Page 12 | Do I drink too much?

user1491413344 · 2017-04-05T17:35:40+00:00

I drink a bottle of wine every night. DH says this is too much and thinks I should stop. Is it too much? Thought it was okay.

Batgirlspants · 06/04/2017 09:57

Obviously though op if you think seeing your GP will help go for it and remember he/she won't bat an eyelid as they have seen it all before and a hell of a lot worse than you.

You can cut down anyone can you just have to find a way that suits you and stick to it.

taffle · 06/04/2017 10:15

Batgirlspants

In the absence of a SADQ questionnaire and face-to-face assessment, you cannot possibly make that judgement.

moofolk · 06/04/2017 10:22

Do you share the bottle? That makes a difference!

user1489179512 · 06/04/2017 10:26

Anyone who drinks regularly as in every night should be asking themselves if they have a problem.

user1489179512 · 06/04/2017 10:27

If you need the crutch of drink every evening, then maybe it will not be that straightforward to stop.

user1489179512 · 06/04/2017 10:30

Batgirlspants

Yes a lot of empty calories.

taffle if the op is being truthful and drinks no more than a bottle of wine a day she shouldn't need to seek medical advice to stop regarding withdrawal symptoms. She won't have any with that amount.

Huh? A BOTTLE of wine a day is not a problem?? Yes, it certainly is a problem as is much less than that in a daily basis.

user1489179512 · 06/04/2017 10:30

...on a

frieda909 · 06/04/2017 10:59

user, Batgirlspants isn't saying it's not a problem, she's saying it probably doesn't require a medical detox to avoid potentially fatal withdrawal symptoms.

I still think you need to seek medical advice, though, OP. There are so many support services available that can help you with this.

Isetan · 06/04/2017 11:32

You're in obvious denial! If you're smart and tech savvy enough to pose the question on MN, then you're smart enough to type 'what are the recommended alcohol units for women?' into Google. You've become accustomed to using alcohol 'to relax' and the grumpiness and irritability are bloody obvious signs that you've become dependent on it.

Seek help before a bottle a night becomes two or before (if you haven't already) you damage your liver.

withouttea · 06/04/2017 21:53

I feel worried that the OP is being given medical advice from non-medical people. We cannot judge whether it's safe for the OP to withdraw from alcohol without support. She might be fine - but then again, sudden withdrawal occasionally proves fatal.

Please, go to your GP and get referred to an agency that can make a proper assessment of risk for you, and give you sensible, well-informed support. You can self-refer to some - it depends what there is in your area.

Good luck.

PurpleDaisies · 06/04/2017 22:12

taffle if the op is being truthful and drinks no more than a bottle of wine a day she shouldn't need to seek medical advice to stop regarding withdrawal symptoms. She won't have any with that amount.

Rubbish. I'm a qualified doctor And I've worked on liver disease wards. That's probably ten units a day at least which could easily fit the criteria for a medical detox. I'm guessing you're not medically trained if you're making such an irresponsible statement.

op please see your GP. Cutting down suddenly can be really dangerous and there are simple ways to make stopping drinking safe.

mummabubs · 06/04/2017 22:18

I'm certainly not judging OP and as you've probably gathered from the large amount of replies a bottle a night is definitely drinking in excess and the pattern you describe sounds like addictive behaviour using alcohol as an (unhealthy) coping mechanism.

I just wanted to share that I read your comment a way back about how you gave up trying to stop "so you just drink and everyone's happy". My grandparents and my father were all alcoholics, and whilst they felt it was fine it was seriously distressing as a family member to witness it. My dad would be very relaxed after his bottle of wine a night and say he wasn't drunk, I'd be sobbing in my room as I could 100% tell he'd had a lot to drink but he was so used to it he'd stopped noticing the effect it had on him. He still drinks now but only 2 nights a week and never a whole bottle in one sitting. I just wondered if you think your DH is "happy" given that he's asked you to stop/cut down and seen that you haven't? Not judging, just food for thought. I hope you find help should you want it x

mummabubs · 06/04/2017 22:25

Sorry, also just caught up with later messages where you talk about seeking advice from your GP, this is definitely a good move and will hopefully be the start of your journey to finding happier things from life :)

maisybobbins · 06/04/2017 22:25

I do think that's wayyyyy too much OP and I drink every night too. Usually Only one drink though - either a gin and tonic or a bottle of lager. You could start off by cutting down to that. Don't open a big bottle of vino because you will drink it. Buy those individual bottles maybe or switch to a g n t.

FruitCider · 07/04/2017 07:12

Rubbish. I'm a qualified doctor And I've worked on liver disease wards. That's probably ten units a day at least which could easily fit the criteria for a medical detox. I'm guessing you're not medically trained if you're making such an irresponsible statement.

Here here. I'm a detox nurse, responsible for the detox of up to 140 people at any one time. Right now I have over 20 alcohol detox patients, I give out approximately 100 Librium (chlordiazepoxide) a day.

Please do not tell people they can safely detox themselves at home from 10+ units a day. Alcohol withdrawal, if not managed probably, can lead to withdrawal seizures and death.

FruitCider · 07/04/2017 07:15

I mean just by going on the info in the OP they have an AUDIT score of 20. We would always detox with an audit score of 20+. So OP, if you want to stop drinking, please see your Gp!

SnookieSnooks · 07/04/2017 07:46

It's far too much. Reduce it now.

taffle · 07/04/2017 08:17

I agree with the detox nurse and doctor (Fruitcider and PurpleDaisies), and once again I will urge the OP to seek help from a GP before trying to cut down or stop drinking.

For what it's worth, I'm just about to qualify as a medical doctor. I'm disconcerted by some of the poor "advice" given on here, tbh.

FruitCider · 07/04/2017 09:19

Me too taffle. I guess because alcohol is legal it is seen as "safe". Couldn't be further from the truth. Whilst I give the same quality of care to all of my patients, it is the ones withdrawing from alcohol that get the most of my time, so much more monitoring is needed due to the dangerous nature of alcohol detox.

frieda909 · 07/04/2017 16:37

I just wanted to apologise for my previous comment. I only meant to clarify that a PP was referring to the need for medical detox and that she was not suggesting that a bottle of wine a day was no problem. I certainly didn't mean to pass any comment myself on whether or not a medical detox should be necessary. There's been some great advice from people with real expertise in this area, and those of us who aren't medically trained definitely shouldn't be commenting on that aspect.

OP, I hope you're doing ok

HorridHenryrule · 07/04/2017 22:00

It is up to the op and whether she feels she needs that sort of intervention. Many people have given up without the need of intervention. I was like the op but I cut down my consumption it's not impossible for a person to work it out themselves. Those who have issues with alcohol and can't stop those are the people who need intervention. It's not the drink on it's own it's what's in their head they drink to forget.

The op hasn't shown any distress apart from she likes wine. She even said can't I do this myself do I need to see a GP.

ProlificPoster · 07/04/2017 22:08

Good luck OP, I hope you manage to get the help,you need and manage to find a way to cut down your alcohol consumption. I don't suppose it's going to be easy but hopefully you will find people supportive

hellopeoplehowareyou · 07/04/2017 22:11

Yes it is too much, if you can't go without you have a problem. Stop while you still can.

missmarplesknittingcoach · 08/04/2017 09:32

Yes , I drink virtually every evening . Difference is I have one small glass of wine with my meal . The bottle lasts me a week and I don't get snappy if i don't have it .

tinkerx5 · 08/04/2017 11:09

OP, I completely sympathise with you. Increasing to a bottle a night can be easily done. I've gotten to that point before - stuck in a habit and routine. I realised how much weight I put on, then GRADUALLY cut down. I still drink wine most evenings, but if I do, I have one glass with dinner followed by a possible second. As I've cut back, I've noticed how I don't always fancy a drink every evening. Sometimes it is just sparkling water with elderflower cordial. I didn't go and see my GP (which may not be the best advice for you). If you are finding it tricky to cut down, you should definitely see your GP. I look back and think how much money I wasted getting stuck in that habit. I don't drive or operate machinery at work, but since I've cut right back, I've definitely got more energy and appetite in the morning. Try to cut down please, I know it is hard, but you WILL thank yourself eventually!