Houndheart

I have been a heavy drinker for a long long time. I am in my early 50s and I realize that some health problems are just age related, but I wonder about other ones and if they are drinking related. I know that Liver is one concern. For myself, I have had tendonitis in my arches, and currently in my fingers. Both occured within a year of each other for no real apparent reason. I have heard that alcohol depleats B vitamins, and am not sure if B vitamins affect soft tissues of the body. I wonder if alcohol has depleated anything else that is affecting my soft tissue strength in my body. Can anyone else relate to this? I know that you are not able to give "medical" advise...but just wondering about it. It's frustrating to be in pain. And I used to just get drunk and forget about it. Now I am sober, and it is more in my face.

CAPTAINZING2000

Sigh had I only known I was going to live this long, I'd of taken better care of myself. Not sure at our age what is or isn't contributed to age and our lifestyles. Might go see a Dr.

Fandy

i have tendonitis in both of my wrist areas (I'm 53)..I've had neurology testing and was told it was from banging away at the keyboard for 25 years...I use a soft gel wrist supports for both keyboard and mouse to relieve any pressure and just take Alieve or Tylenol..you can get a support to wear on your wrists but i don't know about finger treatment.

for your arches you might want to try a really good insert in your shoes to help support them so you an exercise.

I've always taken supplements and vitamins (even while drinking)..you might want to ask your doctor or pharmacists which ones will help you...(I use an all natural capsule form that dissolves easy and does not upset my stomach..I order online for discounts from Procaps? it's in nevada)...I began taking Reservatrol about 2.5 weeks ago and notice that I have more energy.....? or that is because I'm no longer drinking for 31 days? can't tell which.

HumbleBee

While it's clear that years of drinking is detrimental to our health, I try to look at all factors, including hereditary and genetics, as it relates to my health conditions.

I try not to pigeon-hole just alcoholism as a cause for symptoms and talk to my doctor about all possibilities.

Doctors are more educated today about the affects of alcoholism, but they're not all on board yet (imo). Good to keep an open mind and have a dr who's well-rounded when it comes to a diagnosis.

All the best to you, HH ~

Houndheart

Thanks. I did ask two docs in the last two days...the orthopedic said probably just rheumatoid arthritis due to age and genetics and if it gets bad to go to rheumatologist. The other was my primary care who said, it was probably just age. Both were told about the extent of the drinking, and neither seemed all that atuned to any alcohol related problems that could be physical with the exception of liver problems. The primary care doc was more concerned about the possibility of depression, but not physical problems. She did say my liver numbers from this past summer were good. I suppose there are docs out there that specialize in addiction and ailment caused by it? I do not want to pigeonhole everything to be related to alchohol, but I did think that years of drinking it might have created a problem with deficiencies which could have damaged things like tendons, or at least weakened them and set them up to be injured more readily. I was very athletic growing up and into my 30s...and had gotten used to injuires healing...rather quickly. I suppose that my aches and pains are probably due to a mix of things. Just wanted to make sure that I give my body the nutrients it needs to heal. And I know, I know...I am 53...and even if I had not been drinking, age related aches and pains start to show up. I will also check out supplements. Thanks.

Anna

Houndheart,

I was really hard on myself about what I had done to myself physically, when I first stopped drinking. It actually caused me to relapse many times, which is crazy - feeling guilt for poisoning myself, so drinking more! Anyways, I came to the conclusion that we all only have today, in fact we really only have the moment. Deal with what is happening now. Yes, B vitamins are fabulous in many ways. I do what I can do. I eat well, take lots of vitamins, walk a lot, do yoga and I try to be positive. I think that worrying about my health probably caused more harm than anything else.

Dee74

Hi HH

I don't doubt we weren't very kind to ourselves during our drinking years. I know I wasn't, and yeah - sometimes it feels like I've really left myself with a wreck of a body.

But I try to remember the last time I was really in tune with my body was before the drinking and drugging, when I was 18 or so...thats nearly 25 years ago for me.

Comparing 2010 to 1985 is never going to be a glowing comparison no matter whether I drank or not LOL.

Time marches on - even if I've spent most of it not knowing or caring too much about it.

Whats done is done really. I think the best thing any of us can do is live as right as we can from now on and try to eat well, get plenty of exercise, sleep well...and see our doctor regularly

D

aswego

Alcohol causes all sorts of non-liver-related problems.

As an example, I was dancing the border between pre-hypertensive and stage 1 hypertension. My resting heart rate was normal, but on the high end (~90). These were chronic problems I had. I'm on day 10 of sobriety and my BP is now normal and my resting heart rate has dropped 20 beats per minute.

Over the long term, this simple change has profound implications for one's health.

Also different people react to chronic alcohol abuse in different ways. What I can see from my own measurements is that I was triggering a sympathetic overdrive in my physiology. In other words, my body was in a constant physiological state of panic/activation, so to speak. It's deadly in the long run.

ghal

I am a 40 year-old male and the following has happened to me due to Alcohol:

1. High Cholesterol (especially Triglycerides-controlled now by meds)
2. Gall bladder had to be removed
3. I had a major attack of Acute Pancreatitis and I am lucky be alive to type this. Two weeks in the hospital and lost about 30 pounds
4. Alcoholic hepatitis several times. My Liver is enlarged and used to be much worse. Being sober is helping but it still has some correction ahead.
5. Intestinal probelms-better now that I am sober
6. AVN/ON of the hips. At 40, I had to replace my right hip because my hips stop getting blood to the femur. Alcohol is one of the big causes of AVN/ON. Prednisone is another. I am having a procedure done in 10 days to try to get blood flowing back to the left hip and if it fails, that one will die and need THR as well.
7. Weight gain
8. etc..

I have/had all of this by 40 years old and most called me a "functional alcoholic." Which simply means I didn't get a DUI, lose my job, wife, etc.. you know the drill

exbartender

My wrists are ok...its my liver and my brain chemistry that I worry about. I have trouble concentrating and deep thinking...the whole "brain fog" I guess. Hopefully that will improve with time sober.

Also, it used to be, when I would quit drinking for a week or so, I would easily drop 8-10 pounds (I'm 48, 6'0", ~220 lbs). That doesn't happen anymore.

penny74

l think alcohol did some damage to my brain.
Not as fast thinking as l used to be.
Used to be as sharp as a tack, now l don't see things straight away that should be very clear.
But what is done is done.

Kerbcrawler

Agree very much with above comments..Everybody relates Alcohol to Liver Damage...But theres the nervous system other organs,the brain, with Knock on effects, Alcohol plays its part in Damaging...That gets very little Recognition.

Houndheart

Does anyone see a doctor that is specially atuned to health problem an alcoholic might have as a result of drinking? I do not specifically see "additiction specialist" under Medical Doctor on my health plan and would like to try to find one. I also wondered if the high sugar content of wine/alcohol could have created problems with the weakening of my tendons and other soft tissues, such as a diabetic can experience. I mentioned this to my primary care doctor and my orthopedic doctor and they did not address it is as a cause. I know I cannot take back what I did, but I want to try to correct what I can correct....Or to help my body and brain heal the best I can now that I have chosen to be sober.

Fandy

you can ask your primary care physician to order both a fasting glucose and A1C test to see if you have metabolic syndrome (syndrom X it's sometimes called) which is a stepping stone to typeII diabetes.

my fasting glucose was getting a bit higher all the time...(high 90s to low 100s) due to all the wine consumtion and empty sugar calories...i could tell in the extreme tiredness I constantly felt, even took glucophage for a while...since I stopped drinking a month ago, my energy level is greatly increased, weight loss is easier and I have begun exercising again....and my HTN meds are cut in 1/2.

Houndheart

Wow, that's good news Fandy. I had that fasting test done in August and the A1C was just slightly above normal range. I told my doc yesterday that I guit drinking two months ago after heavy abuse of wine. She said she was going to wait until my physical in August again to run blood sugar and cholesterol testing and stuff. I am not so sure after one stops drinking how long it will take to show up in the A1C. I was thinking I heard that this picks up markers from up to 3 months prior. Anyway, I need to make a list of things to ask the doc...and can go in again sooner than August which I think I should do. I just want to make sure that we don't miss anything so that it can be addressed. I quit drinking and my head finally got much clearer after a couple of weeks....not all the way there...but clearer. I have been very fatigued though...and caught a cold/flu that kept almost going away and then coming back for a month now...and I am having tendonitis problems flare up in several areas now. So it's a bit frustrating because I wanted to feel better right away apparently after not drinking...not worse! Ooooo...I guess that's the instant gratification deal huh? Is that a typical alkie's deal? Pour the drink down, and feel the results almost right away? Hmmmm

Kerbcrawler

Funny you should say that Houndheart..Felt very Fatigued..Caught cold/flu that kept going for a month..Me too..Surely by stopping all the madness of drinking..Finally the body gets a chance too start righting itself..ie,cleanout?? all these after the event illness/symptoms..i think anyway..just regaining some stamina and mental clarity again..
though did have a one night beerblip..In the last 21 days...oohps.

Houndheart

I quit drinking about 15 years back for 1.5 years. And now that I think of it, I was sick for a couple of months with a cold, flu, and generally very fatigued. right after stopping alcohol. Someone reminded me that this is sometimes common as it it your body clearing toxins out and stuff...and often one feels worse before feeling better. I am not sure it this has any creedance or is just a coincidence...

Kerb, you are back on track now though right? I agree with you...drinking is madness. Thanks for reminding me of that.

Houndheart

Also, for about two weeks prior to me stopping drinking a couple of months ago when I woke up hungover. I felt like my hands were not working properly. I felt like my fine motor coordination was starting to go. And that scared me. I am quite sure that was the onset of nerve damage from the alcohol. I think I stopped just in time for it to get really bad, as that problem seems to have stopped with the cessation of the alcohol.

mikefreak

My left hand/ arm would have severe tremors - dissapeared.
My right ring finger turns into a hook at night & I have to physically take my left hand & straighten it out.
Numb middle toes on both feet-nerve damage.
I am totally clueless to my surroundings sometimes, & could be accused of having my head up my arse-didn't used to be like that.
I have some weight gain, but have managed to keep it down to reasonable levels ( at least that's what my doctor told me).
The good 'ole blood pressure went up- taking meds for that.
Enlarged heart with bad anirhymia (sic). I blame that on the booze because I absolutely HAD to smoke when I drank.
If I think of more, I'll let you know!

Kerbcrawler

Me too..What coincidences..Id had a numbness down my leftside for awhile..The heavier the drinking bouts..The number an tingly was this side, i did go through the paranoia thing..Thinkin it was maybe a stroke or somethin comin on!! but have definently noticed after a few yrs heavy drinkin an of course gettin older..The small nigly things got bigger,and small knocks an colds/flu type things seem to cling on that bit longer and are harder to get rid of...Heres beginin to Appreciate good sober health..And hangin on to it this Time.. Cheers to good Health...toast, of soda Glasses...