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60 units a week

Posted , 21 users are following.

Dave8119
Dave8119

I've posted in the past, lately I've been drinking every evening. When I say drinking it's either four cans or half a bottle of wine each week evening.

Weekends it all goes out of the window though, I drink too much. 

Whilst I know there are people in worse situations what is everyone's honest opinions on 60 units of alcohol a week?

I would like to talk to my GP about the possibility of medication to beat the habit but I'm embarrised, will I then be registered and alcoholic? 

My partners business could be affected.

0 likes, 100 replies

100 Replies

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  • beaunic
    beaunic Dave8119

    Posted

    I think everything depends on individual metabolism, I am 80, in excellent health, and drink an average 35-55 units (half a bottle to a bottle of wine of an evening) every week. I have been drinking the same amount since I retired 25 years ago.
  • samanthaaa
    samanthaaa Dave8119

    Posted

    Hi dfaz,

    I also would like to know how you’ve been doing. I’m currently 32 and sound a lot like you, almost exactly. Seeing that this was 2 years ago I would like to know how you are now. I’m also afraid to talk to my GP right now. But maybe I should? What do you think?

    Thanks for your help. 

    • vickylou
      vickylou samanthaaa

      Posted

      Hi samanthaaa

      Maybe dfaz will come back and answer your question, who knows!

      What I can say is that I reached a point where I had to do something positive about my drinking. I had too much to lose, namely husband and three children.

      Going to my dr and admitting I had a problem with alcohol was the best thing I ever did.

      I know it’s easier to say than do, but I’d certainly recommend it. I’d got way passed the point of being embarrassed. Dr suggested acamprosate (campral) which I took for about a year.

      Its an anti craving drug, which when taken properly does work. Takes about a week to kick in. Two tablets three times a day and no alcohol. Unlike disulfuram (Antabuse ), which just makes you ill and can be very dangerous if you drink, campral just won’t work if you drink.

      I was very lucky, in that my dr prescribed campral willingly. However, as many people on here will tell you, getting it is easier said than done. You may find that you have to be referred, or self referal to an ARC in order to get campral.

      I had just under a year without any alcohol. After the first week the cravings disappeared and I no longer even thought about alcohol. The 12 months without alcohol got my life back on track.

      I do drink socially now, or share a bottle of wine (or two!) with my OH or when out with friends. The difference now is that I no longer drink in secret, alone or drink spirits, apart from an occasional brandy coffee after a meal.

      I would suggest you have a word with your gp, or maybe a self referral to an ARC.

      I would seriously recommend using some medication, have a look at TSM which many people on here have had, or are having real success with .

      Good luck

      .

       

  • ern19573
    ern19573 Dave8119

    Posted

    How are you doing dfaz? Spent the morning reading this blog. Very helpful. Input crazy in this window so can't write much. Will do if it it improves.

  • pauline40972
    pauline40972 Dave8119

    Posted

    Hi dfaz I've been married to a drinew for 15 years his always drank but drinking more and more 60 units or more a week the drinking not the problem he changes when drunk a nasty perv nasty to me im thinking of divorcing him all he does after work sits in bedroom and drinks

    • gwen45436
      gwen45436 pauline40972

      Posted

      My goodness Pauline that sounds horrendous.  15 years is a long time, you must be at the end of your tether.  Your life is being ruined by him and that is not fair.  He obviously does not want to change.  Feeling this for you x
  • Dave8119
    Dave8119

    Posted

    Hi everyone,

    My drinking is far worse now than before, I'm drinking at least 6 days a week but about a bottle of wine and single glass a night and about 35cl of vodka on a Friday, I also have the odd pint here and there.

    If I'm on a works function it's actually insane how much I and my work colleagues consume.

    The thing is I'm still in a fantastic fit condition, I train daily and I enjoy running and weight training. I find using the sauna and steam room clears my head and I feel fine.

    I'm so confused because this surely should be doing more damage to my body but it's clearly not doing as much damage as I'd imagine.

    Myself and my wife have a fantastic relationship which we socially drink together.

    It's clearly a problem but I've no idea if it's actually effecting me health wise.

  • daisyjo
    daisyjo Dave8119

    Posted

    Hi saw your thread and you sound like me. I do about 60 units a week too and have been a heavy drinker for years. No physical dependency but severe psychological addiction. I don't drink every day but only ever managed 4 days in a row without before cravings overwhelm me. I totally get you don't want to see your GP. You can self refer for treatment though it may be a post code lottery. Good luck.

  • ern19573
    ern19573 Dave8119

    Posted

    Well I've been drinking around 8 units a night. Every night. So knocking 60 units.

    When I drink I like to have at least 3 or 4 drinks a night. Beer, wine, whiskey.

    I find that difficult to drip. After a dry January event this year (which I kept to - not easy though) I tried keeping 3 dry days a week. Did that for 6 months and decided it's too much of an ordeal each week and have now decided to have two dry days a week. Still keeping to it but still drinking about 35 to 40 units. I felt pleased with myself for a while but I'm still well over the 'safe' level and the worry is creeping in again.

    Almost wish I could say 'Ah, who cares. life is short and we are dull...'etc. If it knocks a year or two off a slightly longer life then it's worth it.

    What do you really think? Am I kidding myself? Dfaz is doing fine really. But.....

    • daisyjo
      daisyjo ern19573

      Posted

      To be honest health was the least of my concerns (although I do have some reversible liver and kidney issues now). Drinking was affecting every area of my life and I was fed up with feeling hungover, below par at work, spending money etc etc

      I'm guessing your main concern is are you gambling your health? Any medical person would say yes of course you are, but as you say no one knows what will happen anyway. It would be wrong of me to say carry on with what you're doing but I get where you're coming from with you enjoy it and I'm assuming its not causing you any other problems. Its a personal choice really.

    • ern19573
      ern19573 daisyjo

      Posted

      Yes, sensible advice really.There's always a gamble when you enjoy something and you know it's probably not doing you any good really. I genuinely think that all of our life is a little like that anyway. As Oscar Wilde quipped once: 'Moderation in all things - including moderation!' He seemed to recognise that denying yourself to add a few more years of 'life' to your 'life' might not lead to a better 'life' with the years you have anyway. It's not all about longevity. It's when your life is miserable with the indulgences/ pleasures you 'enjoy' that it becomes problematic. (Think I'm overusing the ' here!)

      You seem to have your head screwed on pretty well anyway. You're going to make the right choices.I had the unenviable but salutary experience of watching my mother die of cyrrohsis due to alcoholism and I don't want to go down that path so I do try to keep on the right side of excessive drinking. I do think I'll stay good on this ( mind you, hubris and all that... although a certain amount of fear is helpful and has served me well in one sense, even if I could have done without the lesson at my mother's expense).

      I'm rambling a bit now (just had two drinks!!). Think I'm going to have another shortly.

      Why are nice things so naughty?

  • bernadette51562
    bernadette51562 Dave8119

    Posted

    can anyone advise? im not sure what to do. my husband has always been a big drinker and ive just tolerated it over the years as it was the easiest thing to do plus i would have a drink every night too. he seems very in control except at weekends but now that i dont drink very much any more i am noticing he drinks so much! he drinks 1 & 1/2 to 2 bottles weekdays and at least 2-3 bottles a day (minimum) weekends. hes very overweight now (he thinks hes fine but i dont) hes in control during the week but in complete denial about his drinking and the health risks. he wont go to the doctor and im struggling with my feelings towards him now. i worry i dont love him any more i feel like im wasting my life yet i believe hes a good man and our son loves him very much and i dont want to give up on him. to the outside world hes a 'great bloke' and in many ways he is but im emotionally drained with him. ive tried talking to him but he just gets offended and tells everyone ive called him fat or some other thing so im feeling like giving up but that would break my sons heart. i guess im asking what can i do? do i have to be cruel to be kind? help!

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