I know 100% in my heart I am. Sucks to admit but I know I am. I drink everynight and weekends are a blur. I drink until I pass out. Im fuzzy in the mornings and I skip events so that I can drink. But today is day 3 of no alcohol!

I also had gastric bypass 6 years ago. I lost 140 lbs and traded one addiction for another (as many gastric bypass patients do) I wasn't a big drinker before the surgery and stayed away from it, per the surgeon's instructions, for 3 years. The very first time I tried wine after my surgery, I realized how easy it was to get buzzed and I was hooked. Within 6 months I was up to a large bottle of wine every night. I have been struggling for the past 6 months to quit. I went to my dr and got Antabuse, but with the absorption issues from the bypass, it didn't help. I have been going to AA and I am learning a lot. I get 2 weeks here, 30 days there but always pick up again. I am on day 16 right now and hopefully it will stick.
So as many others have suggested....speak to your dr and get a support system. My dh was/is a big drinker and we ended up seperating 4 months ago. His drinking was obviously a huge issue for me while I was trying so hard to quit.
Good Luck! You look fabulous in your profile pic btw. Beautiful! Congratulations on the weight loss. Just read your last post and wanted to share. I also live in a VERY small town and have lived here all my life. I was SO worried about walkign into that meeting! I run a home daycare and was thinking if people saw me, NO ONE would want me caring for their kids, right? It's completely NOT like that. It was rough at first. uncomfortable...I kept my eyes on the floor, sat in the back, left immediately after the meeting. Now, I look farward to going. I enjoy chatting with the friends I have met (or reconnected with). It is such a supportive, friendly, welcoming environment. I am so grateful to have my meetings now - just go and try it. Try a few. You'll be happy you did. And trust me that most people had the same thoughts about walking into their first meeting as you are having!

I've heard it said when we change one addiction for another we are just changing seats on the Titanic....you're still going down.

I've done that with many different substances....drugs/alcohol/food - there has to be a core reason that we stuff our faces or ingest chemicals. I suppose we will continue doing it in one form or another until we can get to the bottom of it all.

Good luck and keep posting - great job!! :c011:

WHOA...Im tearing up now. Im glad you posted to me. I have felt like I was on a deserted island since Monday...I dont know. And yes..I will try a meeting. Thank you!

That's a beautiful place to start.

Blacking out, drinking when you really don't want to, being unable to control how much you drink and what you do while drunk are good indications you qualify for alcoholism.

AA saved my life. AA changed my life and removed the obession of drinking. It's been over a year since my last drink, but I'm not special. It can work for you too.

You never have to drink again.

How F$#KING cool is that?

Kjell

OklaBH, There are a couple of funny truths in AA (yes you'll here a lot of laughter at meetings) 1. We'd walk down the sidewalk drunk as a skunk and not care who sees us, but our first AA meeting we park 2 blocks away and sneak down the alleys to get there. 2. If you like the people you drink with you'll like us, we're the same people ! The only difference is you remember the meetings. ; ) You might be amazed at the people you meet there ! your minister, the mayor, your mom's best friend. Some where you'll see a sign that says "Who you see here and whats said here STAYS here" It is honored by all !!

Ron

ps. Most meetings are held in church basements. Cant think of a safer place to have people see ya come and go.

Ok..you convinced me :thanks
Im going to find a meeting to go to before I leave for work. This is day 4! That means 3 nights in a row without a nightcap...or as I call it a "night bucket" Im making plans for the weekend so I dont turn to drinking. Wish me luck. Any and all advice is much appreciated!

Be sure to look for a sponsor. This is what I need, too. I have only been to one meeting, and you are inspiring me to go to another. I read the thread here on sponsors, and realized I don't need a soul mate...just someone to help me start working the steps. Congratulations on all your hard work. Good luck tonight!

Thatagirl ! Go getum Killer ! That goes for you too Maryjan. If you guys have trouble speaking in groups, be honest ! Go ahead and tell them your scared s#%t-less ! most everyone will laugh because they have ALL been in your shoes. You'll see a lot of them go out of there way to make you feel welcome.

All the best,

Ron

Thanks Ron! I will update on how it goes. how do you get a sponsor? do you ask specifically for one or do they assign you one?:gaah

Relax on the sponsor. Feel free to announce to the group that your looking for a sponsor. It is up to you to chose your sponsor. Do not feel obligated to take the first person that offers. There is nothing wrong with suggesting you get together for coffee to get to know each other better first. A sponsor may fire a sponsee at any time, as a sponsee may fire a sponsor at any time with NO hard feelings. Some of us need a drill Sargent, some, an ear to listen and a hand to guide. You'll find all kinds in AA just like real life ; ) You WILL want to stick with a female. Inter-sex sponsor relationships are not a good idea. First, get yourself a Big Book and a meeting schedule. At some point you will meet someone at a meeting that you really click with. Make friends with that person, they don't have to be your sponsor. It's just as important that you have AA bud's that you can hang with outside AA.

Best of luck,

Ron

Thank you Ron. I hope all these changes become 2nd nature soon. Today I am going to lunch with a friend. Usually we will have a beer or 2 before heading back to work. She will be shocked when I stick with my iced tea! :lala

Day 5! I never thought I would make it this far! Bring on the weekend! :c029:

Brooke I am new on this site but have been on another and on 31Oct10 I had my last drink - I said the same thing not a big deal to most about not having a drink since Sunday. I am now 68 days sober today and you will make it if you are determined and as they say one day at a time.

SOOOOOO ? (Sorry to sound like a sponser) Did ya go to a meeting ? ;0
5 DAYS !!!!!! That inspires me more than 20 years ! LOVE IT
Nosey Ron

Hello nosey ron! LOL I am going to one tomorrow after work and there is another meeting I may check out at 10:00 am on sunday. Im pretty pumped. Thanks for checking on me! 5 days feels like I won at the Olympics! LOL:rotfxko

She's coming down the home stretch ! the crowd roars !! SHE'S DONE IT !!!!

Great job, OklaBH! I am starting on Day one again today after a pretty bad relapse over the last few days so it was very encouraging to read through this post and see how positive you were after each day (and everyone else too!!).

Just a few more hours and I will be on day 2! Yay!

Eric

day 1 again
 

I caved and had a drink yesterday. 2 beers and 3 glasses of wine to be exact. I felt so good and was so proud. I dont know why I took a step backward. Im very disappointed in myself. My husband is a new construction foreman and was called out of town for 2 months for work. I was fine until he left.

Sheesh, I thought it was just us men that wont read the directions :c031: So ya drank...BFD. That's normal for us ! No need to get wound up. It's when you DON'T drink that you get wound up.

Winston Churchill always signed off his correspondence with FDR with..."KBO" stands for "keep buggering on". Soooo

KBO, Ron