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It's been a fun journey but I'm going to quit all alcohol NOW

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Posted 8/11/2013 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
Right after I type this I'm going to throw out what alcohol I have. There is some whiskey, a little vodka, a beer, several bottles of wine. It's all going in the trash.

I never considered myself an alcoholic, but do love an occasional drink. I mean, I am a single guy, mid-fifties, and it makes me feel very relaxed. But I have to stop because of my colitis. I mean stop for good this time.

I've gone into remission several times in my life...and always keep drinking. I usually say "see? it's not the alcohol because I'm still drinking!!" I don't believe it any longer so you are witnessing a huge transition day for me. Maybe it is? Maybe it isn't, but it's just not worth the risk any longer at my age.

This is going to be very difficult because I live alone and it's been my friend in lonely times. I'm not good at making friends, never have been. Yes there is one person I can call, but at least it's someone. And yes, she drinks!!! In fact, she loves to drink.

Also my brother..is my other friend and guess what?!? He is an alcoholic! In fact, last evening he called me to go out for a drink!

So everyone, life is full of challenges and I'll keep you posted on my progress. I'm doing this because yesterday I drank. I didn't drink like a skunk but I did drink and today I'm just really bad.

Maybe this is a guilt trip, maybe it is the smart thing to do? All I know is that I'm quitting drinking. If I am in remission by Christmas just maybe I'll have a celebration drink, but then?

Again, this is really hard for a single guy to do, but it's time. Wish me luck.

John
Posted 8/11/2013 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck John. My dad and both of my brothers are alcoholics. I've seen them battle it for years. If you feel the need to have a drink, whether its one a day or not, that still classifies as being an alcoholic. But I wish you well and just think how much your body will thank you for it :)
Posted 8/11/2013 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
I just wanted to wish you the best and hope that your health improves. I gave up alcohol when I was diagnosed with UC over 20 years ago. I started having an occasional drink a couple of years ago but often have issues the next day so I haven't had a drink since New Year's Eve. I know it's hard, alcohol is such a huge part of socializing, but hopefully it'll pay off for you with better health. If you think you might have a problem with alcohol I hope you won't hesitate to go for help with it. Good Luck!
Posted 8/11/2013 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
That's lame, in my opinion. You're quitting something you enjoy because possibly it affects your colitis. There is no known cause at the moment. All this disease wants to do is cause you grief such as this. Give up this, give up that. So you give in to it.

If you said to me, bro I'm quitting drinking because I want to, I have no problem.

You telling me that you're quitting drinking because of colitis, that's lame.

Everything is ok in moderation in my book. If you think that by dropping alcohol it will bring upon remission, then go ahead. That would be a good trade. If it doesn't, then you're losing.
Posted 8/11/2013 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
What if I said "bro I'm quitting drinking because I want to because of colitis"

What would you say to that? LOL
Posted 8/11/2013 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
I did a lot of drinking in my younger years although, even though I got drunk several times, I was never even close to being an alcoholic. I'm sure I drove legally drunk several times but one day I was following a friend to a restaurant for our customary breakfast after a night out and I saw him drive up on the sidewalk, almost hitting some people. He didn't even realize that he had done that and he got arrested for DUI I believe that very night on the way home. Just like turning off a light switch I have rarely drank since that day, which was decades ago. I'm lucky if I have one drink per year. Truth is I don't ever miss it and never have. If you consider alcohol a friend instead of the real thing then maybe it is time to give it up, particularly if it helps your UC. I discovered that there are foods which are high in histamines (most alcohol too) and histamines can cause your UC to be much worse. By cutting down on these high histamine foods and drinks your UC may very well improve. Good luck to you.
Posted 8/11/2013 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
hahahahha, for a 55 year old, you have my sense of humor. lol

You should drink responsibly and socially.
Posted 8/11/2013 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
Stopping alcohol takes will power until you no longer value alcohol - then it takes nothing because your not interested in beginning.
Posted 8/11/2013 4:54 PM (GMT 0)

aguywithuc said...
Stopping alcohol takes will power until you no longer value alcohol - then it takes nothing because your not interested in beginning.

Yoda wisdom right there. smilewinkgrin
Posted 8/11/2013 5:18 PM (GMT 0)

Somedude said...

aguywithuc said...
Stopping alcohol takes will power until you no longer value alcohol - then it takes nothing because your not interested in beginning.

Yoda wisdom right there. smilewinkgrin

It used to be like wrestling a bear to try and stay sober. Proclamations, self-notes posted in conspicuous locations. It was how I rewarded myself after a hard week, swing by the store and get a move and a 6-pack, bottle of wine for my gal.

Then there was the phase of 'I am going to do this right, I am going to drink correctly' and you set out to be as good at drinking as other pursuits - only it ends in disaster.

Then comes the final phase where you cannot even fathom what you get out of it anymore other than m-i-s-e-r-y. I remember riding my bike to the store at night to ensure no DUI and there was no actual ramp to the sidewalk it was just a curb and I did a flip and my ribs hurt for weeks.

Yeah, it was exciting when I was young but it scares me to death now. My reward now is a good night sleep. I hope I never get confused about that again.

Post Edited (aguywithuc) : 8/11/2013 11:22:00 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/11/2013 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
good job John P -

we're all rooting for you !

maybe find some new attraction to replace the old ?
Posted 8/11/2013 6:08 PM (GMT 0)
"maybe find some new attraction to replace the old ?" You know what I think that's going to be? FOOD!

I know food and UC don't always go together but I LOVE food.
Posted 8/11/2013 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
food is good - but i was thinking more along the lines of paragliding or kayaking or a Harley ?
Posted 8/11/2013 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
Take the Harley! lol Of course, more expensive than booze, but probably more fun! Different kind of cost.

If you tend to overdo in the booze, quit forever. One drink will usually lead to more, because of psychological and emotional rewards.

q
Posted 8/11/2013 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
I have a big 1600 and I think the Harley is over rated. 2 more bikers died over night in Denver.

2 weeks ago I took my daughter and her 2 friends to the company picnic and on the way back as we came up the interstate all lanes were stopped and I saw people outside their vehicles. As we moved by in the right lane I told the girls not to look. Big Harley riding guy was on his feet and his head was all bloody, people around trying to help him and a large pool of blood on the ground where he probably was lying before he came to.

I want an airplane for the need-for-speed but for now I just ride the hog out in the burbs where I can ride without a helmet and feel I am 99% in control. The hell with driving downtown or on the interstate.

A nice bug smasher someday would be fun, I live right underneath the local traffic pattern and love it. I miss flying.

There is no situation that booze cannot make worse btw.
Posted 8/11/2013 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
why would you ride without a helmet? Hopefully, you ride with other protective gear as well.

Yeah, Harleys are overrated and very expensive....there are tons of awesome bikes. Ride a motorcycle, risk that someone can hit you. Same goes with a car, however. There are crappy drivers everywhere. I made a mistake by watching "don't drive here"...omg. much made sense as to how some people drive.

q
Posted 8/11/2013 7:23 PM (GMT 0)
I never touch the stuff because of my UC. I think a couple of glasses of wine at Thanksgiving ruined the few weeks of symptom free life I've had since diagnosis.
Posted 8/11/2013 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
"There are crappy drivers everywhere." I was a crappy driver the other day because they added a left turn green arrow on a street near my house and I didn't know it. So when I approached to make a right I swung out into the left lane after turning, and the left turn arrow person turned right into me. It really caught me off guard so I swung back into the right and he swung in front of me. So then I moved into the left again and he did to and just stopped. ROAD RAGE!!!! lol

He just sat there and I was blocked in the middle of traffic and he was yelling/cussing at me. I was extremely confused until later I did some investigating and saw the new green arrow. Normally I would have had the right of way!

I was wrong, but his road rage really caught me off guard. Fortunately for him I just sat there waving my arms for him to move, because I didn't understand his anger. hahahaha

John
Posted 8/11/2013 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
Oh yeah, those new signals/signs, etc....

You do have the right of way to turn if the intersection is clear, even though they have a left turn signal.

You do NOT have the right of way to automatically driving into the left lane after turning..even though we all do it..lol.

He was an arsehole for sure. While you made a mistake, you saw him and avoided an accident. He shouldn't have punished you for that. Road rage for sure...you did well to not flame it.

Oh those awesome lessons during driving..lol.

q
Posted 8/12/2013 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
Quitting alcohol is the easiest thing in the world, in fact I have done it dozens of times LOL

Seriously, you already have alcoholism in your family so you may have inherited the same propensity. Be careful.
Posted 8/12/2013 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
There has always been alcohol in my family. Neither parent was alcoholic but every single sibling drank and they still do, some more than others.

To be honest, alcohol just doesn't do it for me anymore. It just makes me tired, kinda depressed, and...just more tired. It really does seem to bother the UC so I'm happy about my decision to stop.

I love working out and feeling great so much more than an alcohol buzz. My dad once said you should only drink when your happy...and I broke that rule way too many times.

John
Posted 8/12/2013 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
I just ride the hog out in the burbs where I can ride without a helmet and feel I am 99% in control. The hell with driving downtown or on the interstate.

In my younger days I was big on bike riding. Excellent way to commute to work and could always find parking. One day I was on the beltway at rush hour. Everyone was going 70 mph bumper to bumper. I hit a pothole that shook my bike.

Right then I had a vision from the movie Ben Hur when that guy fell off his chariot and was rolled over by the other chariots in the race. I drove home, sold my bike, and never got on one again.
Posted 8/12/2013 11:19 AM (GMT 0)
Potholes! Being a car driver only I never thought of those, but now that you mention it. Every so often one of those - in a car - catches us off guard, but at least we are in a car!!! Good post.

John
Posted 8/12/2013 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
Abstaining from alcohol for several months is part of what got me into remission. And drinking too much alcohol helped get me into the flare to begin with. Now I drink only occasionally. For some people alcohol has absolutely no impact on their digestive system. But for some of us, it has a great deal of impact. Just like going gluten-free helps some people and not others. We each have to find what works.
Posted 8/12/2013 11:14 PM (GMT 0)

BabeintheWoods said...
Quitting alcohol is the easiest thing in the world, in fact I have done it dozens of times LOL

.

lol
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