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Original poster

The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Kicking The Devilish Demon Drink Into Touch This Hallowe'en!. Mwahahahaha!

999 replies

Mwahahahahahahahouseface · 15/10/2011 12:38

Hello

I'm Mouse, well normally! [hgrin]

Welcome to the Bus. We are a mixed bunch of Babes, some of us drink, some of us don't and some of us are trying to find out the best way to cut down or stop completely.

There is plenty of room on the Bus for everyone so, come say hi. [hsmile]

And, if you'd like to see what brought us all here, you can read all of the past threads, including the original one by JWN RIGHT HERE

OP posts:
Mouseface · 08/11/2011 10:37

Morning Babes

Welcome to all the newer travellers on the Bus. Smile

Can I share my story with those of you who are not familiar with it? My light bulb moments.

(Those who know it, move along! Grin)

My son, Nemo has Complex SN. He was born with a variety of issues, some have been corrected for now, most are being 'managed'. I'm his full-time carer, 24/7 as DH works very hard to keep a roof over our heads.

I started to drink to soften the blow of the grief I felt when he was better,when he'd survived his emergency open heart surgery and subsequent emergency admission and operations.

I drank a little at first, but every night. Then I increased my volumes as my body decreased it's sensitivity to the alcohol.

One night, Nemo woke up and I instinctively went to get him, to comfort him. I was out of my face on booze. DH came in and took him calmly out of my arms and told me to go back to bed.

I spent the next half hour screaming blue murder at him, telling him he was NEVER to take MY son away.....Blush

That was my light bulb moment. And, for a while, I did really well in stopping completely. Then I started again but only a few drinks per week. Then I started to cut one drink per day out. Then two, and then three. Then went onto 'softer' alcohol (vodka was my weapon of choice for a long time) and again, found it pointless in drinking if I wasn't going to get that buzz. So again I stopped and just had the occasional drink. Weekends or special events.....

And then I hit the bottle BIG TIME! I have recently had a LFT (Liver Function Test) at my GP's request. It showed levels of significant scaring...... damage to you and I. So again, it was time to stop.

This was serious. I had to stop or at the very least cut right back.

I am now having a drink at weekends if I want one, or the odd glass of wine in the week.

I ONLY HAVE 1 or 2 small (125ml) glasses because I really like being Nemo's mum and carer, I like being married, being a mum, having friends, going out, shopping, going for walks etc..... I LOVE LIVING.

So I decided that actually, that's what I'm going to do. Live. Smile

Mouseface · 08/11/2011 10:45

Where are the rest of the Babes hiding? Smile

Silver - so sorry to hear that your mum is now dying, please call if you need me. Sad xx

MsGee - hope work is giving you a break. Busy busy bee that you are. Smile xx

obrigada · 08/11/2011 10:59

Morning all, have been reading but not posting as have been unwell for past fortnight, have chronic bronchitis and ended up in hospital last week for a couple of nights due to breathing problems. As Miflaw has stated on many occasions the priority is to tackle the addiction that will kill you and in my case it is smoking that is affecting my health and will continue to do so if I don't stop so if it's ok with everyone I will still lurk and post!

Mouseface · 08/11/2011 11:00
Shock

Obrigada - poor you!! Sending hugs your way, please let me know if I can help in any way. REST!! xx

(and quit smoking, I like having you around xx)

MIFLAW · 08/11/2011 11:12

I'm about to be honest - hopefully no one will be offended, apologies if you are.

Leatherette - you absolutely CAN stop and go cold turkey. Admittedly, I am a mna, but if you are being honestabout your drinking then I drank loads more than you and did just that. The only thing in your way is fear. Cutting down is only going to ADD to that fear.

So, how do you deal with the fear? By admitting that this is a problem; by recognising that it is not going to go away, or even stay at present levels, on its own; and by asking for help. In my case, that help came from AA; perhaps you will find the help here is what you need.

Blossom - your husband sounds inconsiderate, but ultimately your drinking is your responsibility. We all feel fragile at first but you will not be able to avoid being around drink for the rest of your life. And I am almost certain that your husband did not offer you half a bottle of bourbon ...

Agan, my coping strategy was to attend copious and regular meetings of AA. In between, I avoided being in the presence of drink as much as I could; but, when that couldn't be helped, I was proactive. I made sure I had a non-alcoholic drink in my hand before anyone could offer me an alcoholic one, preferably something sweet to spoil the taste of alcohol and put me off the idea of drinking.

Happy to discuss further if useful.

Leatherette · 08/11/2011 11:32

hello MIFLAW thank you for your help. What is an mna? How much were you drinking? What happened?

Leatherette · 08/11/2011 11:34

I'm on about 18 units a night - a personal worst was 22 units in a day. A wine will have dregs in it after 2 days. So yep, I'm being honest. What would be the point otherwise of being here?

Leatherette · 08/11/2011 11:36

Hi mouse, it sounds like you are doing really well. Is the plan complete abstinence eventually? Are you feeling better? Does anyone know if I manage to kick this if the shakes and dark circles and grubby whites of the eye will go away or is this permanent now?

Leatherette · 08/11/2011 11:37
  • A wine box
blossom123 · 08/11/2011 11:39

MiFlaw I am not offended, you are absolutely right that the buck stops with me. DP is an alcoholic and has been for several yearsm trouble is he is denial. His alcholism nearly killed him this year, tried to commit suicide several times, ended up under the MHT, who were amazing. I don't know why but my own drinking has increased alot these past couple of weeks. I need to really cut down, I know this will kill me, don't even want to talk about the millions of fags I smoke when drinking. Won't touch them if not drinking, so can goes days without one. My intolerance to alchohol is ridiculous, just keeps taking more and more.

blossom123 · 08/11/2011 11:42

Sorry I sound so self centred, you all sound lovely, I have lurked on here for some time and amazed by people's honesty and this thread is non judgemental.

MIFLAW · 08/11/2011 11:45

Blossom

Worry about the fags when the drinking is dealt with.

Re drinking, what makes you think that you will be able to cut down without stopping? Has anything happened that suggests this will be possible?

vtecheurope · 08/11/2011 11:46

I am in a mess too. Have probably drunk over 150+ units in the last week.

MIFLAW · 08/11/2011 11:48

Leatherette

Mna was meant to be "man".

I drank two bottles of red most nights, or 6-8 cans of lager - but often I would have had a couple of pints at lunchtime too.

Incidentally, during that period I told a doctor I was on 100 units a week. I was really trying to be honest. I now realise that it was nearer double that ...

What's your plan for getting off it then?

blossom123 · 08/11/2011 11:51

I will not be drinking today, I think I need to take each day as it comes.

MIFLAW · 08/11/2011 11:57

Blossom

That is an excellent idea as long as you realise it cuts both ways.

In other words, you don't need to decide anything about tomorrow - so make sure that you are not scretly deciding that you WILL drink tomorrow (or next week, or at Christmas) either.

blossom123 · 08/11/2011 12:15

Wise words. I also need to find way to manage DP bringing to booze home and literally handing a glass despite knowing I do not want it, just to justify his drinking.

Mouseface · 08/11/2011 12:19

Leatherette - I have no plan.....I'm just taking it a day at a time and last night, I took it an hour at a time and had to fight really hard not to pick up a bottle of wine.

I plan to do lots of things and aspire to be a person in control of her drinking....... but for the next hour, I'll not be drinking. Smile

Hey MIF x

Leatherette · 08/11/2011 12:39

vtecheurope whats happening with your job and family? do you have kids?

MIFLAW · 08/11/2011 13:00

"I also need to find way to manage DP bringing to booze home and literally handing a glass despite knowing I do not want it, just to justify his drinking."

Accept the glass; say thank you; and then let him see you pour it down the sink. He will protest at the waste; you will point out calmly that, as you have already told him you are not drinking at the moment, you don't know what else he expected you to do with a glassful of wine; he will whinge some more; and he probably won't offer again.

MrsJoshHomme · 08/11/2011 13:19

Hello to all,

For most of my adult years I have been a drinker, with varying degress of consumption depending on if I was on a health kick or not. (and didn't drink during two pregnancies) But now, as I have turned 40 it is now starting to mess my head up too much.

As I have said I go through phases of not drinking - sensible drinking - to every day drinking which is probably a bottle on week days to maybe bottle and half at weekends. When I am drinking the amounts can vary, but I am quite aware of weekdays as of driving the next day, so this tends to help me stop. But usually I don't get any further than that really or I get really bad indigestion or I am sick. However social occasions I can and usually do take the opportunity to throw it back as much as I can and who knows how much I can consume?

I over indulge in alcohol and food and I hate the fact that both of these things and the health related implications have taken over a large percentage of my thoughts. I want to free myself of beating myself up all the time.

Hangovers only really occur if I have been out on a night out, but on a daily basis I am fed up with feeling bloated and my stomach churning. I am constantly obsessing about the health of my liver and it makes me so anxious. I have no symptoms to say that I have damaged my health. In fact, during my last pregnancy (DS is 4) I had a liver and gall bladder scan and several LFT s throughout my prg and then again 12-18months (and was back on the booze then) after DS was born had an LFT then all of which were fine. These were for a pregnancy related issue. And do you know what? I didn't even worry about the tests at the time, didn't give it a thought, I should have done as had drank upto my pregnancies and then inbetween DD and DS (which is 4 years). So why the hell is it doing my nut now?

My aim is to improve my overall health and become more content (as I have nothing to feel sad about) with my lot in life and enjoy my children.

And for those reasons ladies and gentleman I shall be mostly not drinking today.

And I will take it one step at a time Smile

blossom123 · 08/11/2011 13:56

MrsJosh love the fast show. Sounds like a good plan

venusandmars · 08/11/2011 15:25

Posting quickly 'cos I'm on my way out...

Hi to all new people. Can I suggest buying a really strong flavoured toothpaste. Before you accept a glass of wine from your dp, go and brush your teeth with said toothpaste. Then if you cannot resist try the wine. I think you'll find that it makes it much easier to then follow the strategy of chucking it away.

If that doesn't work, try a glass of wine after eating some mayonnaise. Keep experimenting till you fond the thing that for you makes you wrinkle up your nose and want to spit the wine out. Work as hard at not drinking, as youever did at your drinking.

Bakc later x

venusandmars · 08/11/2011 15:26

Post probably makes no sense, too many typos. Sorry.

MrsJoshHomme · 08/11/2011 15:45

It does make sense to me Venus, and it is good advice, toothpaste + wine = yuk! and tea + wine= yuk! milk & cereal + wine = yuk!,

i am going to try and think of more.......

for all my wanting to kick it in to touch some alcohol thoughts have started popping into my head. But I will be strong, I ahve some proper ginger beer for later and a nice dinner and I have various sweet things around to distract me.

Plus I have a lot of ebay to load onto turbo lister and farmville to play, will be so busy that I WILL NOT have the time Smile

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