Need some advice on something thats worrying me. I am sober now just a short time, less than a week. I had been drinking heavily for years and towards the end developed a permanent red, blotchy face and nose, particularly either side of my nose, my cheekbones and my nose itself. Blotchy & red. I take it this is because of the alcohol consumption, a side affect of it? Will this fade over time or will I be left with this blotchy, alcoholic face? I am very alarmed by this.
Can anyone relate? Anyone else have this?
Also, could this also be anxiety as well as the results of booze? I was always bery anxious and fearful when drinking, afraid of everything and when this happened I would feel flushed, my blood pressure would rise. I just want to know is this normal after years of boozing and exactly what is it? Should I go to the doctor?
My name is Dan and I'm an alcoholic. This is my second time in the recovery stage, and I've been at it for only a few months now.
I have researched various medical sites (Mayo Clinic, etc.) in seeking to find what damage I may have done to myself over the years. Alcohol could have caused the condition you are describing. However, it is not necessarily the cause. If it is from the excessive use of alcohol, all the sources I've read say that you should, "IMMEDIATELY(their emphasis) stop drinking!". With time, and no drinking, the condition should gradually improve.
It would be a good idea to visit a doctor, to rule out all other possible causes. I was afraid to visit a doctor, at first, after I started having some serious pains in the area of my liver. I am very glad now that I went in and had some tests taken. The unknown is always much more scary than reality.
Have you found any AA meetings in your area? You will also find great support in those.
Good luck and keep coming back, there are a lot of folks on this site who will also share their experience, strength and hope.
big shock to the body..when the pickle juice is taken away... ...
Going to have to remember that one! nice phrase Phil.
Welcome to the board. I too had a panic when I saw what was looking back at me early in recovery I looked different to the last time I looked in the mirror (years ago) I had the purple face, yellow eyes and black teeth as well as about 3 stone difference in body weight.
We are not qualified here to diagnosis physical conditions. Even a qualified professional would never make a diagnosis based on on online post. Please see your doctor. There is a condition called 'rosacea' that has popularly but mistakenly been associated with drinking,, and drinking may aggravate it, but it is not caused by drinking and is treatable. To know for sure what it is you should go to see a real doctor, and get the appropriate treatment, which is not to just let it be to go away by itself.
We need to remember what our role is here as just alkies helping other alkies to learn the AA program,,, and not stretch into being doctors, or therapists. We've made that mistake before with terrible consequences when people follow our bad advice.
God bless you,
amanda
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do your best and God does the rest, a step at a time
Thats ok. I was not asking for anyone to give me a diagnosis. Just wanted to know if anyone else who drank heavily for years developed this blotchiness aswell. Just wanted to know, through identification, if it was "possible" it could be as a result of drinking.
In other words, if others had a red, blotchy appearance as a result of heavy drinking and then when they stopped it went away or reduced well then I could conclude that it "might" be possible this ailment is as a result of heavy drinking. I would not make a decision based on it. Its just another "identification" I am looking for. I would look for the same thing at an AA meeting.
I get very dry on part of my eyelids and under my eyes on my cheakbones either side of my nose and my nose abit too.. I saw the doc about my eyelids several years ago... she recommended i use HYDROCORTISONE 1%... Theres different types and the cheaper ones arent as affective, i usualy just ask for HC45... I put this on my eyelids and face I find this a great help, omg it was really bad the other day and i had to put some more on cos it was bugging the hell out of me cos it was so dry and uncomfortable, almost a burning feeling and it sorted it out..
If you do decide to try this.. do not tell them at the pharmacist you are gona put it on your face, cos . as my doctor said "they will just make a fuss..".. lol.. She didnt prescribe it for me cos its cheaper directly over the counter..
Hmm i jus realised, i duno if you are in uk or usa..
Well obviously im not telling you to just use this stuff and its always worth seeing a doctor but i just though id tell you case its of any help.
yes ,my face was the same, people often remark on how much better i look now. it does get better the looks is a very small part of it all. good luck and keep coming back wagon
here is a link on what rosacea is... and to ask at a live AA meeting would be just as ummm inappropriate. These things can have various causes, and just cuz one person also had a rash,, or even two,,, doesn't mean that the rashes were caused by the same thing. One rash could be impetigo, and another rash could be rosacea, while yet a thrid rash could be from another thing. We don't know what yours is. here's the lnk:
I would say schedule a visit with a doctor or clinic as soon as possible. Most of us in AA are not doctors or nurses. I was and still am quite concerned about my health and healing what alcoholism did to me, so a visit to a doctor, full physical exam and blood enzyme tests were important in my first few weeks sober.
In any case, I think in addition to staying sober and taking part in AA, that eating well and getting enough rest and, when you feel up to it, exercise (though I would check wiht a doctor about this), are very important to a full recovery. We are physical as much as mental and spiritual creatures and we have to take care of our bodies if we want to be at our best.
