The Brave Babes Battle Bus - On Their Way To Spread The Festive Cheer, Without The Beer!

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm mouse.

I have an obsession with drinking, I can't have a drink, not just one..... it has to be more. Always more.

So, I got on the Bus, this Bus, full of Brave Babes who will help and support me all the way. Come say hi, grab a seat and a . We're a real mixed bunch that share one thing without any doubt - alcohol abuse.

And if you want to read about our history, it's HERE

See you on the Bus xx

Went to a friends for drinks on boxing day and got really really drunk. Unable to self moderate. Brought kids home at 12 midnight. After falling over on the way home- and hearing kids saying please get up mummy... They are 7 and 8. Got home with no recollection of doing so. This is the 3rdtime this month that's happened- I've drunk to the point of memory loss. Although the first time kids have seen. Felt awful when they told grandmas that mummy was really drunk last night.
Normal nights consist of a bottle of wine, maybe a bit less. It's gotto stop.

digbert welcome. have had one glass and only thing stopping me doing my usual bottle is that I have to drive later.
no words of wisdom other than this is a good place to be.

saf don't apologise, you said that you would post here about how you felt. Please keep on doing it (it is so much better than silence).

digbert come on and join us. The kind of crap that you post about is stuff that some of us have done, some are still doing and some are hoping to avoid. My dc were blissfully ignorant when they were young, but as they grew older they started to see the signs, and I still worry about the effect on them.

Saf we are more likely to worry if you don't post tbh. Remember this is the medication making you feel like this and it will settle eventually. You have no need to apologise. I so admire your ability to look for and accept help, you are much more resilient that you think you are, imo x

Here here! Saf - if you can't let it out here, then where can you? We're here to support you, it's a support thread, well, unless you've decided to boil cabbages for soup for my daily diet! I think I might fall out with you if you were to take that up.

I am a long-term lurker and want to ask any other regular posters and possibly long-term lurkers for their advice, if any?

I have been a heavy drinker for many years now. A recent poster mentioned there was a 'liver road show' in the New Year. I checked but unfortunately there is nothing planned in my vicinity.

I have had pain, on and off, under my right rib cage, for about a year now. It can last from a few seconds to a minute. Of course, knowing as I do that I drink heavily, I assume the worst

I remember a poster, Kat? was it?, mentioned the same pain and that she'd gone to the GP, but I never heard the outcome for her. She did come back to say all okay, but nothing more.

I know I sound horribly like a stalker, but if Kat or anyone has experienced similar. and it has turned out badly okay for them, would they share their experience with me?

I have had a liver scan in the past and all was okay, but time has passed since then, and this pain is new.

I've quit drinking for a month here and there, purely driven by the fear that my liver is on its last legs!

Thanks for reading. I'm 39 now, and before the age of 23 I barely touched alcohol. (Just to give an idea of my drinking journey).

You are all amazing by the way, a bunch of seriously supportive women (and MIFLAW )

Hello, curious. I too am a recent passenger, and have similar concerns to you - although much older. I did have a blood test back in March for another issue which showed liver function was ok, but as a dedicated worrier, I wonder if things have gone wrong since then.

Morning all. Another drink free day, so none since before Christmas. Must be getting better as I fancied a glass last night, but DH distracted me with endless cups of tea instead.

Still taking the one day at a time approach. When faced with really big, difficult tasks, DH always says that you can eat an elephant. You do it a teaspoonful at a time. Every day is a new teaspoonful. Have a good day Babes.

Hi and seasons greetings! Long time no post. I am just popping in to say I'm still free of alcohol and all the shit and misery that comes with it. It will be 18 months on New Years Day I have only good, positive things to say about not drinking. I am a fabulous worrier, could represent Uk in the Olympics if only it were a sport. But now my worries are more rational, and I am able to sift out the real stuff, from the unnecessary. Sobriety doesn't rescue you from everything, we all had gastric flu over Christmas, went down like dominos. Even that was nothing like as bad as a bad hang over. Why not treat yourself to an alcohol free life in 2012, you deserve it. I treat my sobriety like one of my most precious possessions, I treasure it, care for it, never take it for granted and guard it fiercely, even if it means putting my needs first occasionally Well it was a hard fought battle to get it, so I'm not letting go of it easily. Good luck Babes x

Hi Mouse, yes, am a return visitor.

FG - the NYE thing is old friends (daughter's godparents) coming around for a meal out, champers at midnight and then they drive home. Godmother is the driver so I will have her as my dry-buddy, unbeknownst to her!

No drink last night although OH sat and had a bottle and a half.

The second time I was in hospital, I made friends with two other women. Both husbands would not have them back until they were sober and made threats to leave permanently if their wife didn't sort her act out.
My OH? After 2 weeks I was told to stay in another week - fine by me. My OH was cross because I'd left him for 2 weeks by himself already. When he came to visit one weekend, he left after 1hr because the Grand Prix was on .

I'll get there.... I'm glad there's a whole fresh 2012 coming!

Excuse the strangled grammar in the sentence beginning 'Both husbands', you know what I mean though :-)

Morning Campers

So day two under my belt and here comes day three......

Took some Nytol last night so slept OK.

Feeling a bit 'hungover' - but you all know that feeling

Seeing the GP today for a check in.

Only stumbling block at the moment is my 'D' S wants us to stay overnight with DM for a week at a time each - fair enough BUT the house is FULL of fecking booze - think I am going to have to put my foot down and say I'll do a night here and threre as needed but not a WHOLE WEEK OF TEMPTATION with no-one to monitor me. (ie DP and DD)

Anyways - I'm sorry to be me me me me at the moment but as we have all said - now is the time I have to be selfish - I will be back to give support eventually but right now the focus is on staying sober

Off to the gym for a swim - see if I can clear my head before going to mum's and dealing with DRAMA QUEEN sisters.

Mum doing OKish BTW - managed to get into the living room yesterday for a while (after I spent £200 on special recliner lift chair for her - a word of thanks from siblings NAHHHH)

Dontcha just love your family xxxxxxx

BOING!!!

MISS P!!! fantastic fantastic post!!! you sound so positive!!, like you, i treat my soberity as a gift, a special present to myself! one i cant take back to the shops!

silver, well done that babe!! keep it up!

hello too to all our new babes! regarding liver function, im pretty sure mine was quite swollen and sore when i finally threw in the towel, i get no pain whatever now, my tummy is reasonably flat (for a menopausal 49 year old! ) my eyes are SOOO white though i still keep looking at them with surprise when im doing my make-up! the other day i got shampoo in one, it went all red and bloodshot for a few hours and it bought right back to me the damage i was doing to myself i think that unless you are drinking huge amounts of spirits then any damage you may have done is pretty much reversable - i was drinking vast amounts of red wine, at least 2 bottles a day, sometimes a lot more, i suffered no withdrawal symtoms apart from a couple of weeks of feeling like i had flu - no fits or shaking etc, and believe me, when the fog lifts it make you feel like a butterfly emerging from a long sleep!

Thanks jesus. That bit of reassurance has made me feel much better. Not a spirits girl, except the occasional g&t, but lots of wine and beer. Already have seen an improvement in my skin - maybe vanity will keep me on the right track.

silver yeah for you, and yes to being selfish about your own sobriety, as MissP said take it seriously (while still having fun). Could someone take all the alcohol out of your dm's house?

curious could be your gall bladder - does it get worse if you eat fatty foods?

saf how are you doing today?

Day 3. Doing better than I thought. Feel sp flat and lethargic though.

hi. well done to those staying drink free

just getting through venus. ds, thank god, has gone with my parents for the day somewhere and will hopefully stay overnight.

Hey All
Not been about for a bit

I totally could have written what MissP wrote.

Second sober Christmas under my belt, and what a great t ime I had. So chilled and peaceful. And that was worth so much to me and my family. I have given myself such a great gift. Totally priceless. And it is the gift that keeps giving!! There was no fear of having said or done the wrong thing.

I enjoyed staying in the moment.
And I managed to serve coffee and tea at the end of the meal unheard of in my drinking days.

It's the time of year where I thought I would miss drinking the most, and actually, the opposite is true, it is the time that I am appreciating my sobriety the most.

Take care all
Bafana
xx

hi all
didn't drink last night as was driving and the relief of not having that internal argument was immense. Maybe I should get an evening job as a taxi driver to deter me.So why the bloody hell can't I do it on my own? Am so frustrated at my inability to crack this! I know all the negatives and all the positives but STILL CAN'T DO IT!!!
Gah, I hate my stupid self at times

ma I know exactly what you mean GAH! I am drinking because that's my choice at the moment but, bloody hell, straight back into those old habits!! I drink because it's there. I don't enjoy it. Sometimes I even force the bloody stuff down because there's only one glass left in the bottle. That's always been my problem and I guess it always will be. I have a box of wine now and, strangely (thankfully) I feel no inclination to finish it. . However, on the bright side, I have not been drunk and I have had no hangovers. I think all that abstaining did quite a good detox on my body and now I'm filling it with poison again but can tolerate it ok. Am so looking forward to getting back to 'normal'. I'm like a toddler, I need my routines .

Well MiisP how fab and what an inspirational post!! It's you sober lot that keep the rest of us going. It must drive you mad to see us all climbing back into the ring for another beating, but you are all patient and wonderful and deserve all the joy and happiness your sobriety brings.

Welcome curious, I was also going to suggest possible gall bladder. Does it hurt round your back as well? I think it could be any number of things so off to the GP with you, get it checked out, set your mind at rest.

Silver you must not stay in the house with all that booze, my lovely. No point in making it any harder on yourself. Can you get someone to take it all out the house? I really think that would be for the best. Day 3 yay! Go Silver!

Mary your dh sound lovely and supportive

Hi Isinde how's it going. How are those gorgeous DTs? Did they get into the excitement of xmas this year?

Hi all, visited a friend last night, had a couple of drinks but finished the night off with a mug of tea and takeaway. Feeling very low these days. Am fast approaching 50 and wondering where my life is going.
Well done Silver on Day 3:)

Hi again, thank you all so much for the replies and reassurance.

My plan is to have a 3 month detox from January 1 and go to the GP after that if the pain is still there. I may go even if there is no more pain just to get, hopefully, a clean bill of health for my poor liver. I did a month booze free in November and I'm determined I can do it again and then some!

I don't think it's my gall bladder as my diet is generally not too high fat, who knows though! I'm not a copious amount of spirits drinker, mainly wine, and far too much of it

A friend of my friend had a liver transplant earlier in the year. She's not that old, and has 2 teenage kids. I don't know how much she was drinking but apparently she barely ate, meaning her liver had no tools to fight with. It really put the frighteners up me, there but by the grace etc. etc., and thank goodness she was able to have the transplant and is now okay, but it's made me more determined to try and kick the problem next year, before I'm 40

(sorry if the above is depressing reading, just wanted to share as it might be useful to anyone struggling with alcohol to know how much a good diet can help out the old liver)

I will continue to lurk and read but may well post more in the New Year for some kicks up the backside during my 3 month mission! Thanks again.

Curious please go and get a check, you can't diagnose yourself and leaving it until you feel less guilty is just daft you know. This is something that I found myself doing whilst I was drinking i.e. blaming every thing that wasn't right in my health or work or family life on my drinking and therefore doing nothing about it. You DO deserve to have a health check, whether you are drinking or not, and whatever it turns out to be can then be treated in a timely manner. Please make an appointment with your GP.
Wonderful to see MIssP and Bafana still doing great, and I agree with JWN every sober day is a gift and a joy even on 'bad' days.