A young man feeling old.
 

Hello everyone. Ive been following these forums for the last year or so. My name is Trent and I am 22. I am an alcoholic. I have been battling this terrible drug for the last few years. I have a career to be very proud of. Drive a Lincoln and eat very well. I live alone and pay all my bills and mortgage. I have yet to pay a cent in interest to the credit card companies."This is the good". The bad; I have managed some brief periods of sobriety but cannot seem to completely abstain from alcohol. "The really bad". I am suffering from chronic pain in the most personal and life changing locations. My sexual health is destroyed from an injury I obtained while drinking with my ex girlfriend over a year ago. I lost her a potential wife due to my loss of ability to perform pain free. I am in the process of resolving this issue but need advice or help from others dealing with both chronic pain and alcoholism. The pain is from the moment I wake up until deep sleep no breaks in between. I have an appointment at last after waiting almost a year to see a urologist "I live in Canada" and pray to God that I will at least get this pain and dysfunction physically rid of. I feel like because so much of my emotional and physical strength is being used just to get out of bed and to perform at my demanding job I have nothing left to battle this monster of an alcohol problem. Can anyone give me any advice on this please. Thank you.

Are you attending AA meetings in the Edmonton area?

All the best.

Bob R

hi trent - welcome :)

I deal with chronic pain too - tho not of the same kind.
I'm glad you're seeing a Dr - I think that's a far better way to deal with pain than drinking.

Alcohol was never very effective for me as pain relief at all - I kept on having to have more and more booze, more frequently.

I'm glad you've joined us - you'll find a lot of support here :)

D

Dunno much about your health issues, but I can tell you there is zero health benefit in excessive drinking.

Also just to throw it out there, I have yet to meet an alcoholic that has great luck moderating on opiates so be careful taking home a big easter egg basket full of jelly beans from the doctors. You think being a drunk sucks, it's a bed or roses compared to a dope habit.

Delays in getting health treatment in Canada can be frustrating.

You have some money, or at least some room on your credit cards. Consider traveling to another country for treatment. I've had a lot of stuff done at a private hospital in Bangkok; no waits to see specialists there. There are other countries where you can afford to pay for your own treatment, and with the internet these days you can easily research them.

Canadians hate to pay for their own treatment, but it's money well-spent if it means you get better. Plus, it's tax deductible.

Hey that was great responses. I am not attending A.A at the moment although am open to it. I however am going to a few S.M.A.R.T meetings but not enough. I am very open to paying for healthcare elsewhere. I just wanted to wait and see what the system here could offer. The problem is I'm pretty strong physically so that is why I have waited so long although I'm now drained mentally/physically/spiritually, and ready to do anything to get this fixed. If this urologist fails then I will move to the next step. I'd be open to anything not shy on trying other countries. I have a family member who owns a house in Phoenix. They suggested I go to the MAYO clinic down there. Does anyone have any insight on that one? Or to Riel any more comparison between prices of Bangkok compared to U.S options. Thanks for any info.