Wow. Had no idea that could cause so many issues and even death. Do they talk about that in AA?
Yes, people talk about their strengths, experiences, and hopes in AA. They are NOT there to advise you medically, or even teach you about your disease except through sharing their own experiences. You can learn a lot at AA but for more information go to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/). There are many, may resources there about alcohol, alcoholism, and self-tests.
I feel like I have to have a 4-pack or more a day. What do I do, because I think I may be a functioning alcoholic.
You should explore the problem on my website, the government’s web site about alcoholism or Alcoholics Anonymous web site. All of the AA literature is available online. I would also like to call your attention to this piece about Blacks and alcohol.
People put a lot of stock in calling out a difference between an alcoholic and a functioning alcoholic. That’s like the difference between a person with cancer or a person with cancer who is still working. The diagnosis is the diagnosis and just because you are not falling down drunk in the street, homeless and hopeless, does not mean that the diagnosis is not as serious. It is. Please get more information and seek help.
Does cirrhosis of the liver only come from alcoholism?
A: No, cirrhosis is a description of liver disease from an number of causes, however, cirrhosis in the United States is generally caused by heavy alcohol use and chronic hepatitis C (which can be caused by sharing needles). Obesity is also becoming a major cause of cirrhosis.
Cirrhosis develops when scar tissue replaces normal, healthy tissue in the liver. Healthy cells are damaged by alcohol exposure that causes the cells to be inflamed and promoting fat deposits in the liver.
The illness progresses when the sick cells form scar tissue which makes the liver lumpy and hard. As scar replaces normal cells, the normal tissue in the liver shrinks and the liver cannot do its job- which is to filter the blood stream and let the body eliminate medications and other byproducts of life. The scar also makes it hard to filter the blood and blood gets backed up trying to be forced through the shrunken, tight organ.
When blood gets backed up it causes varicose veins around the stomach and in the esophagus. These veins can rupture when an alcoholic vomits or throws up and the alcoholic may bleed out and die.
The National Institutes of Health has set limits to consider to avoid developing cirrhosis. Various studies suggest that a woman should limit her drinks to three (3) and under per drinking episode and men to five (5) and under. The fewer you drink, the safer it is.
Doing shots is not a safe thing for your liver because, even if you allow yourself on one occasion per week to go up to these limits, you should NOT drink more than one drink per hour. Be sure to drink plenty of water over the course of the night. I recommend one 8 ounce glass of water between every serving of alcohol.
Is there such a thing as an alcohol dementia-related disease?
Yes, alcohol-related dementia is due to long term chronic exposure to alcohol with damage to the brain and loss of thinking (cognitive) function. The specific brain function loss from alcohol exposure has to do with thinking, reasoning, loss of inhibition (not being able to hold back and respond to social cues about what is right and appropriate). The reason it is in the class of dementias is that it is long-standing.
This is NOT to be confused with loss of inhibition due to drinking which causes people to make BAD decisions due to drinking and intoxication (like going home with a stranger and potentially putting oneself in a dangerous situation, driving while intoxicated, etc.). In that case, the ability to be reasonable is not lost and returns when one sobers up.
I drank 10-12 beers a day for 15 years and now am down to 3-4 a day. Am I putting myself in danger by weaning?
It is always safer to go to a professional and have them measure your body’s response to the changing exposure to alcohol and control the taper with medications, but, if you have done this safely, then congratulations to you. Now, you should really, really consider going to a professional to get off alcohol completely.
Andrea Grubb Barthwell, M.D., D.F.A.S.A.M., is the Founder and Director at Two Dreams Outer Banks, a comprehensive wellness center for the treatment of alcoholism and substance use disorders. Dr. Barthwell received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Wesleyan University, where she served on the Board of Trustees, and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Michigan Medical School.
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