Is Alcohol To Blame For My Compounding Health Issues?
 

Over the past year, I have battled back issues, that have recently began to settle down with the help of my awesome chiropractor. I think the back issues are a result of an on the job injury over 10 years ago.

Recently, I had a bad blood lipids test, and my LDL cholesterol was very high. I was prescribed statin drugs, but I'm trying to change it with a whole foods diet, heavy on whole grains, veggies and fruits, with no dairy or meat, except for the occasional chicken or cheeseburger.

I also had a nasty ear infection a couple of weeks ago, and now I'm suffering with either a kick ass cold with fever or a flu.

Today, I got the results back from my nerve test as a result of my chronic tennis elbow. I have carpal tunnel in both hands and wrists.

I just feel like I'm getting kicked when I'm down. I also have a fear of my family medical history now. My maternal great grandmother was crippled by arthritis, and my paternal grandmother died from ALS in her early 60s.

I have newfound determination to quit drinking. I spent the day sleeping and dreaming and thinking alone.

I'll be 40 this Fall. Am I falling apart? Or, is this part of the 40s? Or, is this part of the side effects from long term beer drinking?

Only your Dr could really answer that question FDM....

I know in my case tho alcohol bought me a few health problems and made a lot of my existing ailments worse

It certainly won't be helping.

By getting sober, and eating healthy and trying to keep fit and exercise I'm a heck of a lot better off at 45 than I was at 40...that includes my cholesterol and arthritis, just for the record :)

D

Thanks Dee.

Your a big help and I appreciate your support.

I'm in my early 40's. Everyone is different so please check with your doctor.
In my case, my blood pressure is the most obvious improvement that correlates with my sobriety. I also work out more and lose weight which brings my cholesteral screenings back in line. Unfortunately I have tested these theories about 3 times and they are consistent in my case.

my friend is celebrating 28 years of continuous sobriety tomorrow. Today, she is battling several medical ailments due to neglecting her body over 28 years ago.

dunno. which came first, the chicken or the egg? alcohol doesn't help us stay healthy.

I wish you well in your healing!

Love & hugs,

Heavy on whole grains? Try cutting out all grains/wheat. Read Wheat Belly for some amazing information about the damage done by grains.

Another good site for info is MarksDailyApple.

by whole grains, do you mean lentils and beans and nuts?

Gotta love semanticists lh :)

The way I used and abused alcohol it certainly WAS toxic to me - removing it from my body, my environment and my life has had amazing and far reaching health benefits :)

I heartily recommend everyone else do the same :scoregood

D

Alcohol was killing me and masking symptoms of other illness. I went to my doc, I now have several. The best thing I ever did, let my doc take care of me.
sobriety has brought me many gifts. I found out some things I wasn't so crazy about yet if I had not gotten sober I would not have found out and would not be treating my illnesses.
I am alive and truly grateful

Not a semantacist, just a factist; a truthist (don't like to see stuff strewn out o the internet that is not true)...........

I could drink too much water, and it could have a toxic effect on my body; this would not mean that water is a toxin.

(o:
Keepin' in real
NoelleR

You are of course one hundred percent scientifically and factually correct Noelle - technically alcohol is not classed as a toxin.

Its effects can be and often are toxic.

I meant no disrespect, just a little fun.

I think the OP, the thread, and the community as a whole would be better served focusing on the discussion that alcohol, in the way we consume it, can and does indeed make us sick tho...

so...lets all refocus :)

D

If alcohol is not a toxin, does this mean I can get my old public intoxication charge thrown out?

*cough*
so lets refocus...

D

Close to the end of my drinking career in
Feb. 1990, I ran thru a construction zone
running off the road hitting a concrete
culvert sitting on top the ground. EMS
was summoned and off to the hospital
I went for 10 days with numerous injuries
including them removing my puncture
spleen so I wouldnt bleed to death along
with many broken ribes, contusions etc.

Fast forward to 2009, I had hip replacement
as a possible result of that accident. Over
those yrs I was walking with a limp and
didnt realize it was due to the impact of
hitting that culvert. Pain began to creep
up on me about a yr. before my replacement.

Today close to my mid 50's with 22 yrs
sobriety, I feel like Im better shape than
Ive ever been in my life. Mentally, physically
as well as emotionally all due to living my
recovery life using the tools and knowledge
I learned from a recovery program teaching
me how to live a day at a time without relying
on alcohol to solve many of lifes problems.

Eating well, getting proper rest, relaxing,
exercising, passing on my own experiences,
strengths and hopes of what my life was like
before, during and after alcohol to others
that are still struggling with addiction, and
enjoying life as was suggested to us in recovery.

Recovery is a journey in life learning all long
the way to be the best person you can be
practicing, humilty, honesty, humbleness.

Becoming a loving, caring and compassionate
person to others as well as yourself because
you are that worth it. :)

Mostly. I hardly ever eat bread, but I do have brown rice occasionally. I do love steel cut oats, though.

I only can speak for myself.. After drinking and drugging for over 20 years and never seeing a doctor for regular physicals. When I quit drinking I finally started to see a doctor.

At 40 I was a walking time bomb.

My BP was on avg. 160/120
Cloresterol was 512
Liver and panceres level were high
Was diagosed with wet brain once
Anxiety thru the roof
And nerve damage due to drinking

Well I can say today about 16-17 months after I saw my doctor for the first time.

My BP is 117/82
Clorestrol dropped 200 points( still more to go but good start)
Anxiety is good
I still have tremors unfortunatley always will, but they are so much less often, and much less previlant.
And all my vitiam , sugars, ect are good and normal
And my liver and other organ test are all in the clear.Normal.

All as a direct result of the alcohol abuse, the quitting drinking not only helped in that way it made me live life again. I am truly grateful I got here and want to live to keep enjoying this ride. I hope you dont let yourself get as bad or worse than I did..

So I am also just a realiast and you can label anything anyway you want. Or play with words. If that is not toxic than change the meaning of toxic, ITS DEADLY ;)

Thanks to AA , SR and my friends and sponsor I am happy, joyous , and free today..

You also can be free.