The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

daverave7

Hi all,

I'm new to this thread.

About a year ago I was getting some pains in my right abdomen (just below the ribcage) so I went to my GP. He asked how much I drank so I told him the truth... I drink at least half a bottle of wine a night and I'm likely to have a skinful on the weekend. Think I estimated it at 70 units per week! My doctor was alarmed that I could drink so much and sent me for a Liver Function Test. LFT came back with an elevated ALT of 85 - normal is 0 to 40.

I have been advised to cut down and done so (to a certain extent)but my ALT in February was still over 80. GP told me to have a month off and go for another LFT. I am only now getting around to doing my alcohol free month! I'm actually now in day number 8. The first 5 days were awful... cold sweats, aches, headaches, depression and generally feeling ill. Now Im starting to feel much better.

I will go for my LFT 2 weeks friday and I'm hoping my results will come in normal. I can then celebrate with a bottle of my favorite Rioja!

Anyone had any experiences with Liver Function Tests and how bad is an ALT of 85!!?

barshamhillbilly

Hi dave, :hello:

Welcome to the madhouse. Congratulations on getting to day 8.

I had a LFT last week, but it came back in the normal band. I was generally drinking and average of 2-3 cans stella or 1/2 bottle of wine a night, I was quite surprised it came back in the normal band, as I am only a 10.25 stone stick and the 21 units max is for an 'average' bloke which I guess is bigger than me. Having said that the sample was taken on my 3rd week of abstinance and the nurse said some of the liver funcyions start to improve after the second week anyway.

Anyway - glad to have you aboard

BHB

In_Search_Of_Me

welome needs to change, whoever you are!! Can understand the desire for anonymity! Welcome daverave too! More the merrirer! I've had raised LFT's but have no clue as to the level - think its higher than yours though but unsure! Was discharged by consultant but they can be caused by being overweight & various other things...also diff types of tests fr diff things! Suggest you have a good chat with GP & get proper medical advice on this!
Been good & missed shops but was sorely tempted by the weed rather than the vine but gave myself a stern talking to & drove on! How I'll feel at 9pm I dont know but am having a VERY early night & staying busy on here! plus avoiding sweets as have put weight on & none of my clothes fit & I dont want to have to get more!

barshamhillbilly

Go on ISOM - have some choccy

deggers29

Hi, I'm hoping I can join your thread! When I found it, I was so pleased. It wasn't just me who had this 'habit' with alcohol. At the moment though I want to cut down but can't find that inner strength. I have tried but failed.

You see, I have a great job and I absolutley love it! I appear absolutely normal but inside I'm suffering most days due to the bottle / bottle and a half of wine from the night before.I dont know why, but i just love the taste of alcohol! However it does nothing for me but make me feel like crap; gives me bad skin; makes me ill and sick; gives me almighty headaches.

I so want to give it up, or drink in moderation. Seeing all your comments and posts will spur me to do the right thing! I'm still young and healthy (I HOPE!) to have a happy life withy my OH. But i must beat this addiction.

naomi234

Just found this thread, I haven't had a drink since 27th january this year used to drink heavily at weekends, often all dayers at the pub, would be absolutely wasted. Terrible hangover next day.For a 8 stone female i couldn't half put it away!!.I would drink till i fell asleep and was never sick. For the first time today i have been to the pub to meet a friend for lunch and i managed to control myself and just have orange juice. Feeling really proud of myself as i always used to drink as i suffer with my nerves, but managed to do it today YAYYY.
I also have a doctors appointment on friday with a view to some help on giving up smoking too, i smoke about 20 a day hoping they will give me some zyban or the other one.

Very proud of myself :j

barshamhillbilly

Hi Deggers :hello: :hello:

Welcome aboard - this is the place to be!

Just to let you know you are not alone -

Joined the thread myself about 5 weeks ago, saw my GP and he refered me to the local Drug and alcohol centre and prescribed some anti depressants to help with stress. Since getting the support and being on here I haven't touched a drop.
As I said earlier a few posts ago, I used to drink 1/2 bottle of wine or a couple or 3 cans of stella a night and my GP said I needed some help with the problem.

I really couldn't have got this far without the help. It wasn't for the want of trying, and trying.....

I have found that I can't cut down, I have to have all or nothing. I know as soon as I have one, I will slip back into the old way!

Anyway - welcome aboard. Good luck to you. Would recommend that you contact your GP for support.

Loads of others on here for advice, a friendly chat and a bit of banter!

Best Wishes and good luck with your Journey

BHB

barshamhillbilly

naomi234 wrote: »

For the first time today i have been to the pub to meet a friend for lunch and i managed to control myself and just have orange juice. Feeling really proud of myself as i always used to drink as i suffer with my nerves, but managed to do it today YAYYY.

Welcome too Naomi. Well done! Keep up the good work.

BHB

ltm07

Hi,had a pretty much alcohol free weekend by my standards. Went to watch DD at a dance & gymnastics show on Saturday & didn't get home til 9pm. Treated DD & Niece to a McD's during the 2 hour break & then dropped her off at my Brother's local,where he was having a few beers with my Cousin. Cousin bought OH & I a pint & then my Brother bought OH a pint & me half,as I was driving(hope I didn't break the law,people generally say that you should have no more than 2 pints whilst driving,but I rarely even have one,but only had 1 a half to be on the safe side). Anyway we went back & picked DD up as we only had tickets for the afternoon show. The show didn't finish on time so we nipped in the bar & OH had half a pint & I had a coke. Got home & had a can & we were both knackered so went to bed. Went out for the day yesterday to Matlock Bath in Derbyshire& took DD & our other Niece! Didn't drink at all but had some lovely fish & chips! Had about 5 cans last night but I guess that's only the same as 3 pints;) . So we have spent quite a bit on takeaways this weekend but I guess that's better than spending it on alcohol. Having a can at the moment & will have another one,before showering & going to bed. Have a wedding reception to go to in a few weeks but will pace myself,but the big test is at the end of May,when it is my Cousin's stag day,so will pace myself as best as I can & when I know I've drank too much,will hopefully be in the right state of mind to switch to soft drinks:think: ! Not been in that state for a few months now & have really felt the benefit & realised that getting p!ssed out of my head is no longer fun or good for my pocket & I would much rather enjoy a couple of pints than drink just to get legless!

Needstochange

Thanks for the support everybody and hope I will be able to offer some back soon too.:o

So the honest (if frighteningly) bad news

I drink far too much I know that (particularly reading some of the posts on here I seem to be a lot worse)
I drink both openly and secretly
I start drinking some days way too early
I have started to drink at work:eek: and that is really stooopid
I have also had a LFT that was too high (didnt return for a repeat test:o )
I have an enormous weight problem but hardly eat so its the old empty calories i guess
I spend around the equivelant of the National debt on wine thinking that it is ok if I am buying from my posh club (which by the way I cant afford )
This afternoon after posting the first confession on here I went to the pub with one of my drinking buddies

and a bit of good news

I know I have a problem (its a start eh:rolleyes: )
I do want to change
I know I can kick this after having kicked the smoking habit about a year ago


So there we go the truth starts.

I havent got any real goals as yet as my head is still very fuzzy and I dont want to fail IYKWIM but I will keep posting and I will get there

thank you for listening again