Is damage from alcohol reversable.

I need some advice. I am 27 years old and have been drinking steadily since i was fifteen. My father died five years ago and he was a fairly heavy drinker. Recently i have been finding it increasingly difficult to not drink of an evening. Most evenings i will drink about six cans of beer sometimes eight. I have worked out that for the last six years or more i have been consuming nearly 80 units of alcohol per week. i am six foot four and weigh sixteen and a half stone. I work out three or four times a week at the gym for an hour or more at a time and my body is in good shape and i am quite fit. My drinking has never interfered with my work and nobody suspects that i drink this much. I dont seem to have any side effects and i dont ever get ill from drinking. I eat healthily and other than the drinking i look after myself quite well.Obviously i realise that drinking this much is going to seriously damage my longterm health but because i dont feel any symptoms i dont worry too much about the consequences. Please tell me what sort of damage i may have already done and how bad it could get and how soon. i have never spoken to anyone about how much i drink and i think if i knew fully how much damage it is doing i may be more inclined to modereate it. thank you for your time.

[Gloria]

Stop your drinking ASAP.  I am married to a man who for 20 some odd years drank and held down a job at the same time.  My husband has a large frame and is 6 feet 4 inches also.  What has happened due to his abuse of his system is that at age 59, when he should be enjoying life he feels awful.  He has hardly any teeth left as drinking was more important.  He has had two heart attacks and when he had the second one, he literally died and was resusitated back to life.  He now wears an electronic defibillator and tires very readily.  After he had his first heart attack, the doctors could not figure out why he had it until they did a biopsy on his heart.  They then found out that he had an alcoholic heart. One does not associate drinking with heart disease, however, I am still married to this man and have lived through it all.  Good Luck!

[Reggie]

Alan... I'm 28, have been drinking heavily and horribly since 21, and yes, it will seriously affect your body, thinking, and, ability to be happy. Of course that depends upon your constitution. But not to sound hypocritical... get out while you're young.

[barbara to pain and lortab]

The only way to tell if the alcohol is damaging your body now is to get a complete physical including a liver test. Tell your doctor how much and how often you drink. TELL HIM YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE AN ALCOHOLIC AND WOULD LIKE TO STOP! I told several doctors many years ago I thought I drank too much when I was only on a six pack of beer a day. They all ignored it.

Finally, by the time I was steadily drinking around the clock one or more large bottles of vodka a day and almost losing my job because of a schedule change which forced me to drink before I went to work to avoid serious withdrawal symptoms, I admitted to my employer I was having a serious alcohoism problem and wanted to get it fixed. She suggested seeing a doctor right away.

I told the Doc I had a serious problem with alcoholism and wanted to stop drinking. When he heard the admition of alcoholism he took it seriously.

You seem to have an alcoholism problem if you need to drink every night. You should quit before it does bodily damage such as diabetis, spelling?, liver damage, heart damage and more. Most of these things are reversable in the early stages of alcoholism, but the longer you drink the more damage done the less chance of complete physical recovery. It definatey affects the mind as well. Your thinking will become more and more irrational until you stop.

This is just my opinion from my experiences. Alcoholics anonymous can really help you if you really want to stop. You may want to check them out as soon as possible.

One other tip, once you are addicted to alcohol which it sounds as if you are by your description of your drinking, you will not be able to control it or cut down except for short periods of time and then you will be right back to the heavy stuff. It is a viscious cycle. That is why A.A. calls alcohol cunning, baffling and completely controlling.

First you must admit to yourself that you are an alcoholic, that your drinking is out of control and that your life is becoming unmanagable. Then you can get the help you need. Good Luck!!!

[FROM JO TO KIM]

It isnt a question of "if" it affects your body,,,its when you notice...because when you notice is long after you have done erreverable damage.
The mear fact you wrote in this forum screams volumes to me. (an ex heavy drinker)
Stop now so you can have a life longer then your fathers.
Good Luck

[Lynn B]

Hi, Alan.  If you can't stop, then you need help.  Another saying is that if you think you may be alcoholic, you most likely are.

I drank heavily while holding a full-time job and teaching scuba diving on the side.  I was incredibly fit.  Unfortunately, I couldn't stop the drinking.  It got worse, I ended up adding drugs, and my cute little body got all bloated and ugly.  I didn't really care much at the time, because I was caught in the drinking...

Now, lots of years and literally thousands of AA meetings later, I'm back to being quite fit, and so on.  I don't HAVE to drink today...  that's the difference.

Good luck to you.  Lynn

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

You have been given some very good advice here so take heed.  By the time I was 27 I had been drinking for fifteen years and still was able to hold down two jobs and raise a family.  Alcohol was second nature to me and many times it was first.  To make a long story short, at 49 I am suffering some serious illnesses due to my alcoholic life.  I have diabetes, cirrohsis, nervous disorders, my mind is seriously affected.  Keep drinking and you will get to enjoy all that I am going through!  I am also alone now, by myself and I hate myself.  Self esteem is gone now but I still have hope that I can sway at least one person before I go.   THINK about it!  John B.

[barbara to pain and lortab]

I know what you are going through. Often times I hate my life too. Just remember though even if you helped one person, it makes you an important person. You helped at least one here today and probably many more whom have not commented but read your advice.

I hope you feel better today, And I wish you good luck.

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

To be honest with you I have been drinking again and trying to hide it from everyone.  I like to blame my latest binge on all my terrible personal problems but drinking is only making things worse.  I was in Alcoholics Anonymous for months and doing well until about seven months ago.  Now I am the Anonymous Alcoholic. I have been seeing two doctors here lately and both are confused as to why my blood is so screwed up considering that I supposedly don't drink, ha!  Anyway, I am afraid to stop because I fear that I will go into DT's or something even worse.  I am trying to work up the courage to come clean with my doctors and be admitted to detox again.  This has got to stop now because I may not have much time left for yet another recovery.  It truly is a progressive illness and I am definately in the downward spiral.  Thanks for listening!

[barbara to pain and lortab]

I wish you the best of luck. I hope you get yourself into detox. They will help you get through the DT's. I know it sucks from first hand experience but once you are past the 10 day period it's mainly psychological withdrawal and protracted withdrawal which creates the craving. Try to stay at least 30 days at an in-patient prgram if you can and even if you can get a work pass.

Fell free to talk anytime. I am a good listener, especially since we have gone through the same typhoon so to speak!

[Frank]

Hello People:
I could write a short book about alcoholism. I am still not completely alcohol free, but working on it.  A major problem with quitting drinking that I have is I have a mate that loves to drink beer on occasion. She does not drink nightly but abuses beer when she does drink. (Two or three times a week.) She literaly drinks until she passes out or I make her stop. She will not stop the beers b/c she says she doesn't drink every night. The problem with this thinking is that the times she doesn't drink she is without energy and has a hard time having a good time. She depends on beer to have a good time!  I on the other hand drink one beer most nights and take a mild trank to help me sleep. An important thing that I read recently in my substance abuse class is that if a person drinks fifteen 12 oz. glasses of beer or 15 shots of 80 proof whiskey a WEEK!! This amount will give you  cirrosis (cirrhosis) of the liver in a very short time. I can understand whiskey doing this but I was not aware that beer could do this damage.
Thanks for listening,
Frank D.

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

I'm sad to say that I am currently drinking 12 beers and maybe a pint of vodka per day.  Some days it is more.  Most people don't know that I drink so I suppose that my tolerence is way up.  However, I have an appointment to check into the VA Hospital Detox tomorrow and am a little scared right now.  This morning I am going in for blood tests and to talk with an addiction specialist.  Like your girlfriend I cannot function without some alcohol in my system.  I don't have the motivation or energy to do much let alone go out in public.  I live out here in the country about 17 miles from the nearest town and don't have much use for people anymore except to buy liquor and cigarettes.  Wish me luck!  The Anonymous Alcoholic.
P.S.  Will write to you again after I get out of the hospital.

[barbara to pain and lortab]

Good luck with your detox. You made a good decision to get help.

[barbara to pain and lortab]

Good luck with your detox. You made a good decision to get help.

[niecie27]

i APPRECIATE ALL OF THE COMMENTS BECAUSE THEY HELP ME ADD TO MY REASONS TO TOTALLY STOP DRINKING, HOWEVER, i HAVE NOT SEEN ANY COMMENTS, SO FAR, ABOUT HOW ALCHOHOLISM (alcoholism) IS AFFECTING PEOPLE'S CHILDREN.  i HAVE A 14 YEAR OLD SON AND A 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER.  i WAS ABLE TO NOT DRINK DURING THE PREGNANCY, SO WHY DO i WANT TO DRINK AGAIN NOW?  wHAT IS ITHIS DOING TO MY CHILDREN?  hOW DO i STOP BEFORE i FACE THE RESULTS OF GENETICALLY-PASSED-DOWN ADDICTION?  HELP ME LEARN TO RE-FOCUS MT PRIORITIES!  pLEASE!

[Charlie's girl]

I would like to keep this thread going.

It seems many of us out here have issues with Alcohol.  I'm a stay at home mom.  After my first son I had PPD.  I started drinking.  Then two yrs later got pregnant again.  I didn't drink during either one of my pregnancies.  I was a different person then, happy, confident, motivated.  Now one year after my second child I'm back on the bottle. As soon as he was born I went back to it.  It was crazy.   It's become so bad that I drink all day.  I have a very high tolerance and will drink up to a half bottle of vodka and a bottle of Chard. throughout the day.  I do want help too.  You guys are not alone.  It's a dirty secret.  It's so embarrassing to think that this has happened to me.  I was in great shape, working out, living healthy.  Now,  I'm isolated and self distructive.  Could this be post P Depression?  I know I'm an alcoholic but could child birth trigger this?
The hardest part is that I want to go get my liver tested but I'm so frightened to confide in my doc.  I'm so embarrassed and I live in fear everyday that my liver will fail and my adorable children will be left without a mom.

Charlie's girl

[Charlie's girl]

by the way, I'm 33...  I hope to hear from some of you soon.

Charlie's girl

[toxictome]

Charliesgirl...I would start a new thread, with your own question...a lot of people wiill look at the date of this one and may not respond. I am a recovering alcoholic,and if you do not get help you will self destruct, you need to be able to be there for your children. It is dangerous to detox at home from alcohol...can you confide in your husband and doctor? Also, you will need a support system (this forum,AA, counselor) etc., to get to the core issues of why you need to drink. I went to inpatient for 30 days, but there are also outtpatient programs....good luck and keep posting.

[Jacqui805]

Yes, Alan, alcohol can cause problems that do not go away and moreover, cause significant impairment.  I will list what can happen, but I want to tell you that there is no way of knowing whether or not you've caused any problems without seeing a physician and letting them know what's going on.  I say that, because if you just go to a physician for a regular checkup, without telling them about you alcohol use, they wouldn't even suspect and therefore test for some things in someone your age with no reports of problems.  And you'd not necessarily know whether any health issues were even related to the alcohol anyway.  Some of the problems caused are reversible, and some reversible before a certain stage.  You wrote here, you know you have a problem, and are seeking help to quit even if those weren't your words.  You're worried about you, and we are too.  You DO need to stop, the sooner the better.  You need a plan and lots of support, especially given your family history.  Know that you aren't a failure or anything like that and that there is a genetic predisposition to acoholism as well as other factors that may have been stacked against you.  Lastly, before I list some problems, I want to encourage you to think about the life and health you'll enjoy without it.  OK, First off, alcohol if consumed while pregnant (I know you're not a woman, but all should know anyway), is a teratogen (means that the substance will cause harm to the unborn baby, changes the baby, is poison, toxic).  Any children growing up in your household that are born under you are more likely to drink themselves.  A liberal attitude towards alcohol in the home  by the parents increases their children's odds of drinking too.  Read the rest below:
Blackouts (all sorts of things can happen to you while this is happening, not to mention that this sign obviously concerns the central nervous system.  These can last as long as 24-48 hours or a week.
Pathologic intoxication with or with hangover (again, lots of bad can happen to you, drunk driving, accidents, reckless behavior, STD's, injury, death because of behavior while drunk)
Substance withdrawl (withdrawal) delerium (DT's or delirium tremens).  This may be life-threatening if immediate medical help is not provided to you.
Acute alcoholic hallucinosis.  (auditory hallucinations)  Some recall them during therapy and often incorporate them into reality.
Alcoholic cardiomopathy with congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation
Impotence
Infertility
Hypertension
Edema
lots of cardiovascular problems too many to mention
endocrine disorders
acute/chronic myopathy
Wernicke's Encephalopathy/Syndrome and Korsakoff's Syndrome (REAL BAD DEAL HERE)  We're talking about SEVERE CNS disorder here!!!!!!!!!!!!  These are caused by insufficient Vitamin B1 (alcoholics are severely malnurished because of the effects of alcohol on the body)  In it's earliest stage, with medical treatment, a reversal is possible.  If progresses without treatment, the ayndromes are PERMANENT.  It iis SEVERE and the patient then requires custodial care.  I can go into s/s detail with any topic, so PM if you want to know the details.
Damage to the liver (among other organs).  I mention this one because the liver has many functions that most people are completely unaware of, one of them being blood clotting, never mind filtering your blood.  The liver is the organ most affected by alcohol, and it screws up so many things.  Just your liver alone could have a miriad of different problems, not the least of which is alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis.  All problems, including these two, are multi-tiered.  That is, with each problem, there are numerous organs affected and/or problems.  They each have their own s/s, that is, you don't just have a disease, a name, these diseases/disorders cause secondary and tertiary problems all over, like hypertension, esophageal varices, etc.  There are so many I could go on and on, some cosmetic or aesthetic, some pretty bad.  The two syndromes above, are pretty bad, not to mention organ damage, and the DT's, wrecking relationships, impairing your ability to earn a living and so on and so forth.  I think I've given you enough food for though.  Please don't get freaked in a bad way, get freaked enough to stop so these do not happen to you, or if any liver changes or something have happened, that you do not make them worse and can get treatment for them.  Good luck.

[aubby]

My 42 year old sister was admitted to Hospital 4 weeks ago yesterday, we have just spoke with the consultant and have been informed that she will be dead by the end of the week, she is being given Morphine to deal with the pain, my sister has been an alcoholic for many years drinking Vodka straight [we think], she has 4 children aged 10, 15, 17 and 24 with 2 granchildren and everything to live for.

We have watched over the years as the drink took over the effects this had on the children 3 of whom lived with her and subsequently removed from her care, the children have suffered more than any one could imagine. Any one who drinks from morning till night will not realise the kind of person that they are becoming, my sister was a fantastic mother who took imense pride in herself her children and her home, gradually this changed to the point were the only thing she cared about was making sure she had a drink. Her Children were removed from her care 18 months ago, with none of them living at the same address, luckily all are with different family members.

My sister was in and out of hospital most weeks, she would attend casualty on a regular basis and beg them to section her, or her body couldnt take the  drink she would be physically sick until the point were her body went into withdrawl (withdrawal) at this point she would be admitted and given Librium to control the symptoms within days she would sign her self out and back on the Vodka.

4 Weeks ago we got the call that she had been taken to Hospital again, this time when i went to see her the sight of her shocked me to the core, very yellow skin, bloated stomach, bloated face, skinny arms and legs and unable to even lift her head ar move her body, the doctor spoke with myself and our father, he explained that the liver had failed and was diseased, he offered no hope what so ever, i thought on that day that my sister would be dead within the week, but the internal organs need to go through the process of having to work harder to compensate for the liver and then inturn so much pressure is put on them that they then start to fail,

She is currently lay in bed unable to move eyes closed dosed up on morphine, groaning and crying out, we sit at the side of her bed watching her breathing and waiting for her last breath to come.

Not only am i and my other sisters watching this, so are her children and dad, such a waste of her life with dramatic effects on the rest of the family.

For all parents out there your children bring much more joy than a drink, they are so precious and deserve so much more than to have a parent who would rather have a drink than  take them to the park or give them a cuddle, even if you think that you are not affecting your children in any way, believe me you will be

Please seek help now and find the will power to see it through, why should any child have to watch there parent die such a horrendous death, or any father watch their daughter or son destroy themselves,

Th last four years watching my sister has been horrendous, i always thought that i would find her dead in her flat and it would be quick, the result the same but now we are watching the pain as she tries to die,

ML