Saturday 7 May 2016

Saturday mornings

I love Saturday mornings.

Back in 2014, when I did my first sober stretch (Dry July) I wrote my first blog post. It was also my first sober Saturday, and I was so excited to be there. I was on day 5 and it was all so new, and I remember the amazing feeling of experiencing my first sober Saturday since... forever!!

I love waking up without a hangover and having a little sleep-in, and then catching up on all my sober blogs.

It's just so lovely not having to worry about how much I drank the night before. Not having to do any damage control from a drunken argument with my husband the night before.

Saturday mornings are just so much better all round.

I thought I should right this down, because if I ever decide that drinking again on the weekend would be okay, I can refer back to this post and knock some sense back into myself!

I am so tired though! I haven't been sleeping well, and it's catching up with me. I thought by now I would be refreshed and energised but instead, I am constantly tired and it's beginning to show. I look just as bad as I did when I was drinking. It's so not fair!

I had an MRI recently for my hip pain, and it showed that I have two torn tendons in my hip/buttock area. It can be really painful, especially at night, and it's getting me down. I am waiting to get an appointment with an orthopaedic clinic to see what treatment options are available, but until then, I have to put up with the pain. It is so depressing because I want to exercise but I can't.

Despite this though, I am not drinking. In the old days, it would have been a great excuse to feel sorry for myself and to get stuck into the wine every night.  Now, it's not even an option. It would only make me feel worse and I so don't want to go back there.

So, even though I am tired, and I admit, feeling a bit sorry for myself, I am so thankful to be sober on this beautiful Saturday morning.

Day 167.


24 comments:

  1. Weekends with no hangover is one of the best parts I think. I hope your hip recovers soon!

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    1. Thanks Pdtg. I hope it gets better soon too. Waking up without a hangover never gets old does it?! A x

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  2. I am sorry about your hip pain! I also had hip pain and it showed a swollen sacariliac! I know how it can wake you up! I totally feel for you! And 167 days! Woohoo! I hope I get there! xo

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    1. Thanks Sa53, it sucks to have pain doesn't it? How was yours treated and is it ok now? A x

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    2. I just did a course of Physical Therapy. I was leary. But I must say, it did help. It's not 100% but much better. It only hurts when I sit or lie down. Standing relieves the pain. They also wanted me to take Mobid (a prescription anti-inflammatory) for 30 days. But I didn't...My friend is an NP and she told me that it could really mess up your stomach. So, I took it for a week and I felt no difference so I discontinued it. I hope you get to the orthopedic clinic soon!!! Your hip tendon issue must be very painful!!! xo

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  3. Oh Angie I do hope you get some resolution to your pain. I had a grade 3 ligament tear in my ankle and the pain was whiteout material. I can't imagine having it go on and on, poor you. I will keep you on my thoughts and send you virtual hugs.

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    1. Thanks Ginger. How was you ankle treated? Is it ok now? I'm just waiting for an appointment now, hopefully I won't have to wait too long. A x

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  4. Right there with you on sleep. And that stinks that you have to deal with pain on top of it. You have a terrific attitude to be able to turn that around and be grateful!

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    1. Thanks Ripley, I'm trying to have a positive attitude and to be grateful. It works sometimes. Thanks for your support. A x

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  5. Chronic pain is the worst. No escaping it, makes me crazy when I have experienced it. I find it distorts everything! I hope you feel better soon or can at least manage it! I think, though, that the late forties is the beginning of sleep issues regardless and you have pain on top of that! No wonder you can't sleep. If you really have issues sleeping, find some sort of sleep aid that let's you get a good rest every now and again so you don't have to turn to the alcohol! Thinking about you! And I hear you on Saturday mornings. This is my second one and I, too, am glad for no damage control necessity!

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    1. You are so right, pain distorts everything! I get quite depressed sometimes. I hate the thought of having MORE sleep issues now that I'm getting older! It's so unfair! Good on you for your second sober Saturday! A x

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  6. Hi Angie!
    I think the lesson I am learning is even though I have pain, no sleep, ups and downs, it is so much easier to deal with these things without drinking.
    It really is.
    I love Saturday mornings too!
    xo
    Wendy

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    1. Yes Wendy, everything is that bit easier to deal with when you aren't drinking! I just get down sometimes because I am not feeling better. I thought I would be in the best health of my life having given up the booze. Sadly this is not the case. But I just have to remind myself that there are others worse off than me. A x

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  7. Congratulations on day 167! I just found your blog, it gives me hope. I'm so sorry to hear about your pain and hope you get relief from it soon. Being in pain and not being able to exercise is so frustrating. I've been using wine as pain / sleep medication for the last few months and let's just say it hasn't helped!

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    1. Thanks IH. I used wine to help me sleep for many many years, but I only ended up feeling worse and worse. Even though I am not sleeping well and am tired all the time, it's still better than drinking every night. How are you going? A x

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  8. I love this! Congrats on your accomplishment! You're so right about sleep and the tendency to feel sorry for ourselves when things don't go our way. I often felt like I "deserved" it. I am tired of thinking that I deserve purple poison.

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    1. Thanks CFC, I know, funny how we feel we deserved a substance that is essentially poison! That's what keeps me from going back to it, knowing that it is a poison that doesn't agree with me. A x

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  9. Hi Angie,

    I found your blog a little while ago and have been dipping in and out but have decided to go back to your original "Dry July" post and read forward. I have had many many day 1's and finally got to my first ever AA meeting on Tuesday which freaked me out a little but probably what I needed as I just keep stopping/starting and only building a week or so before busting. Today is day 2. I'm not sure whether AA is for me but I think I'll go again just a bit scary as a newbie. Like you I wear many hats - 2 part time jobs plus study and I have hidden the extent of my drinking over several years - it really seemed to gain momentum after I had my kids as a way of coping. Anyway I am so looking forward to reading about your journey and really hope that you can get some relief from your hip pain - I have lower back issues so can relate to the frustration. Thanks for sharing your story and I can only hope to get to day 167 one day - JB xo

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    1. Hi JB, that's great you got to an AA meeting. I have been wanting to go for a while but haven't worked up the courage yet. I might try and go and get a 6 month chip!
      You sound very busy! I have one part-time job and that stresses me out!
      I have lower back pain too that has come and gone over the years but seems to come more often than not these days. It's awful isn't it?! I sometimes feel like I'm falling apart :(
      Day 2 is great. Keep going. It is so worth it. A x

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  10. Chronic pain is debilitating...I have a friend who has just revealed she's now hooked on prescription pain killers and i get how easy it would be to go down that path. Funny I've just realised that i think we might live in the same city reading your previous posts. I'm planning on checking out the meeting in the cbd one day soon so when i get the courage i will let you know about the general vibe. I'm also in my 40s with a 7 and 9 yo and seems we have a lot in common. I love your writing and your journey is so inspiring. Thank you for your encouragement Angie...trying to take baby steps here on day 3 JB xo

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  11. Chronic pain is debilitating...I have a friend who has just revealed she's now hooked on prescription pain killers and i get how easy it would be to go down that path. Funny I've just realised that i think we might live in the same city reading your previous posts. I'm planning on checking out the meeting in the cbd one day soon so when i get the courage i will let you know about the general vibe. I'm also in my 40s with a 7 and 9 yo and seems we have a lot in common. I love your writing and your journey is so inspiring. Thank you for your encouragement Angie...trying to take baby steps here on day 3 JB xo

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    1. So exciting to have another blogger in Australia! Is it the 12.30 meeting you are talking about? That's one I've been thinking of going to because it's during the day. Yes, let me know how it goes, I'm curious! A x

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  12. That is the one! I'll let you know how it goes if i muster the courage to get there this week or next xo

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