Advice needed for someone who thinks moderate drinking is OK

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I'm writing on behalf of my long time (13 years) boyfriend Rob, who

is 45 years old had an acute pancreatitis attack in April and landed

in the

hospital for 3 days, had the IV, clear broths all that and has been

feeling fine since. His attack was brought on by years of moderate to

heavy drinking: 2-8 beers a day.

The problem is that he has convinced himself that he is fine and can

go back to moderate drinking. Yesterday, he actually had 5 beers and

seems to think that since he hasn't had another attack he will be OK.

I have printed miles of info for him, he has more follow up tests

scheduled including a colonoscopy, endoscopy and CAT (they are

worried about his anemia that followed the attack). He still thinks

that the dangers are all overstated and that drinking from time to

time won't hurt. He thinks I'm nuts for getting so upset and telling

him that I just can't sit by and watch him kill himself.

Any ideas you can provide on how to deal with this would be greatly

appreciated. I will print all your messages for him (he's not the

computer type.) Of course he's not interested in AA, since he thinks

that AA is for heavy drinkers and now he drinks so much less than he

did before.

I think real life stories of people who thought they could do the

same thing and were wrong would be helpful.

Thank you!

Kathy

[Guest guest]

Dear Kathy,

I'm sure that you've shown Rob all the medical research that points to alcohol

as one of the primary causes of acute pancreatitis attacks. Statistics say that

35% of acute cases are alcohol related, 45% gallbladder, and the remaining

percentages are divided up between other reasons. Just about every medical

article I have saved does state the the most important step for a person who's

had an acute attack caused by alcohol, is to STOP DRINKING altogether.

Although a drink now and then may not seem to cause any problems right

now, it actually does, building up a sludge internally that eventually blocks

the

ducts and that can lead to a mortal attack. Is your boyfriend aware that people

who continue to drink have a higher incidence of attacks and

hospitalizations? Does he know that a person with alcohol related

pancreatitis has a shorter life span than those whose pancreatitis was caused

by other reasons? So with one strike already against him, it's wisest not to

encourage more?

If I were to dig up the mortality figures for pancreatitis patients whose death

was caused by the continuance of consuming alcohol, would he be

influenced by this material? I have the figures somewhere in my files, just not

right at my fingertips. Does it make a difference to him to know that the

highest rate of deaths from this disease are those of people who continued to

drink after they were diagnosed?

Personally, all these reasons and medically proven statistics scare me to

death, and that's why I stopped drinking on May 12, 2001. That was a little

over three years ago. I had my first acute pancreatitis attack on April 30,

2001, and as soon as I learned from my doctor that I could die if I continued to

drink any kind of alcohol ever again, I quit. What was easy for me to do may

be much more difficult for others, but nevertheless, it's an necessary step to

make if he wants to continue a long life without the added burdens of chronic

pancreatitis, possible diabetes and possible death.

It's unfortunate that he believes that AA is just for hard-core alcoholics, it's

not,

it's for anyone who has a problem with alcohol. Disregarding the advice of

medical professionals, and the people who love him, by continuing to drink

when he's been told of the risks......is a person who has a problem with

alcohol.

My heart goes out to you, I know you care deeply for this man and want so

badly to help him, but it does look like he hasn't yet reached the point where

he has any fear that what he's doing is hurting him. It may take another acute

attack before he smartens up, and you can only hope that the next attack

won't be the one that kills him.

Kathy, I'm not sorry that I can't be the one to provide you with a story of

someone who thought they could get away with it and was wrong, because I

believed the statistics and valued my life too much to ever risk it. While

there

may be some here that had trouble being convinced initially who would be

happy to share their experiences, most of the ones that thought they could get

away with it won't be here to tell their stories ever again.

Think good thoughts,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

EC & SE Regional Rep.

PAI

Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or opinion,

and should not be substituted for consultation with a medical professional.