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?

Sounds pretty average to me, but I think everyone drinks more than me. Pretty much teetotal.

And... to add, that's possibly partly why I'm still the same size (UK6) that I was 20 years ago.

My ‘who knew’ was despairingly sarcastic because these are the benefits of drinking moderately or not at all which we all know and have known all our lives.

To me, having half a bottle of wine 3 times a week every week is massively excessive and I'd be mindful of health implications.

I like a drink but can take it or leave it really so I probably average a gin every couple of weeks or so.

1.5 bottles of wine is about 750 calories, so that's equivalent to about a pound a month.

Keep on drinking MNetters, clearly you know so much better than the medics. It will catch up with you, and your clear bullshitting!

Why are you so angry?

life.spectator.co.uk/arti[cles/the-great-alcohol-cover-up-how-public-health-bodies-hid-the-truth-about-drinking/

Seems this artcile pp posted can explain where the doubling thing comes from:

The only real pitfall in this kind of research is the problem of people under-reporting how much they drink. The amount of alcohol sold in the UK is about twice the amount that people claim to drink, so unless we throw away a huge amount of booze, it is certain that people either forget about how much they drink or they deliberately lie to researchers. In either case, we can assume that the people who say they consume two drinks a day are probably consuming three or four drinks

Anyway I think once I'm post-menopausal there research suggesting I should drinking red wine weekly - I think it protects the heart – I’m not sure I will though.

Horrible stuff wine, hate it with a passion.

I do have a soft spot for craft ale, not mainstream wee wee.

I probably have a couple of bottles a week, it’s my dirty little habit!

Thank you bigkite

bigKite, the obvious point I think they have missed is that the truly sozzled will not be able to answer the survey! Skewed sample.

bigKite: hoppy beer is good for silicon for bone density, apparently.

If you went to your gp with stomach problems she might well have been thinking about the damage alcohol can do to your gut - eg, alcohol can cause gut inflammation and trigger symptoms if you have IBS.

She may also have been thinking about calories - half a bottle of wine is around 300 calories so if you cut this out you would be saving yourself close to 1,000 calories a week. She may also have guessed you were underplaying how much you drink (gps see this a lot).

In any case, you might find giving up alcohol improves your health and helps with your stomach issues. Take some probiotics if you can (perhaps spend the money you would spend on wine on kefir or something like).

Good luck!

There's so much stupid in this comment that I think I actually lost a few IQ points reading it, by osmosis.

Ha ha @StarlingsInSummer harsh but true

I'm confused it seems to link in that she felt something in your stomach and that prompted her to ask about alcohol?

OP if you are really worried ask for a liver function test.... that should put your mind at rest.

Already had the blood draw done yesterday; should get the results back later today.

KateUrrer I won't tell DH about silicon for bone density he already knows drinkers live longer.

omafiet - www.myfitnesspal.com might be helpful tool for weight loss when you do get the all clear.

She probably misunderstood and thought you meant a day!

Load of tosh, 1 1/2 bottles of wine is nothing

and I put on weight when I cut out alcohol for a month, alcohol can dull the appetite I find

No one needs to drink, it's really not that life enhancing and once you give it up, you realise how much better off you are.

For about 4 years now I've done Dry January. It's nice, but I can't say I feel dramatically better off without drinking. I drink a little less than the OP. My father is an alcoholic so I am careful about how much I drink. Despite my father's alcoholism I don't feel the need to be sanctimonious about other people's drinking if it's in moderation.

OP I suspect she doubled the amount you drink. A relative of mine was told off for drinking too much by his GP. He pointed out he was within the recommended guidelines to which her response was "yes, but we double your answer". Try cutting back and see how you feel. My take on Dry January was that if I couldn't do it I definitely had a problem. The fact that I can do it doesn't mean I'm fine of course but really, a bottle of wine a week, spread over 2-3 days seems to suit me.

I drink shitloads more than that. Got to die of something.

Absolutely rofling at the competitive puritans on this thread though.

This is an interesting piece on whether we should aim for zero consumption www.health.harvard.edu/blog/alcohol-and-your-health-is-none-better-than-a-little-2018091914796

If only it were so simple. When I was drinking that much (or more - up to 25 units a week) I cut out alcohol completely for three months, and did not shift a single pound.

But at least you weren’t pickling your brain and liver for a while.

Whatafackinliberty
Ha! That made me laugh

Bloody hell some joyful people on this post! It's not a lot at all OP, certainly not excessive!

Of course it's not ideal as it's the recommended limit but it's certainly not excessive!

Some of the posters here must be so judgey when out and about!

FWIW I have cut down on drinking and now probably have between 9-20 units a week (depending on what I'm doing/if I'm going anywhere...I like the taste of wine and enjoy a large glass Friday night, Saturday night and with Sunday lunch). If I'm going out I'll have more or sometimes I'll meet friends on a Wednesday (shock horror at midweek drinking!)

I did get in the habit of drinking most nights and it was easy to end up drinking a bottle so I have cut right back and tbh most weeks now are usually around 9 units.

Definitely try the 90 days sober op but don't beat yourself up about "excessive" drinking when you're not at all!

She may have made the comment due to your weight and the risk of diabetes OP.
You say you want to lose weight, so cutting down on alcohol is probably best.
The pains you’re experiencing may have led the dr to believe you need to look after your liver.
Her advice to you is for you, you can’t compare to anyone else.