Hi, I am a grateful recovering alcoholic. I just really need and want to share this about the dangers of alcoholism. It is quite frightening. My friend is an active alcoholic who has drank heavily for many years. He is only 39 years old. However, right now, he is unaware that he is even existing in this world. He has been in the hospital for 2 weeks now. All of his medical problems are solely due to years of heavy drinking. He is in a drug-induced coma. He is on life support. He has pancreatitis. He has an enlarged liver. His kidneys are barely working to the point that they have had to put him on dialysis. He has a team of about 6 specialists working on his case. Tonight, he had to have emergency surgery to remove one of his testicles because it was so infected. It was a miracle, the doctors said, that he even survived the surgery. They didn't know how his body would react to the anesthesia, due to the poor condition he is in. And he is ONLY 39 years old. Just to think... he has his whole life ahead of him, but he might not ever make it to 40. He might not make it to Christmas. It both saddens and angers me to think of how dangerous and powerful this disease is. My friend may die. But all I can do is pray. And stay sober. Thanks for listening. (or should I say reading!) ~carolinagirl
I have had a couple of friends (not super close, but still friends) die as a direct result of their drinking. It is sad that this addiction has such a hold on some people that they cannot live without it even when they KNOW that it is killing them. There were times in my drinking days when I actually lived in fear of becoming one such person. It is a STRONG reminder for me whenever that stinking thinking flits through my brain, enticing me to pick up again.
It always saddens me to think that not all who need it, want it..and it's tough when we watch a friend or loved one continue to destroy themselves....I have to ever remind myself that nothing happens by mistake...and how grateful I am to be in recovery.....that for whatever reason God has given me a few 2nd chances....prayers - from one Carolina girl to another...
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Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain.
Hi Mary, I feel for you and you will certainly (and your friend) be in my prayers. Its so scary to sit back and see all this happening and know that there is nothing we can do about it. You stayed sober, thats the important thing. If we drank over all our friends that had this problem we;d be in trouble. I too have a sick friend but he's not quite there yet. I almost want him to hear your story to wake his butt up!!! Im thankful we have this program and people who share to keep us on the right track!!! Welcome, Lani
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"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. "
Welcome to MIP, Mary. Thanks for sharing your story with us. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend & I wish him prayers & blesses to get well soon, inside & out. I'm sorry you have to go through this also. I hope you'll be ok & keep sharing with us. I'm glad you still find it in your heart to be grateful for your sobriety today. I'm glad you're sober too. Keep coming back, Danielle x
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Progress not perfection.. & Practice makes Progress!
Hi Carolinagirl. In March this year, my oldest friend and drinking buddy was taken into hospital with pneumonia. She discharged herself and stopped taking her anti biotics so as she could go and get drunk. Hence she ended up back in intensive care and also was put in a drug induced coma on life support. A week later I had a phone call from her hubby, she had died. It turned out that it was scepticemia that killed her in the end and although it was indirectly alcohol that killed her (coming off her tabs) the doctors said her liver was great. What a shock that was to everybody. The day after she died, I went to see her in the bereavement Centre, they wouldnt let me in intensive care because I had a cold. I stood on the other side of the glass and shouted at her for dying in the name of drink. My god, if only I had looked at myself at that point, I would have been here a lot sooner.
Thank you all for your kind words of support. I went to a meeting tonight and shared my friend's story. He is showing no signs of improvement. This past weekend his temperature rose to 105 degrees. His organ systems are just so badly damaged from his alcoholism that they are beginning to shut down. The antibiotics they are giving him are not working. But all I can do is pray and stay sober. Throughout all of this, I have really come to appreciate and really value my sobriety. I am so grateful for each day because it is truly a gift from God. What's important is making the most of each and every day... one day at a time!
