All right..what's your medical opinion?

[lspencer534]

I admit all of this: I'm getting older, I can't party as hard as I once did (and actually have no desire to), I go to bed earlier than I used to, and I don't have the appetite I once did. To me it's just part of aging, something to accept and adjust to.

My primary care doctor has different ideas. He thinks I should quit drinking, now, no ifs, ands or buts. I admit that I like to drink...but I haven't been drunk since I was 24-years-old, drinking has never impaired my work, and I don't have hangovers.

So far it sounds like I could be a functional alcoholic, doesn't it? "Heavy drinker, does his job." Before I add details, let me explain the rest of the story: I do have some unexplained health problems. First, I do have unexplained stomach pain, had it pretty much all my life, the kind that sends me to bed in the fetal position. A few hours later it subsides, and I'm fine.

The "finest" doctors have no idea. Colonoscopies show nothing, neither do MRIs and stomach cameras. They've just given up. Several months ago I broke my foot and had pneumonia at the same time. Lost abut 15 pounds that I having trouble putting back on.

Doctors say that it may take many months to get over the lingering effects of pneumonia. Who knows. I'm having some trouble sleeping, usually wake up with a nagging headache that a couple of Acetominophin cures.

Otherwise, despite the moans and groans, I still do all my own yard work, maintain a vegetable garden, pay my bills on time, maintain my cars, etc. Hard work doesn't scare me (I grew up poor, on a farm), although I can't do as much of it as I once did, and it's very hot and humid down here. That's aging.

Back to the drinking: I know I have a reputation as a hard drinker. Many years ago, maybe I was, but for the last 10-15 years I have 2 drinks a night, maybe 3 once in a blue moon. Never get drunk nor tipsy. I just don't like being drunk.

From what I read on the interweb the "average" drinker has 2-4 drinks a day, for a total of 14 per week. I asked Doc if that makes me an alcoholic. He said, "It could." He wants me to go in Inpatient recovery at the local hospital that I more or less trust for 4-8 weeks. He says I can continue to have treatment for any other issues at the same time. That contradicts what the hospital's website says; in fact there is no mention of such a program.

Finally, blood tests last week are, to me, inconclusive. Liver damage isn't there, but Doc says there may be some "harm". ??? He's setting up appointments for me with a Hematologist, a Pulmonologist, and a Cardiologist because those areas might need "attention".

I know denial is a trait of alcoholics and drug users, but I feel like I'm being railroaded here. It just sounds like there's too much going on to isolate it to one area. I'd like your opinion: I'm not going to argue with you; if you have a point, that's good, and I'll accept it.

[DJ_Critterus]

Early to rise,
and early to bed,
Makes lspencer healthy,
and socially dead.



My honest medical opinion is we should just go ahead and put you down like a lame horse

[DAB]

don't drink for a month, not a drop, and get back to us.

serious.

there is no nutritional value in booze. not beer, not wine, not hard booze. zero.

won't cost you anything, and since you haven't eliminated this as a variable, now is as good a time as any to see what happens.

me? never had a drink. ever.

[MrPeabody]

I drink more than you. Catch up, ya lightweight.


Seriously, it sounds like your doctor has an agenda for you that is not necessarily based on medical findings. I'm sure he has your best interests at heart, but he also needs to respect that you want to live your life a certain way, and barring any serious problems, it is in your best interest to do so.

It reminds me of my last doctor I used to see. Nice guy, I liked everything about him, except for one thing. He thought everyone in the world should be a vegetarian. He thought it was an essential component to good health. He recommended books for me to read on the subject, etc. Now I must admit he probably wasn't wrong about all this and he was living proof because he was 65 years old and doing Iron Man Triathlons. But he was just too preachy about it all for me to be comfortable. I still kept seeing him until he retired, but I always dreaded the vegetarian preaching at every office visit. Funny thing was, he never mentioned my drinking.

[mrvette]

Sympathy and Empathy with you man, I just up and quit just shy of a year ago....lo back, right side ribs down to hips pains....went to ER, they did the scans and spotted nothing, piss and blood normal....I was having an attack then, Doc prescribed Oxyconton too expensive, and when I read up on it, fuggetaboutit...never filled the scrip....maybe I should have and sold it off....

so they stuck me in PT doing some oddball excercises twice a week, not that it makes any difference......stretching leg muscles/butt muscles/tendons/etc....the only thing that really seems to help is my Father's old exercise laying on floor/bed and tossing knees back and forth....

I used to dring about 1.75 liters of 80 proof Canadian every 3 daze sometimes 4 daze depending on other activities....never got to drunk it impaired my driving, maybe my spelling though......



I used to drink beer 6 pack/night if on the boats sailing or fishing...hard to tell maybe 1/2 a case all day....none of us ever got so drunk we could not handle the boat and drive home.... Gave up on beer maybe 6 years ago....too much filling/uncomfortable feeling....

Now a daze it's my tummy belly button hurts, even had surgery for it Nov of '12......that mesh is not doing well at all......hurts...damnit.....that all ASSide from my lousy skeleton....

[OddBall]

As far as your health is concerned, it's not about whether you get drunk or not on what you drink, it's about about how much alcohol you force through your system on a daily basis over time. Particularly your liver. Think of it in the same way of what a smoker does to his lungs. It's not one cigarette that matters, it's that pack a day over time that destroys the lungs. Different people are affected at different rates. Some bodies hold up better than others, but it's going to eventually get you. Same with alcohol, your body can only take so much, and when your liver shuts down, it's too late to wish you had stopped drinking.

[SteelCityBlue]

Stop drinking for a week and stop the acetaminophen

[Norm]

Would take the advise of the Doc, get the extra testing done, who knows, if something is found, can be easily reversed.

Try that abstinence for a while as other's suggest, you won't know until you do.

Here today, gone tomorrow........see too much of that.

[Cybercowboy]

I'd be more likely to think it was something in the processed foods we all eat versus a couple ounces of ethanol daily. My dad's wife is a doctor and wants him to drink one glass of red wine every day with dinner, that's not enough to do your liver any harm and the benefits outweigh any risk. Your body naturally makes about 1.5 ounces of ethanol every day, which gets processed just fine. A little more isn't going to do anything to you too bad. I'm not a doctor or a lawyer, but humans have been imbibing for millennia and if you really are only having a 2-4 ounces of ethanol daily you're certainly on the very bottom tier of regular drinkers.

[SilverBullitt]

I'm not a drinker, so I don't know if the quantity you drink would make you an alcoholic or not. I will say that the rationalizations and excuses provided in your post do sound like every addict/alcoholic I've ever known.

You noted in the first paragraph that you're getting older, slowing down, etc. Possibly your body simply doesn't tolerate the continuous poison of alcohol as well as it used to?

If you don't think you're an alcoholic, why not just stop for one whole month and see how you feel? If you don't think you can do that, then perhaps that alone answers the question?

[MrPeabody]

Originally Posted by Cybercowboy

I'd be more likely to think it was something in the processed foods we all eat versus a couple ounces of ethanol daily. My dad's wife is a doctor and wants him to drink one glass of red wine every day with dinner, that's not enough to do your liver any harm and the benefits outweigh any risk. Your body naturally makes about 1.5 ounces of ethanol every day, which gets processed just fine. A little more isn't going to do anything to you too bad. I'm not a doctor or a lawyer, but humans have been imbibing for millennia and if you really are only having a 2-4 ounces of ethanol daily you're certainly on the very bottom tier of regular drinkers.

I agree about the processed foods thing. My current doctor is pretty preachy about processed meats in particular. I pretty much gave up some things I really liked, such as hot dogs and salami and my cholesterol came down some. I'm also taking far less Prilosec now. One or two pills a week rather than daily.

[Mike Mercury]

Originally Posted by DAB

don't drink for a month, not a drop, and get back to us.

serious.

I've read that suggestion as well; go a full 30 days without any alcohol - to determine if it has been giving any negative effects on ones health.

[MrPeabody]

Make sure you invite us all to the party on day 31. Should be one helluva bash.

[lspencer534]

Vitamin B-12: A little low. I'll resume my medicine.

Thyroid: Normal

Free T4: Normal

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate: Normal

White Blood Count, Red Blood Count, Platelet Count, Platelet Volume: Normal

Hemoglobin: Elevated (19.2 instead of 17)

Hematocrit: Elevated (52.1 instead of 50)

Corpuscular Volume: Elevated (102.6 instead of 101)

Triglycerides and Cholesterol: All well within normal

NO mention of liver disease, heart problem, nor lung problems.

I'm beginning to think my Doc is a quack...a good-hearted one, but a quack.

[Black94lt1]

Originally Posted by DAB

don't drink for a month, not a drop, and get back to us.

serious.

there is no nutritional value in booze. not beer, not wine, not hard booze. zero.

won't cost you anything, and since you haven't eliminated this as a variable, now is as good a time as any to see what happens.

me? never had a drink. ever.

Originally Posted by Mike Mercury

I've read that suggestion as well; go a full 30 days without any alcohol - to determine if it has been giving any negative effects on ones health.

I did the Whole 30 diet two years ago and it changed my life - no alcohol, no sugar, no dairy, no processed foods, etc. All my issues with nerve pains etc went away and I'm convinced it was the detox process. I also lost 25 lbs. Two years later I've kept the weight off and have adjusted my eating to add back in the things I really want, but in moderation

[DAB]

name me one doctor that has told anyone, ever, "you should drink more"

[DJ_Critterus]

Originally Posted by DAB

name me one doctor that has told anyone, ever, "you should drink more"

My father hears it all the time when dealing with his kidney stones. Doc says beer is the best. I always tell dad to double dose

[Cybercowboy]

Originally Posted by DAB

name me one doctor that has told anyone, ever, "you should drink more"

Already mentioned that my dad's wife, a doctor, told him he should drink one glass of red wine every night with his dinner. He's had stents and is on blood thinners, there is therapeutic value.

[Kerrmudgeon]

Dr. Kerrmudgeon says......

First the liver is the second fastest healing organ, next to your eyes, in the human body. It can completely heal itself to the extent possible in one month. (scar tissue excluded) Soooooo....quit completely for one month. That will let your system recover and tell you if you can do it. Alcoholics can't do it.
When I worked nights in my bar I would drink a bottle a night, 25oz. That's why I didn't like working nights. Customers expected you to have a drink or 5 with them. It never really affected my work or business, and I never got drunk. Now I rarely touch the stuff. No liver damage. Amazing.

Second check into chelation therapy to get rid of any toxins in your system. They can even put your blood through a filter and add needed vitamins and minerals at the same time.....brand new!

[bsmith]

I start feeling guilty if I have a couple beers during the week.

FWIW, my doctor asks if I have more than 6-8 drinks a week.