The sobriety club

I dodged the bullet on a scary fall recently from a 4ft counter and if I hadn't had a flashback to white belt class (2 weeks of "learning how to fall").
You got off easy. My dad made me practice falling for 6 weeks before he let me go to the martial art class he taught. It might have had something to do with the fact that I was 7 and every body else was in the army.
 
Speedy recovery


I'm genetically gifted with alcohol..
....ie...I get hangovers, so mostly self governing. "Never learn" occasionally ;)

I love beer and wine makes a meal, so moderation over abstinence
 
wine makes a meal


That’s my problem. I quit drinking pretty much the first year of my son’s life (I was too nervous to function) but man did I miss wine with dinner.


The crazy thing was.... that also happened to be the year I bought a pile of guitars. Got back on the sauce, and all I have are less guitars and more of a belly.:(
 
Yeah, I think about how many nice guitars just turned into alcohol in my belly, I think about how many hours I spent drinking and watching movies or something instead of practicing.

Well, it's been a week, I'm still vomiting and dizzy. My ears are ringing like crazy and my vision is blurred. Nothing tastes good. Every time my kids start to bicker and whine, I barf. I have eaten maybe a day's worth of food in the last week. We had studio time booked Wednesday that we missed because I sleep like 15 hours a day and stay awake no longer than 3 or 4 at a time.

Anyway, thanks for listening.
 
Yeah, I think about how many nice guitars just turned into alcohol in my belly, I think about how many hours I spent drinking and watching movies or something instead of practicing.

Well, it's been a week, I'm still vomiting and dizzy. My ears are ringing like crazy and my vision is blurred. Nothing tastes good. Every time my kids start to bicker and whine, I barf. I have eaten maybe a day's worth of food in the last week. We had studio time booked Wednesday that we missed because I sleep like 15 hours a day and stay awake no longer than 3 or 4 at a time.

Anyway, thanks for listening.


Is all that from the head injury or is it from detox too? Seriously, my heart goes out to you, buddy.
 
@John Beef I came to a very similar decision process as you when I was about 10 years older than you. I started my drinking career at age 14. Like you, I rationalized things like never "miss appointments because of alcohol, never day drank". I went through undergrad and grad school; I had a successful professional career, still had the family, the house, cars in the garage and and obscenely expensive horses in the barn, etc. And if one looked at my situation from the outside it no doubt appeared idyllic. Some might even be envious. But reality was entirely, dramatically different. I didn't have a physical accident as you did. Although there were some (many) near misses.

I'm not sure how constructive it would be to go into more detail about what was going on, or about to unfold, when I made my decision. I would happy to discuss these details at any length you would like privately. By pm or phone or however you choose. The bottom line is this: I took my last drink January 30, 2001. These last (almost) 19 years have been the best of my life. And I say that without a second of hesitation. My wife would agree with the same lack of hesitation. There have been challenges, of course. Life goes on. A bout with cancer and, as some others on here know, some major spine surgeries the last 5 years. But even with these considered, I remain of the opinion these last years have been the best of my life.

I join others on here in wishing you a speedy recovery. And, more importantly, commend you on whatever decision you ultimately make..
 
Ouch, hope you get well soon. I rarely drink more than 2-3 beers. I cut loose on rare occasions, but I don’t like feeling drunk. I don’t mind a mild buzz though. Do what you feel is right.
 
I think head injuries take time to heal, rest up and take care, but speak to your doctor, they should be able to get you on an even keel again, help with appetite etc

All the best, hope you feel better each day
 
I have been sober 11 years as of Nov 8 (my wife's birthday). I didn't quit because of that, but because I came to realize I had no freaking idea where my money was going every Air Force Reserve Weekend. I drank fairly steadily from the time I was 19 in the Navy, until I met my wife, then I tapered back to just the weekends. Then over time it was really heavy once a month. Finally on her birthday, I said screw it and just stopped. Cold Turkey. Six months later I did the same thing with smoking. Both incidences are unusual (especially for people with addictive personality types), and not everyone can pull it off. I wish you the best in your journey.
 
Yeah, I think about how many nice guitars just turned into alcohol in my belly, I think about how many hours I spent drinking and watching movies or something instead of practicing.

Well, it's been a week, I'm still vomiting and dizzy. My ears are ringing like crazy and my vision is blurred. Nothing tastes good. Every time my kids start to bicker and whine, I barf. I have eaten maybe a day's worth of food in the last week. We had studio time booked Wednesday that we missed because I sleep like 15 hours a day and stay awake no longer than 3 or 4 at a time.

Anyway, thanks for listening.
Oh no! That's terrible. I would say you should follow up with this with your doc. These seem like serious symptoms given your injury!
 
Sorry you had the accident. I stopped 4 months ago when I found out drinking and tradigies (wife passed away) don't mix for me. I do miss that glass of wine at dinner but overall I am good with not drinking. Hope everything goes smoothly for you.
 
I don't really know. :(
Are you getting medical assistance or being monitored by a doctor? Your body is obviously going through some serious physiological changes right now, so seeing a specialist might be a good idea, to look at it from all sides - diet, medicines (and possible interactions), talking to someone/short-term therapy, etc.

All the best.
 
John, I got a concussion several months ago, and those were my exact symptoms. Make sure the doctors look into that. I’ve had a one drink maximum rule for the last 35 years. Alcohol and other substances make me stupid and monosyllabic. My Ukrainian girl friend doesn’t understand, but I’m not flexible about this. You know what you need to do for yourself. Take care, get better, be patient about the headaches and nausea. This is your wake up call from the cosmos.
 
I'm pretty much sober since about age 25. Took me a while to get there, back in the UK we were binge drinking from about 16. As a student the student bar sold beer for $1 a pint, so did the local nightclubs on student night. Clubbing and drink went on and on, but to be honest I was falling out with it for years. Whenever I woke up the next morning I felt really cruddy and it took me all morning with a spoiled stomach before I started to feel myself again.

One day I decided enough was enough. The last 20 years I barely drink at all. Actually the only time I fancy a beer is after a long hot day in the garden, when I'm knackered I like nothing more than a cold beer. So occasionally I have one. I probably drink about 6 pints of beer a year and maybe 2 glasses of wine and the odd shot of brandy in my eggnog towards the end of the year.
 
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I'm 42 and basically since I was 17 I've been drinking regularly, often to excess. It hasn't been all bad. I've worked the same place 19 years and people there like me enough. I've been raising my kids, I don't miss appointments because of alcohol, never day drank unless I was in Vegas or something.

Drinking just seemed to hand in hand with band activities, though.

Anyway, over the weekend I was at my wife's friend's house (all her A) for A's 40th Birthday party. They have a gorgeous house in Paradise Valley which is where the lawyers and professional sports guys live. I had given a "power red" on Thursday, which is where they take the double the red blood cells and pump the plasma and such back into you. You can only do it a couple times per year. I have O Negative so I'm a universal donor and feel a sense of responsibility to give regularly.

However, that really screwed up my drinking. After what I thought was pacing myself, I stumbled over a short retailing wall about a foot high and fell five feet right onto a concrete pad. Got knocked out, fractured my skull, A couple of my vertebrae were damaged but not broken. I had to go to the hospital for two days. My headaches are constant and nausea is random.

Anyway, just kinda thinking about not drinking again, ever.

Anyone else sober?

Getting close, mostly I hate sleeping like **** and feeling tired and my pants getting tighter
 
Yeah, I think about how many nice guitars just turned into alcohol in my belly, I think about how many hours I spent drinking and watching movies or something instead of practicing.

Well, it's been a week, I'm still vomiting and dizzy. My ears are ringing like crazy and my vision is blurred. Nothing tastes good. Every time my kids start to bicker and whine, I barf. I have eaten maybe a day's worth of food in the last week. We had studio time booked Wednesday that we missed because I sleep like 15 hours a day and stay awake no longer than 3 or 4 at a time.

Anyway, thanks for listening.
Dang, that sounds crazy. I feel stupid for asking but are you keeping your doctor on the loop on this? It almost sounds like there is an injury that's gone undetected or it was more damaging than they realize?
 
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