To be blindsided by doctor's comments about my alcohol consumption?

[omafiet]

I am 42 and overweight. Since having my third child and injuring my back I've gained 2.5 stone. The weight gain hasn't been linear - in fact this time last year I was in reasonable shape and doing a triathlon - but I know I need to do something. Now.

I have been having some unusual stomach symptoms recently and after my friend was diagnosed with ovarian cancer I figured to be on the safe side I should get checked out. I have a great reply with my doctor and respect her advice.

After doing the physical exam she asked me about my drinking habits. I replied that I drank half a bottle of wine, two or three times a week. So, up to 1.5 bottles a week. She put her pen down and told me that this was really excessive and I needed to cut down, if not stop completely for a while.

I'm a little freaked out and have decided to do a 90-day booze-free challenge. But is 1.5 bottles a week really so bad? When I was in my twenties I'd drink that in a night . How much do you drink?

AFAIK, any amount of alcohol is harmful. Increases cancer risk, for instance.
I still drink some myself, but am under no illusions that it's entirely harmless. Grownups are allowed to take such risks.

This seems most salient when OP talks about her weight gain in opening sentence:
1000 calories a week

Surely its subjective.
If someone on here drinks 4 bottles a week. 1.5 sounds pretty low.
I don't drink at all, not worth the calories and I don't like the taste. So 1.5 bottles sounds a lot to me.

If you cut out the alcohol even for 90 days you will definitely lose weight

I stopped drinking January 2nd and haven't lost an ounce.

If you cut out the alcohol even for 90 days you will definitely lose weight

This is 'definitely' not true! I have cut out booze for months at a time and don't lose a single thing.

It's definitely an unhealthy amount. But it's a very socially acceptable amount, which is why it sounds crazy when people say it's not healthy. UK culture is a boozy culture.

I agree that the amount you have said you drink sounds totally reasonable - in fact, you sound very tame! But we live in this boozy culture where unhealthy amounts of alcohol are completely normalised.

So you go to the doctor about a stomach problem. They suggested cutting down alcohol, a well known gastric irritant. Also contributes excess calories which you said you have gained weight and are overweight. Doesn’t really matter whether your alcohol intake is excessive (which it is), reducing it might help you. Why did you seek advice from the Doctor if you don’t want to hear what they have to say.

If I had half a bottle of wine I'd be drunk. Being drunk 3 nights of the week seems very unhealthy.

Good luck with the break from alcohol OP!

I'm a nurse in a gp surgery, they ask if you smoke etc for QOF which is how they get paid. It's not used for any other reason unless you have agreed for it to be used. Also as health care professionals it is our job to inform patients of possible risks and give advice on lifestyle. Doesnt mean we follow our advice, it's your responsibility to make informed choices and look after your own health.

If you were diagnosed with an alcohol related health issue would say "but my GP drinks the same amount so I really cant be ill".

OP we follow NHS guidelines on how many units a week is seen as ok. If you are above that then we will highlight it to you. It sounds about the same as me and OH would share over a week. When I'm not expecting.

Drunk on 2 glasses of wine? Give over!

To diagnose liver damage- ie fatty liver - you need an ultrasound scan.

Yes, my doctor said the same. I'm having a pelvic ultrasound and abdominal ultrasound on Monday.

Why did you seek advice from the Doctor if you don’t want to hear what they have to say.

How did you read that into my post? I said I was very surprised and wanted to see if my alcohol consumption made me an outlier. FWIW I haven't had any alcohol since she told me to lay off.

I think it’s fair to question whether one unit over the recommended allowance should be termed as ‘excessive’.

The recommend units varies widely from country to country and most countries have it different for men and women. It makes you wonder what they are all basing it on.

These types of issues should always be investigated, though, not just 'lose weight and stop drinking and then come back', tbh, because to do otherwise would be dangerous. I mean, a smoker comes in with shortness of breath and persistent cough, it would be irresponsible to just say, 'Go away, stop smoking and see if it improves' when such symptoms in a smoker is a known marker for lung cancer.

All too often women are fobbed off with 'lose weight and stop drinking' or 'hormones' and their issues are not investigated or explored and so they have much higher rates of death from certain conditions and cancers.

Maybe one bottle a year for me. 33.

What you're drinking 'is' a lot :(

I think it’s fair to question whether one unit over the recommended allowance should be termed as ‘excessive’

I agree. I drink about the same amount as you most weeks OP. When I was younger, I drank more, so to me it's not a lot. But clearly to a lot of people on here is it a lot. My understanding is that the 14 units a week thing is the lowest point at which they can measure that the cancer risk increases.

To give your doc the benefit of the doubt, given that you were talking about your weight gain, it's a really easy thing for them to just advise you to cut down the booze as it is calorific so any amount of booze will contribute to weight gain. Then they can pack you off out of their office and write down that they've advised you how to solve the problem.

Drunk on 2 glasses of wine? Give over!

That's potentially 2/3 of a bottle of wine. I could get drunk on that, especially if I drank quickly and/ or it was on an empty stomach. I certainly wouldn't be operating heavy machinery. We don't all respond to alcohol in the same way. We probably have different definitions of "drunk" as well.

The OP asked 'how much do you drink?' so I answered. I can't help it if you don't consider it to be enough! It's relevant because that's what she asked

Yes I don’t think the OP should have asked ‘how much do you drink?’ As there are lots of people on mumsnet who don’t drink or drink a few glasses a year. So to them a bottle and a half a week is a lot (add a sad face).

Whether it’s ‘excessive’ and damaging your health is what we are discussing and debating, not whether it’s ‘loads’ compared to someone who doesn’t drink.

Half a bottle is 2 glasses, hardly problematic. I often share a bottle with my husband in the evening. Probably wouldn't kill me not to drink it but I could get run over by a bus tomorrow!

It’s absolutely loads op and you sound like an alcoholic in denial. I allow myself a sniff of sherry every leap year

I allow myself a sniff of sherry every leap year

As much as that? Good heavens, I shall call social services and get your children taken into care.

lattelove i am not saying one unit kills and the OP doesnt just drink one unit, but units add up,yes alcohol kills. My BF BIL died after turning up at a house party stone cold sober ( he was a "social" and died 45 minutes later because he had drank too much too quick, he was "wetting" the babies head just 7 whiskies and his 4 day old baby was without a Dad

God that’s horrific @Lowlandlucky x

@Lowlandlucky that is awful. It's something I really worry about tbh for teenagers (mine!) they don't drink very much then go out and have quite a lot in one day.
To be honest I do the same I drink rarely but live a drink if I'm out.

I allow myself a sniff of sherry every leap year

I hate sherry! My Nan used to force me to drink it at Christmas ... vile! just vile!