Sober369

Most payments can be set up to be automated. That could help.. And then of course money to you could be automated, too, I think. It would take some working with your dad, though. I know you've mentioned that can be difficult. Maybe an attorney will need to help?

Coz

Hi all

TC - sounds like there is a light at the end of the current teaching business. I hope you get a chance to rest up a bit. Being tired a lot makes it much harder to keep thinking rational.

Karen - Hope you can get through first day of not smoking. I really, really understand how hard it is. I too read Allan Carr's book, had a plan, had resolve, knew why I wanted to quit, had gum, etc. But it was a real struggle and while each craving might have only been 10-20 minutes, the next one was not far behind it. It gets tiring battling all day and as you know, I didn't make it through last time. I'll be joining you in 'freeing myself from the nicotine monster' on Friday - so just two more days to go with just three smokes each day.

Hope - are you spinning and looking beautiful each day still? Really hope that everything is settling down for you and you are slowly working out your anxiety stress triggers.

Willow - one of your posts started me thinking a lot about what makes life 'enjoyable and worthwhile' for me. I can really related to the 'why am I here?' and 'why is life just something to plod through?'. It got me thinking to when I have been the happiest and most fulfilled in my life and what was it about those times that made life so worthwhile. My answers are still a work in progress, but I think it will help guide me to the type of lifestyle I am after in my new sober state. So thanks for your posts - they are really thought provoking and help me work out my loner term life-plan.

WL - maybe it is time to rebuild the bridges between you and your father? You might find that you can both help each other with the struggles you are both dealing with.

nmd - I hope all is going well for you. You haven't posted in a little while and I miss reading your supportive, encouraging and wildlife tales!

Hi Dee and Suze - thanks again for all you do on SR. You are both amazing, wonderful and playing a big part in my journey.

Hi to everyone . May your days and nights be everything you want and deserve.

HopefulYear777

Hi everyone. I'm here late today reading all your posts. I'll post more tomorrow. Did have a tele/zoom appointment with one of my doctors. No big deal but got that over with. I've been a bit better. Felt like cooking so I made a big roast with grilled asparagus and mashed potatoes. Comfort food you could say. I haven't felt like eating anything for a few days so it was good.
Karen- Hoping today went okay with the smoking program. If not girl we are here for you tomorrow.
Coz- Excited to share your journey starting Friday. I quit nearly 20 years ago. I had smoked about 7 years if I remember correctly. I had some dental surgery and was told I could not smoke or it would be bad and I was terrified to. Plus I desperately wanted to quit. One of the best things I've ever done. Now to just get to 20 years without alcohol!
Hi Willow, WL, TC, Venus, Dee, Nmd, Dig- and anyone else I left out. So good to have our little class going strong. I wish some of our old classmates would stop in- whether they have quit or trying. It's good to hear.
Have a good night friends!
Hope

Sober369

Thanks so much for your support! Yes, I am still trying. I need to make a plan. It helps to hear that others have done it and are okay now!
Coz, your post really made me smile, and think. I want to build a sober life that is too good to lose by picking up again.
WL, how are you? Do you have service yet?
I have to go pick up my grocery order. I ordered a roast, too. Even though I am mostly vegetarian now, it just sounded too good to miss. I'll make a pot roast that cooks all day. I also got cauliflower pizza crusts. Talking about making pizza made me hungry for it, but the crust is mostly fat and salt, so I thought I'd try this. I will let you know if it's good.
I also ordered a bunch of topsoil and some pavers and I'm going to do some landscaping. I have to stay busy if I am not going to smoke! Since I can't go away (looking it up I realized I have to wait for the virus to go away before I travel), I am going to spend a fraction of the money I would have spent on hotels on projects! I am saving five dollars a day by not drinking, and will save six more a day when I quit smoking. That's a big incentive!
Lots of love to you all, and lots of strength and hope!

TiredCarpenter

G’mornin all. No time to chat. Mornings are always victorious over me.

Gotta get rolling. Hope my crabbiness abates soon.

Have a good day all!

dig12

Finished up the "paper" work for the ultrasound and blood-work today!
We talked about not letting the results either way give me an excuse to go back to drinking, which I acknowledge is a certain risk.

The AV either way might have the following to say:
"See! Told you! You're brand new!!! Time to pick up the bottle and get back to it!"
or
"Ugh. I know this sucks, but since the damage is done, pick up a bottle and lets ride this out!!!"

The AV is a trap as always. Can't fall into it!

Hope everyone is well

venuscat

Sorry dig, I have missed this somehow.
I am not sure what the tests are about.
Liver and stuff?

Your AV is trying to be clever huh?
Well tell it who the boss is dear dig. s xx

dig12

I declined testing blood and doing an ultrasound when I first got a good start at true and committed sobriety. I didn't want to know at that point in time how I was doing with respect to liver function, etc. because I felt it would send me right back to drinking one way or another. So, we agreed at the time to touch base when I felt comfortable, since I was and am being followed and monitored by a Rapid Access Addictions and Medicine specialist in addition to my own GP. I've felt as I near seven months that I'm ready, so I made the calls and arrangements. And yes, the AV will get a kick in the teeth if it even tries to act up! Grrrr...

venuscat

Ahhhh, gotcha. xx

And hey Karen love.....big hugs sweety.
And for all of you. ❤️

dig12

I should also add for those that are curious -- they weren't thrilled about not doing the tests before but they understood and were very supportive. They wanted a baseline condition to work forward from and I have to say that while they were firm on that opinion, they were also entirely focused on the more important thing -- NOT drinking!

venuscat

Got it. Glad you have good recovery help dear dig. s ❤️

Sober369

I'm glad you're getting it done, Dig. Such a great motivator to improve your health. I get tired so easy now. Not sure if I should push it or not. Maybe just a little, but not too much. Moderation works for things we aren't addicted to. Like ice cream, which is calling to me. I didn't get the roast. When I unloaded I realized that in a moment of dietary compliance, I deleted it from the order. So, I have fat calories available!

dig12

It's come up before here in our little group, but this seems to be where having a RAAMs clinic and doctor specializing in addictions becomes incredibly helpful to those battling with an addiction. I wasn't strong-armed into the tests. Instead, he listened very intently and was always mentioning how his main priority is to help me NOT DRINK. I was given choice after choice instead of do this and do that. But at each step, it was made clear as to the pros, the cons, the risks, the benefits, the opportunities, etc. Very good experience and a godsend of an approach in my opinion.

Sober369

Love to you, too, Suze!

venuscat

Love ~ I can feel your stress. s
You can eat some ice cream....my trick is to use small bowls (pretty retro metal ones).
I never eat from the tub. Which takes away the guilt of accidentally eating more than you were allowing yourself. xxxxxxxx s ❤️

venuscat

Sounds like these clinics are the bomb dig.
I wonder how many there are all over the country..... : s

dig12

My favourite comedian (Brian Regan) does a bit on ice cream serving size. He would advise to eat out of the tub because a serving size of ice cream should be defined as having been reached when the spoon hits the bottom of the tub

I'd say dig in Karen!!! Enjoy!

dig12

Very good question. I know it's for sure a provincial initiative in Ontario, but not sure how many have opened here or in other provinces across Canada. I know the model is borrowed from elsewhere and was only imported here in the last 5-7 years or so.

I have nothing but good things to say about it as an addictions medicine model.

venuscat

They are in Cali, but I can't see them anywhere else in the US at this point.
I hope that changes.

Coz

Hi all

Dig - thanks for sharing your RAAMs info and experience. It sounds like the sort of clinic that would work well for me - the facts outlined, teh pros and cons, a recommendation, then I get to make the decision. I don't think there is anything like that here in Aus, but I will do a bit of a search today and see if there is anything similar (although I am feeling like I don't need such additional support at the moment for drinking, but it would be great for helping with the stopping smoking!).
Your pre-thinking what your AVs tactics might be is very clever. It will be easy to recognise when your results come through. Coincidentally, over the last few days I have been thinking about health scenarios. I was wondering whether I would start drinking again if I was told I only had a few months left to live, or if I was told I had 2-3 years left. And I did come up with answers to my purely hypothetical question.

Karen - I know we are suppose to eat well, but for me, I am still in denial and putting my sobriety and (after today) smoking, behind me as the most important health decisions I can make. So I do eat very healthy meals, but on top of that, I eat lots and lots of sweet things - and ice cream is definitely up there as my evening comfort food (and also in the afternoon on a hot day). Three more smokes today, then I am joining you on the mission-impossible - hopefully to prove to myself that nothing is impossible if you really want it. And without alcohol or cigarettes in my life, I will be saving nearly $50 a day! I can feel some special treats coming up....

Hope, Willow and TC - well done on making the decision to not smoke a long time ago. I wish I had, but I was drinking a lot and such decisions were not really an option then. But now is the time and I am hoping it is not as stupidly awful for so long as last time. This will give the Champix a real test!

WL - you've gone quiet?? Looking at places to live?

Suze - I made an omlette a couple of days ago. It was much better than my usual, but still keen to hear your handy hints! Oh, and I am definitely not a good cook, but pizzas are easy if you buy the base! You can do it!

Dee, NMD, Kitten, everyone in or passing through the May 2020 thread - and .

I started making new doors for my bathroom cupboard yesterday (after a few hours volunteering in the morning), so hoping to finish them today. Also thinking about applying for an advertised job as I haven't heard about my last interview yet, and there aren't many jobs in my local area that I am interested in, so this might be an opportunity. Pay is good, it's in natural resource management which I like and have lots of experience in, it will get me busy and bring in some cash, but the hours will be long, responsibility levels high, and I am not sure if I can return to that high-stress lifestyle again. Same concept as last time I guess - just apply and see what happens - I don't have to take the job if it gets offered.

Take care all and apologies for the long post.