Thank you everyone for your responses. Makes me glad I am a simple alcoholic. As an aside, my sponsor who only ever identified as alcoholic, refused all pain killers when he was dying from liver cancer. He felt very strongly about medication as applied to himself, but never pushed those views on me.
I agree the point made above that it all comes down to honesty with self, God, doctor and sponsor. The third tradition (in AA experience) is not enough on its own. There was a passage in the big book which states the most powerful desire was insufficient. Trad 3 gets you a seat at the table, but if you don't bring the requisite honesty, open mindedness and willingness, it may do little good.