falling off the wagon

[Tim12]

I have been diagnosed with cirrhosis and have been off alcohol since diagnosed 2 moths ago I was never a heavy drinker but did have a few bottles of beer the other day feeling bad about this now as have been told never to drink again have I just signed my death sentence ?

[Millie09]

Hi Tim12 ,Welcome ! .. so to summarise my liver journey since 2008 , end stage liver disease from alcohol, very poorly... became tea total but I must say I fell off the wagon on more than one occasion.

See I had underlying mental health issues, extreme anxiety along with border line agoraphobia..

Had two years of CBT therapy, obviously more than one session.. also I had alcohol counselling with the then Aquarius team whom were brilliant.

Whatever your reason for picking up don't beat yourself up ,your not the only one .

What you have to do is ask yourself why? Why you drank .. was in boredom ? Was it pressure from friends ? Was it maybe the whole "world Cup scenario " ..I know many of my wanting to pick ups was around football as I loved nothing better than going the pub or to a game but alcohol was involved... maybe the craving became too intense? Alcohol craving does eventually go if you focus on something else, I found my CBT really helpful as I still use this daily for many reasons or truly I would have picked up again.

My last so called binge was in 2012 losing my dad after caring for him with secondary cancer.. that took me 2 years before I decided to stop ( by that time I had ascites, no appetite, lost weight totally dependent on booze ) so I had to detox and that was awful ..

So just get back on that wagon , start again but please try to adress any underlying issues if you can.

My very best wishes

Linda

[redpoint72]

Hello fella.I agree with millie 09...what ever you do,don't beat yourself up about it...we all have blips in life....and we learn from our mistakes. Myself certainly included!!!. But again as millie has said,and as was my case,there were several different issues going on, that had not been dealt with.....but buried,rather than being faced Headon....so an awful lot of extremely hard going at times counciling. But it has helped me such alot of how better to deal with issues that arise through life... in fact I'm facing my first Xmas with out my lovely dad, who we lost earlier this year.so I know it will be a difficult period...

Fella ,just begin again and occupy yourself....

My best. Chris

[Tim12 in reply to redpoint72]

Thanks for the reply its just that when the doctor said to me it will be end of life for me if I drink again thats the crunch but the alcohol mind set takes over sometimes

[PipM82]

I would say it’s important to reflect on why you had those drinks so you can avoid a repeat. I’m not talking about obsessive rumination but a sort of self talk without being overly critical to yourself - I’m sure you already have been. If you’re concerned about the impact of those beers have an honest conversation with your doctor.

[Roy1955]

You can't change what you did but you CAN decide not to turn a slip up into a relapse!Chances are a day did no significant harm but for many a day on the booze turns back into a life time of self destruction.

Best advice?

Don't do it again

[Benwillfred]

No...just don't do it again !! Seriously there are dome pretty good zero alcohol beers cider znd lagers out there...I love Thatchers Zero and Guinness Zero ...worth a try !! Alcohol is poison to your liver if someone offered you something to eat that you knew was poisonous you wouldn't even contemplate eating it !!

[AyrshireK in reply to Benwillfred]

Just be aware that if you are likely to ever be listed for transplant these non alcohol versions of the real thing are a complete no, no as they don't show the commitment to move away from the booze and they are seen as a potential trigger ........... for some they will never cut the mustard and may cause a drift back to the 'real thing'. There is also potential as has happened to some members that when they've ordered these no/lo drinks in pubs etc. they've actually been served the alcohol version in error.

Just a point to be wary of.

Katie

[Smokey001]

Hi Tim

I guess you did not die from your few drinks, I would ask for a second opinion.

But perhaps your warning was more to tell you about slippery slopes or tightrope walking. Alcohol is not the demon. We all know the dangers of any unmoderated substance abuse, only we can choose to put ourselves on death row.

Please don't end up on the green mile for a silly indiscretion,

[reggie3131]

read the book alcohol lied to me

[pushthrough]

Hey Tim I agree with the others who have posted. What I find interesting is you said you were never a big drinker but had a few anyways. If you weren’t a big drinker why did you have a few? I’m genuinely curious. I certainly drank more than I should have in the past and the medical community considers anything over 3 drinks a day a problem. I quit when I was told I had liver damage and I’m coming up on two years of No alcohol now.

Even though I have not slipped once since I quit I beat myself up for over a year for drinking more than I should have and putting myself and wife in this position. Look at your slip as just that. A momentary slip but get back up and don’t do it again. Alcohol is poison. I really wish I would have known how dangerous it was.

G.