re: Doctor ordered me to stop drinking today.

When I was 37 it was discovered by ALLSTATE that I was born with Chronic Hepititus B.

My Liver specialist that I was referred to looked me dead in the eyes and told me point blank "A Smart Man would quit drinking now". He then informed me I would start a 1 year regimine of interferon and begin test for liver cancer regularly when I turned 40.

I am in my mid 50's now and I don't really miss the drinking.

He tells me every year when I go for my annual check up at Baylor that exercise is my freind.

It is literally a technical term. Doctor’s “orders.” You don’t have to follow them, but you may be fired if you don’t.

Thanks for the encouragement!

I feel so much better physically it is unbelievable. I'm very concerned about sitting through college football Saturday without a cold beer. Gotta get it through my hard head that one beer can set me back!!!

When you have that urge, just think of how hard it was to get where you are and that nothing is worth having to do that again.
Expect some people to be supportive and some to be jerks.
Find your substitute and take it with you to parties. Keep a glass of something in your hand. Put a lime in it and fewer people will ask questions.

Also, look forward to everyone telling you how good you look in 6 months. Dr. Weevil and I both quit and recently went back home and saw friends we haven’t seen in a long time. We easily look 10 years younger than most of them.

Yep. Remember that day when the thought pops into your head. Your actual brain chemistry has changed such that any alcohol at all triggers it and you’ll be right back where you started. I won’t even take Nyquil now, because I’m terrified of triggering that demon. Every single person in rehab has the same story.