The freedom thread ( continued ) Riding the rollercoaster of an alcohol free life! Alcohol support for those wanting to give up drinking.

[SavBbunny]

Hello all
This is a thread for people who have decided that life is much better without alcohol!🤩 These threads were started by @Drybird, and they have changed the lives of many people.
Some posters on these threads have been sober for a long time, and some are only just starting. We are a very friendly and inclusive bunch and we are always excited when someone new joins the thread. The only thing we ask is that our posters have given up alcohol completely. Talk of moderation can be triggering for some people, so this thread is not the right place for that (there are other moderation threads🙂).
We are a supportive welcoming bunch. No question is ever to “ silly “ and their is generally someone around if you are struggling
So just come here to chat or vent or check in . Whatever you need as you ride the rollercoaster of an alcohol free life smile
Thank you to @fortheloveofgodwhy for hosting the last thread 💜
And here’s to the next 40 pages grin

Day 4 AF. Was on this thread early this year and did 3 months AF before slipping back into my old ways, averaging 28-30 units per week. Find it difficult to not have a drink around 6pm however I’m going to give it another try. Slept so well last night and no hangover today, even started couch to 5k again!

@BunniesBunniesBunnies Thank you, I feel slightly less guilty now 😂. Worked out today it's 12 weeks until Christmas so I do need to get in gear. Tuna salad, watch out.

Hi @Shortkiwi 3 months AF before is fab. Glad you slept well etc last night, this things really highlight the benefits don't they.

On a separate note, how on Earth is it Sunday pm already?! Also, random perhaps, is there such a thing / substitute for af baileys or similar?

Hmmm I was never a Bailey’s drinker but I wonder whether investing in some quality hot choc stuff would hit the spot? There are also some lovely seasonal herbal teas that have similar spices to Baileys. Definitely worth a try!

Thanks @BunniesBunniesBunnies that's a good shout re quality hot chocolate. I certainly think that would be a nice spoilt treat!

Good evening all. Feeling good wrapping up 4 weeks of AF (even though that’s a drop in the ocean compared to you all!)

@Crayonpenny solidarity for this morning. My 4 year old also had me up at that time… so much easier without a drink the night before

I’ve always found the weekends quite stressful (for lots of reasons) but since starting this they feel easier, this one in particular has been good!!

I'm calling it.... First sober weekend in years and years. Pretty sure that if I didn't have a chest infection, I'd feel on top of the world. I'm so very happy though. I've had cravings this afternoon, but had a big nap instead!

I feel like I'm moving from one day at a time to one week at a time. Not going to run before I can walk, but it's such a big step for me to get through a weekend. No part of me wants to ruin that achievement with a wasted weekday pointless glass of something I don't even want.

I'm so inspired by you all ❤️

Well done everyone x

I’m over 400 days now. It gets easier and easier. I don’t even notice alcohol far less think about it any more

Still here. 1 month and 2 days. Main reason is that I'm pregnant so not sure I belong here anymore. I definitely feel I'm AF because I can't drink. Makes it easier in lots of ways.

Morning all,

Welcome back @Shortkiwi
@glindathegoodbitch congrats. First weekend is a major step.

@Endofmytetherfinally would you be tempted to drink? I didn't, but we are all different. Lurk here if it helps.

@Crayonpenny I don't have a sweet tooth but I will put husband on the test for mock baileys. He will go hunting (my dh loves shopping, drives me potty).
I like shopping for handbags and lipstick!

Morning wendywagon et al.

endofmytether congratulations on your pregnancy, feel free to stay and lurk or post if it helps now (if needed) or to help set you on to the right frame of mind when you've had your baby. I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on not drinking while you're pregnant if you want to share.

Well done to all those on fab milestones whether it's day 1 done, weekend 1 done or 400 days (fantastic lovingtheAFLife , massive well done to you).

I want to add for those that have similar issues with food/eating disorders that , I feel that I can tentatively say that I might just have kicked my life long difficult relationship with food. I certainly feel, not just on the road to recovery but feel I am in recovery. It's been a big year of working on it, I've thrown lots at it but I feel in a very different place now. I couldn't have done it if I was still drinking. And the fact that I stopped drinking over 2 years ago gave me the confidence that I could do this. I've used alt lot of the tools I learned in going dry and all the ideas and advice here to help. Like drinking, I am still vigilant but I do really feel like I've turned a corner with it. And it's quite life changing.

Hi All,

Thank you Sav @WendyWagon Your comments re shopping - you and DH - really made me smile! I look forward to the outcomes of MrSav's investigations!

@glindathegoodbitch A full weekend down is good work, especially the first one.

@Breathmiller Thank you, candid and wise / insightful words.

@Breathmiller
We are in sinc how weird is that?
I have scoffed like a fullback for twenty years and I can't do it anymore. No three courses for me and it takes days to eat the brie. Some old time lurkers will remember I was in the list for weight loss surgery.
Not sure I need it now. Two stone down, 5 to go but I am getting there. Need to buy a belt. Glad to be shot of drinkers face too.

@Breathmiller
I reckon you are a famous writer in RL. Nobody has your exceptional way with words x

You are my hero @Breathmiller (well one of them, I have a lot of heroes on this thread) and I am comforted to know that it takes time and perseverance and tenacity to be able to really tackle life long food issues. I am not ready for that yet.

I kind of hoped being AF would be a "fix all" and whilst it hasn't been I am still bloody glad to be AF.

@Endofmytetherfinally congratulations on your pregnancy.

Aw shucks guys. Feeling the luurve. No, not a famous writer or particularly wise, just a regular ol' arsehole (which my DH would happily come on and testify to 😅)

Well done on the weight loss wendywagon . I do remember and am so pleased that you may not need surgery after all.

Well to be honest in my last pregnancy I found it easy not to drink. I had 1 in each trimester. But didn't feel I needed them or wanted a 2nd.

The issue was after my daughter was born I ended up drinking way more than I had before. Combination of lockdown and being so exhausted by the time she went to bed it was my treat. So really keen to avoid picking it up again when the new baby is here.

The main reason I think I'm finding it easy this time is I have terrible morning sickness that lasts all bloody day. No amount of ginger or lemon is doing anything. Any home remedies very welcome.

Morning all.
Big appointment yesterday at RA clinic. Failing mobility due to old drug no longer working. Choices to be made re new options, none without risk.
I told my consultant I no longer drink and I got zero reaction. Would have liked a gold star however she isn't a British national and it is the Brits that are the boozers😁

Morning All,

Hope everyone is doing ok on this kind of mild Autumn day? Foolishly made a coffee at 7 (not foolish this part) and then logged on to check something and ping ping ping my senior director is sending me Teams messages. Schoolboy error from crayonpenny. To be fair, could have been worse as I wasn't dressed and had wild wizard hair so at least it wasn't a call. That said, grateful I could respond with relatively on the ball messages vs urghh. It's the little things that I keep stashing up on re benefits of being AF.

Sav, @WendyWagon , sorry to hear about the medication not working. I don't really know much about RA medication but I hope out of your options there is one that gives you the best support re solution etc with a very minimal risk.
Re acknowledgement from the doctor, that's annoying, I would have wanted acknowledgement as well. Interesting though from what you've said as I guess in other cultures abstaining is just the norm / expected vs over here. It's a bit cringy when you think about it. Hope everything cottage wise is progressing well.

@Endofmytetherfinally Have you tried mint tea? It's been a few years but I'm sure we got that in as it helped both the nausea but the taste also helped as you feel fresh if that makes sense? Apart from that, it was Wispa gold bars all the way but not sure I perhaps would recommend that to you right now!

wendywagon ⭐⭐⭐

In fact ⭐⭐⭐⭐ gold stars all round for everyone. 😁

endofmytether sorry you are suffering from morning sickness. I had severe HG with all 4 of my pregnancies and spent a lot of my time on a drip in the hospital. They are much better these days at giving medication so do go to your GP if it becomes unmanageable. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. And am very glad I won't have to go through that again. Keep your food intake small and often. And whatever you can hold down. When i was first pregnant they used to say keep your sugar levels average and level. By my 3rd they had changed that advice to keeping your sugar levels high. It did seem to help a bit, or at least I wasn't hospitalised quite as much.

@Crayonpenny cottage options now as the market is dropping. I am thinking about two. One is much bigger and needs work, the other done up to the nines and definitely overpriced but gorgeous.

There is thread this morning about the worse thing you have ever done. I haven't commented as I don't need a MN bashing but it has to be becoming dependent on alcohol for me. It clouded my life for twenty years. Effected my children, marriage and my career. If I could turn the clock back I would. Sobering thoughts hay lads!

Thank you for my star @Breathmiller 😊

Sounds like a bit of a conundrum @WendyWagon Blooming crackers the market, interest rates etc. Don't get me started on energy bills either!!

What medication are you on now @WendyWagon (if you don't mind saying)

I am still doing okay with Methotrexate. I say doing okay - it is a vile drug - but it manages my type of autoimmune arthritis [is RA also autoimmune?] at the moment.

I know as time goes on it will stop being as effective, I am not legible for biologics until I fail MTX. I am on maximum dose (25mg per week) and have been stable - barring a horrible relapse when I first went AF - for almost 4 years now. But the side effects are sometimes as bad as the illness.

@Crunchymum
I am the full enchilada. Metho and Imaraldi which is now not working. I will be having infusions but it means for two weeks after if I get covid, it's goodnight Irene! Not an ideal choice as husband is customer facing with 70+ staff. Either that or live in pain and a bloody walker.
Hence the dream of hiding in my cottage with fruit trees and a few chickens.

Gosh that is a hard choice Wendy, is there anything else you can try that isn't an infusion? (that is the one thing I am really worried about needing in the future)

Are there any other biologics they can try you with?

@Crunchymum no other options.
However I do need to feel better as my mobility has been bad for a year.
I got bullied at my job last year for needing some reasonable adjustments. I won't put myself up for hiding it again.
Doesn't effect my brain.