I quit for my health. I was drinking too much wine, most evenings, getting fatter and fatter, tired all the time. Had a physical, had high blood sugar, elevated liver enzymes, high cholesterol and triglycerides. Was diagnosed with diabetes, and I had ultrasound and scans, and found to have an enlarged spleen, and liver. Liver biopsy, fibrosis. I was actually misdiagnosed with cirrhosis. But after seeing a hepatologist, I was assured it is not, and even has potential to improve, if I live right, eat right, etc...
Drinking made me binge eat. So I had a double whammy of the alcohol, and food, and metabolic syndrome all contributing to fatty liver disease.
So, the day I got the call about the high blood sugar, I never took another drink, for several months. By the time I actually got to the liver specialist, my liver enzymes were normal, as was my blood sugar, and I had lost over 30 pounds(I think that is about when I had my first posts here). So, I was doing great, by his standards. He even said I could toast in the new year, when I said to him, "I can't drink at all of course." Apparently, where I am at, an occasional drink is safe, but "no habitual use." His words.
So, I had one, and then another time a couple, and after some months, I relapsed into some habitual use.
So, now I am starting again, more because I have decided to, not out of terror, like before. I went through a few months of tests, and some were cancer and tumor screenings, etc... funny how we can forget all that when life gets good again.
So, I hope I can be more successful this time. But really, I have to admit, if I were otherwise healthy, I might still drink and play the games I always did. Reigning it in every now and then, when I gained too much weight, etc...
I have been known to say diabetes saved my life. By eating to control my blood sugar, and stopping/reducing my drinking, I lost 60 pounds and the liver and diabetes tests are all normal as of December 2011. Even with the relapse I had.
So, I hope I can keep to it this time. I am very tempted by the "just one" now and then notion... sigh...