The giving up/cutting down alcohol support thread!

Bismarck

alisong wrote: »

Quick update...the decision was NO...bath and brushing teeth did the trick!

See you all tomorrow.

Ali x.

good for you!

eselt

Well done alisong and fieldofdreams:T - wagons struggling uphill but its facing in the right direction!

alisong- about campral-I used to have antabuse at first which is a 'deterent', you get violently ill if you have any alcohol (not even allowed to use perfume, or mouthwash etc) but it didn't help with the cravings so I used to stop taking it for a while so I could drink which was defeating the object, and when I told the alcohol support nurse this they stopped my prescription. Anyway, he then suggested trying campral, but would only give me 3 months worth because the service couldn't afford it,( its specially designed to work on your brain chemisty to stop alcohol cravings,its quite expensive apparently but has hardly any side effects) but when I went to see my GP he agreed to give me a precription for another 6 months, so I'm really hoping the cravings don't return- it seems to have done the trick- on a hot day like this I could almost 'taste' the chilled wine, and the effect it would have from first thing in the morning, I would be nervous and agitated and down the first drink of the day in a couple of gulps- but I just don't have any of those feelings anymore. Yep relapse is very common in the first year (i had quite a few short ones- deluded myself I now could control myself) so you need to almost plan for it- keep a diary of danger times and potential triggers , plan an activity to distract you, don't visit certain places or friends (hard one), change your present routine if you currently have a 'time' to sit down and have a drink,don't go down the aisle of the supermarket when you are feeling down or stressed, and the tricky one-practice refusing alcohol and don't let people do the 'oh go on, one won't hurt' bit on you (remember for some of us one drink is too many and 1000 will never be enough), it might not hurt them but you could be back to square one and having to start the whole process again after all this hard work and courage. You might want to ask your GP about any groups locally, or just keep touching base with forums like this. It will all help. Sorry this is long winded!!! Best of luck!!!

shopaholictiedtheknot

Hi all, just checking in!!

AFD number 3 for me yesterday, managed to get through a Wednesday - it is a miracle! Number 4 today then I am afraid I will be having a lapse for two days, I do feel very 'in control' of my drinking at the moment though so am hoping not to lose sight of that!

Hope everyone is ok today

T xx

eselt

Well done Shoppy...you sound like your feeling great...brilliant:T :T :T

elantan

giddy kipper i stopped drinking on april 5th and i can honestly sayi havnt lost 1 pund in weight infact i would say i have put some on probably all the sugar cravings i seem to be having which i never had before (probably did but it wouldve been alcohol )

shopaholictiedtheknot

elantan wrote: »

giddy kipper i stopped drinking on april 5th and i can honestly sayi havnt lost 1 pund in weight infact i would say i have put some on probably all the sugar cravings i seem to be having which i never had before (probably did but it wouldve been alcohol )

I had really bad sugar cravings at first but they have died down now, I hardly ever eat anything sweet really so was very surprised when the cravings started!! I do think I am eating more in general though

elantan

maybe it's because we can taste and enjoy our food more ...have to admit i still am having the sugar cravings it's getting to the point i'm worrying about diabetes now ..

mollypolly

elantan wrote: »

giddy kipper i stopped drinking on april 5th and i can honestly sayi havnt lost 1 pund in weight infact i would say i have put some on probably all the sugar cravings i seem to be having which i never had before (probably did but it wouldve been alcohol )

I managed to lose three and half stones last year whilst I was drinking and have put six pounds back on since I stopped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek: :eek: ???????

alisong_2

Eselte, thanks, I find your posts very helpful:T . Also, thaanks to Molly and Bis last night for their support and to others for kind words today.

I'm gutted about the weight thing though, hasn't anybody lost weight???:eek:

Ali x.

tomstickland

I'll tell you something that's really good about cutting back. I've given up midweek drinking. People have been commenting that I've lost weight round the middle. I do do a lot of strenuous exercise, so I reckon the drop in calorific input has been enough to make a difference.