8 years today (damn leap years!)

Woohoo!! You're closing in!

Nah, I'm giving up. Every time I set a new record, yours goes up too! It's not fair!

Day 151.

Well 150 days without a drink. It was surprisingly easy. Apart from the first few Fridays and Saturdays and Sunday lunchtimes that were key drinking times for me the desire of alcohol was negligible. Lock down has helped of course. I have lived alone (of course I have that's what alcohol does) and that has helped. I have some vodka in the cupboard that I have kept to make emergency hand gel or whatever but that has never materialised. The thought of drinking it doesn't appeal.

But with the easing back of Lock down restrictions, there are new dangers. The pubs open again on July 4th in the UK or at least their garden areas. I predict mayhem and the mass breakdown of social distancing and maybe law and order. It would be easy to share a beer with old buddies, but again it does not appeal to me. They know I don't drink now ( from pre Lock down gatherings and endless Zoom quizzes) but they don't know why. I have told only 1 person about PN. Should I come out?

The new battleground for me is this ... I like a woman at work ( I started again last week) and I think she likes me, though we haven't met since March. Can I really woo her on dates without alcohol? I'm not sure I've actually done that before. Alcohol makes me confident and interesting and funny and better in bed. I actually believe all these things to be true and that I am shy, boring and dull without it, though still pretty good in bed! The temptation to drink is very real and I fear it.

Last week I got a phone call from the hospital and had nerve conduction tests. This was my first appointment due to delays by Covid 19. It said Dr on the door. I explained my symptoms of PN, the sharp shooting pains etc, but he was only interested in tingling and numbness. He used ancient looking electrical devices and a tape measure that a tailor might use to measure your waist. He took readings from my right hand that appeared to be normal, didn't bother with my left hand and then both feet. My right foot was decidedly less reactive. He told me that my measurements were slightly low but within normal limits. He said I did not have PN and that he will measure me in 6 months and inform the neurologist, and so I wait for my first appointment still with the neurologist. How this Dr can tell me I don't have PN when he was not even interested in hearing my symptoms and dismissive of my suffering I find baffling. He also referenced Guillain-Barré syndrome, and I think this is irresponsible such are the potential consequences if that were true. I admit I have not mentioned alcohol. I think the doctor's problem was that I arrived with my own diagnosis that he wanted to contradict. And that I don't look ill and I "move well." ( his words)

Apologies for going on a bit.

3261 days sober

Couple days ate but I am moved into my new house! Took us two days and now I am sore as crap. Now it's onto hanging TV's, pictures, fixing little things, finishing the basement and then insulating and heating the new shop!

For the car guys here, I built a 30ft x 40ft garage with 220V for the HVAC and welder

Legs are a little weak from all the walking, carrying boxes, stairs in the old house and walking the dog on the new property but it's all worth it!

Booze free is for me! LOL

Ice out.

819 days alcohol free. 42 days into a running streak of running at least a mile of a day. I'm still experiencing some extra sensitivity, but my running stride has improved over the course of the past month. I also started to surf without wetsuit boots, and there is definitely extra sensitivity when walking on the sand or putting my foot on the board. Not ideal but I'm moving forward. I'll be looking to get another EMG test to see if they can confirm if there is any explanation for it. Thanks to everyone for keeping this thread alive.

Day 2.

I had something of a setback Saturday. I was making such progress with very little symptoms at all, virtually none in my arms or hands and just awareness of my feet. I've returned to work and not noticed PN at all. A doctor has specifically told me I don't have PN, though I am yet to see a neurologist so remain undiagnosed. Not only had I given up alcohol, I have adopted an optimum diet for health and recovery and exercise programme too.

I recalled Mrs D talking about an occasional drink in a post, triple distilled vodka, purest quality, whilst maintaining good levels of B vitamins. I drank a kale, spinach, brocolli blueberry, strawberry and black grape smoothie before and after a trip to the pub. I was flooded with anti oxidents and multi B Vitamins. I drank a few beers and bang, yesterday my symptoms are all back. Shooting pains, fascillations, numbness, aching. Despair.

So where a doctor cannot tell me I have PN, Stella Artois can!

As Wide-O said earlier in this thread, just telling some random strangers on the internet does help. I read a post elsewhere by some young woman that is utterly heart breaking and realise how lucky I am.

Just got to start again.