I am 49 - have been a drinker since 20 -
last 10 years about 4 evenings a week 2 to
3 whiskey doubles between 9:00 pm and
midnight. Physically active but slowing
down a bit. Weight was 190 in 1980 to
1995, was 195 in '95 and is 202 in 2005.
Squash once a week, some hockey, golf,
skiing, etc. Predominantly business work
and traveled a great deal '94 - '02.
Large complex business reengineering work
- should be fun and I like what I do but
maybe just maybe I have run the course -
hard business - hard road, etc.???
I have had an intermittent ache on my
right side from the lowest rib to 3 to 4
inches below for about 7 months. The
ache has been about every 5 to 7 days.
It would seem more sensitive when I played
hockey and shot from my right side or when
I played squash. Perhaps I fooled myself
that it was muscular but there is now
something unfamiliar at the bottom of my
right rib - an ache, a nagging reminder.
Recently (the last week) the ache has
turned more persistant - every day for 6
to 8 hours but not debilitating, not
bothersome yet it exists. It seems to be
partially relieved when I have a bowel
movement - not entirely but 70% gone.
I am now going to schedule an appointment
with my gp and I believe he will condemn
my liver. On the other hand it could be
my gall bladder?!
One incident - about 1 year ago I had an
episode while away on vacation where my
right side became quite sensitive and sore
for about 2 days - perhaps acute - I
attributed it to eating a great deal of
various peanuts over the previous 3 days.
It went away and there were no
extenuating circumstances.
So here I am ready to go to my gp and
confess that my drinking has caught up and
my liver is toast. Perhaps a fatty liver
and I need to take 6 weeks off and
normalize my drinking to 2 evenings a week
and not too much at a time
forevermore???
Healthy, almost wealthy, vibrant, lust for
life and where am i? I want to live -
maybe no drink period?
