Quitting Alcohol

Congrates... keep it up.

Good job Joey and for all you guys who have managed to conquer the demons, cravings, voices inside you.

My ex wife got admitted to hospital yesterday for suicidal depression and they have moved her to a rehab facility (her 4th I think?) so I’ve seen first hand what a truly gnarly affliction alcohol addiction can be and what it does/can do for o seemingly normal people with normal, comfortable lives. And how hard it is to shake it and what an effort it must take.

So I salute you all and I hope you are proud of where you’ve got to along your journey and I wish you all strength and luck to continue on the paths you’re on.

my goodness... I hate hearing those stories.

Yep, but its an important reminder that I am lucky that I got sober before getting to that point and the potential that is there if I start again.

feel wrath, hope it's working out for your ex. Trying to self cure depression with alcohol is common. And the worst way up there with some heavy drugs. As there is no lobotomy anymore anything the professional medicine, social work, AA, this thread, etc, has to offer, is better.

Funeral on Friday of a young guy in my building I was friendly with. I didn't go, but happened to be out walking just when the hearse and procession went by, which was a real gut punch.

My liver seems to be getting better, which I'm happy about as I've had a few blips since the last scan.

The FibroScan is a little like an ultrasound. Funnily it wasn't invented for anything medical, but by a guy who wanted to see inside his cheese wheels to see how they were maturing.

(First scan was still in technically in the 'normal' range, but was pushing the high-end)

Heading the right direction. That's great. Does that match up with what kind of improvement you were told you could expect?

Honestly, no idea. I just know lower numbers are better

For reference:
2 to 7 kPa F0 to F1 Is normal.
7 to 11 kPa F2 Has moderate scarring.
11 to 19 kPa F3 Has severe scarring.
19 kPa or higher F4 Has cirrhosis.

That's interesting thethethe. Congrats on your improvement.

I had one Fibroscan about 4.5 years ago. I have no idea what the result was just the GI doctor said it confirmed the diagnosis of cirrhosis so probably greater than 19 kPa. It never has been repeated.

I might ask the doctor next time if there is any value in repeating. I have been getting full abdomen ultrasounds though my understanding is that is mostly to detect cancer earlier if it comes.

I wonder what my fibroscan number was and if it has improved at all after 5 years of sobriety. (I know cirrhosis is somewhat permanent but I believe there can be some healing with time)

I just had my second ever fibroscan. The tech showed me the number of about 14 kPa.

Have no idea what it was 5 years ago when the doctor used a fibroscan to confirmed cirrhosis. But back then I had jaundice/enlargement abdomen and bruising and later hepatic encephalopathy.

Will wait for the doctor but maybe that is somewhat better. Hopefully 5 years if sobriety has helped.

Good job! I never got any hard data like that when drinking or shortly after stopping but I sure know my body feels better.

Spoke to my gastroentrogist. He gave me the official word that my liver had improved from stage 4 Cirrhosis to stage 3 (Still significant scaring but not typically considered cirrhosis.) It basically an all good news call, apparently stage 4 rarely improves to stage 3 but more 5 years of soberity + heathly enough diet has worked for me. He says I can try coming off some anti encephalopathy medication.

Thanks thethethe! I would not have asked the doctor about repeating the fibroscan again if I didn't see your post. And I don't think he was going to order it until I asked.

Great news! Look out stage 2, here we come. That has to be such a huge mental relief.

Nice one! That's awesome news

Oh hey y'all! I hit 13 years sober last week, crazy crazy. As has been documented in this thread, I am definitely a real alcoholic and a real addict, and these days I live a mostly happy life without drugs or alcohol. Life is not always easy and many things are not the way I want them to be, but I don't have a single problem I can't make worse by drinking or using.

That's it. Thank you to everyone who has participated in this thread over its many many years, and I hope all are well.

Congratulations man - that’s awesome. A huge achievement, one that I’m sure was very challenging but which is also the single most important thing you’ve done for yourself and probably your family

And I’m sure you and all the other recovering/recovered alcoholics know but just a reminder that the other side is so ****ing brutal. My ex is about to go to her fifth rehab after also being hospitalised 4 or 5 times that I know it this year. Shes destroying her own life and ruining her family’s and it’s taking all I have to try to protect my teenage kids from all the **** she puts on them. I’ve honestly thought she was going to be dead by the end of the year and some parts of me can’t help but feel it’s gonna happen and I just hope she doesn’t take anyone else with her

Not posting this for feels or sympathy at all…but really just one more reminder to all of you guys that you’ve made great, positive and very valuable steps, even if it feels really difficult or even impossible

xxx

congrats LFS!

and it's always tough reading about your ex, wrath, but it's a cautionary story worth sharing for several reasons.

Way to go LFS! Happy for you.

Grats on another milestone! It's a tough road to stay on.

I quit April 2, 2024, after 42+ years of heavy drinking with a 66 month dry drunk from 1996-2002.

Would highly recommend. For starters, I’m saving around $1200/month and i’ve never made more than $45K/yr. Fast & junk food, soda, chocolate, have become a real problem but I think I’m finally ready to get a serious handle on it.

I'm a big fan of your posting in the SE Forum BullyEyelash and I commend you on your sobriety!

Thank you so much for sharing Swindoll's quote. I absolutely love it.

Thank you for all the inspiring stories and congratulations on to you ALL.

Nov 20, 2025, is the day I decided to never drink again after probably 40 years of full-blown alcohol abuse. I will be 57 in May. I have lost 15 lbs since indulging in the Holiday foods and lately cheeseburgers and Handels Ice Cream. I feel the best I have felt in years and kinda get high on being sober.

Congratulations to you!

that's great. congratulations and I'm very happy for you and your family/friends

Thanks AIM, just now seeing this. Spurs sweep Hornets ftw.