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Posted by Laura on July 13, 1999 at 02:04:27 I have been drinking alcohol for 29 years. I am a 43 yr old female. I had been told by Drs. that I was alcohol dependent for more than 25 years. I quit drinking on my own and had a lot of sobriety, 8 1/2 years, 5 years, and once for 2 years.
Each time I started up again, my tollerance level increased. I didn't think a thing about that at all. And I certainly did not believe that I was an alcoholic.
Well, I should have listened. Now, in 1999 and after much warning and education in treatment centers, I found out the hard way about how permanent, progressive and life threatening chronic late stage alcoholism really is. This **** is for real, it's no BULL.
I have a 4 year old child that I would like to see at least make it to the first grade, as of last Friday, July 9, 1999, it could have been the last time I saw anything. I already was anemic and taking b-12 injections, I was told to stop. Now I have super high BP and my there is something going on with my heart. I had to get medication for heart attack patients just to slow down the rate. I was at a risk for cardiac arrest at 10AM and at that time, my ethanol level was .15 yet.
I continued to drink massive quanites of alcohol knowing the danger I was already in. It was not because I wanted to use this much, it is what my body needed to fight off withdrawal. I needed more than 96 oz of alcohol. That is minimum 8 drinks, but I drank more than that, I still didn't stop there. I have had .35 levels and was still walking, talking and I drove my car.
Yes, I had many accidents, injuries, DUI's, etc. but I didn't have a drinking problem. Well, de nial is not a river in Egypt, that is what I was doing for many years. If I would have stopped this **** of controlled drinking, (HA HA), I would not be in the **** hole I am in now.I probably won't live more than another 5 or 6 years, and that is if I liver holds out.
For those who think they can control their usuage and not be affected years later, think again. It is real and it is progressive. Don't be so stupid.
Laura
Posted by SA, M.D. - HVMA on July 16, 1999 at 12:55:13Dear Laura, Sadly, many addicts (alcohol, drugs, and tobacco) do not wake up to the damage they are doing to themselves and their loved ones until it is too late to reverse much of the damage. I would be curious to hear from you, and from others like you who might be reading this, if there is anything which anyone (healthcare provider, friend or family) might have done or said earlier on which would altered the course of your alcoholism. It isn't too late to improve your quality of life by stopping for once and for all. Please do not use the dire straits which you find yourself in as a justification for further "poor me" drinking. Good luck! DrSteve - http://www.drsteve.org Keywords: alcoholism, alcohol dependence, complications, denial, chronic
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