Staying healthy on the inside...

[Sona]

I drink almost every few days round about 15 units which is alot. Although some weeks I don't drink at all because I can tell am having problems I wouldn't say am an alcoholic I have a very strong will but you can't really enjoy yourself without it, especially for me as am too reserved and worried about spending too much money, being home on time, not embarrassing myself etc.

Anyway recently I've been having strange problems - I also work out doing body building and I have a pretty nice body on the outside, but in the inside I've really messed it up. So the strange problems I've been getting are muscle spasms, heart pains (in fact sometimes my heart beats out of sync when am having sex an after I ejaculate) probably because a lack of B6 (Pyridoxine), I have erection problems now and then and also psychological problems do I can tell its effecting me mentally like sometimes I will get intense paranoia, depression and fear probably because a lack of B3 (Niacin) . I'm also losing my eye sight I can't hardly see and my eye-sight was great was the only member in the family which didn't need glasses. Although I suspect this is because of lack of B2 (Riboflavin), because of the alcohol.

So I was thinking to cut down on my drink, only drink once or twice a week and try to keep it below 13 units for that day. I was also thinking what kind of vitamins I need to get into me to help me fix some of the damage I've done to the body inside. I don't want to reach 30 and have a heart attack while having sex with my wife. Am worried about my heart and liver more then anything else I can tell they are starting to pack it in. So what kind of foods and vitamins and can I eat to keep my organs healthy?

Perhaps start with B-Complexes?

[heart]

I would seriously recommend getting a book called "From Fatigued to Fantastic", it is by a medical doctor. The first couple of chapters talk about rebuilding health through self care and nutrition. The thing about good health and youth is once it is gone, its gone and the climb back is not easy or sure.

[ygolo]

Originally Posted by Sona

I drink almost every few days round about 15 units which is alot. Although some weeks I don't drink at all because I can tell am having problems I wouldn't say am an alcoholic I have a very strong will but you can't really enjoy yourself without it, especially for me as am too reserved and worried about spending too much money, being home on time, not embarrassing myself etc.

Anyway recently I've been having strange problems - I also work out doing body building and I have a pretty nice body on the outside, but in the inside I've really messed it up. So the strange problems I've been getting are muscle spasms, heart pains (in fact sometimes my heart beats out of sync when am having sex an after I ejaculate) probably because a lack of B6 (Pyridoxine), I have erection problems now and then and also psychological problems do I can tell its effecting me mentally like sometimes I will get intense paranoia, depression and fear probably because a lack of B3 (Niacin) . I'm also losing my eye sight I can't hardly see and my eye-sight was great was the only member in the family which didn't need glasses. Although I suspect this is because of lack of B2 (Riboflavin), because of the alcohol.

So I was thinking to cut down on my drink, only drink once or twice a week and try to keep it below 13 units for that day. I was also thinking what kind of vitamins I need to get into me to help me fix some of the damage I've done to the body inside. I don't want to reach 30 and have a heart attack while having sex with my wife. Am worried about my heart and liver more then anything else I can tell they are starting to pack it in. So what kind of foods and vitamins and can I eat to keep my organs healthy?

Perhaps start with B-Complexes?

Not sure I can give you any advice other than consulting a doctor. Some of the stuff sounds serious.

..and you do sound like an alcoholic considering you thing you have to have it in order to enjoy yourself.

Check against these symptoms (taken from here)

* Alcohol abuse refers to excessive or problematic use with one or more of the following:

o Failure to fulfill major obligations at work, school, or home

o Recurrent use in situations where it is hazardous (such as driving a car or operating machinery)

o Legal problems

o Continued use of alcohol despite having social, family, or interpersonal problems caused by or worsened by drinking

* Alcohol dependence refers to a more serious disorder and involves excessive or maladaptive use leading to 3 or more of the following:

o Tolerance changes (need for more to achieve desired effect, or achieving the effect with lesser amounts of alcohol)

o Withdrawal symptoms following a reduction or cessation of drinking (such as sweating, rapid pulse, tremors, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, agitation, anxiety, or seizures) or using alcohol to avoid withdrawal symptoms (for example, early morning drinking)

o Drinking more alcohol or drinking over a longer period of time than intended (loss of control)

o Inability to cut down or stop

o Spending a great deal of time drinking or recovering from its effects

o Giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities

o Continuing to drink despite knowing alcohol use has caused or worsened problems

[Sona]

Originally Posted by ygolo

Not sure I can give you any advice other than consulting a doctor. Some of the stuff sounds serious.

I don't like doctors - I hate going to the doctors, I'd rather read up on the stuff am suffering from and try to get the medication myself.

..and you do sound like an alcoholic considering you thing you have to have it in order to enjoy yourself.

Well you need a little to enjoy yourself have you noticed how mundane and boring life is, if you're not hight or drunk?

Check against these symptoms (taken from here)

* Alcohol abuse refers to excessive or problematic use with one or more of the following:

o Failure to fulfill major obligations at work, school, or home

I work for my dad, he owns a very successful business - I go when ever I like come home when ever I like. Its always been like this, even before the drinking.

o Recurrent use in situations where it is hazardous (such as driving a car or operating machinery)

OK I have done drink driving - and got caught for it.

o Legal problems

Well yeah for the above mentioned.

o Continued use of alcohol despite having social, family, or interpersonal problems caused by or worsened by drinking

Not really, just the normal ups and downs everyone else has.

* Alcohol dependence refers to a more serious disorder and involves excessive or maladaptive use leading to 3 or more of the following:

o Tolerance changes (need for more to achieve desired effect, or achieving the effect with lesser amounts of alcohol)

Depends really, if am drinking on full or empty stomach and what drinks am drinking. Normally, If am on a real binge heavy drink then I stick to whiskeys. Start off with quarter of Jack Ds then have a liter of Southern Comfort, normally at this stage I don't give a crap so I end u getting coke and weed and seeing my girl to get a blow/job or sex. Then I'd buy another liter of SC, smoke a joint then another liter of SC, then a joint some coke and another liter of SC. The joint is good because it brings me down. But I only do this kind of stuff when am really happy and having fun like on EID it will be like 3 - 4 times a year.

o Withdrawal symptoms following a reduction or cessation of drinking (such as sweating, rapid pulse, tremors, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, agitation, anxiety, or seizures) or using alcohol to avoid withdrawal symptoms (for example, early morning drinking)

No, when I quit drinking for like 2 - 3 weeks or when its Ramadan I actually feel better happy and not depressed.

o Drinking more alcohol or drinking over a longer period of time than intended (loss of control)

Has happened once or twice, but because fault or friends. Thats why I hate drinking with male friends. I prefer sticking around with girls when am drinking. When you're with a group of male friends you end up arguing or worse getting into fights with each other, and am already doing probation for fighting so I be very careful and try to be in safe places and have self control when am drinking.

o Inability to cut down or stop

Can stop and cut down, just like that. Like am doing this week, I was going to drink today, becouse I needed sex. But I've decided not to drink or have sex until Friday. Like right now I have about 3,000 pounds on me, and my dumb ass crack head relative keeps coming to my house telling me to come out. Am never going to drink with this guy, last time I ended up spending 2,000 pounds on some escort and crack. So I don't trust this guy... but his much older then be and bigger then me and is very violent am scared of getting into a fight with him so I avoid him.

o Spending a great deal of time drinking or recovering from its effects

Yes recently, I has been like this. Maybe its just am existed am getting married in about two months so am going out more and messing around with girls more. I have to stop this shit once am married so I guess am livin' it up a little before I get married.

o Giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities

Yeah, that has happened, not talking to my fiancee becouse she's called me at wrong times when I've been pissed.

o Continuing to drink despite knowing alcohol use has caused or worsened problems

Yes, but I never drink when am down, its only when am feeling good and have no worries. I'm am feeling down and have worries I don't drink until all my problems have been solved. I like to know everything is sorted before I drink.

Well I guess am bordering on being an alcoholic.

[Jennifer]

Originally Posted by Sona

Well I guess am bordering on being an alcoholic.

Uh huh. Seriously, you need to cut back on the booze.

But it sounds like you're going through some life transitions and aren't happy where you are, so drinking is a form of self-medication to help relax you.

As part of your overall health (mind and body), you need to resolve your life issues and find a place where you are not under so much internal stress.

[Metamorphosis]

Originally Posted by Sona

I don't like doctors - I hate going to the doctors, I'd rather read up on the stuff am suffering from and try to get the medication myself.

If you are seriously concerned about your health, you need to see a doctor. Chest pains and eye-sight loss are not things to mess around with. Also, that much drinking is probably wreaking havoc on your liver.

and take a multi-vitamin...

[ptgatsby]

Originally Posted by Jennifer

Uh huh. Seriously, you need to cut back on the booze.

Yes. That would be the message.

Anything above 3-5 units in a day is bad. Anything above 10 is seriously dangerous. Doing so multiple times a week will almost certainly harm you seriously over the space of a decade, and if I remember correctly, the items you list are early onsets of serious damage. If that is the case, you can never drink again or have the same conditions reactivated.

But biology isn't my strength. Quit entirely and if you don't get better in a week, see a doctor. Hell, I'd see one now, but you'd just be told not to drink anymore or that you have permanent damage to your organs, either through blood oxygen deprivation or similar, and... well... not to drink anymore. So yah, that solution is fairly obvious.

[Kyrielle]

I don't think it's just nutrional/physiological problems that are part of this. It's your life as a whole that's part of this. What concerns me most is that you believe that life is boring without external substances to enhance it. I think in addition to changing your drinking habits, you should consider finding something in life that gives you intrinsic enjoyment. (Like for me, it's painting and for my brother it's music and biology.) I don't doubt changing how your mind is behaving will change how your body is behaving (and it could happen the other way around or both at the same time).

[Crabapple]

Hi Sona;

Originally Posted by Sona

I don't like doctors - I hate going to the doctors, I'd rather read up on the stuff am suffering from and try to get the medication myself.

I believe this to be a mistake. Try to quit by oneself is extremely difficult. One usually needs a team approach to quit successfully and stay sober. I'd say you should look for: a medical doctor, a therapist and perhaps a psychiatrist (if medications are needed), a drug and alcohol counselor, and a stay in a detox /rehab hospital.

Well you need a little to enjoy yourself have you noticed how mundane and boring life is, if you're not hight or drunk?

That is a very concerning statement.

I work for my dad, he owns a very successful business - I go when ever I like come home when ever I like. Its always been like this, even before the drinking.

I think you suffer from what I call Rich Kids' Syndrome- basically, your life is so easy that it's meaningless. And you sound like you suffer from depression as well, and are self-medicating with alcohol and drugs....

Has happened once or twice, but because fault or friends. Thats why I hate drinking with male friends. I prefer sticking around with girls when am drinking. When you're with a group of male friends you end up arguing or worse getting into fights with each other, and am already doing probation for fighting so I be very careful and try to be in safe places and have self control when am drinking.

Blaming one's family and friends for one's behavior can be seen as being in denial. Denial is one of the mechanisms alcoholics use to avoid taking blame. Saying that you'll only drink in a safe place or with girls and being careful, etc., shows that you realize, even if subconsciously, that your drinking is a danger to you.

Can stop and cut down, just like that. Like am doing this week, I was going to drink today, becouse I needed sex. But I've decided not to drink or have sex until Friday. Like right now I have about 3,000 pounds on me, and my dumb ass crack head relative keeps coming to my house telling me to come out. Am never going to drink with this guy, last time I ended up spending 2,000 pounds on some escort and crack. So I don't trust this guy... but his much older then be and bigger then me and is very violent am scared of getting into a fight with him so I avoid him.

When asking yourself can you stop, it would be helpful to think about how many times you've stopped. How many times have you said I'm never going to do this again; I'm never going to get in this situation again; I'm never going to drink with that person again. Can you just stop, stay stopped, never drink again or does that seem like an impossible nightmare of a life? Also, using alcohol to fill other needs (like sex) is a bad sign.

Yes recently, I has been like this. Maybe its just am existed am getting married in about two months so am going out more and messing around with girls more. I have to stop this shit once am married so I guess am livin' it up a little before I get married.

Or perhaps you are an alcoholic and your alcoholism is progressing.

[/indent]Well I guess am bordering on being an alcoholic.[/quote]

Maybe. Have you done anything about it?

If you insist on trying to do it yourself, I can give you some recommendations. Good Luck.