LESS Alcohol ~ OCTOBER 2024 ~ One Day at A Time

SurferGirl1982 · October 26

@SunnyDays930, @Womona, @Michieb125

Since we're talking liver enzymes, I thought I'd share mine with everyone. Usually, I would keep these things private. But, if these numbers can help others understand these values, I think it's important to share them. These numbers give a good idea of how liver enzymes respond to abstinence and regular drinking. There are other numbers doctors look at, but these are a good starting point. BTW...I didn't just compile these. I'm a numbers person, like @MissMay, so I keep a pretty good record of things. *I've noticed online the normal values vary. But these are the normal values from my lab reports from our medical center. So, you can get the basic idea.*

AST & ALT Normal AST (12-37), ALT (12-78)
01/17/2021 Stopped Drinking
03/04/2021 AST 57, ALT 54
03/05/2021 Started Drinking
04/12/2021 AST 122, ALT 56
04/28/2021 AST 145, ALT 82
06/03/2021 AST 294, ALT 108
08/19/2021 AST 195, ALT 90
11/28/2021 Hospitalized
11/28/2021 Stopped Drinking
01/20/2022 AST 45, ALT 43
04/27/2022 AST 34, ALT 41
04/06/2023 AST 32, ALT 41
06/01/2023 Back to Nearly Daily Drinking
04/08/2024 AST 123, ALT 90 (I had my blood draw 36 hours after drinking)

My worst drinking problem was in 2020 and 2021.

I drank this Thursday because I had a major physical job (shoveling dirt) and it was hard for me. Fortunately, my husband put down the grass seed and fertilizer the next day. And I got something to drink today because I was bored.

Next month, I think my goals will be:
AF - 22 days or more
A - 8 days or less

I think that I need to be realistic!

SurferGirl1982 · October 27

Sorry for all the information. It's a bit hard to read. But, basically, it shows that when I started drinking my numbers went way up and when I would stop drinking my numbers would go down.

Have a good night everyone!

October:
AF - 6
A - 20

I'll do better next month!

Michieb125 · October 27

Great information @SurferGirl1982 it’s appreciated and helpful to see how things really changed when you abstain. 💝

SurferGirl1982 · October 27

@Michieb125 I'm glad you were able to get some insight from my post. It is quite amazing. For those out there that get bad results on one test...don't panic. By abstaining or cutting back, your numbers can come back into range.

NonnieDoiron · October 27

AF - 20
A - 6

Still busy. Had to sit down to rest my leg. I think my IT band is too tight. I probably need to roll my leg. 😕 No time for that.

No wine since last post. Been to the grocery store 3 or 4 times, thought about it, but stopped myself.

All the liver enzyme conversation is interesting. During the heaviest drinking period in my life, I was on a drug that require monthly blood draws for liver function because the drug could destroy my liver. You know, the doctor never told me there was anything to be concerned about nor that there wasn’t anything to be concerned about. Hmmmm… 🤔

SurferGirl1982 · October 27

@NonnieDoiron You sound a bit stressed. I hope you can relax a bit tomorrow.

It's weird how it works with doctors. They know we have possible liver issues. And, then, they prescribe medications that can harm our livers. I had a similar situation. I was prescribed a couple of corticosteroids for some breathing issues. And, later, I found out they can harm the liver. Also, I've had an issue with my right eye for way too long. The retinol specialist asked if I was using steroids. I said, "No". But later I realized that corticosteroids are steroids. They can also affect your vision. Bad news!

Anyways, I still have a problem seeing out of my right eye. I have another appointment next month. It's actually hard to read these posts and to post myself (I have to use my desktop). It's been going on since about March (only in my right eye). I'm really sick of it. But, I think it will be better soon.

globalhiker · October 27

@SurferGirl1982 wow the dramatic change in liver enzyme values is interesting. My doctor wants my liver enzymes in the "teens" since I am female even though the lab report shows I fall in "normal" range.

Separately, get this: High sugar diet (includes fructose in fruits and juice) = increased insulin = signals liver to make more cholesterol =adds to fatty liver disease which I have....so that is likely why my cholesterol is over the limit and I have fatty liver even though I stopped drinking and it's been close to 2 months. I will ask if they will send me to a Fibroscan next to see if my fatty liver reversed.

AF day 56 done, got in 2 hrs exercise, no sweets, got closer to my protein macro goal of at least 80g. Focusing on what I can control which now is making Day 57 AF a really good, healthy day.

Michieb125 · October 27

@globalhiker such a great post, thank you. I am learning so much from many of you this week! I trust you will see the results you want with your continued mindfulness and perseverance. You’ve done so incredible this past couple of months!

Michieb125 · October 27

Here’s what I’ve learned recently….The liver is a vital workhorse for our overall health and wellness - taking care of metabolism, detoxification, digestion, and immunity support. There is a LOT that goes on within each of these areas, yet are integrated together. I’m sure those of you who are focused on liver health are also following the best practices for a healthy, high functioning liver. I just found a ton of daily recommendations online - Coffee and green tea is actually great for it!
Plus a good diet, exercise and supplements are key in addition to avoiding alcohol.

Michieb125 · October 27

Sunday greetings!

I was successful in my choice for no wine last night. I wrestled with the idea for nearly two hours 👿 then decided to have a zero proof Recess mojito on ice with lime 😇 and organic popcorn (wish I skipped that). The results…..I slept great, woke early with energy and happy with my tomorrow self.

I can’t walk today because I’ve kind of overdid it lately hitting a high step goal for two weeks straight. Very funny, not funny. I also banged and twisted my knee badly on a huge coffee table (not mine) a few days back and it’s still sore and swelled up last night. I ‘should’ rest and ice it today, we shall see.

🍁🎃🍁

Current wine stats:
AF days - 12
A days - 11
Less alcohol - 3

SurferGirl1982 · October 27

@globalhiker First off congrats on your amazing streak! I am familiar with high-sugar & fructose being a cause of fatty liver. Although, I've heard that low glycemic fruits are OK because the fiber counteracts the fructose. I eat blueberries (pretty much everyday) and lemon in my tea or squeezed on my fish. They say that berries and citrus are good for liver health.

Sugar is bad for just about everything in our bodies. I met a woman years ago and she told me that she had had cancer and that her doctor told her that sugar feeds cancer cells. Fortunately, I don't have a sweet tooth. I eat very little sugar. I just have an alcohol problem 😕

Also I'm sure you know that not all fatty livers are caused by alcohol. In fact, I believe, that NAFLD is more common than AFLD. Eating too much sugar, refined carbs, being overweight or obese, being sedentary all contribute to the risk of having a fatty liver.

Yesterday, I said that my goal for November may not be total abstinence. But I woke up with a pretty bad hangover this morning. When I was drinking daily, I didn't get hangovers. But since I've been cutting back, hangovers have become a reality again. I would really like to aim for total abstinence. But, every now and then, I just get the urge. I just wish I could remember that the day after drinking isn't much fun before I decide to drink!

Your success is very encouraging to me. Please keep posting 🙂

SurferGirl1982 · October 27

Michieb125 wrote: »

Here’s what I’ve learned recently….The liver is a vital workhorse for our overall health and wellness - taking care of metabolism, detoxification, digestion, and immunity support. There is a LOT that goes on within each of these areas, yet are integrated together. I’m sure those of you who are focused on liver health are also following the best practices for a healthy, high functioning liver. I just found a ton of daily recommendations online - Coffee and green tea is actually great for it!
Plus a good diet, exercise and supplements are key in addition to avoiding alcohol.

@Michieb125 I'm glad that you've been doing your research. We all should take a role in our own health. I've been doing a lot of research myself. Your post pretty much says it ALL! This is something that I found on PubMed:

Food Components with Antifibrotic Activity and Implications in Prevention of Liver Disease
Studies have demonstrated that bioactive food components and natural products, including astaxanthin, curcumin, blueberry, silymarin (milk thistle), coffee, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin D, resveratrol, quercetin and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (green tea), have antifibrotic effects in the liver.

And, yes, I have been drinking coffee each morning. I recently started adding a heaping teaspoon (usually twice) of 100% cocoa powder to it (you have to stir every time you freshen it up). Cocoa powder contains flavonols, polyphenols, and antioxidants. You can research it yourself. But it supposedly reduces inflammation and is good for brain and heart health, including blood pressure. I also just bought some organic green tea from Amazon. But I haven't tried it yet.

I also take some supplements. A couple that are considered hepaprotective. And some B vitamins because mine have been depleted from regular drinking. Research the deficiency symptoms of some of them (particularly B1, B9, and B12). Most of the symptoms apply to me.

I'm very careful to research supplements before I take them. When you have liver disease, your liver may not produce enough of the protein (prothrombin) that causes your blood to clot. I haven't had my level checked in a while. But I avoid any supplements that say that they could thin your blood (and a lot of them do). I bought some Garlique a while back. I took it for the first time before my doctor appt. My doctor sent me down to the lab for a couple of tests. After I had my blood drawn, I was walking down the hallway to leave and I felt something on my arm. I looked down and blood was running down my arm. I went back to the lab. She rewrapped it and asked if I was on blood thinners. I said "No". Later I realized that garlic can thin your blood. I still use garlic in cooking (it is good for you), but I never took another Garlique again.

NonnieDoiron · October 28

AF - 21
A - 6

@SurferGirl1982 I seem to live in a constant state of stress. I’ve just learned to live with it for the most part. BUT, high stress times really get to me. I know I have to push through. I’ve asked for help during those times, but it was never given. So, I just keep going because what else can I do?🤷🏻‍♀️

I don’t think I’ve been on a corticosteroid before, but I didn’t know that steroids can mess with your eyes! That’s crazy! I hope they can help you with that.

@globalhiker that’s interesting about the liver function. With my decreased drinking, increased exercise, and weight loss; I hope my cholesterol will be down next time I go to the doctor. But, I also have hereditary high cholesterol so I’m on a statin to bring it down medically. Unfortunately, it’s still wasn’t low enough at the last appointment. When I was running 12 miles a day and weight training regularly eating really good to drop 50lbs and was at goal weight, my cholesterol was still over 200 which is why I was in a statin. I just can’t get it to go lower.

Womona · October 28

Hi all! I loved reading everyone’s oosts. Very informative info.

Boy, am I glad to hear that coffee helps protect my liver! I have about 3 mugs-full every morning.

The human body is a work of art, and it’s amazing how delicate the balance is to make everything function properly.

I did well this weekend. Two drinks each day, so I met my goal. I am back to my exercise schedule this week, so let’s keep the healthy train going!

Hope everyone has a fantastic week.

xbowhunter · October 28

Morning my LA friends!

AF - 42
A - never again!

I have a wedding to attend this weekend. Will attend dry then drive home with zero worries of a DUI. So, refreshing!

globalhiker · October 28

xbowhunter wrote: »

Morning my LA friends!

AF - 42
A - never again!

I have a wedding to attend this weekend. Will attend dry then drive home with zero worries of a DUI. So, refreshing!

@xbowhunter, cool stuff! Your commitment to attend a wedding NA was the inspiration for me doing my first NA vacation in the past 20 years. Lead the way!

globalhiker · October 28

Day 57 AF done and Day 58 AF is here. I choose to drink AF today. Today is the start of a brand new week!

I'm sold on the 100% cocoa benefits. I like Hershey's 10 calorie 100% no sugar cocoa mixed with Siggi's plain zero fat 19gram protein yogurt and I'm adding only a few organic raspberries. Whatever "natural" drug is in the 100% cocoa, I love it.

Michieb125 · October 28

It’s a spooky week ahead as we wrap up LA October!

***What has been a small win for you recently and why are you proud of it?***

Me: incorporating no wine days after a several day wine streak.
I’m proud of this because it tells me it can be done (I can).

🍁🎃🍁

Michieb125 · October 28

@Womona congrats on meeting your weekend goal! YES 🙌🏼

MissMay · October 28

Catching up on all the posts. What a fantastic trove of information to read from so many people. I was jotting down tid bits as I read. Eye opening and stuff you just don't hear some of the health care professionals willingly given to us at appointments. Thank you all.

Our Halloween party get away was Saturday. We took with us a person a few years older, single and kind of a shut in (no car of their own to get here and there). Our adventures started about 2:00PM Saturday. Arriving at hotel. Separate rooms was a rule for me to enforce, as I at times need my own chill space.

Their (my husband and my friend) drinking started immediately once we got our rooms set up. My husband set up "bar" in our room with enough booze to supply our entire floor corridor. Next came my insisted suggestion that we all get a healthy amount of food in us if they were to continue on this beverage consumption. Our party was not to begin until 9PM. It was now 3PM.

My idea got over ruled 2 to 1. It was now pool time they both said to soak up some sun. I was supplied with water and cucumber fever tree/NA. They had alcohol drinks pool side.

My husband was getting in a sour mood because he really wanted in try and get a second Halloween party in that started at 6PM. My friend did not want to go to it. First of the many separate conflicts of interests with these two. So now my husband starts drinking heavier to show he is PI$$ED OFF. OH JOY!

Next food time finally after we got cleaned up. Walked to the nearest place to eat right on the beautiful beach. They feasted kinda light and kept up the alcohol drinking, I was having iced tea. Done eating now back to room. You guessed it, more drinking on both their ends.

Half an hour to leave time and getting in the car for me to drive us to the Halloween party my husband comes unglued. And leashes out at everyone and anyone in his path. If he were a kid I would have left him at home with a sitter. I know it was because he kept drinking and left his emotions of not being able to go to that 6PM party just get to him and he was acting out big time.

I kept with drinking H00 the night, we stayed at the big party for 2.5 hours. They of course were drinking while there. Got back to hotel, out of our costumes and the drinking continued in our room until 1:15AM. I finally stated that it was now almost 12 hours since we left our home base, time for me to go to bed.

Misery loves company and just because they woke up to a brand-new day did not mean the drinks stopped. I was never so glad to check out of a hotel and drop her to her home and get to mine. Rethinking this entire friend relationship. She and I have a nice time by ourselves but when the three of us do something together my husband now has a drinking buddy, Which puts me outside both of their radar.

Accountability October- 22 day alcohol free streak since 10/05/24

2 - A
25 - AF (no drinks on Halloween, my favorite day of the year)

Let it ride

MissMay · October 28

I have already created our ~November 2024 LESS Alcohol~ thread so it will be available for us when October has ended.

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10926352/less-alcohol-november-2024-one-day-at-a-time/p1?new=1

SparkSpringtime69 · October 28

October:
AF: 6
A: 21

SurferGirl1982 · October 28

@SparkSpringtime69 We have the exact same numbers...

October:
AF - 6
A -21

I definitely plan on being AF today 🙂

annliz23 · October 28

oh my gosh I am so glad I found you all it's so inspiring and such good information.

SurferGirl1982 · October 28

@annliz23 I'm glad you're enjoying the group. You haven't mentioned much about your drinking habits or goals. Feel free to post them if you like.

Everyone here has there own specific goals. I had a hard time getting started because I've been a long time daily whiskey drinker. For me, I had to deal with some minor withdrawal symptoms. So what I did was, I drank a little less each day. In August, once I got my first Day 1 AF, I was off to the races. I had a 21-day AF streak. But, somehow, I fell off of the wagon and have been having trouble getting back on ever since 😕 This month I haven't been doing that great. Although, last month, I only had one AF day. I'm on my 7th day right now. So I guess it is less alcohol!

SurferGirl1982 · October 28

I rescheduled my doctor appointment that I had for this Wednesday. But, not because I was scared. For some stupid reason, I made the appt for 2:30 pm. The doctor's office is 60 miles from here and we planned on eating out while we were there. It would have been between lunch and dinner and I knew I would want to come straight home. So I rescheduled it for another day at 11:30 am (not too early, not too late!).

NonnieDoiron · October 29

Michieb125 wrote: »

It’s a spooky week ahead as we wrap up LA October!

***What has been a small win for you recently and why are you proud of it?***

Me: incorporating no wine days after a several day wine streak.
I’m proud of this because it tells me it can be done (I can).

🍁🎃🍁

AF - 22
A - 6

Small win: I only purchased 1 bottle of wine for myself this month, but my husband bought a couple for me without my asking. So, the win is that I didn’t buy my own and didn’t ask for any.

Womona · October 29

@MissMay ooof. I just don’t know what to say. How you got through that party weekend with grace is truly an amazing thing. I think you’re right about rethinking that friendship- especially after you did her a favor by taking her along to get her out of the house. Presumably she knows you’ve pretty much cut out alcohol, and yet…. Big, big, big hug to you from your LA friend.

SunnyDays930 · October 29

https://www.omnicalculator.com/health/ast-alt-ratio

You can plug your numbers in here. Obviously this does not replace anything your Dr has to say. I'll post this in the November link too.

Womona · October 29

I am so bummed…. The marina told us that they’re pulling the boat out of the water this week (it’s past the season’s end), so we have to scramble to take stuff off the boat before they do what they do to wjnterized it. I was really hoping for a couple more weeks to enjoy spending nights down there. I didn’t realize the last time we sailed this past weekend would be it for the season. I’m sad!

Also , my husband is going to be gone for a week starting tomorrow. Not that I’ve ever been big on Halloween, but everyone will be out and about and I’m be here alone. We don’t even get trick or treaters. So I’m not particularly looking forward to this week.

My goal is to not turn to alcohol because I’m bored.

LESS Alcohol ~ OCTOBER 2024 ~ One Day at A Time

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