The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Are Going To Need A Bigger Bus!

[Mouseface]

Which is FANTASTIC!

Welcome to the Brave Babes Battle Bus, I'm Mouse and I'm addicted to cheese, but have a pretty nasty relationship with alcohol too, mainly vodka.

This Bus is for anyone and everyone. Drinking or sober, or somewhere in between or just not sure if you're drinking too much........... this is the place to ask and maybe have a chat too.

No pressure, no judging, no cliquey savoury flans (although I'm rather partial to a cheese slice ), we're all on The Bus for the same reason; alcohol.

Even if it's not you, and you'd like to talk about someone you know, come and say hi. We won't bite, well, not unless you ask very nicely!

And, if you'd like to see our journey so far, follow THIS LINK and read back through the previous links there.

See you soon xx

sorry - they seemed to need to hear that.

Soma btw it may seem obvious but it suddenly occurred to me that you'd mentioned taking milk thistle for aiding liver function (it's a great herb!) - presumably you wouldn't be able to take a herbal tincture since it's usually alcohol based (you can get glycerine-based extracts). You could take a tablet/powdered supplement though.

Also, to the people asking about LFTs earlier... it's fine to go to your GP and ask for one - I do that at least once a year. I explain that I drink more than I know I should, that I have a family history of alcoholism and I'd like to make sure that my body isn't being damaged by my drinking. Out of the last three GPs I've done that with, two of them told me not to worry about the amount I was drinking (roughly half a bottle of wine on week days, around a bottle a day at weekends) whilst the other one wanted to refer me for alcohol counselling. Shows how varied the attitudes are within the medical profession. All gave me the test, incidentally, and the results have always been normal.

I agree with saf - sometimes people seem to need permission to just let go, if that makes sense.

Ma best of luck for Sunday - you'll have a lot of Babes cheering you on!

Soma I guess you need to check whether alcohol in cooking is a no-no too. I know that the alcohol evaporates off when it's reduced down in a sauce or whatever, but did they give you guidance on how tiny an amount could cause a reaction?

Off to bed now. Moderate-ish Friday night here - about a bottle I suppose and stopped by 9pm. Not ideal, but not the end of the world for me at the moment.

Night Babes xx

Silver, we've not 'met' and I can't find the words I want to at this time for you but you are in my thoughts.

Day three no drinking.

Sleep well all x

Soma I had a quick google and salad dressing containing white wine vinegar caused a slight reaction in someone.

Good point about herbs too, Mia. I think Rescue Remedy is booze-based. I bought some for a driving test once and it didn't last long

Tristessa yes it is - flower remedies including rescue remedy are brandy.

Thanks Mia. You'd want to avoid that then Soma.

yep - a colleague of mine used to pour a bottle of rescue remedy into a can of diet coke when she was stressed - would have been cheaper to buy brandy.

i took some passiflora tincture one day and it totally freaked me out - i could taste the alcohol in my mouth for ages and had that dried out sensation in my mouth you get from alcohol. won't be doing it again.

Tinctures are almost always alcohol based (you get glycerine based ones but then they're not strictly speaking tinctures) - either 25% alcohol, 40% alcohol (standard spirit strength) or 95% alcohol. The very strong ones are to desolve very resinous substances like myrrh, and they taste AWFUL!

I am aware that the reason my herbal tinctures make me feel instantly a wee bit better (even though they taste revolting) is probably because I've just had 10 - 15ml of 40% alcohol in water.

Btw you should never take a tincture neat - it will taste absolutely disgusting. Always dilute in at least 50ml of water.

Silver (((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))
We are here for you. Always. Any time.
You really are a Brave Babe and my heart aches for you.
x

Hope you are okay Silver xxx

I just wanted to share some news and dont know where else to put it

My ex is marrying the OW! I am so happy and relieved as she has finally it appears given up harassing me online, has stopped being awful to my DD, stopped bitching about me in my dd earshot. Its like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders!
I have just finished a rather lovely rose wine and am for the first time in oh I dunno how long totally relaxed. I have been a dreadful lush I am ashamed to say but tonight is the first time I drank because I was happy and fancied a glass not because I felt I needed a lift iyswim
I thought it would never happen and was constantly on edge when ever DD was there knowing how sad it all made her as well as how bloody angry her lies made me.

Sorry to hijack the thread

Mia have PM'd you. xx

Oh Silver, I'm sorry. Stay strong, just for a little bit longer. I'll be thinking of you and hoping for a peaceful and comfortable end x

Just a quick one before I need to commence my slave duties again... Hope everyone's OK. Glad you got the Antabuse, Soma. You must tell us how you are getting on.

Hi Mia. I've wondered about Rescue Remedy before. I do use it occasionally and find it quite helpful sometimes. Is there anything stronger but similar that you know of? Without the alcohol base, ideally

Hope everyone's OK. The sun is out here, About bloody time!

Silver ((((())))) I am so sorry to hear about your mum. Wishing your mum peace and wishing you strength xxxx

Soma Today is here The day you have been waiting for! Hope you don't feel too tired xx

Good morning, just wanted to say to everyone, "have a good day!". I'll be thinking about those who probably won't and sending some good vibes.

What a lot to catch up on!
Silver ((hugs)) from me.
ma good luck with your run - you are inspirational!
Thurso thank you for thinking about me. DD will be moving in with BF very soon. I have got used to the idea now and am very happy for them both, she can see her future ahead of her now, it is lovely to see her as a grown woman.

Babes, it is great to see so much positivity here, I really hope everyone acheives what they want to. Venus is so wise, on her advice, I started out always saying to people 'I'm not drinking at the moment', that way, they and I just got used to me not drinking.

Soma you do not have to be 'normal', you can continue to be your own unique self, but get your thrills from your sense of acheivement and joie de vivre, without the evil alcohol crutch, good luck over the next few days and stay on board. Try to think about the positives rather than worrying about side effects, it will be so worth it.

Saf & Msgee Yay, go you!
Indie, JWN,Mouse

Sorry not to name check all the other Babes, but I am lurking here, admiring, smiling and cheering you on.

Good morning brave buddies. Truth thank you, just took my first little pill, they only give me 2 weeks worth so have to go back for some more. Still confounded as to why the medical profession seems so loathe to prescribe it. You're doing so well, very happy for you.

Silver I just want to add to everyone's hopes for your dear mother's peaceful ending and it's good that you are with her. Both my parents lost both their mothers and fathers when they were in different countries and couldn't even say goodbye. Mia you haven't gone underground at all. YAY! I was very interested in what you said about GPs and their differing attitudes towards drinking levels. As someone else said, they have far too little training in such an important area that could save the NHS millions if the great British public were better-educated about this devil drug. I wonder how much difference the raising of the cost per unit to 50p will make? Fuck all I reckon.

Hope you get some time off for good behaviour this weekend SSSM and it'll help me greatly to let you all know each day how I've got on. No sun here yet, where are you? Right now I feel as if a HUGE weight has been lifted - I won't be able to drink anything all weekend! But am anticipating the tiredness that Hopefully mentioned. Well I'm off to use my shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, deoderant etc etc with alcohol in them so if I don't post later you'll know I've dropped dead

TTFN xx

I had no idea alcohol was in so much stuff! This is all very interesting, especially all the info about tinctures, etc. I've never tried anything like that, if I feel stressed I prefer either calm breathing or hysterical laughing

Good luck with the RFL tomorrow Ma. I had a look at the C25K but was put off by all the possible injuries! My knees aren't great to start with. Have you had any problems during training? Hope it all goes well for you, I am impressed

faire - hysterical laughing is wonderful - i had a good fix of that whilst away - including nearly wetting myself in the street on one occasion. best laugh i've had in a long, long time

good luck with the pills soma, hope you're lucky with side effects.

silver - thinking of you.

bproud - good to see you and thank you

i daren't even look at the c25k so far. i need to do something though - if i'm going to eat like this i need to have the exercise to match - mind you i don't think there are enough hours in the day to burn off eating your body weight in icecream

lazy start to the day today and have to go to family for a meal late afternoon really don't fancy it, there is a guilt trip brewing that i can't be arsed with all because no i don't want them to take my son on holiday for ten days with the whole family except me. just know they're going to mention it in front of ds to get him excited and go with the emotional blackmail trip. need to do some boundaries prep before i go into the front line me thinks.

anyway happy weekend babes.

Hello Babes!

Soma This is the brand new shiny and sober you! I'm excited for you.

Silver I am thinking about you. You've prompted me to pick up the phone to Mum to have a proper chat.

Fallen Understand the mixed reaction. It's got to be good, hasn't it? Onwards and upwards.

Mouse I've never asked you before, but why is Nemo Nemo? It's a lovely name or nickname, but I'm sure there's a story there.

Alias Good luck with the outlaws

And to all, have a lovely and sober day.

Soma - so pleased to hear you're all systems go :)

Katie - bring on Day 3, well done :) I'm day 7 here - a week!!

Silver, really sorry to hear about your mum. Another one hoping for a peaceful end for her x

I managed to sit with a decaf coffee last night while DH and a friend had a bottle of wine. Being sober made me realise how controlled other peoples drinking seems - they had a couple of glasses each and left some in the bottle - NEVER would have happened if I was drinking......

It was also nice that when DD (6) woke in the middle of the night I bounded out of bed clear headed to calm her, rather than stumbling out with a big headache.....

So I've managed a week! Still in the weekend danger zone but feeling more confident it's possible.

Have a good Saturday everyone x

soma - loving your posts about wanting to write and to get re-involved in singing - go for it

We had friends to stay last night, she drank moderately (said no to a top up - something I'd never have been able to do), while the men drank lots of wine, and then whiskey. She and I sat up late having a wonderful gossip so we're both a little weary this morning. The men are looking awful, in fact I think dp has just returned to his bed. I am so glad to be out of that cycle.

((((((( silver )))))))