Not totally, but for the time being.I got a call back from the GI doctor's office a week ago, following up on the abnormal liver enzyme stuff. The good news is that nothing requiring immediate, invasive intervention is necessary. The bad news is that there is no short-term way to address the problem. Basically, for the next seven weeks, I get to abstain from alcohol and all anti-inflammatory meds, see what my enzyme levels look like in mid-January, and then reassess the situation. Which means I get to do the craziness of holiday season without the two things I was kind of counting on to help me get through it: good wine to calm my frazzled nerves and painkillers to put the kibosh on tension headaches (family get-togethers involving Troubadour Dad will do those things to a person). Oh, joy!
Oh, help.
I am going to get through this just fine, I assure you, but it may not be pretty. However it goes, I'll try to make it entertaining here. What's a stressful holiday without finding some way to laugh at it?
I will also be indulging myself in very good coffee flavorings for the duration of this no-alcohol thing. Torani, I'm looking at you and all your tasty sugar-free syrups.
* Photo courtesy of Marketing Sis
8 comments:
Oh, CT. I am so sorry that you have to go boozeless.
With the kind of will power and discipline you've had to demonstrate, I'm wondering if you should become a Tibetan Buddhist. Surely, you're already part-way up the path of enlightenment.
Or, it should be good practice for the discipline of writing. I hope.
Hang in there! You can do it!
(My verification word is "immanic.")
I appreciate your condolences, GEW. I have a feeling, though, that true Tibetan Buddhists would find me utterly unfit to become part of their circle. I have too many replacement vices for the ones I can no longer enjoy ;). Maybe that's why I've been able to deal with having them taken away?
SEVEN weeks with out alcohol???!!!???
Duuuuuuude.
You have nothing but my complete sympathy. At least tell me the doctor had pity on you and prescribed Valium?
Yep, TKW, seven weeks. It was eight starting last Tuesday, but hey, one down already!
:P
I WISH the doctor had offered me Valium. Though the kitty is a nice substitute (so calming to have her asleep on my lap). Unfortunately, she can't come with us during the holidays, and the hope is that she'll get adopted before then.
I think it is lack of painkillers that would affect me more than lack of alcohol. I also get tension headaches and sometimes also take pain meds for my back. Oh you poor thing - you can do it, you can do it - just keep brainwashing yourself
It IS like brainwashing, FF. Maybe I should consider producing a series of self-help CDs to sell! (Not really, I'd just keep repeating, "Get thee to an animal shelter and foster a pet ..." :). I wish I could take one of these darling kitties with me over the holidays. I imagine Poppy and Misty are lovely to have when you're not feeling 100 percent.
You have my complete sympathy. Empathy. Was off the booze (not that I'm on it heavily anyway, but still) for four months for medical reasons. And, in practice, it wasn't difficult. But the idea? Horrifying.
Hi Goldfish! Thanks for stopping by -- am enjoying your blog immensely. You're right, in practice, the non-drinking isn't bad. When not under doctor's restrictions, I actually do just one glass of wine with dinner as it helps with my blood sugar levels. The stress of the holiday season just feels like it warrants more :)
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