60 units a week

I got sober on The Steps not the meetings. I found that it was not AA that depressed me, it was the personalities at the meetings and my own reactions to them.

Good luck, I admire you for being so positive.  I think you are doing the right thing by not being too set on abstaining altogether, that could be something that you could consider in the future if you need to.

Keep us posted, I will be watching out for you.

Pat

Nalmefene is the answer to that Dfaz

 

I'm increasingly thinking that myself, what's the kind of information you have to give your doctor?

Will he do a liver test? 

 

Not before prescribing Nalmefene he won't, no. But he would want to know your level of consumption.

I'm not doing it Paul, I've known my GP 33 years and I can't go to him and admit I've got a drink problem. 

I'm going to beat this on my own, I'm going to cut down and I'm going to get back to what I used to be, I used to go the gym 5 days a week, I was obsessed and I think I need that dedication to stop this horrid problem I've got. 

 

It is not as simple as that Dfaz, everyone here will tell you that. It is impossible to cut down and stay cut down longterm without some medical assistance. I would say that if you have a GP that you can't talk to, you should consider changing GP.

dfaz1981 please listen to the advice given by Paul. Am afraid I agree with another poster that you are burying your head in the sand. You won't go to your gp for help, you seem bothered by the thought of having a LFT. 60 units a week is a hell of a lot of alcohol. From personal experience that you may have every intention of cutting down on booze, it works for a while, but gradually creeps up on you. You will find that over time you need more and more alcohol to get the buzz you crave. I got to the point where if I carried on drinking I'd have become alcohol dependant.

if you won't go to your Dr, I had exvellent advice and care from my local ADS. Could you not find a clinic or support group. I had one to one

meetings with a support worker and can now drink socially, but never spirits.

good luck

Wish I had your will power!!

Take it you are drinking then, keep you chin up Patricia, tomorrow is another day. 

Make the step and have a night off tomorrow. 

I don't think I can do that.

Fingers crossed for you.

What do you generally drink in an evening?

 

I don't drink THAT much, and never ever before 8pm.  I guess it's around 5 to 10 units, but never more than that.  I just can't face an evening without a drink. 

Thank you for asking.

Have you still resisted??

Yeah I have, I'm the same to be honest, it's either four cans of lager or half a bottle of wine. 

I don't know if it's really that damaging but I do know with my average weekend drink it's an awful lot of alcohol for the week. 

My weekend is usually, 

Friday - Bottle of wine

Saturday - two beers and half a bottle of 70cl vodka

Sunday - 2 pints and six bottles of beer

I know to heavy heavy drinkers that more than likely doesn't sound that bad but to me it seems a lot. 

Yes, I guess it is a lot.  I drink the same at weekends too...unless I go out, but it's not much more even then. 

A few weeks back I had a liver function test and it came back clear....so that didn't give me any motivation to quit.  But perhaps it gave me a false sense of security.

Sometimes though, I think I need that drink so much that it is worth the risk of dying earlier than I would.  Do you know what I mean?  It's a bit of a dilemma for me.

I meant that I drink the same at the weekends as I do in the week.

how many years have you drinked like this?

 

It must be 20 years.

How many days you think you've missed in 20 years?

Without a drink that means. 

Perhaps 3 or 4 when I have been travelling and unable to get access to a drink.  I usually find a way.

Do you get embarrised by the bottle bin?

My biggest bug bear at the moment is the amount of alcohol bottles and cans in my recycle bin. 

The other thing I've noticed is I can't get to sleep the nights I've not had a drink. 

LOL....Yes, that's a worry for me, but I crush them so it doesn't look so bad.  I mainly drink cans of Barley wine, very rarely wine or spirits, so bottles aren't a problem.  It's so funny that you should ask me that....only a guilty drinker would think of it!!

Yes, I am terrified of not sleeping.....it's not the only reason, but it's one.

Okay good luck Pat, I will pop on again. 

 

Good luck to you, hope you make it.

Goodnight.

dfaz1981 whichever way you look at it, 60 units of alcohol per week is three times the recommended number of units. You say that to heavy drinkers it's not that bad. As I said in a previous post, those 60 units will become 70, then 80 and so on. You'll find yourself eventually needing a drink before you get up just to try and function to some degree of what you consider is 'normal'

I've been there and it's not a place I'd recommend. If you cut down now, it will save you a lot of heartache in the future

Hi Vickylou, I understand what you are saying that 60 units is to many, and I agree, but one thing this site has taught me is that, although we all feel we have a problem we are all very different.  I have been keeping a drink diary for 10 years and although my weekly average has fluctuated up & down during this period (and probably for the 15 years prior to that) I have never stepped over the line to need breakfast beer, we are wired differently and therefore need to approach the problem differently   

Yes vickylou, you, me and millions. We started off just drinking a bottle of wine for years, gradually getting to two bottles, then two and a half, then day times, eventually mornings. This happens over a number of years. "First you take, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you".. It's a dangerous game and it kills. So please listen to those who have been there.. It's great not waking up with a hangover and not thinking about my next drink all the time. Please try to stop now before it's too late..

meant first you take a drink..

I totally agree Em.  My drinking habits haven't changed for 20 years or more.  In fact I probably drink less now than I ever have.  I have never felt the need to increase my intake.  I drink every day, but never before 8pm.  In fact if I was offered a drink before that time of day I wouldn't want it.  It's a long standing habit with me.......I cannot agree that everyone who drinks regularly will gradually drink more and more.  Some will, some won't.....

I am not saying that it's alright to drink every day...it isn't.  But as Em says we are all wired differently.

Pat

Thanks Pat, I dont want to every say anything that upsets anyone who is trying or has already succeeded in achieving their goals.  When I drink my problem is that I cant sop, I dont have a switch I feel stupid and useless the next day (whether I not I remember what happens or get filled in by embarassed or pee'd off family) and then try really hard not to do it again but 1 drink could well lead to 10 without me noticing.  A normal, not too bad Friady or Saturday is still 15 units - way too many.  Its that which I would like to control.  Em

Oh bless you, I understand.  That has never been my problem, but I think you are like so many people on here.  I suppose that is what we call binge drinking? 

We are all different, but also the same, in that we have a problem with alcohol.  We are here to support each other, not to preach.

Take care love, you are precious.

Pat

Paper fairy twenty years ago I realised how serious my drink problem was. I used to keep half a bottle of vodka in my bathroom cabinet, next to my toothbrush and toothpaste. I'd have a swig before doing my teeth, another after showering, get dressed then have another before using mouthwash. That was my daily routine for a couple of months. I happened to glance in the mirror and a light switched on. I was mortified at how low I'd sunk. I tried AA but it wasn't for me. I've not drunk spirits since. I have several glasses of wine when out socially, or share a bottle with my husband at the weekend. I've not drunk alone for the last 20 years, and yes it's great not having hangovers😄😄 the purpose of my post was to try to get across to dfaz how alcohol will eventually win and as you described perfectly " then the drink takes you"

I was certainly not preaching to anyone. I was merely stating my own personal experience with alcohol. I used to attend group meetings and also one to one meetings with a support worker. In the group meetings the majority of people over the years had increased their alcohol intake as their

 addiction took over.

of course I know we are all different and what works for one person, won't help someone else, I didn't realise I had to spell that out. If you ask for advice and help on this forum and don't like the reply that's fine, you're choice. Just don't accuse people of preaching

It''s funny how people ignore our messages. You're right paper fairy. The drink took me. I had absolutely no choice and no control in the thought before the drink and once the alcohol was in me, no choice and no control over the amount I drank.

Down the years it went from ale and lager, wine to spirits to sedative and ethanol mouthwash. Social drinking to hard to isolated drinking. Pubs and clubs to bedroom and kitchen and hotel rooms to jail cells and hospitals and psych alcohol clinics, asylum, rehab and detox. From friends to strangers and no friends to ghosts during DTs.

I tried to stop. I couldn't on my own.

Alcohol is more powerful than me.

I gave in and asked for help.

I am 9 months and 22 days sober. One day at a time.

I'm aware of the pitfalls of drinking, unfortunately I'm fully aware drink can take over your life in that way. That doesn't mean I fully agree that this will happen to every drinker. 

I've never been tempted with a drink before I feel comfortable drinking, I'm fully aware of my responsibilities in life and I always make sure they are delt with before even relaxing with a drink. 

I do respect opinions but honestly I don't agree with all of them.

The alcohol didn;t care if "I fully agree(d)" or not.

It's not an opinion. It's fact from my experience. Nothing can change that, I lived the alcoholism and today I live sobriety,

Well done Richard on achieving nine months and twenty two days sober. I went five years without a drink, then picked up a glass of champagne at a wedding. I enjoyed the sensation and had three glasses of wine with the meal and another champagne with the toasts. An evening reception followed, but I only had soft drinks and still enjoyed myself. Then went months without one

I am truly sorry, I did NOT mean to accuse you of anything.  I worded it badly and I simply meant that we are all here to support each other and noone would preach....including you.

You sound so angry with me and I am so sorry for upsetting you, I would never intentionally do that.

Your input on here is very much appreciated....please accept my sincere apologies.

Pat.

Ive never had any cravings since and never drink more than half a bottle of wine and that's only with someone. I now longer have a couple of drinks before going out, never have brandy coffee after a meal and never want another when I come home. I did listen to warnings years ago, but as my LFTs were always normal I carried on drinking. I'm not preaching, boasting and classing everyone the same, I'm merely pointing out what could happen.

Patricia no apologies needed. I've had nights and nights without sleep due to a bad chest infection which turned into pneumonia and a cough that sounds like a dog barking. On reflexion, I over reacted to the word preaching, which in my mind is like "do it my way or don't bother". I am sorry too for over reacting😄😄

Oh poor you, I hope you are getting better now, you sound to have been so ill.

Thank you for your reply, I was really worried.

Sending big hugs to you and hoping for your speedy recovery.

Pat

Well done, Vickylou. You're probably not alcoholic then. I drink one and I lose control. I've tried the controlled drinking. I always then drink for daysafter taking the first and have no control and no memory, Last one, where I went for one drink (or at least I planned only a bottle of Jack Daniels), had me in a bar room fight days later and I was stabbed and then woke up 8 days later in a detox centre with no memory.

I'm not angry with you. There's no need to apologise. I am typing from experience and I took the drinking way past deciding whether a few bottles of beer here and there are worrying. This is a dangerous disease. It kills people. I am typing from a motive of concern bringing attention to where the drinking can and does lead.

I have read a lot of your posts and they remind me of me. Always managing to find a drink and deciding that dieing younger is an option. I went through it all.

I got my sobriety when I finally gave in. My will power was not effective.

I let alcohol rule my life for many years and today it is an asset to look back on and to use as a message.

I did let it nearly kill me and damage a lot of people around me. For that I have and are making amends.

I wish you well and a moment of surrender before the final slug.

 

Hi. Such an interesting discussion. I too hope that I don't sound like I'm preaching or gloating. I'm only trying to help people who are struggling with my experience of where it can go. If one person listens and thinks "that might happen to me if I continue" and does something about it, then it is worth keep posting. Really it boils down to, if your drinking is beginning to spoil your life and you are regularly having hangovers and need a drink to cope with life, then you need to do something before it gets worse. I think if you need more than a couple of glasses of wine every night and/or you can't have 2/3 nights without a glass then you've got a problem. I really hope you all do something about it as you don't know what damage its doing to not only your liver, but your brain, kidneys, pancreas, heart and more. My brother in law is not alcoholic but after years of drinking has been told he can never drink again. He has liver fibrosis. I class my self as alcoholic as if I drink, I can't stop. But my liver is fine. So it gets people in different ways no matter how much we drink. We are all different.

Thanks. It was not until I admitted what you wrote. That "if I drink, I can't stop." I have absolutely no control over the second drink and onward until the ......... (fill in the blank. Usually involved a jail cell, an institution, a hospital or a random place with random people and no memories. Only bewilderment, despair, terror, despair and incomprehensible demoalisation. I'd say "no more" and then always drink again).

I began as a social drinker and then a hard drinker and started to be concerened a little over the amount I consumed. It progressed to what I've just described above.

I got relief when I admitted to having lost the choice in the first drink.

Yes. Me too re rehabs, hospitals, police etc. I do still get the odd craving, but when I think about how I felt for days after with depression, anxiety, guilt etc I can't face that life style again. My life is so much better now I don't plan my life around that next drink