The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread! Part 3

Pippilongstocking

barshamhillbilly wrote: »

No willow - loadsa oak & Chestnut

Show off!!

I have one oak and one miniture horse chestnut in the garden and 15 in pots when we grew conkers

And a few willow yes a few of those.

Pippilongstocking

jo1972 wrote: »

Welcome escapism :wave: hope you enjoy being on the thread

Thanks Fay for posting my message up, didn't think I'd be able to get online tonight but managed to prize DS off the pooter now for a couple of minutes.

As Fay posted, the enzymes in my liver proved alcohol abuse and meant there are signs of damage, the figure was 56 but the range is 0-31. He said this isn't good but can be reversed by not drinking :rolleyes:

So there we have it, Day 3 of an AF life

Certainly didn't fancy drinking at ANY point today, but constant vigilance is the name of the game I guess..

Thanks for all your kind words over the past couple of days

40SM, please put me down for 3/30

Constant vigilence - all times.

Well now we are on a mission eh to get your enzymes down.
What was it that the springwatchgirl post said about after a certain amount of weeks we'd be all bright and sparkly????

MP will remember ?

Wanna_Bee_Free

OK guys, so the question that's always bugged me since that song is what the ?? is a Cyclone Ranger. Anyone? Please please please help!!!

Escapism, 8 sounds like a good number to me! Go for it. I picked 16 for my first one which was too many but 8 sounds good. Good luck!

Hugs Jo, one day at a time. Livers are impressive organs, with your help and lots of TLC and time things will improve.

orchid-96

Wanna_Bee_Free wrote: »

Found this surfing, not sure of it's accuracy but I thought this was interesting stuff: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article2698024.ece

WBF that is fascinating stuff...I wish it was more clear as to how much alcohol is a 'safe' amount....

dh has also chalked up 3 days af and is really proud of himself as he just turned down a beer at one of our neighbours

Jo good that any damage can be reversed...the liver is an amazing organ

my poor Dad suffers froma disease called 'primary sclerosing colingitis' which to cut a long story short caused him to be very ill last year as it affected his pancreas too and basically it is a problem to do with bile ducts in/on the liver.....it is totally nothing to do with alcohol (they think it is an autoimmune disease) but there is not loads known about it....he has lost count of the amount of times a doctor has asked him 'do you drink heavily' and when he says no 'have you ever had a time when you drunk heavily' which he hasn't and only really drinks socially and even then he is pished after a few lagers' anyway it is being managed reasonbably well with drugs....sorry totally irelavent to this thread really....:o but it does worry me as he was very poorly...

HI escapism (love the name too) good luck for your challenge x

barshamhillbilly

Sorry forgot to say:

Hi escapism :hello:

Jo - :idea: Have some choklit

Fay ... I lied - we do have a willow .... forgot ... Its hiding behind the sycamore and the fruit trees

Time for a cuppa before bed .... gotta be up early again tomorrow as I have to open the centre which is being used for voting .... at least I think its tomorrow :rotfl:

BHB
xx

eselt

Jo, bless you, try not to worry too much- I've just dug out my old LFT results because I couldn't remember the 'score' I got 2 yrs ago- it was 296!!! Mind you I did have full blown alcoholic hepatitis by then- thought I felt really ill!!! Anyway, I don't want to worry you- the raised enzymme count shows that your liver is working a little harder than it would like to, but I was amazed that after giving up for six months my results were COMPLETELY WITHIN THE NORMAL RANGE- its amazing really, I feel so blessed and lucky, and you will be too, I'm sure of it Jo- I was discharged by the gasteroenterologist a year after these results and subsequent tests show I've not done myself any long term serious damage physically. I'm sure this will be true for you-just make sure you access all the support you can at the moment, and try not to worry, your liver is struggling a bit, but alls not lost sweatheart. Take care.

barshamhillbilly

Wanna_Bee_Free wrote: »

OK guys, so the question that's always bugged me since that song is what the ?? is a Cyclone Ranger. Anyone? Please please please help!!!

Cyclone ranger = Cattle rustler (1935 film The Cyclone Rangers) :D:o:o

fluffyb

WBF - going back to the article you found I agree with what it says about genes playing a huge part too.
It is the same with smoking and lung cancer. My lovely brother died of lung cancer aged 40 but he never smoked Someone else could smoke all their lives & never get lung cancer. Smoking predisposes you to lung cancer if you are geneticaly vulnerable.
Alcohol is the same.Some people can drink far too much but never harm themselves but the next person can drink a little too much but be genetically predisposed to harming their organs

I know someone who drank slightly over the recommended amount but for some years and his liver enzymes were in the 60's. He stopped drinking altogether for 2 years and is now allowed the occasional drink again. It scared him so much he would never do anything other than drink sensibly now and enjoys the occasional drink again.

Someone else - a female member of my family and older than me, drank in excess of a bottle of wine every night for many many years but when she had to have a blood test for something else her liver enzymes were only on the high side of normal

Genes have a lot to answer for I guess :rolleyes:

eselt

fluffybishop wrote: »

WBF - going back to the article you found I agree with what it says about genes playing a huge part too.
It is the same with smoking and lung cancer. My lovely brother died of lung cancer aged 40 but he never smoked Someone else could smoke all their lives & never get lung cancer. Smoking predisposes you to lung cancer if you are geneticaly vulnerable.
Alcohol is the same.Some people can drink far too much but never harm themselves but the next person can drink a little too much but be genetically predisposed to harming their organs

I know someone who drank slightly over the recommended amount but for some years and his liver enzymes were in the 60's. He stopped drinking altogether for 2 years and is now allowed the occasional drink again. It scared him so much he would never do anything other than drink sensibly now and enjoys the occasional drink again.

Someone else - a female member of my family and older than me, drank in excess of a bottle of wine every night for many many years but when she had to have a blood test for something else her liver enzymes were only on the high side of normal

Genes have a lot to answer for I guess :rolleyes:

Yep, I totally agree, my grandad and greatgrandad were total alcoholics but my grandad lived till he was 90+, died of diabetes related stuff in the end. And my dear mum, who we nagged everyday about her heavy smoking died of septacemia from a tooth abcess and her autopsy showed no lung disease at all, my nan who didn't drink or smoke her whole life had loads of strokes- so genetics must play a huge part in all of this, and affect our tolerance and vulnerability, but I suppose its back to the classic nature/nurture debate, how will we ever find out what part genetics play in all this, and what part is the result of our environment? Guess we might never really find out? Best of luck tonight everyone- hope you are all OK.

115K

graemecarter wrote: »

That sounds like me (again) !
I could not bear the thought of not drinking again, it was so beyond the realms of possibility. So I tried to cut down (for years) - only drinking certain drinks, certain days, etc. Stopping drinking was never right for me - there were always reasons why I couldn't stop (like weddings coming up, my job demanded it, it's a source of happiness) - all the excuses complete nonsense of course.
However, if I controlled my drinking, I couldn't enjoy it. If I wanted to enjoy it, it was out of control. That's why moderation could never work for me, I rarely was able to stop after one drink
My drinking got worse as I got older - alcoholism is a progressive disease.
This disease I have is like licking honey off a razor blade

I know what you are saying GC. I have grown up with most of my family getting drunk and out of control daily. I maybe am being naive but I just am not ready to think I am like them. I think I am more self aware and I am controlling my drinking to an extent.:o I don't know really.

Jo - I think you can definitely let your liver get better with lots of water and milk thistle so at least the news wasn't worse.