Anyone else in the alcohol 'trap'?

[Froggy]

What I mean by that is, I understand that alcohol is toxic to the heart but I still drink far more than I should. Anyone else had this problem (which is one that I am very embarrassed to admit to) and how did you manage it, if indeed you have?

[rosyG]

Froggy, I had to stop alcohol some years ago as found it hard to just have the odd drink ( I'm the same with chocolates if I open a box!!) I found it best to stop altogether and I only occasionally miss having a glass of wine- usually in the summer when it would be lovely to have a cold glass of white wine!! It wasn't as hard to stop as it was when I stopped smoking 40 years ago- that was very hard but managed it. best to stop all alcohol if you can- have substitute drink to hand to help when tempted!!

[Hidden]

I've just gone almost tee-total Froggy. Hasn't been easy. I never binged but had the same amount of red wine every night. I started off by replacing it with Radler, which is a lemon beer 2% from Fosters, quite nice when you get used to it. Then went almost tee-total but still having one or two small bottles of Radler occasionally. And loads of tea, I'm fed up with tea!

Why is it everything that is nice is bad for you? Tried some non-alcoholic wine, it was disgusting .

The first week was not easy, after that not too hard.

Good luck.

Koll

[dedeottie]

I gave up completely when first diagnosed and found it quite easy as I was in a total panic and thought I was going to die! Then a few months later when I realised I was still in the land of the living I relaxed a bit and started having some alcohol but restricting it to no more than 14 units a week. I have found this really hard as like you RosieG I never feel like I have had enough. One small glass of red wine is definitely not enough! For this reason I am about to give up totally again . I wish I could find a fairly low calorie substitute though. I really don't like fruit juice unfortunately. Froggy, the only thing that is likely to keep me going is the thought that my liver will be healthier than it would otherwise have been. Maybe we can all spur each other on on this site. Good luck whatever you decide. X

[Langara]

I was very much the same as Dedeottie. Did not touch a drop of alcohol for a few months, then gradually "tested the water". No ill effects so now I have the occasional ouzo & water or a glass of rose wine. May be I should be good and think of my liver, but what the heck - Christmas is coming!

[dedeottie]

Yeah maybe we should wait till after Christmas!

[Brian101]

Hey Froggy - yeh this is a complex one . It's one of the first things they ask in A & E and I used to halve what I normally had and they still made me feel like a alchoholic.

To me cutting down was torture and I had to go cold turkey. I think my mates found it harder than me.

I'm not sure is alcohol is a trigger for me but I'm not taking the chance. I feel I have to sort this problem then work out the alcohol . Like you guys one isn't enough and I love a cold beer and a bottle of red.

Brian

[Hidden in reply to Brian101]

"It's one of the first things they ask in A & E and I used to halve what I normally had and they still made me feel like a alchoholic."

Doctors I used to know told me that it was unofficial standard practice to double what any patient told you they drank . So you need to tell them ¼ . Or do what I do now, I tell them, then say but don't double it ... you get the occasional smile after that one.

[Timmo50]

I stopped alcohol for a couple of weeks and the AF just continued, then I sat down one night whilst in AF and had a glass of red wine and guess what? Yes it stopped.

I am of the belief that we have a physical problem and that looking for triggers just causes some people anxieties. If having a glassof wine of an evening or one or two beers with friends is enjoyable then carry on. Yes its probably not good for your liver but moderation is the key.

Enjoy your life!

[Hidden in reply to Timmo50]

Timmo, at the Patients Day, the EP did say that if you drank regularly, then you can/might become immune to it, but never binge. They call that Friday Night AF. I didn't become immune as it happened, but wish I had because I'd love a glass of red wine .

Why can't someone invent a wine that has the calming effect and flavour, but without affecting your ticker or get you dancing on the table, or under it? They'd make a fortune. Imagine going to the doctors, and instead of being prescribed Flecanide, they prescribe red wine, heaven. If you're over 60 it would be free as well !

[moggdog]

hi frog . i find its the only thing keeping me from goin out my mind at the min . im waiting for my second ablation and im told its going to be a very long wait. so that and the boredom .is driving me to drink . so.bottoms up everyone

[Dodie117]

I too have a problem with this. I have 1 glass of wine most evenings with dinner and a whiskey or brandy as a nightcap. This is a big reduction from previouslr i.e. pre afib. When I don't have any I still get episodes so I have decided for now to continue. I gave up smoking a year ago and feel this is enough for now. I did see a study that said alcohol can be the initial cause of AF but once you have it drinking or not drinking makes little difference. However I am aware that I am cherry picking from the various studies!! Slainte. Marie

[forestoke]

Well were to start, having read all the replys to this post I am well confused. My experience is that I started proximal af 10 years ago, I'm 54 now, then 2 years ago it went permanent and I had a radiotherapy ablation at the royal Brompton heart and lung unit London, I live in Dartmoor Devon so it's all be a right pain in the whatsit. The EP told me then at the ablation I must not drink ever again if I would like to see 60, so that was a hell of a blow, I did own a brewery and promote the cause and industry as it were. Between 30and 40 I drank heavily and I would say is the cause of my problem at that time, still don't drink, the af went away for one year then started proximal again, it's just started permenant again and I'm waiting for a slot for No2 ablation. The no alchaol thing and many different drugs has been hard to cope with and I'm not happy! , but we move on.

Good luck to all

[Hidden in reply to forestoke]

Know how you feel forestoke. Never drank heavily but drank a steady amount every night, all red wine, made me relax. Now I'm tee total, I don't feel any different except it's boring. Had no trouble giving up, just stopped one day. But it's very hard to get used to, and not sure I ever will, even though it's been months now. It's sort of boring and evenings are very long. I think I'm just one of those people who need something to relax me especially in the evenings.

The other funny thing is, I haven't had a meal I can say I've really enjoyed since I gave up red wine. I can tell if the food is good, but it's not the same.

Cheers

Koll

[pip_pip in reply to Hidden]

I was told by the cardio years ago, 'another drink and it'll be the equivalent of...poison, yes poison'. So what choice did I have. That was 15years ago. I used to enjoy a drink, but with me it was a road downhill.