DRY 5

[allhailqueenmab]

Starting this before the old one gets filled up!
this is the thread for the alcohol free.
Join us!

Hi 70hours and welcome! That's a 'how long is a piece of string' question as it depends on many variables like your age, how much you've been drinking, how long for, etc. For me I had mine tested about 6 weeks after I stopped and my LFT's were within normal limits. It normally settles down quite quickly once you stop but depends on the factors above to really know the answer! Hope that helps :)

That's great Lucy thanks :). - had a long sober period last year and then (stupidly) because of work stress started to drink again about 10 months ago - have now changed job and ready to stop again - do feel better already and ready to do this for good - don't want the guilt of drinking to make me think every twinge my body has is something really evil !!!!! Drinkers guilt I guess - I live the way I feel when I am sober and now I feel the decision to drink has been taken away from me after reading all the cirrhosis horror stories - I know I was on a pathway (maybe a long one) to that !

Feeling better today - walked 6 miles - yay !!! - lost a tiny bit of weight not sure if from giving up booze or from being so stressed tbh - my mum said my skin looks great - all good - life is so much better sober - :)

Hi 70hours. Wow! 6 miles is fab. I'm glad you are starting to feel the benefits. Life is much better sober, that's true. Do stay on the thread - and I hope your new job works out well.
I hit 4 months yesterday (on my eldest daughter's 11th birthday ). It's starting to feel just like the norm for me which is good, although I still have a lot of "work" to do in terms of dealing with emotions etc.
Looking forward to a nice night in on my own this evening as DH is out. Hope everyone is doing well. Better get back to my boring tax stuff. Blughhh

Hey 70 great stuff! Plus Haggis 4 months - you sober rockstar you Glad it's getting easier. Good luck with the tax stuff - you didn't miss out this week as plans had to be rescheduled so will keep you posted :)

How's Uni, Lucy? Have you had to ditch any of the mates you made on the first day yet?

Hey Haggis! Every two weeks on a Thurs so none today - just heaps of pre-lecture reading for next week! :)

Hello do you mind if I join you? I'm not drinking for a bit, will see how it goes. I stopped for 6 months a few years ago and felt wonderful, I think it might be time again...

Hello all! welcome 70 and very! Good to have new people

I'm feeling a bit blergh today. darling did has given me her cold and had a long busy week at work too[confuin. In addition, I've decide to try being a vegetarian. I realised that I hadn't eaten any meat for a few days so I thought I would continue it. So just stocked up at tesco with quorn and vegetables and nuts .

It may just be a phase by no harm is being done! Feeling very SAS about the death of my friend this week and just want to do something mad and unusual to appreciate life. For today however, I think I'll stay in bed and recover!

Have a great day all and kudos to ALL of us for being her x

Hi very little. You are most welcome.

Hi Biggles. I was so sorry to hear about your friends. incredibly tough - on top of sick DD and now sick self. Do you take echinacea? I find it fab for coughs and colds. Enjoy the veggies and some nice warming soup.

Having a tough time with DS who has Aspergers. On the upside - his school are being brilliant about liaising with Great Ormond street, OT etc - and I had concerns about whether they would or not. (Ind, quite academic school so no statutory requirement to deal with special needs). But I had a lovely conversation with the assistant principal who deals with kids who need extra help and it was very clear that she really cares about supporting him and she will manage the transition into the linked senior school when the time comes.

Day 6 of no sugar (barring an apple crumble / guest for dinner related slip up on Wed ). Loving it so far. And unlike alcohol, it's not the end of the world if I have a slip ....

Hey all - day 5 here - got a bad head today - think I am getting a cold - gah!

Sorry about your friend Biggles - makes you look at life differently though doesn't it !
Haggis you have been longer without sugar than I have without alcohol.

Funny how my mindset has changed even in this short time - no desire to drink at all.

See you all later x

You're doing great 70. I remember feeling really rubbish for the. first weeks or so after stopping but it will go!

DH and DS just announced they are taking me out for dinner on my year anniversary. awwww. Just realised it's a week on Sunday

Thank you for the welcomes

Biggles a year wow !!!!!

What do you mean I will feel rubbish for a few weeks - noooooooo!!!

Don't panic! not rubbish as such, just a bit blergh. It's just your body getting used to feeling fantastic! after about 10 days you'll sleep better, and begin to feel loads more energetic. It just makes you feel a bit down for a bit. Remember you've been poisoning yourself for so long. You need to adjust to feeling great!

Thanks Biggles :)

Day 6 Day 6 Day 6 Day 6 Day 6 !!!!!!!!

Looking better, feeling better. However last night was worse night re sleep but I know that will get better - Day 6 Day 6 Day 6 :)

Fab 70 you're doing great! And welcome very
Like a few of you I have a cold... randomly finding this the hardest thing to deal with sober as have chest/ head/ face hurt and I know that a glass of wine or two would knock that on the head (for a few hours!) It's amazing the extent of my previous self-medication - I mean, self-medicating for anxiety makes sense, but for coughs and colds too, really? Went as far as adding a mini bottle of wine to my online shop yesterday (was feeling down about the latest miscarriage as well, and figured "what the fuck, I'm not pregnant why shouldn't I?") but thankfully deleted it before finishing the order.
Those of you further along the road than me, any advice re: that little voice that tells you that a glass or two would be fine, you'll just drink moderately... it really feels true to me even though I know that it hasn't worked in the past! I did actually have a year or two where I only drank low alcohol wine, stuck to my units, etc (was doing weight watchers so counted everything) but once I stopped dieting it went out of the window. But my brain has been telling me that if I could do it then I could do it now (even though, ultimately, I couldn't do it then in the long term). It's almost like I need proof, you know like a blood test that says you can't ever drink again, ever.
Any wise words greatly appreciated

99problems. I may not be the best person to give advice but last year I was sober for 6 months and then work was rubbish so I had the 'occasional drink'. Which becMe more frequent until I ended up to where I was before I was sober. I don't know why really - I was determined to moderate but I can't - for me - as much as I may want a glass of wine - I can't - I am trying to think of it like someone who is on a restricted diet - if I feel I am going to lapse I google cirrhosis and that is enough to put me of !!!

Feeling really grumpy and childish today my cold is clearly the worst that anyone has ever had and my dh is one of these never gets I'll and is very brisk with those who do so I get little sympathy there . Felt really rough in the night and then Mr perfect who had imbibed of several pints started his usual warthog snoring and grunting routine which meant I had to decamp to dd's bottom bunk which is not the most comfortable at all.

Foolishly checked my work email yesterday (Friday my day off) and there are some emails which are to do with major grant funding and other stuff which means next week is going to be really hard and I am in that 'what is the point' type of mood.

OH and my bloody mother is being viler than usual which is difficult even by her standards. I told her about my friend dying - she had met her about three times 14 years ago... her response ' oh yes, that dreadful common woman who smoked all the time. Well what did she expect?' She really is nasty.

sorry for the early morning moan! At least I don't have a hangover!

All have a great day d'ya hear!!

Biggles what a hideous thing for your Mum to say! Well done for not decking her (I assume!)
70 Thanks - yes I'm sure it would be the same for me (and indeed, has been many times in the past!) - will google cirrhosis, good idea. Urge has passed for now, proud of myself for deleting wine from online shop! (will brush over the fact I'd added it in the first place )

Oh blimey, I'm sadly used to it from my mother. She is a most unpleasant (masquerading as sweet old lady) person. I don't like blaming but my drinking really was a lot to do with the way I was brought up by her. Hideous. And then of course my drinking distressed her sooooo much and ruined her life... very long and difficult story.

However, I am getting free of her slowly, but it is very very difficult. My sister has NC and I desperately wish I could. Our father died when I was very small too.

On a lighter note, still in bed. but feeling loads better

Day 7 :)

That's a week! How are you feeling?

Hormonal today - timeofthemonth - other than that good - very good actually - strong in mind - I know my sleeping will get better - which I must admit I am looking forward to.

just about to go out for a walk (6 miles). Did wake up this morning in a panic that I had drank last night - (that was odd). Onwards and upwards :)