I am at a cross road

[Alby]

Ok. I finally made an appointment with a doctor for evaluation of my drinking problem. It is going to cost me $250 of which I do not have, but I think it will be worth it. It is likely that I will get a drug that will help me stop drinking. What is so weird is that now I am already thinking about getting off the drug and getting back with my regular life. It is almost like it would be wiser to just stop drinking now on my own and I would be all better. I would be able to skip this 3 to 6 month process (or even longer) and the cost associated with it. I am pretty sure that I can not do it on my own or I would have already done it. I can not even go 2 days in a row AF. You are all so good when you do AF for a month. That is amazing. For me, I am at a cross road. I do not know if I should get help from the doctor or try a bit longer on working out with myself. I am having trouble piecing all of this together. Any advice would be helpful. I know it will ultimate depend on my specific circumstances and feelings, but I could use some input.

[tootsie]

I am at a cross road

Alby, I wish I could suggest something. I have a hard time going AF also. I've made it 4 days but then the weekend comes and I just can't seem to get through the weekend without a drink. I ordered the supplements, cds, and the book and have received all of these but am still waiting on the topamax from riverpharmacy. When that arrives I plan on starting the supplements and the topamax to see if I can go AF. Good luck in whatever you decide.

[Accountable for Me]

I am at a cross road

Alby, my suggestion to you would be to seek the advice of your doctor. If you can't get past 2 days AF then you probably need help from a professional. I know $250 is a lot of money at the moment but it is worth every cent if you manage to quit!! Realistically $250 is peanuts on what is being spent on alcohol. Look at it as an investment in your well being!

Good luck in whatever you decide.

[Justin Time]

I am at a cross road

Alby,

What is the drinking costing you- in actual dollars and in other losses? For me, the cost of quitting was easily offset by the cost of not quitting.

As to help, I have never been much of a believer in doctors, but am a big believer in MWO. My wife and I just got into week 5 and are both very happy with our results so far. Did you download the book? As Accountable said, Good luck in whatever you decide.

[cuckoosnest83]

I am at a cross road

Alby, I see you are from Pennsylvania. I just remembered reading an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer about a man in Pennsylvania who went to his doctor for a routine physical. The doctor asked him about his drinking habits and he told the doctor he routinely drank a 6 pack a night and his doctor reported him to the DMV and he ended losing his driver's license. There is some obscure law in Pennsylvania that his doctor was following. I'll see if I can find a reference to the article. Just something you need to be aware if your decision is to go the doctor route.

[Alby]

I am at a cross road

Thanks everyone. I just found that pa article and now I am not sure what to do. This guy is a physciatrist I got off the 'Live outside the bottle" website. If I cancel, will he report me? If I go, will he report me. I can not loose my licsense.

[cuckoosnest83]

I am at a cross road

Alby, oh, I don't know what to tell you. I wasn't able to find the article but you did so that's good. You could still try the doctor and just not be specific about the quantity you consume or you could try MWO first. I hope somebody with more experience jumps in here to offer some advice.

[lilnev]

I am at a cross road

"Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania law requires all physicians or people authorized to diagnose or treat disorders and disabilities to report any condition that may affect driving safety to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) within 10 days of diagnosis. Alzheimer’s disease is specifically mentioned as a reportable condition. PENNDOT then notifies the individuals and asks them to submit specified medical forms in order to determine their fitness to drive or need for assessment. The State provides that no civil or criminal actions may be brought against any person or agency for providing the information required. PENNDOT also accepts reports from courts, other DMVs, police, emergency personnel, family members, caregivers, and neighbors. While all reports must be signed, the department protects the identity of the reporter. "

This is from Community Mobility and Dementia DOT HS 810 684 which summarizes several state laws with an emphasis on Alzheimer's patients. Penn seems to be the broadest law (several others are "allows the physician to report to the DMV" or "requires if a medical condition results in loss of consciousness").

The Penn learner's permit application includes a section to be filled out by a physician, listing various impairments that could impair driving (e.g. epilepsy) and including a line for alcoholism.

So I'd ask up front and phrase it as a hypothetical. ("If a patient were to come to you..."). If you can tell him you never drive after drinking (please, please, please tell me you never drive after drinking), he might not feel the need to consider it a reportable condition.

good luck,
lilnev

[Alby]

I am at a cross road

The law states that they must report it if it is "Do these conditions affect the patient's ability, from a medical standpoint only, to safely operate a motor vehicle?". I only spoke with him once on the phone and he did ask me how much I drink and I said one bottle of vodka a week. Any thoughts?

[cuckoosnest83]

I am at a cross road

Alby, maybe follow lilnev's advice and pose a hypothetical scenario to the doctor. The last thing you need is to be caught off guard like the guy in the newspaper article.

[Justin Time]

I am at a cross road

Alby,

Obviously, you need to be cautious living in PA. You should know that you can follow the entire MWO plan without seeing a doctor, although MWO would never promote that route for obvious liability reasons.

Good luck.

[Alby]

I am at a cross road

Thanks everyone. Well I will have to think about this a little longer. Maybe I will cancel the appointment. Do you think the Dr will get mad and report me to anyway because I cancelled and told him I drink a bottle of vodka a week?

[cuckoosnest83]

I am at a cross road

Alby, I don't think the doctor can report anything if he hasn't physically seen you to make an accurate medical assessment.

[beatle]

I am at a cross road

It seems to me that a bottle of vodka divided over 7 nights, assuming it's at night, of course, would not make you drunk to drive the next morn. Can't you just say that you drink the vodka after you come home from work and you would never drive drunk? (I am assuming a bottle of vodka is 750 cl?). It seems like a good idea to see this doc.

Back to the earlier part of the thread-- Even if you can't string many AF days together, just one or 2 do give your body a rest, so don't get discouraged. My doctor told me that.

[cuckoosnest83]

I am at a cross road

beatle, the guy who ended up losing his license because he told his doctor about drinking a 6 pack also drank after he got home from work. I don't know if it matters.