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My darling husband just celebrated his one year birthday sober. I sort of felt that we caught his alcoholism early, because though he had been drinking heavily for about 4 years, it had only bothered me or him for a short time. It hadn't really damaged our relationship much (we have been a couple for 12 years), and now in recovery we are stronger than ever. He had started having memory problems, but he was back to his brilliant self after just a few months sober. Today he told me he has been having chest pains for about a month. He had been ignoring them, but they are getting worse, so he can't ignore them anymore. He is making an appointment for a physical next week, and I am scared. I know a few years of heavy drinking could have really hurt his heart, and it all depends on genetics and whatever other factors I can't predict or control. I don't know what I expect in terms of response, I guess I am just venting, since we are still anonymous to most of our friends and family.
I really don't feel that most people understand how dangerous a poison alcohol is, I sure didn't.
I am sorry to read that your hubby is experiencing some health issues. Time to buckle down and use your alaon tools. Remembering that we are powerless, stay in the moment and in the day, do not project, say the serenity prayer and up your meetings.
There's a better chance that it is something gastrointestinal leading to heart burn or that it's anxiety related as he's been drinking and covering up feelings and ignoring body pains and such for a while and still only sober 1 year. It took me a while to get used to living in a sober body and knowing which aches and pains were really serious and which were normal. I was freaking out. He will probably be okay and it will be minor or nothing serious. It is a blessing he is sober so he can get appropriate care rather than just be drunk, ignore it, and possibly let it get worse. So what ever it is, you will both be better prepped to accept life on life's terms due to your alanon program and his AA program. Prayers for you and him.
My husband has been in recovery for about 7 years, and he is feeling things in his body he was not aware of prior to recovery. He now gets anxious and scared (sometimes wakes up with panic attacks, gets it checked out, and so far, all is well. I have learned to listen, affirm, support, then go about my business. I know we can deal with whatever comes along. Sometimes I think the body says, finally, I can talk and be heard. Just like us, when we feel safe, we can speak. Good for him for making the appointment...keep in touch.
I agree with PC and Paula....finally his body is free to express itself....I remember when I first got into recovery and realized that I had EMOTIONS......even tho I am alanoner and not AA its kinda the same thing...all those stuffed emotions, that I numbed out by fantasy, tv, day dreaming, self medicating at times w/beer, especially on weekends...work was my distraction during the week.......ANYthing to not have to face my pain that was roaring within me.
THEN I get into recovery and I face the pain..the past and all its horror....the life time of being sick, being so filled w/anger and grief , I had to let it out (anger) in pieces or it would blow me up, I felt.....I cried for the first time, really, in 2004..2 years and about 2 months into recovery.....wow....about 12 hrs. of sobbing....I felt AWFUL in recovery for the first , say, 3 years or so b/c I had SO much to release me from and to release me from its gnawing pain
Trust me, you always feel worse b/4 you feel better when working an intense recovery program.....Glad U are addressing this now than later, and drinking can really upset the digestive system, it does not have to be the heart.....I really think he caught up w/it and addressed it in time....
you two have a great prognosis as long as he is in recovery and facing his day to day issues w/his program working for him and yours for you...........
sending him and you continued healing energy and good luck at the doc's office....I really don't get any vibrations that this is serious....could be his nerves b/c he was drinking for a while and the nerves are impacted, during the drinking and when he stopped...Its an adjustment the body has to "catch up" on......when I get sick w/my ptsd and anxiety, i feel llike my heart is going wrong and it is not
good luck....
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Live and let live and do it with peace and goodwill to all!!!!
