Alcohol, hints, tips, advice etc.

[hammocity]

For me after it stopped being about ‘fun and enjoyment’ it started to be a reward after 12hr shifts. I started drinking young when I joined the army. I continued all the way through my nursing career. After a long hard shift I would ‘reward’ myself with 3 pints then 8 cans for home. Since I’ve stopped I’ve lost 25kg and finally finished my masters. My next target is an ultra-marathon and a holiday cottage in Northumberland. Im giving myself 2 years for that. I’ve found having targets helps me avoid drinking.

Great turnaround, nursing has to be one of the biggest pressure jobs out there, very understandable but that's quite inspirational.

 

[hammocity]

Why exactly did his legs turn black?

I'm not sure mate, I'm guessing it's a secondary symptom from something like gangrene or diabetes from someone who had no self esteem left amd had no interest in life, just vodka.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

I have a golfing mate who's just turned 60, if he's not working he's drinking with a bit of golf thrown in. He also annually does an open water swim in the Lake District for charity with very little training (the bit he does is usually about a month before at Salford Keys). When he's on nights he takes 4 cans of Stella up to Hartshead Pike at the end of his shift, about 6am but then drinks when he gets home. I've never seen anyone drink as much as him. Here's the kicker though, he recently had a medical, physical and blood tests. All the results led to the Doctor telling him he was in tip top shape with no underlying kidney, liver, diabetes, heart, blood disorders, etc.

Im sure he's just a freak of nature, about 10 days ago I had a golf weekend away with the lads (my mate included) and I'm just about getting back to normal and feeling healthy after three days of decent sessions. Think I'm going to have a couple of months off the ale now.

Freak of nature for sure. Obviously metabolises alcohol very efficiently and his body flushes the toxins before they manage to do him much if any harm.

Last time I had a particularly heavy session it took me a week to properly recover.

 

[ZenHalfTimeCrock]

I have recently lapsed into full-blown alcoholism. The reason for my drinking is severe tinnitus (which I was managing well at one point), other chronic health issues, and a lack of purpose in retirement. So I am well aware of the triggers.

If I had the option of doctor-assisted suicide/euthanasia I would probably take it right now. Old age in such poor health offers nothing for me, but I am also too much of a coward to act on my suicidal ideations and am aware of how something like this would affect my nearest and dearest. So being drunk is a sort of escape from this cul de sac of thought.

Strangely, my wife hasn’t picked up on the fact that I am inebriated most of the time for some reason, though she knows that I have a problem.

During the day I drink strong lager steadily (often hidden in the flat and supped surreptitiously - have already got through four cans today) and so can seem reasonably articulate and convincing.

Sorry for such a negative post but there is a reason for it: I have decided that whatever happens, I will, at least, stop drinking today. I can’t promise readers of this thread that I will do this and then renege on that commitment, even though I don’t know any of you personally.

What bothers me immediately are the withdrawal symptoms. My intake is such that I probably won’t get delirium tremens or suffer seizures but the next 48 hours are going to be tough. The shakes, insomnia and nausea are going to kick in. Also, the alcohol seems to suppress some of the health issues I have (the beginnings of a hemifacial spasm, and gastrointestinal problems, for example). So they are going to get foregrounded.
I would therefore be interested to hear from anyone who has been through the withdrawal process, and also from posters who have been at rock-bottom as I currently am. Even though I have fallen so far and am not sure whether I will get through this, any encouragement would be much appreciated.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

I have recently lapsed into full-blown alcoholism. The reason for my drinking is severe tinnitus (which I was managing well at one point), other chronic health issues, and a lack of purpose in retirement. So I am well aware of the triggers.

If I had the option of doctor-assisted suicide/euthanasia I would probably take it right now. Old age in such poor health offers nothing for me, but I am also too much of a coward to act on my suicidal ideations and am aware of how something like this would affect my nearest and dearest. So being drunk is a sort of escape from this cul de sac of thought.

Strangely, my wife hasn’t picked up on the fact that I am inebriated most of the time for some reason, though she knows that I have a problem.

During the day I drink strong lager steadily (often hidden in the flat and supped surreptitiously - have already got through four cans today) and so can seem reasonably articulate and convincing.

Sorry for such a negative post but there is a reason for it: I have decided that whatever happens, I will, at least, stop drinking today. I can’t promise readers of this thread that I will do this and then renege on that commitment, even though I don’t know any of you personally.

What bothers me immediately are the withdrawal symptoms. My intake is such that I probably won’t get delirium tremens or suffer seizures but the next 48 hours are going to be tough. The shakes, insomnia and nausea are going to kick in. Also, the alcohol seems to suppress some of the health issues I have (the beginnings of a hemifacial spasm, and gastrointestinal problems, for example). So they are going to get foregrounded.
I would therefore be interested to hear from anyone who has been through the withdrawal process, and also from posters who have been at rock-bottom as I currently am. Even though I have fallen so far and am not sure whether I will get through this, any encouragement would be much appreciated.

Beating it is a series of small victories, interspersed with setbacks, often many setbacks. The first little victory is admitting the problem to yourself, and the second is asking for help.

You are on your way. Well done for admitting it and acknowledging the that it isn't going to be easy. There will be plenty of support on here, but don't be afraid to go to your GP for advice and assistance.

 

[Marklr]

I have recently lapsed into full-blown alcoholism. The reason for my drinking is severe tinnitus (which I was managing well at one point), other chronic health issues, and a lack of purpose in retirement. So I am well aware of the triggers.

If I had the option of doctor-assisted suicide/euthanasia I would probably take it right now. Old age in such poor health offers nothing for me, but I am also too much of a coward to act on my suicidal ideations and am aware of how something like this would affect my nearest and dearest. So being drunk is a sort of escape from this cul de sac of thought.

Strangely, my wife hasn’t picked up on the fact that I am inebriated most of the time for some reason, though she knows that I have a problem.

During the day I drink strong lager steadily (often hidden in the flat and supped surreptitiously - have already got through four cans today) and so can seem reasonably articulate and convincing.

Sorry for such a negative post but there is a reason for it: I have decided that whatever happens, I will, at least, stop drinking today. I can’t promise readers of this thread that I will do this and then renege on that commitment, even though I don’t know any of you personally.

What bothers me immediately are the withdrawal symptoms. My intake is such that I probably won’t get delirium tremens or suffer seizures but the next 48 hours are going to be tough. The shakes, insomnia and nausea are going to kick in. Also, the alcohol seems to suppress some of the health issues I have (the beginnings of a hemifacial spasm, and gastrointestinal problems, for example). So they are going to get foregrounded.
I would therefore be interested to hear from anyone who has been through the withdrawal process, and also from posters who have been at rock-bottom as I currently am. Even though I have fallen so far and am not sure whether I will get through this, any encouragement would be much appreciated.

Mate, you need professional help…NOW. You CAN'T go through the withdrawals alone without medical assistance.
I got to the stage where I was drinking in bed all day. I wanted to die in my sleep and was often disappointed that I'd wake up.
Yeah, as soon as you stop, all the problems the alcohol has been masking will suddenly appear. Your stomach will feel fucked too.
No matter how far I fell...there was still a life there waiting for me. I just couldn't see it at that time.

 

[ZenHalfTimeCrock]

Beating it is a series of small victories, interspersed with setbacks, often many setbacks. The first little victory is admitting the problem to yourself, and the second is asking for help.

You are on your way. Well done for admitting it and acknowledging the that it isn't going to be easy. There will be plenty of support on here, but don't be afraid to go to your GP for advice and assistance.

Thanks for responding so quickly. It is much appreciated as I am in a right old state and not at all sure that I can get through this, sober or not.

 

[crublue1]

I have recently lapsed into full-blown alcoholism. The reason for my drinking is severe tinnitus (which I was managing well at one point), other chronic health issues, and a lack of purpose in retirement. So I am well aware of the triggers.

If I had the option of doctor-assisted suicide/euthanasia I would probably take it right now. Old age in such poor health offers nothing for me, but I am also too much of a coward to act on my suicidal ideations and am aware of how something like this would affect my nearest and dearest. So being drunk is a sort of escape from this cul de sac of thought.

Strangely, my wife hasn’t picked up on the fact that I am inebriated most of the time for some reason, though she knows that I have a problem.

During the day I drink strong lager steadily (often hidden in the flat and supped surreptitiously - have already got through four cans today) and so can seem reasonably articulate and convincing.

Sorry for such a negative post but there is a reason for it: I have decided that whatever happens, I will, at least, stop drinking today. I can’t promise readers of this thread that I will do this and then renege on that commitment, even though I don’t know any of you personally.

What bothers me immediately are the withdrawal symptoms. My intake is such that I probably won’t get delirium tremens or suffer seizures but the next 48 hours are going to be tough. The shakes, insomnia and nausea are going to kick in. Also, the alcohol seems to suppress some of the health issues I have (the beginnings of a hemifacial spasm, and gastrointestinal problems, for example). So they are going to get foregrounded.
I would therefore be interested to hear from anyone who has been through the withdrawal process, and also from posters who have been at rock-bottom as I currently am. Even though I have fallen so far and am not sure whether I will get through this, any encouragement would be much appreciated.

Please, whatever you do, dont just stop. It's dangerous (even though i've done it myself) cut down first and see your gp.

 

[Zubrman]

I have recently lapsed into full-blown alcoholism. The reason for my drinking is severe tinnitus (which I was managing well at one point), other chronic health issues, and a lack of purpose in retirement. So I am well aware of the triggers.

If I had the option of doctor-assisted suicide/euthanasia I would probably take it right now. Old age in such poor health offers nothing for me, but I am also too much of a coward to act on my suicidal ideations and am aware of how something like this would affect my nearest and dearest. So being drunk is a sort of escape from this cul de sac of thought.

Strangely, my wife hasn’t picked up on the fact that I am inebriated most of the time for some reason, though she knows that I have a problem.

During the day I drink strong lager steadily (often hidden in the flat and supped surreptitiously - have already got through four cans today) and so can seem reasonably articulate and convincing.

Sorry for such a negative post but there is a reason for it: I have decided that whatever happens, I will, at least, stop drinking today. I can’t promise readers of this thread that I will do this and then renege on that commitment, even though I don’t know any of you personally.

What bothers me immediately are the withdrawal symptoms. My intake is such that I probably won’t get delirium tremens or suffer seizures but the next 48 hours are going to be tough. The shakes, insomnia and nausea are going to kick in. Also, the alcohol seems to suppress some of the health issues I have (the beginnings of a hemifacial spasm, and gastrointestinal problems, for example). So they are going to get foregrounded.
I would therefore be interested to hear from anyone who has been through the withdrawal process, and also from posters who have been at rock-bottom as I currently am. Even though I have fallen so far and am not sure whether I will get through this, any encouragement would be much appreciated.

Thanks for responding so quickly. It is much appreciated as I am in a right old state and not at all sure that I can get through this, sober or not.

Stay on here Zen. There are always people to help you.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

Thanks for responding so quickly. It is much appreciated as I am in a right old state and not at all sure that I can get through this, sober or not.

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