allergy test would be beneficial.

As someone else said, I would be worried about a 14 year old getting so upset about not being able to drink. There needs to be a serious discussion about the dangers of alcohol. It's not just "cool."

S., mom to four girls

Sounds to me like you are a very loving and concerned mother. Your son's reaction is so typical of someone his age--any ol' excuse to make you feel bad. I recommend you have him completely re-tested for his allergy and get it straight once and for all. I would be sure to involve the original pediatrician as well. If after that your boy wants to put his life at risk, all you can do is lecture him on the woes of drinking at an early age, etc., and hope to reason with him. He obviously wants to have a drink and is afraid to.

I was drinking whiskey when I was 13. It's a natural inclination to experiment, but I'm not saying it is a good one. My parents didn't sit on me hard enough. Then my own son turned out to be a late bloomer, played Dungeons and Dragons until he was 17, didn't date early, erarely ever drank, went to college and graduated, didn't smoke until he was 30, blah blah. You just never know, do you?

The main thing is keep your lines of communication open. Don't let him turn his back on you. Face these things together, with his dad and brother even. For him to think you tried to trick him is ludicrous. I'm sure that's just a ploy to make you feel bad. Don't fall for it. Just be a loving, caring mom and show him how far you will go to make it right in his eyes. He'll get over it soon enough.

And if it turns out he really is allergic to alcohol, it might be a blessing in disguise.

Best of luck to you.

Regards, J.

D.,

I am sorry that your son is being so immature about this, but he is only 14. You really need to have a talk with his brother, as he is the one who started this and he should help fix it. It sounds like you are a fairly mild mother who takes responsibility and blame for things too readily. In this case you need to stand up for yourself and tell your son to stop disrespecting you and that you don't care what he thinks, the fact of the matter is that he is allergic to sulfa whether he wants to believe it or not. Tell him that if he takes antibiotic sulfas, these medications can cause him to have kidney failure and die. If he wants to play around with that because he doesn't believe you, that is his life he is toying with. Unfortunately, I have not found any information that says to stay away from alcohol when you have a sulfa allergy. As a matter of fact, it seems that there are only certain sulfonamides that people are allergic to and they are almost all antibiotic in nature.

"The antibiotic sulfonamides are different structurally from the non-antibiotic sulfonamides, and appear to be much more likely to result in allergic reactions. Many of the sulfa non-antibiotics, therefore, do not cause problems in people with sulfa antibiotic allergy."

source: http://allergies.about.com/od/medicationallergies/a/sulfa...

"Sulfa allergies are common, hence medications containing sulfonamides are prescribed carefully.It is important to make a distinction between sulfa drugs and other sulfur-containing drugs and additives, such as sulfates and sulfites, which are chemically unrelated to the sulfonamide group, and do not cause the same hypersensitivity reactions seen in the sulfonamides."

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfonamide_(medicine)

While Alcohol contains sulfides, it does not contain sulfonamides. There is an interesting experiment on beer and sulfides at: http://www.restek.com/restek/images/external/59462.pdf

You may want to ask a doctor about the original statement to stay away from alcohol though, because alcohol allergies are far less common. They also present like hangovers, so are very hard to diagnose. Keep in mind I am not a Doctor, I am a researcher.

In the meantime, tell your son that it is years before he will be of drinking age anyway and when that time comes, he can make the decision for himself. After all it is ultimately up to him. In the meantime as his mother, you can keep him informed of the hazzards of drinking: biological dependence/alcoholism, drunk driving, promiscuity/poor judgement which can result in pregnancy/STDs.

Good luck and God Bless you for having a teenager...two down, one to go!

I think you've got some good advice here. Since, for some reason, your son is having trust issues, take him to the doc so he can here it straight from the horse's mouth--and the doc can tell him what he needs to avoid and what won't be a problem. Unfortunately, I think there's a chance the conversation make cause some short-term problems, because from my research I think a previous poster was right: the ER nurse was confused about the 3 different allergies that some carelessly group under "sulfa allergies" and gave you bad information. It's not your fault, and I'm sure she meant well--but in the future you might want to verify any medical advice you get with your child's own physician.

Here's what I found.

Info on sulfa allergies (the implication I got was that the only thing to worry about was sulfa medication, not food): http://allergies.about.com/od/medicationallergies/a/sulfa...

Info on the confusion between sulfa, sulfite, and sulfate allergies: http://allergies.about.com/b/2007/05/01/the-confusion-wit...

And if you really do need it, a list of foods high in sulfer: http://www.canarys-eye-view.org/challenges/food/sulfurfoo...

Hi D.:

I'm very sorry to hear your relationship with your son is strained. You may want to question your older son to find out why he said everyone knew the younger son is not actually allergic to sulfa. Maybe a group/family conversation can help clear the air.

What I wanted to suggest is that you talk to a pharmacist or doctor (allergist) about the link between sulfa and alcohol allergies.

I, too, am allergic to sulfa (rash, hives) but I am able to drink all types of alcohol without any issue. There are also different levels of "allergic-ness", so if your son is only mildly allergic to sulfa as opposed to throat closing, etc., he may also be able to drink when he's older without a problem....tell him at 14 he shouldn't be thinking about drinking anyway!

I did an internet search for a link between alcohol and sulfa allergies and I couldn't find any info...it wouldn't be the first time a medical professional passed on wrong info. Maybe the RN is wrong and it would be ashame to ruin your relationship over a mis-truth.

best of luck.

J. Jansen

As a person that is allergic to sulfa, your son is not alone. I hate the fact that some of the best foods contain sulfites. Cheese and wine are the two major ones that contain sulfites and I have to stay away from them. I am not a very big drinker but it does put a damper on certain celebrations. The only thing that contains sulfites is the wine. If your son, insists on drinking, tell him to stay away from any kind of wine or wine based drinks.

Hope this helps!

Here are a few links to get you started and a little clip from one of them specifically.

When looking for a key word in an article - Hold down the control key, and type the letter F at the same time - you can then type in the word you are searching for in an article such as "sulfa" or "alcohol". Some of the articles are rather lengthy and would take some time to find the key words.

Links
http://www.hoptechno.com/book10.htm

There are several forums out there for Kawasaki disease...you might post there and ask the same questions

http://www.kdforum.org/
http://www.kdfoundation.org/
Good luck!

Deb

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Clipped Article
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Sulfa Drugs - Sulfa drugs are anti-infectives which are used to treat stomach and urinary infections.

Some commonly used sulfa drugs: co-trimoxazole/Bactrim, Septra sulfisoxazole/Gantrisin

Interaction - Avoid alcohol, as the combination may cause nausea.

Hi D.,
I just wanted to add my 2 cents. I am very allergic to sulfa meds. I drink occasionally and have never had an adverse reaction to beer. I do get a headache from some red wines, but other than that I have never had a problem. When going out to eat I like to try different mixed drink specials etc and have never had a problem.

I agree that you should let his DR tell you both what he is allergic to and what he's not. Some people may have rections to certain thing and other people may not. Everyone reacts to things differently.

I'm sorry he feels that you lied, but I would stadn my ground and let him know you were only going by what a medical professional told you. Some of the web sites provided may help you prove your point that you did not lie. I would also let him knwo that since everyone may react to things differently he may not have a reaction to all alcohol but that he's much too young to be worrying about that. This may be a good time to talk about good decision making and healthy choices for the future.

Good luck!

Is it possible to recontact the doctor who made he diagnosis? He would have all the answers. If he is not around, surely your son's records were stored someplace.

Doctors records can be obtained by writing a simple letter. Even if his practice has been taken over by another Dr. By law they must keep the records. I'm allergic to sulfa and it is a good thing to know. It has been helpful over the years. I'm 65. Now I know why I can't take alcohol. Thanks for the information.

Hello D.,
I am 47,with 1 28 yr old daughter,1 son 19,1 son 18. I know how these boys think. The best proof is in the documents. If you dont have the original DRs. medical papers, send off for them. This will be the only proof you need. The best place to start is in the beginning when the 1st DR. told you the diagnosis.

Ps. the time spent on the research will be worth the effort to bring your relationship back together

good luck

Hello -

My husband's stepmother is allergic to sulfa drugs and she has to avoid several foods that contain them (bread, pasta, lots of processed foods. Important to note, she avoids wine liek the plague because of the sulfites they contain. You can find non-sulfite wines. Read labels - some hard liquor (like vodka) doesn't contain sulfites.

I would sit down with your son and gather some information and talk to him about it - I would encourage him to talk to a doctor, nutritionist or some other health professional to gather information on his own. Relate calmly that you are concerned for his health and tell him this is the information you've gathered thus far. I'd ask him where he got the idea that you lied, that you would not only premediate it, but perpetuate it all these years? Have an honest chat - let him know your feelings are hurt, but you're willing to do whatever it takes for him to be healthy.

Best of luck!

D.