AIBU To assume people tell fibs to their Dr about how much they drink?

[Diel]

I went to see my GP recently and he asked how much alcohol I drink, I was about to give my usual 14 units answer but decided to tell the truth and say about 3 bottles of wine a week. GP looked horrified and told me I absolutely must stop this. This isn't news to me as I know it's more that I should drink but he then asked if it's because I can't sleep, um, no, it's because I love wine. Anyhow, surely I'm not alone? Or do people just not admit to this vice?

It's not really any of my doctors business really if I am going about physio to my knee. It's intrusive and daft because if you are worried about your drinking or want

a few years ago I was honest with my doc about how much I was drinking, he nearly fell off his chair. I was working in the wine industry at the time, but I didn't realise how much I was drinking and when I worked it out it was about 8-9 bottles a week. I quickly cut down!

Yes, they do, which is why the GP doubled it and thinks you drink 6 bottles a week.

I would probably tell the GP about a bottle a week. In reality it's 3.

I think a lot of people go over their units. My husband lied on his form because he didn't want a lecture but what's the point of lying to your doctor?

Bugger sober too!

If you want advise or help with drinking you would ask.

3 bottles of wine a week would seem quite a small amount and honestly In RL no one I know drinks this little apart from my dm.

Dm is 87 and has altzimers. She never drank or smoked. She's I continent and me and dad are her carers.

Rather live a shorter life and enjoy it.

Doing sober October this year and not going to lie it's going to be very very very hard.

I'm teetotal and some doctors do the "really??" face. I've not drunk in years at this point and before then it was only very occasionally. I don't like the taste and I go from happy to suicidal in about half a glass so it's really not worth it. I think I've drunk on 3 or 4 occasions in the last 14 years and none during the last 9 years.

I would assume a lot of people would lie if they know they are drinking over the recommended units per week as they don't want the lecture.

I always imagine that the Dr will double the amount you state.

So when I tell the truth they nearly fall off the chair.

(2 cartons of beer a week)

Who thinks of recommended amounts when you know, living their lives? anyone with any intelligence, common sense, or sense of responsibility.

I used to lie, have now cut down massively and am on about 12 units a week. So if my GP doubles that, he's wrong - but how is he to know? Mind you, last time we met he was astounded by how much weight I'd lost so perhaps he does believe me - cutting down on booze really helped me shed the almost 5 st I've lost.

I felt I was probably a bit economical with the truth to the anaesthetist (sp?) today when I said a bottle and a half a week (it's more like two) because I felt he'd add on a bit. He told me that one of his recent patients told him that he only drank a 'minimal' amount of alcohol, which turned out to be a bottle of spirits a day...

I think my GP believes I'm lying. I very rarely drink, and do my average units per week is near to zero. GP raises eyebrows and says "really".

It's annoying. Not everyone drinks like a fish!

It would, surely, be completeky illegal for insurance companies to double what you tell them and whilst medics might mentally double it, it would also be illegal for them to change your records or answers to reflect their guess

I'm honest but I rarely drink. Once every couple of months I go out with a friend and we share a couple of bottles of wine. A couple of times a year - if that I may have a big night out and go mad. I never drink at home alone, never have a drink with dh at home. It's only ever if there is an occasion.

I think my GP probably thinks I lie but I genuinely do not drink at all.

"Today 19:53 Longlost10

Who thinks of recommended amounts when you know, living their lives? anyone with any intelligence, common sense, or sense of responsibility."

What a truly bizarre thing to think.

My GP friends (I have a few) told me they automatically double what they're told. So I tell them half what I actually drink. Makes sense to me.

Are doctors always honest and truthful to their patients?

Anyone with doctors in their family/social circle will know that they drink like fishes......generalisation, yes, but it's been my experience.

I easily do 3 bottles a week, quite moderate I'd say :)

I don't lie, but thats because I rarely drink these days, so there's no need.

I have a funny story about it though. In the Military you have a full MOT at your 12 year point (usually age 30) and at ages 40 and 50. I was at my 12 year point so in the docs for it. It was the week before Christmas.

Did all the usual tests, then the doc says "And how many units would you say you drank in a week" I am sitting there, hungover to fuck, on day 3 of a 6 day party week...I start to mumble, out loud "um..wine, vodka, baileys...oh those shots... So about 20..."

The doc butts in "Well that's not too bad as it's Christmas week, but try not to do that on a regular basis"

...at which point I didn't have the heart (or balls) to tell him that I hadn't actually finished and that was only day one

longlost that sounded soooo snoity and pious!

I think that's her personality lemon

Oh and PS I bet parties at your house are a snoozefest.

I was recently assured by a patient's relative that they had been together all day and had "only a couple of glasses of wine". Which was odd, because the relative was clearly wasted and the patient was comatose with a blood alcohol 5 times the drink drive limit.

Ha. I've never had a doctor ask me about my alcohol consumption. But then I live in France.
Actually, I midwives asked once and when I admitted to wine here and there, they were all like, oh, that's fine, as long as you're not knockind down vodka every day

We have a GP friend, he assumes everyone is lying and say they are drinking more than they say.
Your GP probably thinks you are drinking more than 3 bottles.

I drink only a few times a year and they don't believe me either.