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Alcohol support

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4 bottles in one sitting...need help!!

93 replies

Scoley76 · 02/02/2023 12:55

Hi. Well where to start......
I have a problem with drink! Drinking up to 4 bottles of wine at a time maybe 4 times a week. I have drank more tbh but generally it's between 2- 4. I have a partner and a beautiful 7 year old boy who just doesn't deserve this. Today it has to change and I'm hoping using this forum will help. I've lied, covered up and spent hundreds of £££s. Has anyone got any tips to achieve what seems like a mammoth task? xx

OP posts:
Lentil63 · 02/02/2023 14:50

Why do you want to ring tomorrow? I think we both know the answer. If you are going to get well there has to come a time when you put down the glass. I know it’s scary. Click on the link I shared. Just take a peek.

DearieMeWhatsUp · 02/02/2023 15:02

You can contact AA if you want for support, but they can't give you medical support which you absolutely do need. They are also abstinence focused which you will need support to achieve. A GP can refer you to the alcohol service, but some alcohol services also work with GPs so you can be managed within primary care and not necessarily have to attend your service. It's all area dependent. A GP is a good first step, and if you google your local authority + alcohol treatment service it should tell you who provides this in your area and how to get in touch.

weenawoo · 02/02/2023 17:48

It really is worth ringing the AA. I rang in desperation last year.
It was not an instant change but I am now over 3 months sober and have a lovely sober group of people around me. It has been life changing.

SlipSlidinAway · 03/02/2023 13:39

@Scoley76 - did you ring your GP?

Scoley76 · 03/02/2023 14:30

SlipSlidinAway · 03/02/2023 13:39

@Scoley76 - did you ring your GP?

I did. I rang at 8am when they give out emergency appointments for the day. They had none left and offered me an appointment for the 7th 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
1Wanda1 · 03/02/2023 15:37

Please call again on Monday. This IS an emergency. As others have said, it's likely you'll need medical support to prevent the physical withdrawal symptoms, which can in some cases be life-threatening.

A family member went through this last year. In her case already in hospital due to a medical emergency caused by her drinking, but she ended up in there for 3 weeks being medically detoxed and her condition stabilised before she was discharged to rehab. She's been alcohol free for 8 months now (barring a couple of slips). She was drinking a litre of spirits a day. Which is probably about the same amount of alcohol as 4 bottles of wine.

You can do this, but I don't think you can do it without support. Good luck.

Stepuptowardsinfinity · 03/02/2023 15:43

I'm amazed you are not dead already at that level of drinking. As other posters have said, you need professional help coming off this. Take the GP appointment when you can get it and be honest about how much you are drinking. In the meantime, why not get to AA today? I'm sure they'd provide support. Good luck.

ApolloandDaphne · 03/02/2023 15:48

I hope you took that appointment?

BunniesBunniesBunnies · 03/02/2023 15:50

OP I had a problem with alcohol and am almost 3 years sober now. My life is so much better. You can change too but you need help!!!! You are drinking too much (no judgement just an observation) to do it alone, it’s not safe. Go see your GP. They will be supportive. Good luck.

Hedjwitch · 03/02/2023 15:52

My brother is an alcoholic. You cannot just go cold turkey because of your level of addiction. You need medical help for a supervised withdrawal. Please contact your GP and best of luck.

mathanxiety · 03/02/2023 16:08

It would be very unwise from a medical point of view to try to stop this on your own.

You are going to have to work up the courage to talk to your GP about your drinking and ask for professional help managing the physical withdrawal. Stopping on your own can have very serious

There's shame involved in lying and covering up. There's a desire to avoid feeling the discomfort of admitting something you consider shameful. There's maybe a desire not to feel the discomfort of accoubtability?

Please try to put that behind you. Sit quietly and try to forgive yourself. Remind yourself that you are trying to do better.

Then get real. Alcohol does physical damage and you need medical help as your body detoxifies.

You can also try Alcoholics Anonymous, as an adjunct to medical support.

SlipSlidinAway · 03/02/2023 18:42

@Scoley76 - so have you taken the appointment for the 7th? That's quite quick really the way things are at the moment.

ShyMaryEllen · 03/02/2023 21:37

Please keep the appointment, if you can't get one sooner by saying it's an emergency.

I'm another who had a problem with alcohol, and whilst I do understand your reluctance to speak to a GP, it is important that you do it. I was reluctant too, and very ashamed, but he was understanding and kind. I was referred for tests and it turned out that I had damaged my liver, but I stopped drinking and 5 years later I feel so much better than I did then, even allowing for the damage. Once you have spoken to the GP, you have admitted that there is a problem. It's great that you have told us on here, but telling a real person is a watershed. The genie is out of the bottle then.

I wasn't drinking quite as much as you, but I'd been doing it for a long time, and I did manage to stop on my own. The fact that I had liver damage was enough to scare me into stopping, and the truth is that it was so much easier than I'd thought it would be. Really. I used hypnosis tracks (Craig Beck is good). Whether the hypnosis worked or not, they gave a routine to bedtime, as going to bed sober was a novelty. I swapped wine for the fake stuff, and always drank it chilled in a wine glass, as though it was the real thing. It takes a bit of getting used to (ok it's grim, although the fake fizz is better than the flat), but it helped a lot with the habit side of things. It is doable, I promise.

But the first step is to speak to the GP and get your LFTs done, and an ultrasound to see if there is damage. I wasn't given any medication, but obviously that depends on the extent of the scarring if you have any, and if you need help to stop drinking or diuretics for any water retention, the sooner you get it the better. You should take high dose Vitamin B1 (thiamine) to prevent brain damage which can occur if you stop drinking suddenly. Get that now, as it can prevent damage but not cure it. Avoid any other drugs or supplements until you have spoken to a doctor.

Good luck, and keep posting. You can do it.

Scoley76 · 04/02/2023 11:20

Thank you all. I slipped last night and again feel ashamed and deflated as well as hung over. Is there no end to it 😪
I will keep my appointment though for the 7th x

OP posts:
changingforthebetter3 · 04/02/2023 11:24

So glad you're getting professional help, my brother is in a similar situation. He has to go into hospital for them to detox him otherwise he has seizures if he goes cold turkey due to the withdrawal.

ApolloandDaphne · 04/02/2023 11:44

You would be better still drinking but a lesser amount until you see the GP and can discuss how to detox safely.

BunniesBunniesBunnies · 04/02/2023 11:44

Ah @Scoley76 it’s hard. There CAN be an end to this (speaking from experience) but you need HELP. Attend that appointment! Be honest! GPs have heard it all before. They may be able to prescribe something for the withdrawal too.

I had so many Saturday mornings like the one you’re having now. This Saturday morning I jumped out of bed to do crafts with the kids, made a nice breakfast for everyone and then went for a run! Honestly my life is SO different now. I’m not saying this to be smug, I have been where you are, I’m just wanting to give you some hope. But you’ve got to accept outside help and join a good sober community. Be kind to yourself today OP

Scoley76 · 04/02/2023 14:15

BunniesBunniesBunnies · 04/02/2023 11:44

Ah @Scoley76 it’s hard. There CAN be an end to this (speaking from experience) but you need HELP. Attend that appointment! Be honest! GPs have heard it all before. They may be able to prescribe something for the withdrawal too.

I had so many Saturday mornings like the one you’re having now. This Saturday morning I jumped out of bed to do crafts with the kids, made a nice breakfast for everyone and then went for a run! Honestly my life is SO different now. I’m not saying this to be smug, I have been where you are, I’m just wanting to give you some hope. But you’ve got to accept outside help and join a good sober community. Be kind to yourself today OP

thank you. Today's a new day and I just need to keep focused on the positives in life.

OP posts:
Sarahcoggles · 04/02/2023 15:04

Did you google alcohol services in your area? Where I work (I'm a GP) it is entirely self referral. If a patient comes to me for help with drinking, literally all I can do is listen to them and then give them the number of alcohol services. There is no other role for GPs.

Sarahcoggles · 04/02/2023 15:05

GPs will not prescribe for withdrawal, unless they have specific training, or are reckless prescribers. There is no point waiting for the GP appointment, no point at all. Google alcohol services in my area.

Squiblet · 04/02/2023 15:08

No advice but just wanted to say I am so impressed and proud of you OP for coming on here and asking for help. It's a long and scary journey but you have taken that first step and that's brilliant. We're all behind you xx

Doodar · 04/02/2023 15:34

Has your LA got something like this www.haga.co.uk ?
you cannot just stop, you'll be susceptible to seizures. Good luck and well done for taking the first steps.

Ruffpuff · 04/02/2023 15:46

Op, I just wanted to say good luck. I know I don’t know you, but I’m very proud of you for recognising you have a problem and seeking help. It’s not easy, there’s a lot of shame involved. You’ll do it though.

Olivia2020 · 04/02/2023 17:21

Hello,

what kind of liver damage did you have and how old are you (if you don’t mind me asking)?

mathanxiety · 04/02/2023 20:29

The important part of speaking to the GP is actually getting the words out, naming and describing the problem.