Starting over alcohol free

@mrsmeteor
I'm unable to get medical help where I live. A provider I once had (once it was realized that I had no medical options) advised me to taper off gradually. And if my BP was elevated or I had weird headaches to go to urgent care or the hospital. Thank you for your help and I'll see what I can do.

Congratulations on your decision to be sober. Alcohol is deadly, and it can sneak up on you. I think it effects our bodies in ways we don't even imagine. Good for you to be able to choose sobriety. I am cheering you on, I'm sober also, just celebrated 10 years and it's the very very best thing I ever did for myself - full stop. Thanks for sharing.

@SparkSpringtime69 Sorry it's taken me so long to reply. Thank you for your suggestions.
The reason for the lack of access is because we live in a rural area. Plus I wouldn't want to go in to one those 28/30 day treatment programs. I had a friend that went that route in another (larger) town. I went to visit once and I didn't see anyone hooked up to an IV or wearing a BP cuff. It didn't seem that it was a medically supervised detox.
When I had to go to the ICU in 2021, I was hooked up to an IV and constantly wearing a BP cuff. And, I'm not sure what types of meds they were giving me. Probably benzos, anti-nausea meds, possibly antibiotics (due to the esophageal varices). Anyways, unless I was in a hospital or other medical setting, I would rather do it on my own.
I have cut back a little and am feeling a bit better. I actually left the house the other day to go to our local grocery store.
Thanks for your help and I will keep you posted.

Hello just checking back. I have now slipped up twice on drinking, but all in all am doing so much better than I ever thought I would. I have drank two days since Jan 17th and have only had 3 beers total. The most recent slip up was the day before yesterday however and this time -like many times before- it was incredibly difficult to not continue the trend back to a daily habit. I've had to fight being pouty like a toddler because I can't have my beloved rum, but I know rum and I have a toxic relationship and me and alcohol are on a break. Perhaps indefinitely. I also started seeing a substance abuse therapist who gave me a book to try to work through called "The Sober Curious Reset". It doesn't fit my circumstances perfectly but it is helping me reevaluate my relationship with alcohol. I'm looking forward to learning how to better avoid giving into a beer. I have discussed with my husband I would like to keep NA beer stocked in the fridge so I can grab that to resist temptation next time we have a game night.

I hope everyone is doing well and I cheering you on! Much love

@SparkSpringtime69 I had heard there was a movement of younger peoples gravitating towards it without ever bothering to look further. It's an interesting read that is relatable, but doesn't try to fill your head too much. It's worth looking into even if you don't plan on doing all of the exercises in my opinion.

Some encouragement for ya is I couldn't go more than 4 days in a row either not two months ago, and now I have 35 days with two of them containing minimal drinking. I believe in you! Way to keep being mindful and pushing yourself

I've been tapering off of whiskey for the past week. I've been doing pretty well. Yesterday I started drinking at 11am and drank 500ml. For the last couple of months (until now), I had been drinking 750-1000ml daily. What really messed me up was that I would have booze in the house when I went to bed. Thinking I didn't want to suffer in the morning. But, sometimes I would wake up at 3am and have a few drinks. So, I no longer keep the booze overnight. I've just been measuring out the amount I want to drink for the day and pouring the rest out.
I planned on waiting until 11:30 this morning to drink. But I just don't feel like waiting that long today. So I guess I'm going to blow it and start drinking around 10am today. It would be nice if I could stop drinking before dinner and still pour some out. We'll see!
@AmberlyMarlene We seem to have a lot in common. We both had bad withdrawals and detoxed in November of 2021. I actually was hallucinating in the hospital. When I came home, I told my husband, maybe I wasn't hallucinating. But just dreaming. He shook his head "No". He witnessed it.
I also have some liver damage. But I haven't had a scan in almost a year. At that time, the report said I had micronodules. But my liver was normal in size and I had no ascites. I was supposed to have another scan six months later, but I cancelled. Then just recently I had a falling out with my gastroenterologist's office. So I no longer have a GI doctor. I have an appointment to see my PCP next month.
You also mentioned that a man in your rehab went into a coma with liver failure and went to the ICU. But returned and nicknamed himself Homer because he was so yellow. What I didn't understand was you said "It's not always what you think it'll look like from overly dramatized tv shows." I'm not sure if I've ever seen anyone with jaundice on TV. How does it look compared to TV shows? So did the man recover?
Anyways, I'm really afraid that my liver may be even more damaged than before. That's why I want to quit so badly. I did read a new study though that said cirrhosis can sometimes be reversable if you completely quit drinking or using whatever is causing the damage.
Sorry this post is so long. Good luck to everyone!

Darlene_Oregon wrote: »

Hi All,
I keep coming back to this discussion because everyone gives me inspiration and it's nice to hear other people's stories.
I don't usually use social media at all. So, I don't know how to reply specifically to a particular person or add someone as a friend (I'm a young 66 years old)
Anyways, I still don't have one day. But, I'm working on it.
Thanks for all the inspiration. I will be back!

It looks like you figured out how to answer people. ;-) I am 68 and I did Dry January this year. It was a total game-changer for me! I drink much less than I did before Dry January and now make it a habit to not drink during the week. I will definitely do Sober October this year too. Good luck with your ongoing battle! You can do this!

@khahn72856 Are you just starting Day 1? For me, Day 1 is the hardest. But once I make it past Day 1 it's a piece of cake. Good luck!

Well, I guess those that I thought were part of my support team aren't coming back to this discussion. So, I guess I'm back on my own. Take care everyone!

@SparkSpringtime69 I guess I have been using MFP chat forum as my support system. Besides my husband, I have no family where I live or any friends to speak of either (just acquittances) .
Neither my husband or I are originally from this area. We were somewhat transplanted here. When I met my husband, I was living in Medford Oregon. Which is close to the California border (I know not everyone on MFP is from the US. But I think most people know where CA is located). He had been homeless and went to a VA facility near my home for help. He had been involved with drugs. But I had never seen it. I think he mainly went there to get a roof over his head.
At the same time, I was having problems with alcohol and was also basically homeless (living in a motel). I worked temporary at a well-know plywood mill. But it was through a temp agency, so the work wasn't consistent.
Anyways, we met at an AA meeting. Eventually, the VA found him transitional housing in Roseburg OR (110 miles north). We weren't married at the time. So I stayed behind. Paying the rent at the motel was getting more difficult. So, he came down on a Greyhound bus and we came up here in my truck. And here we are. Neither of us are originally from Oregon. I was born and raised in Southern California and he in Northern California.
Well, I guess I didn't need to give out so much personal information. But I really don't care. I have no reason to hide behind a keyboard.
Good luck to you and thank you for your input when you can!

@Darlene_Oregon - I think you are very brave. It sounds like you and your husband have survived and overcome a lot. Shows a lot of strength and courage.

One day at a time.

Thanks for the post. I'll start to stay dry for a week first... Then reduce to no more than drinking twice a week... I'm turning 60 in a couple of month and want to stay fit ! I'm currently drinking nearly every day...

@MeechK1095 PS...You mentioned that you wanted to stay fit. As a man you probably won't have as much trouble as I did.
Just a couple of months ago, I started exercising. Pretty simple stuff, but I feel very effective. I was feeling really good.
Then I started drinking daily again. I'm not sure what happened. But I can barely walk up and down steps without a handrail. I will get it back. It doesn't take long to lose it. But with some work, we can get it back just as quickly.
Good luck to you!

@SparkSpringtime69 Good to hear from you. I agree we should just quit altogether. I went four months without drinking. And I felt great. I was very energetic and motivated.
I have been through quite a bit in my adult life. But I had a wonderful childhood. I guess that's why I became "The Problem Child". I never hurt anyone though (except myself).
The problem child is still in me, but I've learned how to control it.
Take care!