Drink? Lose A Leg.

[bainbrig]

I was an alcoholic for over 20 years, and finally climbed out of the bottle on 6th December 2002. (True alkies ALWAYS know precisely when they had their last drink!)

I’d tried many times over the years, having ‘no drink’ days, etc., but nothing worked apart from total abstinence.

Anyway, in 2002 I was chuffed to pieces, I’d done it! Waking up feeling good, lost stones in weight, walking, feeling great.

Walking across a manicured Kew Gardens lawn, trod on a small stone, felt a slight discomfort, walked on.

With a broken ankle.

One consequence of long-term drinking is peripheral neuropathy - loss of nerve sensations in fingers - and feet. I felt no great pain in the ankle, just discomfort, and walked on, for six months, until my foot was pointing the wrong way.

The x-ray doctor (when I finally got to one) shook his head. Mr Singh, an eminent bone consultant, shook his. Result: amputation below the knee.

My ideas about peaceful retirement years were somewhat altered, but at least I know who is to blame for my troubles (me).

And like all you drinkers, I thought I might damage my liver through my boozing - but not lose a leg! Stop thinking about giving up, and just give up!

With affection,

BillB

[maggiebee]

Hats off to you bainbrig. As you so rightly said, only you can make the decision to stop - be it alcohol, tobacco, drugs etc. Addiction ruins lives, not just the addict's. I speak from experience having been married to a gambling and alcohol addict who never did give up either until the day he died. Having said that I also smoked for 43 years before quitting so I can't preach to anyone. Best wishes for the future, you sound a very strong person.

[tamborine]

I agree teacake, as cig adverts are banned so should alcohol adverts.

[BAKERS DOZEN]

Well done Bill. I salute you. Mr BD is diabetic and has total neuropathy in both feet so we do keep a keen eye on those. I do wish people would get rid of the idea that only obese people get type 2 diabetes though. Mr BD had never weighed more than 10st 10lb in his life when he was taken so ill he was in hospital for six days on a drip and came out needing insulin twice a day. He ran, he swam and he waked everywhere. He put on over a stone in weight which he was unhappy with so changed his diet, exercised more and is now down to his original weight. After six years on insulin he now does not need it any more and just takes 2 Metformin a day.

[bainbrig]

Bakers D: I salute Mr BD who has done nothing wrong. That is real bad luck, as opposed to self-generated.

BB

[spathiphyllum]

I guess there is truth to the term "Drink yourself legless". Many people don't realise the dangers of exsessive drinking.

I'm ever so sorry you lost your leg BB..However i'm glad you kept your life.

[Patsy33]

Well done, Bill. All the best to you x

[jakep]

Thank you Bill for sharing your story and a huge WELL DONE.
I was addicted to alcohol for many years. I had a dry year and dry months but always thought..I’ll just try one glass....
I have not had any alcohol since New Years Eve as the hangover was horrendous. Unfortunately I’ve replaced that addiction with chocolate, so no weight loss here!
My very best wishes to you x

[bainbrig]

Jake: keep at it pal! Chocolate might do you other sorts of harm, but it won't make you lose your mind/control of your bowels.

My most fervent wish is that I'd never started drinking, back when I was a teenager. Took a long time getting shot of it.

BB

[Sqad]

Could I please be allowed to comment on this thread by putting some perspective into the OP?
Firstly, i cannot begin to congratulate BB on the challenges that he has faced from the results of his past life style and health issues, so all i can say is you have all our admiration BB.
Now to the boring bit.

Peripheral Neuropathy is extremely uncommon in chronic alcoholism and amputation is a rarity, the case of BB is the first that i have encountered. Chronic alcoholism has innumerable social and medical implications much more common and devastating than peripheral neuropathy in alcoholics.

The most commonest cause by far, BY FAR is poor blood supply in Type 2 diabetics, which results in many thousands of amputations performed in the NHS annually.

I am in no way denigrating the post by BB, quite the opposite a very brave and man blessed with an abundance of fortitude, but wanted to give the post some underlying medical in formation.

[bainbrig]

Sqad. Quite right, it’s type II diabetics who lose the most legs.

My message to fellow drinkers is this.

It’s difficult to give up, but not impossible. Take courage! Who’s in charge? You, or the bottle?

[anneasquith]

I’m interested you appear to have had no actual physical withdrawal symptoms from alcohol ? Great post .

[bainbrig]

Anne: no, none. Maybe if I’d been expecting some, I’d have got them! (Good old placebo).

Huge amounts of tension - but then it was mind over matter, forcing myself to relax and accept. Since then, learning more about Buddhism has shown me that would have been very comforting.

[ummmm]

BB - Is there a reason you turned to alcohol?

Two of my friends have been buried this week. One in his 40s and the other in his 50s due to alcohol. They both continued to drink though.

[Rockrose]

My mother died at 59 she was unable to give up the drink and it killed her!

[bainbrig]

Ummm. Not sure why I took to drink. I liked it; from the first illicit swig of Christmas port when I was about ten, onwards.

I would guess it’s possibly because as a shy introvert, it helped me face the world. (In my 50s I was once, late one night, mistaken for Brian Blessed, so it seems to have worked!)

[marval]

Well done Bill, and thank you for sharing your story with us.

[Baldric]

BB, I never thought I would say this but, Respect x 2.
1, For quitting the booze & 2, for posting this, well done.
Let's hope it helps someone else as well.

[windywillow]

I'd like to send my good wishes to you, BB - a truly remarkable story and thank you so much for sharing it. It shows what can be done with will and determination. x

[nailit]

As someone who has had a long battle with alcohol since childhood, this is very inspiring BB, thanks for posting and well done.
Can I ask, when you gave it up for good, did you choose a stop date or was it a spontaneous thing?
Also your Buddhism seems to have helped. Am curious as to why recovering alcoholics all seem to adopt a spiritual belief system? I gave AA several shots in the past but as an atheist/materialist the emphasis on recovery been a spiritual path always put me off.
Thank you.

[Mamyalynne]

BillB, your words are wise and true, especially about having to make our own decisions where possible.

You did that, more power to you and continue to have a good life.

M x