Wake Up Call

[Water Buffalo]

So, I am thinking for quitting booze.

I recently had a wake up call when i went to visit my father-in-law at the hospital. He is about 65 and his stomach was protruding and filled up with fluid, as were his legs and feet. This is the last stage of liver failure. His liver isn't processing anything anymore. The symptoms up until this point are usually pretty non-existent, expect maybe jaundice in the eyes, which he had briefly 4 years ago.

According to statistics, he probably won't live 2 years.

He wasn't a big drinker, but a regular drinker. I never saw him drink until drunk, he would probably drink around 4 shots of Lao Khao a day: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime. He did this every day. But never what i would call binging, or getting drunk, maybe he did it once or twice a year.

My dad also triggered his diabetes in his early 50s due to drinking a lot of stout (high in sugar). If he hadn't drank, the diabetes probably wouldn't have come until mid 60s or later, like his dad.

I drink a large bottle of beer almost every day. At the weekend, i might have 2 or 3.

I often wonder if i am becoming addicted. The beer a day is a bit of a compulsion for me. When i am in the mood for it, i gotta have it. It is hard to say no to myself. It has become a routine.

I would like to quit. It is becoming tiring. Although, i enjoy it at the time, the novelty has worn off. Not to mention, i am getting a bit fat.

I would like to see what its like to stop drinking. I don't feel like its a good part of my life.

Edited April 20, 2015 by Water Buffalo

[JockPieandBeans]

I often wonder if i am becoming addicted. The beer a day is a bit of a compulsion for me. When i am in the mood for it, i gotta have it. It is hard to say no to myself. It has become a routine.

If it is a compulsion, then it is an addiction.

If it is simply routine and boredom, lay off for a few days, you will soon have your answer.

You do not have to be a roaring drunk to be an alcoholic.

Good luck.

[Water Buffalo]

Thanks.

I will fight the temptation for a few days and see what happens. I haven't had one today, but feeling tempted alright.

[impulse]

I could quit whenever I wanted to, and for as long as I wanted to.

But after the first one, I couldn't predict whether I would stop at one, or (more likely) when the ATM card quit working.

Alcoholism isn't "one size fits all". My life has improved immensely since I gave it up, 25+ years ago. But that required not just stopping, but an alternative way of living that took the place of all my friends in low places and "excitement" that I also craved.

Edited April 20, 2015 by impulse

[elgordo38]

I could quit whenever I wanted to, and for as long as I wanted to.

But after the first one, I couldn't predict whether I would stop at one, or (more likely) when the ATM card quit working.

Alcoholism isn't "one size fits all". My life has improved immensely since I gave it up, 25+ years ago. But that required not just stopping, but an alternative way of living that took the place of all my friends in low places and "excitement" that I also craved.

I was drinking 2 or 3 cans a day. After the last price increase I got tired of contributing to the government tax coffers. I now have one on Saturday and again Sunday. Best move I ever made.

[Anthony5]

Going from the description in the OP I doubt that the liver failure is due to alcohol use.

I think the alcohol use from the OP is no harm. If it was people would fall like flies.

[redandyellow]

I hear you clearly. I fought it for years. I was a binge drinker, perhaps an alcoholic, but probably not, as I manged to quit on my own. It was mainly because of my lovely Thai wife I quit. She's 15 years younger, and someone I don't want to leave for a long time. That's why I quit, and a million other reasons.

I tapered down over the years, from 8-9 beer in a session to as low as 4-6, but it was still the same shit. I work out a lot, and anything over 2 beers affects me the next day.

I quit again in December 2103, and since then drank once since - last July - I drank 6 beers. It wasn't the same. I did not enjoy it.

Near the end of my drinking I used to binge drink twice a week (6 beers), and it f'd me up for the next day. That means although I only drank twice a week, four days were messed up. I think you get it.

PM me anytime if you want support. I get no urges anymore. Before this I quit for 7 months, 9 months, 6 months, but I kicked it good this time.

Now I gotta get the blood sugar and cholesterol down a bit. Win one battle, fight the next..

Next.

Best Regards,

Red and Yellow

[redandyellow]

"I quit again in December 2103"

Sorry, I meant December 2013, although I think you would infer that

I want to live until 2103, but my name isn't Moses, Abraham or Job..

[Water Buffalo]

Thanks everyone for your input!

Well, not beer yesterday and i am feeling good today. Good sleep.

Yeah, sorry, should have mentioned, the doc said it wasn't just the drink, but also the raw meat in his diet. No to mention, he may have binged more heavily in his younger days, but for the past 6 years, i haven't witnessed any terrible binging, but his consumption still is more than the recommended daily allowance and it is every day, decade after decade.

The raw meat is probably several times a month from what i have seen.

Thanks again guys!

[redandyellow]

Keep up the good work. The proof is in the pudding - you feel well today as you alluded to.

You'll get urges for weeks or months - why sugar coat it? You can fight them off though. If you make it until dusk, or 6:30 pm in Thailand without booze, and it's not tough - you are good to go for another notch on the belt.

Make some nice fruit smoothies..

Pretty soon you realize there ain't enough hours in the day when sober.

We'll talk about diet next time. You beat the booze first, then improve diet and more exercise if you choose that route. Suffice to say for now that most people are too acidic in their body, and you can never be too alkaline. No sh--.

never give up

Best

[NanLaew]

Thanks everyone for your input!

Well, not beer yesterday and i am feeling good today. Good sleep.

Yeah, sorry, should have mentioned, the doc said it wasn't just the drink, but also the raw meat in his diet. No to mention, he may have binged more heavily in his younger days, but for the past 6 years, i haven't witnessed any terrible binging, but his consumption still is more than the recommended daily allowance and it is every day, decade after decade.

The raw meat is probably several times a month from what i have seen.

Thanks again guys!

Assuming that the father in law is an Isaan guy then all that rare beef, pork and other stuff is known to introduce all kinds of parasites into their bodies. I think the predominant killer is some form of cancer and most of these are brought on by some other condition related to or exacerbated by parasite infestations. According to Kahwi, my small boat engineer in China many years ago (he was from Buriram) the regular daily shots of lao khao are supposed to kill the parasites. He substituted lao khao with moutai in China and was usually a wreck on his days off. He probably died a death riddled with something nasty too.

Of course it's the drink of the great unwashed so the lawmakers are quite happy to leave that evil liquor unravaged by high taxes and restrictive sales practices. Keeps the buffalo's docile and self-culled.

Back OT, good that the OP can back off the daily imbibe. My work entails being 'dry' for 5 to 6 weeks and then maybe a couple or three months at home but I try and keep the beer and wine intake in check. One restriction that I recommend is too never drink alone. If you are a single chap, there's absolutely no good reason for a gin and tonic in the morning or a beer while watching a movie. A glass of wine with dinner is reasonable but save your 'bevvy' for a night out with some friends. If you don't have any friends, then make the effort and get socialising. And don't get pished every time either.

Edited April 21, 2015 by NanLaew

[Utley]

If you can find the dietary supplement called "Milk Thistle Seed" (Silymarin) - take it! It is an anti-oxidant that will help your liver tremendously. ANYONE who drinks alcoholic beverages to any extent can benefit from taking milk thistle seed including myself. Other anti-oxidants that will help to keep your liver healthy are Alpha Lipoic Acid and Concentrated Ultra Lecithin. (All of which are readily available over-the-counter in the U.S.).

[Neeranam]

10 beers a week - are you serious? Absolutely no way this could give you liver problems. I drank 2 large bottles of whisky a day at least or equivalent for 20 years and my liver was ok.

[Pheat123]

10 beers a week - are you serious? Absolutely no way this could give you liver problems. I drank 2 large bottles of whisky a day at least or equivalent for 20 years and my liver was ok.

If you did drink 2 litres of 40% alcohol every day for 20 years

You would be dead

[NanLaew]

10 beers a week - are you serious? Absolutely no way this could give you liver problems. I drank 2 large bottles of whisky a day at least or equivalent for 20 years and my liver was ok.

If you did drink 2 litres of 40% alcohol every day for 20 years

You would be dead

Maybe Neeranam is posting from 'the other side'?

[big carl]

I hear you clearly. I fought it for years. I was a binge drinker, perhaps an alcoholic, but probably not, as I manged to quit on my own. It was mainly because of my lovely Thai wife I quit. She's 15 years younger, and someone I don't want to leave for a long time. That's why I quit, and a million other reasons.

I tapered down over the years, from 8-9 beer in a session to as low as 4-6, but it was still the same shit. I work out a lot, and anything over 2 beers affects me the next day.

I quit again in December 2103, and since then drank once since - last July - I drank 6 beers. It wasn't the same. I did not enjoy it.

Near the end of my drinking I used to binge drink twice a week (6 beers), and it f'd me up for the next day. That means although I only drank twice a week, four days were messed up. I think you get it.

PM me anytime if you want support. I get no urges anymore. Before this I quit for 7 months, 9 months, 6 months, but I kicked it good this time.

Now I gotta get the blood sugar and cholesterol down a bit. Win one battle, fight the next..

Next.

Best Regards,

Red and Yellow

Well the main thing is you did manage to put an end to it. Binge Drinkers as a rule have the hardest time quitting.

Any how I just wanted to mention I keep my Blood Sugar level down with Cinnamon look it up on Google. Also Niacin keeps my Cholesterol down. It took over a year to get it down but it stays down now.

[Blackfox]

Sorry pal, some people are just more predisposed to health ailments and disease than others.

I'm mid 40's and come from a drinking and smoking background.

We are all going to die but it's how you live life that counts.

Note: before all the do-gooders pitch their piece, I swim, run, jump, climb and f#%k like a demon.

3 longnecks and a packet a day. Doc says I'm in top shape.

So......get active mate.

Many farang I see getting around town have/are letting themselves go.

At least do it for your tender, sweet, lithe and lovely girl. Get active; you don't need to give up the piss.

Edited April 23, 2015 by Blackfox

[Water Buffalo]

So, I am 2 days off the beer. Not much, but feel good.

Had a few on my birthday, well about 5. More than my usual.

Still feel tempted though.

[ding]

10 beers a week - are you serious? Absolutely no way this could give you liver problems. I drank 2 large bottles of whisky a day at least or equivalent for 20 years and my liver was ok.

This pot would like to take the opportunity to call that kettle 'black'! lol

Wow Neer, and I thjought I was a heavy drinker!

OP - there are many styles and severity levels of alcoholism. If it's detracting from your life, and you're unable to stop... and you WANT to stop... you may want to see if AA is a good fit for you.

It's free, not a religious cult or anything. Take it or leave it, nobody is worried about it and we get nothing from it - but we are able to stay sober by helping others. Odd as hell, but it works.

[big carl]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

If you can find the dietary supplement called "Milk Thistle Seed" (Silymarin) - take it! It is an anti-oxidant that will help your liver tremendously. ANYONE who drinks alcoholic beverages to any extent can benefit from taking milk thistle seed including myself. Other anti-oxidants that will help to keep your liver healthy are Alpha Lipoic Acid and Concentrated Ultra Lecithin. (All of which are readily available over-the-counter in the U.S.).

I have a friend who swears she had Hep C and Milk thistle cured it.

[Bantex]

I have drunk alcohol for most of my life, to excess on occasions admittedly, but I am in good health. Lifestyle especially diet affects your

health as much as anything else. I had an aunt who drank & smoked daily, ate a lot of fried food and lived to her late 90's.

It's too easy to hang a label on someone for having a particular lifestyle.

I believe in living life to the full & have never regretted in doing something but would hate to die regretting not doing something I wished I had done.

Live each day as if it's your last day & one day you'll be right.

You get one life & no rehearsals.

Edited May 9, 2015 by Bantex

[gerryBScot]

I have drunk alcohol for most of my life, to excess on occasions admittedly, but I am in good health. Lifestyle especially diet affects your

health as much as anything else. I had an aunt who drank & smoked daily, ate a lot of fried food and lived to her late 90's.

It's too easy to hang a label on someone for having a particular lifestyle.

I believe in living life to the full & have never regretted in doing something but would hate to die regretting not doing something I wished I had done.

Live each day as if it's your last day & one day you'll be right.

You get one life & no rehearsals.

Not sure what you're really saying but I've done a number of things that I would never have done had I still been drinking - I got married for the first time ( and still am to the same woman seven years later!) and I became a father for the first time and have been blessed with two great kids - I would have deeply regretted not doing either. While I could have done both as an active drunk and alcoholic there is no doubt my experience of both would have been totally different and I have no doubt that my behaviour would have adversely affected my wife and my kids.

I would like to stress that for some of us quitting drinking is a prerequisite to being able to live any sort of life let alone living life to the full.

[Neeranam]

10 beers a week - are you serious? Absolutely no way this could give you liver problems. I drank 2 large bottles of whisky a day at least or equivalent for 20 years and my liver was ok.

This pot would like to take the opportunity to call that kettle 'black'! lol

Wow Neer, and I thjought I was a heavy drinker!

OP - there are many styles and severity levels of alcoholism. If it's detracting from your life, and you're unable to stop... and you WANT to stop... you may want to see if AA is a good fit for you.

It's free, not a religious cult or anything. Take it or leave it, nobody is worried about it and we get nothing from it - but we are able to stay sober by helping others. Odd as hell, but it works.

The thing with my alcoholism that some friends had as well for a while was that I grew a tolerance. Some friends developed liver problems and would be drunk after a couple of beers. Even at the end, I was drinking 2 large bottles of Sang Thip whisky. 1/2 just to get out of bed, then the other half before I could face the outside world. I'd always wake up after 4 hours sleep needing more so 1 bottle was drank that way. I only drank spirits at 'home'. When I went out I'd drink Chang beer.

When I was back in the UK, I drank less but I remember when i was about 22 and trying to cut down, I went to some counselling thing and they asked me to estimate how much I had drank the previous 7 days. I remember it was 280 units. 1 unit for a nip or 32 for a bottle of spirits, 2 for a pint of beer or 3 if it was strong beer which is what I drank - blue ocean or speckie brew. They said a safe number was 35 units a week. Of course for an alcoholic to regulate their drinking it is impossible. Like someone else said we are all different. I am grateful that I survived and don't miss drinking in the slightest.

[smutcakes]

Not sure if you are still around OP, but i doubt it was the drink which caused him this damage if he drank what you say he did.

In the north east they have an extremely high prevalence of liver issues, and particularly cancer from heating koi plaa, which is essentially raw fish a north eastern delicacy. There was an interesting bbc documentary on it. Look it up. I know other people that despite all the warnings on it will simply not stop eating it.

Either he was eating a lot of that, or perhaps you never saw him sober, rather than never seeing him drunk

[drbill]

Try to think about your self and family.  Many die aspirating their own blood from bleeding esophageal varices or in a coma secondary to hepatorenal failure. Some have prolonged agony and pain related to associated alcohol related metastatic hepatoma. Every one has a choice to make.

[Wilson Smith]

On 4/20/2015 at 4:03 PM, Water Buffalo said:

I would like to see what its like to stop drinking. I don't feel like its a good part of my life.

If you want to talk with someone who stop drinking and their life got much better please feel free to contact me.