PaulL

Actually not many will be able to relate, as most people have real flesh and blood support groups available to them, not just this cyber version. It's still a funny story though.

Background: I am a very small cog in a huge organization that assists dysfunctional, poor, war-torn countries. I go from one to the next every few years. Over the long-term, most of my colleagues have suffered from alcohol abuse and broken marriages.

So, a little over 3 years ago, I arrived at this most recent assignment. Long difficult hours of work. In the evening or on a day off, there is no safe place to go, so we just drink...and drink...and the desperate local girls hope we will be their sugar daddies.

A month or so into this, I sought out a local doctor for a complete physical, hoping that he would tell me how I am ruining my health: "look at the test results" etc. And also, I needed advise on finding a support group of guys trying not to drink.

So, imagine Bill Cosby as Dr Huxtable and you'll get the picture. A great, funny, personable guy, he studied internal medicine in Germany.

First he does a sonogram and says that my internal organs (his specialty), look great. "Your liver looks like a baby's liver" he says. And subsequent bloodwork agreed. I was as fit as a 20 yr old (at 51!)

So then, with no medical incentive to stop drinking,... I ask him if he can recommend a support group of guys working on alcohol abuse issues. He thinks about it for a minute. Finally he says "Gosh, I just can't think of any at all. I know of several groups of guys that get together to drink. But I guess that's not what you want". No Doc, I've got one of those already!

So, thanks for letting me share, and for being my cyber support group!

Paul
PS Shortly after that time, my wife joined me here. And, 6 months from now we will be coming home on early retirement. After 20 years, I'll finally be able to experience a real face to face recovery group!

nolonger

Hey Paul, nice story. Welcome to SR.

reed

thanks for sharing

Tazman53

Thanks for sharing Paul, glad to hear your health was still good, mine is now that I quit, I was diagnosed with a fatty liver, precursor to cirrosis, by 90 days sober my liver enzymes were back to normal, at about 6-8 months the swelling was gone, the tenderness was gone in about 2 weeks.

I would be very interested to hear more of your work if you would not mind PMing me.

Texasblind

What a good share! Thank you. I've kinda felt alone lately and, honestly, it makes me feel good that someone else who has dedicated their life to social service shares my struggle and story.
I completely understand the need to numb ourselves from the pain and sickness we encounter every day.

CarolD

If we all do the best we can with what we have.
that is one measure of success I think....

Sooo..you are beginning a positive recovery!

Blessings to you and your wife