hipmama42
Posts: 555
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I think that this has been a long, hard winter for most of us who live in the cold regions of the country where there hasn't been much sun or spring-like weather until very recently -- and even then, we had some snow yesterday in NE Ohio for several hours! It did not stick, but it was so dreary and depressing to see it falling on the budding bushes and blooming daffodils. I don't judge anyone for using ANYTHING to get them through horrible pain, fatigue, depression and isolation. I guess my way of handling it was spending way too much time in bed and on the computer trying to "escape" my situation at least emotionally. I would never judge you for drinking. I am glad you are able to enjoy getting out and doing a little gardening and being outdoors and enjoying the wonders of spring, the sun and warm breeze on your face. That in itself is so healing for me. The only thing I would caution is that drinking sometimes makes fibro symptoms so much worse, dangerously interacts with a lot of our meds, and for many of us who are middle-aged or older women, our bodies simply can't handle much alcohol without damaging our livers, hearts, stomach linings, digestive system and other problems. It makes "fibro fog" worse and can further disrupt sleeping patterns. For some people, alcohol will worsen their depression if they drink a lot and have been drinking for a long time. Those are just some of the things to watch for that might make it more difficult to live with the fibro. Alcohol in large quantities is also harmful for the immune system. I'm glad you posted here...We never judge...we try to lend encouragement and support and offer hope. When I have had a negative personal experience with something that has badly harmed me, I will only say, "this is what happened to me..." Certainly everyone who drinks is not an alcoholic, problem drinker, or "weak" and "using liquor as a crutch" or a "means of escape." Many people can drink socially for years and never increase their intake nor become physically or emotionally dependent on alcohol. I salute those people and say "enjoy" or "to your health" because some docs and scientists suggest that one SMALL glass of wine a few times a week is good for your heart and brain. My problem was...one was never enough! If one drink made me feel better...than two or three are even better! And so on until one day I found that I could not stop when I wanted to. Thank God I got help when I did. I no longer enjoyed drinking at that point and it had wrecked my life. It wouldn't even give me a good buzz any more and it was destroying my liver. Little did I know I'd someday have to deal with fibro, but thank GOD I was able to give up alcohol completely at last...because if I drank now, my body simply could not handle any more trauma and it would simply break down. That is my story and I'm sticking to it.  |
"When I was diagnosed I was scared didn't know what to do or where to go..I started reserching bipolar and somehow ended up here at MD....Again scared but needing to know what was in store I asked a question..WOW the people who care..I know I would be lost now if I did not join..made many friends and they have helped me through thick and thin. and never judged...........XX Thank you MD and all.Love all of you.......Laurie Pachin" (puppylover)
Just a thought!