Question Title: Do I have a drinking problem?

Lately I have been thinking about whether or not I have a drinking problem. I'm a 34 year-old male successful professional with a wife and 2 kids. I have always been a social drinker and enjoyed beer. I have also always enjoyed good health. In my twenties I exercised regularly and only drank on social occasions. I would usually drink maybe 2 beers with an occasional binge to 6 or so beers. I weigh about 180 pounds, so I do not really feel any effects of alcohol under 2 drinks. I never had trouble handling my alcohol (I never drink and drive), and I never thought I had a problem.

In the past 10 years, my drinking seems to have increased. I now drink about 3 or 4 beers maybe 3 or 4 nights a week. It does not really matter if I am going out on a social function or not. I feel it relaxes me after work. I do not drink every night. I do not ever "pass out" or have memory lapses. But I think I am drinking more than I used to.

The other day I felt a soreness in my right abdomen and wondered if maybe I was drinking too much. I also drink a lot of Coca-cola in the daytime--sometimes 5 or 6 cokes. I am wondering if all this is hard on my liver. The pain goes away with ibuprofen. I have a sort of an oral fix and always want to be drinking something (but not always alcohol!).

I have scheduled an appointment with a general doctor but I thought I would ask what other people with experience in this area think. I want to be healthy, but I hate to permanently give up something that I enjoy if I do not have a problem.

I would be interested to know if you think I display the symptoms of onsetting alcoholism. Thank you.

Glenn,

You are drinking more than enough to cause gastritis and/or alcoholic hepatitis. To determine if you should or shouldn't be drinking, take a look at "To Drink or Not to Drink" in the Drinking section of http://www.drsteve.org .

If you are someone who can afford to drink, aim for an average of no more than one standard drink per day. In the course of a week, never drink more than 14 standard drinks, and never more than 4 at a sitting.

It is important for you to moderate your drinking or stop it altogether before you do any permanent damage to your health.

Good luck!

DrSteve

The information provided is for general medical education purposes only, and not a substitute for medical diagnosis and treatment provided by your physician.

keywords: drinking, alcohol, alcoholism, gastritis, hepatitis

[The Addiction Forum]      [The Addiction Forum Archives]