The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Sweet, Summer Sobriety!

[Mouseface]

Hey, I'm Mouse

Welcome to the Battle Bus! We're a group of travelling drinkers of varying levels, those who are teetotal, and those who have tried so many times to stop, those are 'controlled' drinkers, but we NEVER give up and keep coming back for the support we share, and trying to get some kind of control over the Wicked Wine Bitch Witch!

It's not easy, boy, it's so not easy to stop or cut down some days. There are days when even the Bravest Babes fall into the Sidecar. And do you know what? That's okay.

There is NO judgey pants worn on this Bus and you don't have to be anyone other than YOU to join us

So, come and grab a seat, some Opal fruits, (it'll make sense eventually!)) and meet the rest of the Babes. Remember, you're not on your own, ever with us, you'll always have a Babe you can relate to.

Here's the last thread for you to catch up on if you like

And here's where the entire journey began.

Mouse xxx

Happy birthday (for yesterday now) 3kids! And thanks for the sage advice venus sounds sensible. AF today. Mondays are easiest. Don't often get past Thursday. I'very never really counted units but a quick total up, I think a typical week was roughly 80ish. I don't drink spirits. I used to, but gave them up as a bad idea some years ago. So just wine, beer and cider.

7 units Monday.
Hope Tuesday is kind to everyone

Morning babes, just checking in. I regularly drank around 35-40 units a week which works out as half a bottle a night. Way too much and it goes without saying that any kind of night out or celebration involved extra booze.

I think that I'm rubbish at moderating so it's all or nothing with me. I've had a few af periods of time over the last few years but tend to start drinking again. I'm kind of ok with that because at least I understand the pattern. If I could press a magic switch and turn off the ' likes a drink button' then I would.

I'm reading the Jason vale ( sodding fat fingers nearly typed Jason ALE) and reading mummywasasecretdrinker blog. Both are very good.

Am on day 9 af and certainly hope to make it to double figures. I guess that I've saved about 30 plus quid and must have saved a few calories for cake...

Love to all x

morning all. just checking in. good to see people back on the bus and to read about eveyone's successes. Remember that one mouthful less is a success!

D'aargh!

Hi all, I've not had internet for almost a week (teens/young adults in house don't know what to do - think they've been plunged into the dark ages) so have been awol. Sorry. Will read back and see what you've all been up to.

Just read ma's post above and had a little snigger at 'one mouthful less'

See ya later x

faire ye dirty minded bugger!!! What WILL the newbies think??

har am giggling at that faire

Hi can I join, I have been following your threads for a while and you all seem very friendly, I'm only day 2 but this is my 4th attempt to quit, I'm seeing my GP Friday, don't know what to expect or even if he can help me but, I don't know what else to do.

rupertpenryswife welcome, yes just join in, we are very friendly
I think it's great you are seeing you doctor that suggests you're really ready to do this and I'm a big believer in the right timing, I guess you just need to be honest.

Here on the bus we are all at different stages with different issues, but whether you are 2 bottles a night, 1 a week or a thimble of whisky every night before bed - if it worries you and you don't like it then it's a habit and a dependency (I think)

Sometimes it's quiet here so don't be down if nobody answers you straightaway and other times we have so many people on saying so much it's hard to keep up.

I found my right time, I was a 100 unit a week woman - always white wine but I haven't drunk wine at all since 30th Dec 2016, I have however, had beers and gin, not too much but it's creeping up so I need to examine that.

some can moderate others have to quit completely, only you know where you fall but things that have helped me, keeping hydrated, nothing sets of a craving like being genuinely thirsty, same with hunger. Keeping busy at 'danger hour' if that is 7pm for you then you go take a bath, walk around the block or whatever distracts. Having a vision was the biggie for me, I wanted to be a 'together' kind of woman with money to spend on nice things (£ which was going on booze) I now have some nice things!
I also wanted to be single and now am, but that's another story - nevertheless the babes here gave me strength to walk towards my vision and now I am annoyingly upbeat. Quite the change from the bitter ol' boot I was when I first joined

Afternoon, tis me, Mouse

Well, I'm still here by the skin of my teeth but I'm still very poorly and trying to keep busy by getting jobs done that don't require physical activity.

I did have sepsis, double pneumonia and also I now have pleurisy which is horrid and something I've had before. This is my fourth attack of pneumonia.

Since my sleep study, my respiratory consultant has found out that I have sleep apnoea and that I stop breathing "for significant periods of time" when sleeping, and that I am to be fitted for CPAP asap. I'm not supposed to drive, physio have said it's not safe for me to go to hydrotherapy due to the fact that I can regulate my blood pressure or core temperature, the consultant has changed my patch so it's not morphine based, they've taken me off other meds and added in anti reflux meds. I still feel poorly and I can't even make the top of the stairs without my inhaler. I've also got COPD!

One good thing is that I managed to get out of hospital just in time for our holiday to Lanzarote, which was what I needed. It was fantastic and Nemo almost lived in the pool! We're going back next year all being well.

However, I'm still not well and just want to sleep all of the time...... I feel rubbish but I'm seeing my fab GP on Friday thank Goodness. I am expecting another trip to hospital.

In other news....... DD got into the Uni of her choice and onto the course she wants to do too!!! We're super proud of her and so pleased she's got in. BUT, I will miss her desperately when she's gone. It's a three year course.....

A MASSIVE HELLO to all the new babes. And of course those who aren't so new. I promise to stop moaning once I feel better. Which will be soon I hope.

Sorry to waffle on but this respiratory illness is scaring me. I went to see my Rheumatologist and even he can't give me anything for my Fibromyalgia because they suppress the resp system so I can't have anything other than what I'm on, which an awful lot of, plus I need to come off most of that too.

Anyway, now I've depressed you all, I'll leave you be as I need to rest but promise to pop in more now I'm home.

Thank you all for your kind words.

Mouse xxx xxx

Thanks luxury I feel really miserable today don't know why but everything and everyone is annoying me. It's great to hear how positive you are and how you are getting to where you want to be. I probably was drinking 5 or more bottles of wine a week and always felt guilty, sick and lethargic, I told myself I would moderate before I turned 40 well that was two weeks ago so another attempt out the window. My DH has a long term health condition which has been gradually getting worse over the last 3 years which coincided with my wine consumption increase. I have had counselling and am on ADS i don't know what else to do.
Why can't I just be civilised and enjoy a couple of glasses?

I would love ideas for tasty alternative drinks otherwise I will be overdosing on caffeine.

Hi mouse sorry I don't know you yet but had to comment on your post, how on earth have you managed to come through all of that and still go on holiday? you must be a super mouse, I work as an RN so all of the illnesses you describe I understand well, that must have been tough on your family, I hope you are getting all the care you need and still seeing some improvements, makes me feel humble and reconsider my woes.

Oh Mouse gentle hugs for you, you do go through it don't you? Keep resting supermouse.

rupertpenryswife drinks I love are Fentimans Rose lemonade, so delicious, I also like cranberry juice with soda and a slice of orange or lime which is nice and sharp, hits the dry spot. In fact very cold sparkling water in a wine glass is good for me too. Anything other than squash or cola. Luckily these days there is an enormous range of sophisticated soft drinks to choose from. Alcohol free lager helps some too.

Excuses to others - I am lucky, I am very open with my friends that drinking is a bit of a sticky point and they understand and don 't question me - it's nothing to be ashamed of after all. To strangers it's just a 'health kick' 'antibiotics' or a 'heavy workload tomorrow'

Sounds like you drink to cope - don't or didn't we all? You have a busy job and home responsibilities - no wonder a glass of wine or 6 seems attractive. I had to really think it through and imagine how attractive a good nights sleep would be, a hangover free day, extra £ in my purse and clearer skin. It took a while, months in fact but I got there - you can too

welcome rupert
lux is disgustingly cheerful and upbeat now that she has ditched the booze and the dp, so ignore her. the rest of us are crusty, hungover moody bitches!!
mouse good to see you my friend. Stop bloody whinging and get the supper trolley round. There are people on here STARVING, starving I tell you!!

i am going to meet the lovely venus next week and hope some of her serenity rubs off on me...

Hey mouse always wonderful when you post, but by God you're having a tough time. I can't believe your dd is off to uni - well done her, and well done YOU for everything you have faced and done over the years to make her life safe and secure. You are a star x

I was hitting 100 units plus during a binge, then 'moderating' to only half of that. I wasn't serene then, more like comatose.

My friendships have changed a little over the years, I spend much less time with the big drinkers (although tbh I think I led some of them astray, and they are glad to be free of my pressure tactics), but I also have several new friends whose lives don't revolve around drink, and where our friendship is not based on drunken sharing but genuine like and support.

Tuesday 9 units X

Tuesday AF and spent the day on the beach doing nowt and the evening watching TV so will have to work extra hard to meet all my deadlines for the rest of the week . DS's friend's mum has offered to take them out tomorrow, so should be able to crack on properly at least. Not yet decided if/how much I want to drink at my brother's on Sunday. I will worry about that nearer the time. I have drinker friends and not drinker friends. But have been a drinker since I was a child - used to save up my dinner money to binge drink at the weekend from about 12 years old. Shocking really! How old were you all when you started overindulging?

Hi all is anyone around for a chat and some advice really, I'm feeling awful today really fed up, grumpy and can't be bothered, I'm not tempted to drink even though every magazine TV AD is full of the stuff.

Just wondering if anyone else felt like this, I have a GP appointment Friday but wondering if it's worth it, not sure I want this on my medical records. I really feel like I'm loosing the plot at the moment and can't see the point in any of this.

Sorry for all the gloom I'm trying to help myself but feel a bit lost.

Not sure if I can sneak onto Gerald without anyone knowing but wanted to sidle up to Mouse and Venus and give them a hug.
Ma yer not getting a hug as you accused me of murdering a rabbit once and I have a lohhhhnnng memory...
But I love you more than my luggage...

How the fuck does anyone stay sober with small children??????? AAAAAARRRRRGH!

Serves me right for being smug on DRY.
rupert sorry can't remember your full name. Would a big hug help? Maybe a hot bath and a early night? Invite Aiden turner to join you in said hot bath, see if you feel better after that 😎

I suspect that memopausall is a very old timer, but I'm going to be very polite to her (for a bit) just in case I'm wrong.

Sorry to not NC but my children are right little buggers and I'm broken.

MEMO !!!! (I see through your disguise)

So fab to have you back with us. You won't recognise ma these days, she just swans about in a cloak and drops royal names all over the place.

memo !!!!!! You rabbit murdering lunatic....oh, it has been tooooooooo long! < hurls self at poster previously known as ***>. Tell all, whats been happening. You must meet all the fab new babes.
rupert mood swings are common as you battle the wine witch. Dont lose heart. It is a long road, which is why we ride in a bus rather than walk, but you will get there in the end. Talk to your GP. Your records are confidential.