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MedHelp Member's Question

beer vs. liquor

by nd, Feb 01, 2001 12:00AM
I am a beer drinker. I drink light beer only, and I usually drink about 1 case of beer on the weekends. I am currently trying to limit that to 12 beers every other weekend. My question is; what are the harmful side effects of light beer compared to hard liquor or even regular beer?
Member Comments (21)

by J.B. to Brian and Vicky, Feb 02, 2001 12:00AM
Alcohol is alcohol in whatever form you chose to embibe.  I'm not bragging here or making light of your usage but when I was drinking normally, I would easily drink a case of beer per day and often drink it with Vodka shooters.  Now I am waiting for a liver transplant. Some days I think that death would be kinder to me than living with all of the problems of end stage liver disease.  If you even suspect that you are alcoholic, quit now!  One indicator for you:  Does anybody else in your family have problems with it?  My own family has a history of alcoholism.



Good Luck to you!

by Shiny, Feb 02, 2001 12:00AM
What are the signs of liver or kidney disease?

by J.B. to Brian and Vicky, Feb 03, 2001 12:00AM
There are so many that I'd have to type here all day!



Probably, long before you have any serious symptoms, blood tests will show abnormal liver and kidney functioning.



In my case the major symptoms are fatigue, joint pain, general weakness, mental confusion, vision problems, high blood pressure, gout, neuropathy, water retention in the lower extremities, impotence, depression, spider angiomas on the chest and neck, malnutrition, anemia, low platelett count and angina.

Is that enough for one person?  Plus I have hepatitis C which was either caused by using IV drugs, unprotected sex or a blood tranfusion while I was in the military during the Viet Nam era.



Three years ago I was given 18 months life expectancy but obviously I am still here.  Abstinance from alcohol has helped a great deal but came too late in my case.  Hope this helps you!  J.B.

by Frankinscense, Feb 03, 2001 12:00AM
I am a sustance abuse abuse councelor and have completed many courses and seminars on the subject of drug and alcohol abuse, and JB has said just about all the facts in brief on alcohol and the liver. Anyone that is in question about alcoholism should have a thorough blood survey to determine how much damage has been done to the vital organs.(liver,pancreas,heart, red blood cells etc.) Not to mention the delicate balance of serotonin,dopamaine,and other neurotransmitters that have been disturbed due to drinking a  'solvent'. Alcohol is alcohol no matter what the vehicle or method of getting it into the brain. Good Luck! Dan..

                                                                  JB greetings! How are you doing my friend with your abstinence?

Do you know about methadone and liver functioning? I think you do. I think possibly that you might find some useful info about methadone and liver functioning under a website called Doctor Column 5. I found it while doing a general search using "methadone" as my keyword. My best to You my Friend. Dan..

by Shiny, Feb 03, 2001 12:00AM
i had a blood test done. Here's what it showed, in the way of being abnormal. My WBC was 17.2 (normal is 4.8-10.8); MCH was 33.0 (normal is 27.0-31.0); platelet count was 422 (normal is 130-400); SEG-% WAS 80 (normal is 40-74); lymphocytes-% is 15 (normal is 19-48); urine specific gravity is 1.025 (normal is 1.016-1.022); urine ketones is 15 (neg. this had a * I don't know why); urine mucous threads is 2+ (none); and SGOT/AST is 14 (normal is 15-46). I had this blood test done when I went to the emergency room with stomach problems (I had a ulcer). I don't do much drinking except on Sat. nights also I take narcotics and over-the-counter Max Alerts. I don't have any problems going to the bathroom but sometimes my sides hurt where your kidneys are located. Maybe Dan would have some answers, isn't he a doctor? I am worried.

by J.B. to Brian and Vicky, Feb 03, 2001 12:00AM
Blood test results are difficult for most of us to interpret.  I tried to compare mine with yours and got confusing results which I don't know how to explain.  You would be much better off letting those professionals who are trained in this field advise you.  My own blood test readings can be so screwed up that my MD has to refer me to a hematologist at times.  



I feel that you need expert, hands on advice and treatment with your problems.  Please seek medical help as soon as possible.  That's probably the best advice anybody here can give you.  J.B.

by tom to J.B., Feb 03, 2001 12:00AM
my good friend, in my depression of late I've neglected to congatulate you on your decision to go opiate free. May a warm wind be at your back and carry you where you want to go.



My god, J.B., I didn't know you were waiting for a liver transplant. God, how could I have missed this fact in our many posts?



Please accept our prayers for you're recovery, J.B. Take are and give my best to Marty.

by J.B. to Brian and Vicky, Feb 03, 2001 12:00AM
I've talked about my liver problems from time to time but maybe I should have been more vocal about them.  Yes, opiates were always my drug of choice but I filled the void with alcohol for years.  After all it is legal, cheap and for the most part socially acceptable.  In my opinion it is also the most destructive of all drugs in our society.  Then let's add nicotine to the equation and it gets much worse.



For me, healthwise, alcohol has been by far more destructive to my body than anything else that I've used.  And that is more fact than personal opinion as far as I'm concerned.  Prayers are desperately welcome for those of us that have the "dual addiction".  Thanks, Tom, and please be well!  J.B.



by Dee, Feb 04, 2001 12:00AM
My dad died in 1979 from cancer of the stomach lining, needless to say, it was a very painful way to go, but, fast, 6 months from dignosis to death, he was an alkie,big time, his choice of drink was Seagrams 7 straight up,he worked for the post office, back then working for the PO was considered a big step up, he would come home so drunk that when he opened the car door he would fall out..cops used to bring him home,I know that the whiskey is what gave him cancer, but back then the doctors didn't really connect it as they do now...as JB says alcohol is alcohol in any form..the damage it causes is horrendence,

JB, my prayers are with you...