Aa
life without alchol
Does anyone else feel like I do, a bit left out because I don't drink?
After being diagnosed with hep C in 2005, I stopped drinking alcohol. It wasn't hard, my drinking had consisted mostly of wine with dinner, an occasional mixed drink or shot of tequila. Living in wine country for so many years made drinking a glass or two every evening feel normal.
Stopping was easy, getting rid of hepC was not, and the nasty virus is still in my blood stream after having almost killed me. A liver transplant saved my life which brings me to where I am now, over two years post transplant, with renewed energy and clarity of mind.
The last six months I spent in Thailand primarily for dental work.
Now, my husband and I are back.
I view family and friends who have aged, as we all do, and wonder how much the alcohol contr4ibutes to their lack of awareness.
My sister forgets whole conversations. Constantly, I need to remind myself that what I am told, especially in the evenings, is filtered though an haze of alcohol. I worried about the approach of Alzheimer’s in a woman who I now realize drinks every day.
And it makes me aware of my being outside as the one who is sober at the dinner party where people appear stupidly repeating themselves and collapsing into giggles which I do not share. I try to smile and let it roll off of me. Accepting people as they are, is my mantra.
But who can I discuss this with when just about everyone I know starts drinking every evening, if not before?
Its not that I want to drink, I just wonder if any of you find yourselves feeling anything similar to the way I do?
After being diagnosed with hep C in 2005, I stopped drinking alcohol. It wasn't hard, my drinking had consisted mostly of wine with dinner, an occasional mixed drink or shot of tequila. Living in wine country for so many years made drinking a glass or two every evening feel normal.
Stopping was easy, getting rid of hepC was not, and the nasty virus is still in my blood stream after having almost killed me. A liver transplant saved my life which brings me to where I am now, over two years post transplant, with renewed energy and clarity of mind.
The last six months I spent in Thailand primarily for dental work.
Now, my husband and I are back.
I view family and friends who have aged, as we all do, and wonder how much the alcohol contr4ibutes to their lack of awareness.
My sister forgets whole conversations. Constantly, I need to remind myself that what I am told, especially in the evenings, is filtered though an haze of alcohol. I worried about the approach of Alzheimer’s in a woman who I now realize drinks every day.
And it makes me aware of my being outside as the one who is sober at the dinner party where people appear stupidly repeating themselves and collapsing into giggles which I do not share. I try to smile and let it roll off of me. Accepting people as they are, is my mantra.
But who can I discuss this with when just about everyone I know starts drinking every evening, if not before?
Its not that I want to drink, I just wonder if any of you find yourselves feeling anything similar to the way I do?
Drinking and all that has not been a part of my life since the early 70s. Your not missing anything my friend. They are... IMHO
To me alcohol and drugs are ways of numbing yourself. Life is too short for that. Well my life anyway ha ha thank you HCC. You know this. Having had a transplant you know that at any time something could happen. You understand the true worth of life. Ever day of life is a gift not to be squandered. I treasure it like it is a precious jewel. They don't get it I'm afraid.
Luckily they have never had to face death. I am happy for them. I wouldn't choose this path either if I had a choice. But I didn't have a choice. We can only make the best of a bad situation. It happened and we deal with it as best we can using all of our inner resources that we had gathered over a lifetime... I don't know how much longer I have to live. It could be short I'm afraid. I don't want to be too dramatic. But I have a bad feeling. I can't explain it. Don't get me wrong. I'm not giving up. I will fight to the end.
I have a hard time sleeping now cause those are hours that are gone forever. I might not have too many left. Being high on some substance makes no sense to me. I want to be a fully alive as possible every second of whatever time I have left. Having to have a drug to have a good time seems pathetic to me. I don't want to judge others but for me there is no room in my life for that. I understand it is your family. My family had a lot of alcoholics in it so I do have issues with substance abuse. I know I am not objective about it. I can't be. I've seen too many consequences of drug abuse. Many friends have died or had there lives ruin by it. I don't know anyone who's live is better because of drugs. It takes it toll one way or another or time. Anyway this is my experience only. I am only talking about me life and the way I choose to live. Other are free to do what they want.
I have been around alcohol and drugs often in the past. I was in the entertainment business. Drugs everywhere. But I had already lost my desire for them after seeing my best friend lying on the floor of his bathroom, blue with the needle in his arm when I was 17. I will never forget that. Though it was hard to come to terms with I have taken the lesson from that and it helped to get me on a better life path. That was my first "wakeup call". The thought of that image in my mind make me ill to this day. It was horrible and it still hurts me. But it help me change my ways. So now ESLD and liver cancer giving me another "wake up call". I'm running out of my 9 lives! I try to savior every little pleasure in life. .. I want to take it all in and never forget it. It will help me through the darkest hours ahead......
Sorry it is 3 Am and I better leave it there.
Hector
To me alcohol and drugs are ways of numbing yourself. Life is too short for that. Well my life anyway ha ha thank you HCC. You know this. Having had a transplant you know that at any time something could happen. You understand the true worth of life. Ever day of life is a gift not to be squandered. I treasure it like it is a precious jewel. They don't get it I'm afraid.
Luckily they have never had to face death. I am happy for them. I wouldn't choose this path either if I had a choice. But I didn't have a choice. We can only make the best of a bad situation. It happened and we deal with it as best we can using all of our inner resources that we had gathered over a lifetime... I don't know how much longer I have to live. It could be short I'm afraid. I don't want to be too dramatic. But I have a bad feeling. I can't explain it. Don't get me wrong. I'm not giving up. I will fight to the end.
I have a hard time sleeping now cause those are hours that are gone forever. I might not have too many left. Being high on some substance makes no sense to me. I want to be a fully alive as possible every second of whatever time I have left. Having to have a drug to have a good time seems pathetic to me. I don't want to judge others but for me there is no room in my life for that. I understand it is your family. My family had a lot of alcoholics in it so I do have issues with substance abuse. I know I am not objective about it. I can't be. I've seen too many consequences of drug abuse. Many friends have died or had there lives ruin by it. I don't know anyone who's live is better because of drugs. It takes it toll one way or another or time. Anyway this is my experience only. I am only talking about me life and the way I choose to live. Other are free to do what they want.
I have been around alcohol and drugs often in the past. I was in the entertainment business. Drugs everywhere. But I had already lost my desire for them after seeing my best friend lying on the floor of his bathroom, blue with the needle in his arm when I was 17. I will never forget that. Though it was hard to come to terms with I have taken the lesson from that and it helped to get me on a better life path. That was my first "wakeup call". The thought of that image in my mind make me ill to this day. It was horrible and it still hurts me. But it help me change my ways. So now ESLD and liver cancer giving me another "wake up call". I'm running out of my 9 lives! I try to savior every little pleasure in life. .. I want to take it all in and never forget it. It will help me through the darkest hours ahead......
Sorry it is 3 Am and I better leave it there.
Hector
thanks for taking the time to help folks on the forum...good luck with everything....billy
No one can ever possibly know what it is like to be in your situation unless they, themselves, are in it. It's really too bad that we can't seem to appreciate the life we are given, the beauty around us, BEFORE we are faced with our own mortality.
Thanks for your wise words and for sharing a part of your story.
You are a true asset to this forum, and for that, I thank you!!
Hugs!
~Debbie~
Thanks for your wise words and for sharing a part of your story.
You are a true asset to this forum, and for that, I thank you!!
Hugs!
~Debbie~
Thx working dog & Debbie.
" It's really too bad that we can't seem to appreciate the life we are given, the beauty around us, BEFORE we are faced with our own mortality. "
Debbie, so true. So sadly true. And that goes for me too. Glad I finally woke up to "smell the roses" before it was too late.
Cheers!
Hector
" It's really too bad that we can't seem to appreciate the life we are given, the beauty around us, BEFORE we are faced with our own mortality. "
Debbie, so true. So sadly true. And that goes for me too. Glad I finally woke up to "smell the roses" before it was too late.
Cheers!
Hector
I want to tell you things are as they are and the past is gone, one moment of realization in this school of life is worth everything.
After finding out about my HCV diagnosis about 1 yr ago, abstaining from alcohol was such an easy choice. I didn't drink much anyway. I want nothing to compromise the health of my liver, especially during and after trt.
I'm fortunate that my family and friends don't socially drink much. However, when attending out of town meetings, gatherings at restaurants, socials, the pre-dinner drinks are flowing. Still no temptation, and I find it a bit humorous to watch the change in behavior after a few drinks. I don't need alcohol to be happy.
I'm fortunate that my family and friends don't socially drink much. However, when attending out of town meetings, gatherings at restaurants, socials, the pre-dinner drinks are flowing. Still no temptation, and I find it a bit humorous to watch the change in behavior after a few drinks. I don't need alcohol to be happy.
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