Alcohol - when does it become a problem (part 2)

[janh]

I thought it would be a good idea to start a new thread for this because the old one has got so long! (My PC is very slow at loading up long ones.)

OK, ghengis! (And anyone else who wants to, of course.) Wednesday it is for our mutual support group to start - but we'll have to decide what our own targets are...I already can't decide whether to go for alternate days or to bite the bullet and try to go straight for none during the week (except maybe for a couple of stubbies now and then.) How about you?

Ashamed to say that I had a bottle and half of wine on Thursday night - ds at Gran's house, dp and I sat in and had a wee drink.
Friday night I was at a works night out and I was VERY drunk. Then Saturday we had visitors and I drank 2 bottles of wine. It's been a long time since I've drank that much 3 days in a row and I feel shocking!!! I will NEVER do that again.

As for the rest of the week...... I didn't drink at all! I was very proud of myself until this weekends social flurry! Luckily, it's a rare occurrance.

Stuartc's message reminded me of something I do: warning this is not for wine purists!

At home I usually mix red wine with fresh fruit juice - a tumbler full of it, so I get a week sangria effect. Gives an alcohol kick while staving off hangovers - possibly all that vitimin c?

Hi Rhubarb
Thanks for the sympathy but I haven't got a problem now. I just drink less alcohol. My GP is happy with the recent results.
Reference the symptoms - I didn't really have any that were alcohol-related. There was a big push on the radio and at our surgery to be aware of late-onset diabetes. I fit the age category and I had a few things which made me wonder (severe nighttime thirsts, shakes mid-morning if I hadn't had a decent breakfast) so I went for a test. I expected a urine test, but he sent me for a blood test. When the liver function abnormalities were seen, the GP quizzed me about alcohol. (Advice for the thirst was to drink more water; advice for the shakes was to eat some breakfast or a snack - obvious!)
That was over a year ago and current results are good. I'm very glad that I received that warning.
I didn't find cutting down all that difficult after the first few weeks - I've already detailed how I use coke or sodawater to lose the thirst before having weekend alcoholic drinks.
Good luck - keep up the struggle!

StuartC, I have found your advice on quesncing one's thirst first invaluable. I now have a large glass of water before refilling my wine glass and it has made a great difference to my wine consumption. Even if I drain a bottle I don't feel as bad the next morning. Thanks!

ghengis - I'm pleased to know that it works for you .
Try the other part of the process - some evenings just have copious amounts of water (or juice). If you take enough (enough = far more than required to quench your thirst, possibly 2 or 3 litres) then you will hardly want any alcohol.

Doesn't get you drunk though does it?

Rhubarb :D

Love it! Whoopee it's the weekend and I'm at the end of Wild Pig Syrah and v.pleasantly mellow.

No, water or whatever doesn't have the desired affect but, boy, does it make your feel smug the morning after!

I was thinking about cutting down the amount I drink during the week, to help my weight loss mostly. I remembered this thread and wondered how everyone was getting on.

Hi, Angiel. Well, I'm afraid I fell off the wagon but have had a stressful few weeks - we are off to Spain on Sunday so that will be 2 solid weeks of Rioja but I will try again when we get back (pressure will be off then!) - good luck!