― Dennis Lehane, Shutter Island
I am not an Alcoholic. I do not even know if this is the correct forum or stage to ask for help, but nevertheless I need advice and here is a place to start. I have suffered from Rheumatoid Arthritis for a over a year now, and while it is not yet completely debilitating I do experience pain frequently. Dr.s have recommended drug after drug each having its own set of symptom relief side effect tradeoff, while none can help address the root issue with my health. Upon reading the results of more extensive testing I have found that I have bacterial overgrowth in my small intestine, a putrefaction commonly known as Fermentation / Small Bowel Bacterial Overgrowth (SBBO), this has what has been causing my joint inflammation. In addition to joints I discovered it is causing inflammation of every tissue in my body including my heart. My Dr. insists I stop drinking forever in combination with a brief fast and strict diet to kill of bacteria that is fermenting the food that I am eating in my gut. Drinking fermented beverages, alcoholic beverages, only contributes to this problem.
I have been drinking since I was 15 years old and now at age 20 in the crux of my college experience, I drink and party at an admittedly SOMEWHAT excessive level; however, not a completely over the top or above average amount relative to the point I currently am in my life. I do not need alcohol to have a good time. I do not want or need to drink for the rest of my life. But I do not know if, when, or how I could follow this new regime for health while in school. Every cocktail party, monday night football game, saturday tailgate, friday night out with my friends, how can I do it? Can I do it? Should I wait a few more years and give up when I am older, maybe two or three years, and have already lived my party days and feel that I did not miss out on that time of my life? My Dr. said within 5-6 months I could potentially be returned to good health but even then not be able to drink. Do I wait until spring and use that time to see how I feel in 6 months? I understand how important my health is, and hate being in pain more than anything. I still feel that people are being condescending by telling me how unimportant drinking is in the long term. It's easy for grown, married adults to tell me what I should and shouldn't do when they've already had their years of being care free. Everyone knows what its like to be the one at the party sober, even drinkers have experienced that feeling before on a night where they aren't feeling up to drinking but still want to go to the party. I don't know that I can be that sober person or that I would be able to keep my sanity at parties where everyones enjoying themselves and I can't even have the few beers that I enjoy drinking for reasons out of my control, and outside of a necessity due to my abuse of alcohol. Please, what do I do for these next few years before I leave my college days behind and have an easier time living a life without the parties and alcohol.
The reason for the quote I lead with is because I am not looking for help with my "alcoholism" or my "denial". The mere statement "I am not and Alcoholic" begs people to think, "what else would an alcoholic say he must be one". But, with that in mind please any advice, thoughts, prayers, or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated.
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