BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

[Doggygirl]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

A moment I've been dreading....

My 76 year old Dad is diabetic (T2) along with a few other problems. He has fortunately been pretty stable with help from the doctors but he is having a VERY bad day - my Mom only now called me at 3:40PM and he started having problems last night and hasn't been able to get up all day. (yep - pooped pants and everything). He has a high fever and she doesn't know what meds he is supposed to take when (and he is on a major cocktail of 'em) and is hysterical.

I told her to call 911 and get an ambulance NOW to pick him up - there is no way in the condition he is in that she can help him get outside and in the car to take him to the doctor or hospital.

I am just waiting for a call back, and the minute I know that he is on his way then I will leave to go to their town - the hospital is about 45 minutes - 1 hour away from me.

Please send whatever good vibes and positive karma you can the direction of my Mom and Dad - they both need help right now. My Mom is so independent and feisty in many ways - and yet so naive and child like in other ways. Dealing with my Dad's health is not a good thing for my mother. They live in a good sized house (split level - you can't get in or out without taking stairs) with 3 acres out in the country. My Dad can't take care of this any more. My Mom will NOT leave that place easily. I am so worried that my Dad is too far away from the care that he needs, and Mom just won't face things.

Wish me well my friends. I WILL NOT DRINK. If worse comes to worse I will go get some AF beer. If I don't check in for awhile it just means I'm away tending to things. Since it isn't THAT far away I will be back and forth (so able to check in and touch the life line, which I know I will need!) once I have a better idea what is going on.

Calling the ambulance IS the right thing, isn't it? 102 fever, can't stand up, can't eat, hands shaking terribly, can't get to the car......

Update - Mom called Dad's doctor (finally!!) and he told her to call the ambulance which she did. So I'm hopping in the shower and will await news, and then head out.

Thanks in advance for all your help and support - it means the world to me.

DG

[Sheepish]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

Doggy
Remember- you won't be able to help the situation AT ALL if you drink. And it sounds like you love your mom and dad alot and want to be there for them. YOU CAN DO IT. Sending all good thoughts your way. Please check in when you can.
Take care of you!!!!!!!!
STRENGTH-
love
-Sheep

[caysea]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

DG
Sorry to hear about your dad .You gave the right advice.Not only that, you are in a good way to be of help and comfort.By that I mean physically and mentally you are strong and can be their for them to lean on.

[louise]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

Sending positive thoughts DG. Hope your dad is ok soon.

[Pamina]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

You're doing good, DG. Your thoughts and actions are all spot on. Make sure from now on that you look after yourself really well - extreme self-care. That means, you eat real food at regular intervals; you get good sleep (maybe bring your mum along to your place, most likely you two can't do anything useful there overnight); you lean on Mr Doggy and let him help you. And yes, if AF beer is helpful, go for it (we know the hangover is negligeable!!). I'm not sure how Louise was planning to end her sentence but I can see where she's headed. This is certainly a wake-up call for your mum and will give all of you the opportunity to discuss your dad's needs with the doctors and how those could best be met in the future. Keep checking in and let us know how you're doing. Stay strong, hon, you'll get through this. ((((:l))))

[Miss Behaving]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

DG - thinking of you and your parents. We have a phrase here "kia kaha" - its about staying strong, but knowing that other people are standing right behind you in spirit to hold you up when you need it. you're in my thoughts

mame

[gelgit]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

DG, You ARE strong and just know that everyone is sending you even more! Oh my, I hope your dad will get through this O.K. and you and your mom too. xxx g

[Hannah]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

DG - Just wanted to add my support and sending positive thoughts your way. You for sure did the right thing. Hope your Dad is okay, and then you can address the process of "the big move". Don't forget your kudzu, L - Glutamine, L-tryptophan, and anything else that you find helps. Be strong, we will be thinking about you.

[Sheepish]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

DG
How you doing?
xxx
-Sheep

[happydog]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

Dear DG just seen this .....sending you strong positive vibes your way. hope your dad is well, thinking of your mum. You are in my thoughts
Keep strong and well my friend and let us know how things are.:l

Love:h
Teardrop.x

[Miss Behaving]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

Just a very quick check in .... my eyes are drooping after 2 very long days!

Know everyone's thoughts are with DG right now.

Pamina - yes, thanks, felt much better after having spent LOTS of time in chat yesterday ... in and out all day! was feeling slightly crazy and very wobbly. Probably a combination of all the things that are going on. Thanks for your thoughts (and Beck and Det if they happen to be reading!). I'm not exactly back to my ever optimistic self, but have found enough equilibrium to keep me going for now. Didn't realise you were so close to the bombing - that must have been very surreal, and as you say would stay with you for a long time.

Sheepish - glad you like NZ, but in the grips of winter I would much rather be in ....... Rarotonga? Lombardy? the Seychelles? anywhere a bit warmer anyway!!

Thanks to everyone for your kind thoughts re uncle mame's job. He has yet to get a contract (why are they so slow on these things??!) but likely to start mid August. I'm enjoying the fact that his sense of humor has returned ........ I dont have enough of one to keep us both going!!

I am having a solo sleep over tonight! With all our moves (including selling off excess furniture), tonight I am left without a bed and Uncle Mame and his boy have headed out of town for some father-son bonding. I did some work, had a weight watchers macaroni cheese, am about to have a bath, and then will be sleeping on a squab in the living room under my duvet, and have a DVD or two that I will think about putting on. Really looking forward to some "me time". My friend with cancer was hospitalised today ..... she has developed a blood clot which they are a bit worried about. She starts chemo next Thursday and not looking forward to it (well who would?!)

Sorry this isn't exactly a cheerful post.

[57Shelby]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

I hope everyone is doing well on this fine BB Tues. I hope most of all that Doggy Girl is doing ok and that things are going well for your Dad and Mom. My Mom is the same age facing the same set of circumstances, so I can empathize with you. Please PM me if you need to. Stay strong. Take care of you so you are able to take care of those you love. We are here for you, sweetie!

Early day at work today, so not much time to post, but successful yesterday staying AF. Congrats to all of you in your accomplishments!
Shelby

[Pamina]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

Hi all! Yes, our thoughts are with DG - hopefully you got a good night's sleep. Give us an update when you can.
But Mame, we have plenty of thoughts to spare! Glad you're feeling better. LOL on selling your bed, I can just picture you banished from your own bedroom!! No, the chemo's not great but the sooner they get started, the better her chances. Try to get some rest. BTW, what's the time difference b/w the UK & NZ?

[Marshy]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

Sending strong vibes your way, Doggygirl. Any update on your dad? Hopefully he'll have had a comfortable night in hospital.

[Doggygirl]

BOOZE BUSTERS - Week of 7/7 - 30 Day (A)bsolutely (F)abulous Hangover Free Challenge!

Good Day Booze Busters!!

Thank you SO much my friends for reaching out with so many positive thoughts and kind wishes for Dad and for our family. I appreciate that more than you will ever know. I want to give a quick update about Dad, but then I really want us to get back to the business of Booze Busting and talking about the battle with AL - the primary reason we are all here! I need help in the AL fight and I know all of you do too, and lots of new people who might be reading.

The update: Dad was in a scary state when I arrived. They already had him hooked up to IV anti-biotics. He has lots of circulation trouble - one leg is REALLY bad. His legs are so swollen I can't imagine walking - no wonder he couldn't stand up. His fever was almost 103 when they took him into emergency, and like my Mom said from earlier in the day, he was rather incoherent. Whatever was in that IV bag took effect pretty quickly...by 8PM or so when they finally got him settled into a room, his temp was back to normal and he was much more coherent. The doctors are not certain what caused this massive infection flare up so of course they will be running more tests and keeping us in the dark as usual. (oops....I'll turn the sarcasm back off!) Several years ago when Dad was first diagnosed with diabetes, an acquaintence of mine who has dealt with it said "it's a horrid disease that kills you slowly - one body part at a time." Sadly, I've watched this unfold with Dad. Dad will have several visitors this morning - his sister and brother, phone calls from my brothers, all while the doctors and nurses are poking and prodding. So barring emergency, I will wait and go back down this afternoon when the "traffic" slows up and keep Dad company and give my Mom a break.

OK - now an effort to bring things back on topic in fairness to all Booze Busters. I was thinking during my drive time yesterday that so often we recovering alchies tend to think selfishly, and in a short sighted way. We want a fix of alcohol, and we're pouty sometimes when we can't have it. We spend time being angry because we "can't drink." We spend tons of time contemplating every little thing there is to contemplate surrounding drinking. The one monumental thing that I don't think we post enough about is the horrifying health risks associated with years of heavy drinking. I know the subject comes up sometimes. There was a thread recently where a new poster talked about having pain and being scared about liver problems. We've read posts from our friend Janice whose mother suffered bad health consequences following years of excessive drinking.

But somehow I think, on average and in general as a community, we're not scared enough about those health consequences happening to us. At least I don't think I'm scared enough. Of course I had drinking thoughts yesterday with the unexpected stress. I'm sad that somehow in my brain, AL was seen by my "thoughts" as something positive - a way to relax and ease the stress, etc. rather than something that is poison, and could put me right in the same bad place that my Dad is in - in the hospital suffering horribly. (my Dad's problems are not AL related - in fact it seems unfair as he has led an active and healthy life from what I can tell...but the AL highway leads to the same hospital)

Does that ramble make any sense? I'm going to make a concerted effort to see on every container of booze I encounter. And I want that image burned like a watermark on my subconscious so it will be in the background of every drinking thought I ever have.

Well, my apologies that my thoughts on AL today are running a bit to the dark and dreary side. I really do prefer to look at the positive side of everything! But I think it's a side that SHOULD scare us and that hasn't scared me enough. Yet.

Now I want us all to get out there today and :b&d: AL!!!!!

It's Day...48? (WHEE that I had to stop and think about that!!) HFAF and I WILL NOT drink alcohol today - no way.

DG
:award: + ******************