kilikini wrote:

> "sf" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>On Sun, 6 Nov 2005 21:19:01 -0000, Arnold wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Anyone managed to give up cigarettes and alcohol and never looked back?
>>>
>>> If so, I would be interested to know the techniques you used, coz I am
>>> struggling with 'will power'!
>>>
>>
>>I think giving up cigarettes will be harder than giving up alcohol.
>>Nicotine is an extremely addictive substance!

Two of our kids smoke something I wouldn't have thought they would do
given their grandmother died of lung cancer complications. She smoke 2
pack daily.
>
>
> Nope, for me it's alcohol. I gave up a nicotine and actually <gasp!>
> cocaine habit with no problems, no looking back. Alcohol I need for daily
> survival. I discovered back in high school as the major smart geek, that if
> I drank, I acquired a sense of humor which, thusly, accrued friends. I
> don't leave home without it.
>
> kili <-----functional alcoholic and not ashamed of it
>
>
kili, this reply is not meant to be in any way judgemental so please
don't take it that way. I can relate to being the major smart geek and
the humour acquired when drinking. IRL, I have always been painfully
shy & reserved preferring not to do much in the way of small talk so I
know where you're coming from. Just so you know this isn't meant to be
judgemental.

IMO anyone who drinks should take milk thistle to protect their liver.
However milk thistle cannot protect you from associated disorders due to
high alcohol intake - esophageal cancer, mouth cancer, breast cancer
(higher risk for females), stomach cancer, GI disorders, malabsorption,
nutritional deficiencies, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiac
pathologies, neurological damage and the list goes on. I read where
many alcoholics die by bleeding out which doesn't sound like a very
pleasant way to die. Last Feb we watched DDIL's sister age 30 die of
breast cancer. She drank socially on occasion so perhaps alcohol did
not play a role in her cancer or perhaps it did. A friend of mine who
is my age drinks almost daily. She was diagnosed with breast cancer
last March. Within one week she had one breast removed along with the
lymph nodes on that side - not a fun thing to do while undergoing
alcohol withdrawl. She just finished kemo but the prognosis is not good
and they may have to remove the other breast. Even then she may not
make it. The doctors told her the breast cancer was directly related to
her high alcohol consumption. Facing death at such a young age and know
you did it to yourself must be horrible! I really feel sorry for her.

Off to make dinner for myself.