3rd january 2009, a date now lives on in infamy. well at least for me it does. to everyone else, it would mean nothing more than any of the 364 other days of the year.
for me though, this date signifies the last time a drop of alcohol passed my lips.
I'd like to say I made the choice myself, and that it was an act of measuring my own willpower, but if I said that, I would be lying to you.
my reason for giving up god's golden nectar, was solely and purely down to medical conditions, for you see, for purposes which won't be divulged here, I was placed on a course of methotrexate treatment by my consultant.
I had been given a booklet beforehand explaining to me the risks and possible benefits of taking methotrexate, and took this boolet home to digest the information.
upon returning to see my consultant, I ran my feelings past him one last time, and then decided to take the ultimate plunge into the relative unknown (for me anyway) by agreeing to the course.
he wrote me a prescription for the drug itself, and then gave me blood sample bags, along with a sheet I had to take to the x-ray department for a chest examination. I suddenly started to feel a bit anxious and he assured me that these steps were purely routine.
it was only after I had calmed down and was ready to make my way to the x-ray department that he laid the ultimate bombshell on me.... I would have to give up alcohol. I felt the blood drain from my face.
as I was making my way to the x-ray section, I started to put things into perspective and assured myself that I had to get my priorities right, and that my main priority was taking this medication that would hopefully help me get to where I want to be physically.
with my newly instilled sense of purpose, I headed to the x-ray department and checked in. I was sat there for what seemed like an age, but was probably only there for about 5 minutes before I was called in for my x-ray.
the waiting was the hard part, because when I got in there, it was just a matter of taking my shirt off and standing against a wall, aafter about 30 seconds I was done and was told I could leave.
from there I proceeded to the blood test room, which inconveniently was on the other side of the hospital, and believe me, hope hospital in salford is one hell of a big place.
I never had any problems with needles, so I knew the worst was behind me. I made my way there and had the samles drawn from me, then proceeded to the pharmacy to get my course of medication. this is where I really had to wait for an age, I think I was sat in the pharmacy for about 40 minutes, all for the sake of 2 5mg pills. what these pharmacists get up to while taking all that time is beyond me, maybe they have got a ping-pong table back there or something.
I took the pills home and "popped" the first one after some last minute considerations. I was half expecting something to happen, maybe an allergic reaction, but nothing happened so I forgot about it.
a week went by, and I took the second one and waited for the following week to arrive so I could go back to my consultant and see if there were any reactions.
I was disappointed to realise that nothing had happened, even though I had been told that it could be up to 3 months or more before I start seeing the benefit.
I was given an examination and was given the all clear, at which point my dose was increased to 10mg weekly dose.
over the following months, I would return and would be given the green light again and again, to where I am at now, on a 20mg a week dose.in the 6 months I have been on the drug, I can say I have noticed an improvement, but I'm disappointed somewhat as to its overall effectiveness. some days my situation feels better, while others it doesn't, going to the point where if anything, it feels worse.
I don't know how long I am expecting to be on methotrexate for, that is at the discretion of my consultant. I'm hoping that it is not for too much longer, but I wouldn't be surprised if I am told I need to stay on the course.
and what of the lack of alcohol in my life? do I miss it?
well, the answer to that question has to be yes and no. I miss alcohol for the social aspects, I find myself having to try harder to enjoy nights out with friends while they are all getting plastered. but as for the after effects, feeling rough the morning after, and the occasional hangover, do I miss that? I don't miss it in the slightest.
my friends always keep asking me how long am I likely to be on my medication, and each time I can only reply "I don't know". it is more frustrating for me having to put up with them getting drunk while I have to drink orange, than it is vice-versa.
being on methotrexate isn't all bad news though, some good has actually come out of it. most noticably the weight I have lost. I have lost the best part of a stone in weight though just giving up alcohol alone. another good thing to come out of it, is all the money I'm saving. when I was drinking, I could get through £15-£20 just on beer alone. now I am just drinking orange cordial, which costs between 50p and £1 per pint, and seeing that I have 3-4 pints per night at most, I'm spending less than £5.
as much money as I am saving though, I can't deny the fact that I am fast getting fed up of drinking orange every week. I might have to start drinking blackcurrent juice for a while :).
well, that's the story of my last 6 months on the wagon, hopefully I won't be on it forever.
