Ken 119 Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 It is a proper mental leap to make, and it'd be wrong to play that down, just like there's no point in denying the simple facts that (for most people anyway) alcohol is A Nice Thing and social drinking is fun. The mere act of being on the wagon doesn't stop that from being true, and not being willing or able to embrace the abstinence option (yet) isn't something to self-flagellate over - none of us have any control over the way we're wired, after all, we just have to deal with it. For me at least, every time I tried to kick the habit myself or own up to it to others, this big "OMG YOU'LL NEVER BE ALLOWED TO DRINK AGAIN"-shaped monster kept looming and that wasn't something I was prepared to fight with at the time. Partly from a fear of missing out on the pub culture/social drinking thing - which, of course, has proved to be absolutely fine*, even if I'll probably become a diabetic from all the sugary drinks I'm consuming - and partly the aforementioned English embarrassment of not wanting to make a fuss about something that you feel you "ought to" be able to control, e.g. (in my case) "secret" drinking. And if your alcohol consumption is excessive from a medical advice point of view but it isn't having a practical impact on the cornerstones of your life yet - your ability to work, your relationships, your ability to look after yourself, whatever - then you tend to think you're doing fine with it. If you really do want to make a change, it might be the case that circumstances collide and something happens to flick the switch - that's what happened with me - or you might just get to that point gradually, as it sounds like you've been doing for a while now anyway. As you say, blood tests and the like are often the real eye-opener. My liver function's only started properly deteriorating in the last year or two, and of course I'd been deflecting the questions at the doctor's every time - why no, I'm not consuming any more alcohol than usual, I wonder what the problem could possibly be? All I can say is, if nothing else, it's a relief to have the simple facts on my medical record and to be able to actually talk about it with people, and you might find that too. Or you might not! That all being said, I have no intention of becoming an evangelist for sobriety - I think booze is brilliant, I'm just not allowed it myself right now, but that isn't going to stop me from buying my dad an indulgently expensive bottle of whisky for his birthday or getting the beers in on a night out. Except when the Fish takes us to some wanky place in Clapham where they "appreciate his presence at the bar", in which case he's on his own. * it helps, of course, that none of my good friends are of the 'normal blokes drink, non drinkers are a bit odd' breed described by the esteemed poster above A decent mental leap I guess, fortunately I've not affected others (yet) around me before I've realised that I needed change. I've been told that I look and act relatively sober after two bottles or so apart from the glassy eyes and I retreat instead of becoming confronting when I get to a really bad state. Doesn't diminish the problem (as I see it though), and it doesn't take away from how I'm feeling about it either - it is a bother to me - and I don't want it to become a bigger problem then it is already. Of course I don't want liver or pancreas problems in a decade's time either. I'm still in my health phase/kick, and being a creature of habit that I am I will let this continue for as long as possible without disruption or excuses. What I do after this phase will ultimately determine the next steps that I need to take. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 The next step for my back is an epidural. Doctor I'm not pregnant though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken 119 Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 The next step for my back is an epidural. Doctor I'm not pregnant though. What happened there? Makes my complaint pretty small tbf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 44790 Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 A no-hands epidural. That's what you'll be getting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 What happened there? Makes my complaint pretty small tbf. C5/C6 nerve root damage and herniated discs in my back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeys Fist 42356 Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 Forgive my total ignorance, but will an epidural not leave you , you know, numb from there down? #pokeybumwanktime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howmanheyman 33096 Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 'What's currently wrong with you?' Never mind bad backs, I'm banging my fucking head against a wall trying to fix a problem with itunes (not for the first time). Wont come on properly, can't uninstall it and a microsoft repair fix has been running for nearly an hour with no sign at all that it is actually fixing it. Fucking computers, man. They do my bastard head in!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeys Fist 42356 Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 Pokeybumwank time for you too, I'd say, HMHM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howmanheyman 33096 Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 Tits is whats I needses! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeys Fist 42356 Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 Courtesy of RSPB, some Great Tits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeys Fist 42356 Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 Tits or pokeybu..... No, I'll stop it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meenzer 15518 Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 Thought this might be of use: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 35056 Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 I was wondering where manc-mag had gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catmag 337 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Had a bit of surgery yesterday (in my own theatre) and woke up in recovery to be told the surgeon had "nicked" a vein and I'd bled more than they'd hoped (about half a litre) Ideally I should have stayed in but there were no beds so I came home later in the day. On the plus side they'd cracked open the expensive vessel-sealing instruments that they normally reserve for proper emergencies. Perks of the job, I suppose - god bless the NHS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Had a weird chest pain the other day, last about a 20 seconds... So, gave up smoking...Bought some Asprin, magnesium, lecithin and spirulina. Started badmintion with Mrs P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catmag 337 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Had a weird chest pain the other day, last about a 20 seconds... So, gave up smoking...Bought some Asprin, magnesium, lecithin and spirulina. Started badmintion with Mrs P. Indigestion tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Indigestion tbh. Hope so. But it panicked me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meenzer 15518 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 So, gave up smoking...Bought some Asprin, magnesium, lecithin and spirulina. Started badmintion with Mrs P. A German chemist who let you buy more than one thing at once without sending you to a GP? Astonishing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 A German chemist who let you buy more than one thing at once without sending you to a GP? Astonishing. Had to go to a couple of places to get all that. It's a real pain here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meenzer 15518 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Had to go to a couple of places to get all that. It's a real pain here. That sounds more familiar, aye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeys Fist 42356 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Indigestion tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 That's the NHS in a nutshell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 That sounds more familiar, aye. Got Lecithin in Budni but had to internet for Spirulina. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catmag 337 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 That's the NHS in a nutshell. Honestly, I'm meant to be on the sick man! Right, any other symptoms? Shortness of breath? Tingling in your fingers, jaw stiffness, dizziness, nausea? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Honestly, I'm meant to be on the sick man! Right, any other symptoms? Shortness of breath? Tingling in your fingers, jaw stiffness, dizziness, nausea? No. But it WAS a heart flutter. Think it was stress plus smoking a lot of fags that night. I'm on the artery cleaning and blood thinning mix (as above) and stopped smoking....I'll feel the benefits in a few months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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