I agree largely with what you've written here. The odd thing with me is that I feel like I'm more enticed to drink, or more so, look forward to the day on the weekend when I drink a 6-pack more than I did before my PN. I can't drink more than that without getting nauseously sick, so that 6-pack is really the limit for me.
Once, I quit drinking for an entire month and did not feel a bit better at all - I actually felt worse that month. But I figure that was from stress. I also have a spouse that badgers me a lot, so I get more stressed during arguments and that often triggers flare-ups. Honestly, it's her drinking that causes more stressful situations for me than the beer/alcohol itself. I also believe, had I had a wife that did not drink so heavily, that I, myself, would be less tempted as well.
That's not to say it's her fault - I just have to learn how to avoid her prompting (this woman does not believe drinking can hurt people like us, despite the fact that I say that every weekend!!!)
The reason, is that I feel more like relieving stress
now than I ever did before, and drinking about a 6-pack of light beer every weekend seems to work fine for me. I can't say that I've noticed it making my pn worse or better. Before my pn, I drank about 8 beers (just 2 beers more than I do now) on a weekend (Friday or Saturday) and this over a long night as well.
Still, I am taking
extra B vitamins on the weekend and other supplements known for protecting the nerves, so, there
might be some possible shielding factor from the alcohol's overall effect.
Also, I never drink enough to get a hangover, and I do eat in between the drinks. Consequentially, it takes me about
6 hours to drink 6 beers, so maybe that, too, has something to do with my tolerance.
I did however, go to a party some months ago, and drank 9 beers once. I felt quite sick and nauseated afterward and quickly figured out that my body has set limits for itself. Thus I never did that again.
However, I never was a truly heavy drinker and I do not drink during any other days. Despite this, I would be considered a
"Binge" drinker, since by definition, it fits anyone that drinks
more than 4 beers in one night.
Now, since I no longer have any drug interactions to be concerned about (I quite my clonozepam sometime ago) so, I feel a tad bit safer drinking beer now-a-days.
I have noticed that I get buzzed much faster than I did before pn, and that's probably why I don't drink more than I do.
I listed some links below that perhaps echo what I've said here in some ways.
Mostly, it seems that drinking alchol in
"Moderation" is essential to anyone who can't resist taking the drink or the peer pressure of the social climate. My wife is quite a heavy drinker in my opinion, so social gatherings with her are very difficult times, as far as restraining myself from drinking 4 to 6 beers. Still, it's difficult to say what is
moderation?
I am
6 feet tall and 240 pounds and it takes me about
6 hours to drink 6 beers -
would that be moderation or abuse. ...I do not know???
I'd be interested in knowing what you think of these articles.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4496727.stm
http://www.diabetesmadeeasier.com/av...and-long-term-
complications/neuropathy/is-it-okay-to-drink-alcohol-if-i-have-peripheral-neuropathy
https://www.foundationforpn.org/livi...neuropathy.cfm
http://www.diabetesmadeeasier.com/av...ral-neuropathy
http://alcoholrehab.com/alcohol-reha...nd-alcoholism/