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Original poster

The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Whacking The Wine Witch Round The Chops (With Barry The Squid).

999 replies

Mouseface · 01/05/2013 17:32

Hello, I'm Mouse :)

I'm one of the Brave Babes who's travelling on this wonderful, magical, mysterious Bus, trying to hold onto my sobriety for me, and for my family.

I do drink but thanks to this Bus, I've kicked the vodka addiction into touch and the evil WineWitch has been banished far, far away so I now drink in a controlled manner, One Day At A Time. :)

By that, I mean that just for today, I won't be drinking. Tomorrow, however, I will be because it's a very special occasion. The day after will be dealt with when I wake, and the day after that, the day after etc.....

We're a Bus filled with some fantastic posters, some who drink, some who don't touch a drop ever and some who are on/off drinkers who have lovely warm seats in the side-car, some are hanging onto the roof-rack by the tips of their fingers and trying their best to resist the dreaded WineWitch's charms night after night. But they are trying, and that's all that any of us can do, is keep trying, keep starting again!

So, if you think that you're drinking too much (you probably are) why not come and say hi? We won't bite - unless you ask very nicely, manners cost nothing Wink.

There's lots of seats so pick whichever one you like and have a Brew. Just jump in, we're not a judgemental pack of quiche makers Wink

And here's a bit of light reading for you.... our latest thread and the very first one, the reason we're all here.

PREVIOUS THREAD

FIRST EVER THREAD

OP posts:
HorsesDogsNails · 06/05/2013 22:00

Oh Ma, I don't know what to say..... I feel so much for you and Richard - I can't imagine feeling so without hope.

Take care of you and yours and have a horsey-hug from me x

greeneyed · 06/05/2013 22:06

Oh my fucking God Ma what the fuck is wrong with this country, I'm so sorry :( . I hope tomorrow is better with the GP. Can't imagine how abandoned you must feel, so so sorry for Richard and you:(

dementedma · 06/05/2013 22:18

Thanks all. Spent so lo ng reassuring him that there were people out there who would help him, it was heartbreaking to be turned away. he said " see.I told you no-one can help me. I am beyond help. Just another useless fucking drunk".
Three cheers for our awesome paramedics though who were just lovely and persuaded him into the ambulance by saying they would take him to someone who could help him!
Mum comes home tomorrow, brother John coming Wednesday.just weary and sad tonight. So painful to see him in that pitiful state today

thurso13 · 07/05/2013 06:48

Morning

Dear Ma thinking of you, and Richard today. I'm so sorry that you had such a bad experience at the hospital. Heartbreaking.

Love
T xxxx

ohcluttergotme · 07/05/2013 06:54

Thinking of you & your family MA.
I don't know where you are in the country but a few years ago I did a placement with the alcohol services nurse at the Ritson clinic at the royal Edinburgh psychiatric hospital. She looked after many patients just like your brother. Quite often people would phone the royal ed in the first instance & then get assessed that way. The fact that he is hearing voices & is suicidal then I would think he needs psychiatric services within the alcohol services part.
Could you phone psychiatric services where you are?
Sorry you were turned away from a&e. Just doesn't make sense when your brother is so unwell x

curryeater · 07/05/2013 09:41

Hi all.
Ma, sounds horrific. My heart goes out to you.

I have been drinking about 35 units a week since the move. That's about a month ago.

Today I will not be drinking.

Isindebusagain · 07/05/2013 10:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Mouseface · 07/05/2013 10:44

Tis me, Mouse Angry

Oh My Fucking Jeff Ma, that is abysmal treatment from A&E but I guess that they won't help unless he's stabbing himself? Hmm

He posses a real threat to himself and others. He wants to fucking die ffs! He is hearing voices in his head, he is sobbing because he can do no more than keep drinking to stop the detox kicking in, stop the physical pain that the withdrawal will bring on.

I'm so sorry that he was turned away even though he was presenting real symptoms of psychosis and no-one helped him? It's so sad Ma, so very sad.

Oh Ma, I'm so sorry that you had to go through all of that, all of those promises that he'll be helped, only to be turned away?!

I'm glad your mum is back today in one way but not another. I'm also glad your brother is coming tomorrow, you are utterly exhausted and I bet the moment the pressure is taken off you, you'll collapse into a heap of emotional exhaustion so be ready for that, let it happen and just cry it all out sweetheart.

It's great that he's showered and eaten something. He absolutely MUST NOT STOP DRINKING without medical intervention. He will go into shock and his body can't cope with that right now.

Wine is his air. It will be for a while yet..... until they can wean him off it, gradually, controlled and monitored. In a safe, secure and hopefully psychiatric hospital.

Alcohol can cause psychotic episodes and most certainly will worsen all mental health issues that he has. He needs professional help, he needs it today, he's needed it for a long time. I can't believe that the hospital turned him away but I suppose that they will see as he said, 'Just another drunk' Sad

We're all here for you anytime Ma - keep posting, keep letting it out here, you need a release.

Mouse xx

(Sorry for waffling rant, needed to get it down and off to school)

OP posts:
Orchidlady · 07/05/2013 10:57

Ma sorry to hear you are having such trouble with you DB. Hope this is helpful but a couple of years ago went through a similar thing with DP, was having a complete breakdown, drinking 3/4 bottles of wine, tried to kill himself etc, in the end on the phone he agreed with GP that I could discuss his problems with her. She called in MHT and they were truely fantastic, came here every day for a 2 weeks, could have had him sectioned if I has said so but let him stay at home. Sound like your DB would agree for you to talk on his behalf?

Orchidlady · 07/05/2013 11:03

Also wanted to add that MHT were never critical about the drinking, they would sit here and talk to him whilst swiggging wine. Eventually got him into clinic and on medication. He still drinks but in much more controlled way

obrigada · 07/05/2013 11:45

Ma, my thoughts are with you and Richard today, have been following thread over the weekend but my phone won't let me log in to mumsnet!

Got fitted with 24hr blood pressure monitor this morning, weekend was alcohol free:)

Lemonylemon · 07/05/2013 11:50

Oh Ma. What a godawful nightmare for you. Can you speak to Richard's GP? I remember when my Mum was in a state and she swore that the staff on the ward had performed a play and that her brother was with her watching. I told her that she must have dreamed it and she was absolutely adamant that she had not and that it was real.

Obviously, this was caused by the toxins in the liver getting out and circulating round the body to her brain. Has Richard been drained? Is his abdomen distended? If so, you could try and go round the back door to get him into hospital for that one.

The first stop should be his GP. He needs to tell the GP about the voices in his head. Can you or your brother get Richard's permission for the GP to speak to you about his illness and what treatment he needs. He needs a full blood test done to test for potassium/sodium overload amongst other things.

Thinking of you.

Day 1 here again. I reached Day 5 on Saturday, went to a wedding - away from the babies for about 12 hours. Drank 2.5 small glasses of champagne in all that time. Drank plenty of water.

Sunday I had a couple of glasses of wine after taking Mum home. Didn't overdo it - I had too much to do yesterday. Last night, I had a bottle.

Today I will not be drinking.

Mintyy · 07/05/2013 11:58

De-lurking just to add to the support for Ma and to express my utter disgust at your db being sent home from A&E!!! Wtf??? I hope it is going better today Ma.

In case anyone is remotely interested I have had a relatively sober but not entirely alcohol free weekend and today I will not be drinking.

obrigada · 07/05/2013 12:20

Joins Lemony and Mintyy in not drinking today:)

Original poster
Mouseface · 07/05/2013 12:59

Well done Lemony and Mintyy - go for it Obrigada :)

I bought a steam cleaner and it broke on first use yesterday, I've just had to send it back and it cost me £12.28.

It's a hand held little thing and I am so so so so fucked off. I bet my furry little ass they won't refund my bloody postage. I'm about to contact them to complain as well. Fuckers. Angry

OP posts:
Fightlikeagirl · 07/05/2013 13:01

Hi ladies,
Can I jump on your bus please?

I have had an uneasy feeling for a couple of years that I may not have a good relationship with alcohol.

I don't crave alcohol and only go out once every couple of months so when my husband told me last year that he couldn't cope with my drinking anymore I was confused and thought he was being unreasonable.

He then filmed me one night when I was drunk and I was horrified to hear the things that were coming out of my mouth. I promised to cut down but still didnt think I had a problem, just thought that I'm a bad drunk!

So for the past year or so I have managed to cut down and not drink to oblivion when out with friends and limit myself to just 2 drinks when me and husband are having a drink at home.

So all under control until Friday... Went out with some new friends and didn't realise how drunk I was until I was crying inconsolably. I knew I had gone too far and tried to sneak off but being lovely ladies they wouldn't let me leave alone so brought me home in cab. Didn't remember a thing next day.

Feel utterly ashamed of myself. I haven't told dh how drunk I was, that's when I realised I do have a problem, otherwise why am I hiding it?!
Am determined to go back to controlling how much I drink- am out again this weekend so am seeing it as a chance to prove to myself that I can drink responsibly again.

I'm sorry to unload, I know my problems are very very small compared to some that I have read on here but feel so alone with this.

Orchidlady · 07/05/2013 13:04

mouse how did you get on with your mums blood testing kit?

Original poster
Mouseface · 07/05/2013 13:19

I've just contacted Amazon and they've refunded me £13.00!!! Bloody hell! Grin

Grin
OP posts:
ohcluttergotme · 07/05/2013 13:26

Welcome fightlikeagirl. My relationship with alcohol sounds quite similar to yours. For me the shame, regret is just not worth the night drinking alcohol.
Just got to run out the door but wante to welcome you to the bus & will post more later.
Also I drank on Saturday for first time in 3 months & still not back to normal today, feel low & depressed.
I hate alcohol!
On the plus side its beautiful here in Scotland...blue skies & warm sunshine x

Fightlikeagirl · 07/05/2013 13:47

Thank you for welcoming me,
Beautiful and sunny down here too Smile

guggenheim · 07/05/2013 13:48

Hi lovelies,
just checking in.

oh ma I am so sorry- I think of you and Richard lots. You are doing everything (and more) that you can possibly do for him, what a lovely laydee you are.

I'm so sorry that he was turned away by A&E when he is so clearly in need of help. I know that some people like to think that addicts choose to drink and drug to extreme states but really, the medical profession should know better! I guess that A&E have a blanket rule about keeping booze out of the department?

Look after yourself lovely. xx

guggenheim · 07/05/2013 13:54

'Lo there clutter have been watching your posts with interest,lovely. When you said that you wanted to drink I thought about posting: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
But then decided it might just pee you off a bit Grin. I'm glad that you hated it though I'm not glad that you had a bad time! It wasn't worth it at all, was it?
It's ONLY alcohol and it isn't worth one minute of our time or energy, it doesn't taste nice and doesn't improve a single thing.

Welcome to fight- great name by the way. Hope you find support and sobriety on the bus.

Big wave to all x

dementedma · 07/05/2013 13:54

Thank you all for the support. You guys are really helping. Try to keep it short been to his counsellor and gp today. Both have reinforced that psychiatric not touch him until he is booze free! Offered 7 day detox with medication but he says he isn't ready for that yet, not strong enough. Upshot of this mornings work is that he will have one bottle only today - we shall see which he says he can do. Same tomorrow and Thursday then will see Sarah his counsellor again on Friday to see if he is ready to start detox. Has one weeks diazepam from gp and another appointment next week. Referrals u derway for both the medical addiction team and phhsciatric form some weeks in the future. He says he feels a bit more positive. Has gone back to his flat with his bottle of wine but is relatively calm today.
We shall see. Mum home in a couple of hours...

Original poster
Mouseface · 07/05/2013 13:57

Sorry to ignore you, I missed your post, hello Flutter :) - Welcome x

Orchid - 5.2 so 'normal, she said get to the docs anyway as it could be my thyroid, I've put weight on rather than losing it too, which when you are trying to be good Grin

Be back later :)

OP posts:
Orchidlady · 07/05/2013 14:15

mouse don't laugh but I have a seriously underactive thyroid was diagnosed 10 years ago, you must think I am making it up.Grin on 200 mg of thyroxine a day. Symptoms not able to loose weight, falling asleep on my desk, very irritable. My GP did not beleive me and took several visits to get a blood test, though I was just being a lazy bitch. So don't take no for an answer.