Update and another question

[kje2010]

I haven't been on in a week or so, but I am down from 50 mg Hydro to 45 mg per day. Tomorrow I will drop to 40. I am doing a 5 mg drop per week. I really want to make this as easy on myself as possible so I don't end up right back where I started. Feeling good, and optimistic, so far!!

I also have a question in regards to Hydro/APAP. Do any of you on here also partake in some alcohol consumption? I drink, not what I would consider heavily, 1-2 glasses of red wine or 1-2 beers per night most nights of the week. I NEVER allow myself to consume more than 2,000 mg of APAP in a 24 hour period, but still I worry that I am killing my liver. I know it is harmful, and the best thing to do would be to stop, but like the Hydros, alcohol has become pretty constant in my life, and I feel like I need to battle one demon at a time.

I did have my liver enzymes checked about 2 months ago, and everything was fine, but still I worry (cue in my anxiety issues here...sigh). Anyone in the same boat?

Thanks for reading and I pray that you are all winning your battles! We can do it!!

[kje2010]

Thank you for responding and for the advice. I know how bad it is for me and how hard it is on my liver. I drink A LOT LOT less than I used to, but I know that any amount is still worse for you than none.

That being said, I am not trying to justify my drinking by having my liver enzymes checked every two months. They were only checked because I was sick and my doc ordered a total blood condition test for me. I did not ask for it to be done, but it was a relief when all came back okay.

I know it sounds stupid, but I am still young, and drinking just seems to be what everyone my age does. The pills ABSOLUTLEY MUST GO (and they will!!), but alcohol is just made to seem so ordinary...so social. I do think it is another addiction for me, but not one that is related to pills in any way for me.

One demon at a time. One demon at a time.

[Bkitty]

Well its a common thing(or saying) that one addiction leads to another. Meaning drinking every night eventually will lead back to taking the **** every night. I have asked this question in the past as well. I never felt that I had an addiction to alcohol and since I got sober I was wanting to know if its ok to drink. There are many mixed feelings when it comes to this. You definitely don't want to replace one addiction with another. I opted to stay away from the alcohol~I did not want to jeopardize in any way that it might lead me back to the pills. You have to remember alcohol is mood altering as well and so getting sober is about not taking any mood altering chemicals. I am glad that your liver is OK. That is a lot of APAP. Maybe work on the taper off the hydro's and then tackle the alcohol. If you notice that your alcohol consumption is increasing as you taper down that would be a huge red flag as you are replacing one addiction for another and then you would need to cut the alcohol out as well. I wish you all the best on your taper. Slow and steady wins the race. ((hugs))

[IBKleen]

Clean for me means 100% substance free--and for me, alcohol is a substance.

You are justifying your drinking and taking pills by getting your enzymes checked every two months. What will you do if the tests come back and they are no so fine? It may be too late to make a change at that point. You know eventually this will all catch up with you. Now sounds like a good time to get the ball rolling.

Keep going on your taper--you're doing good!