- Alcohol
- Friends & Family
- Mental Health
Submitted by: Susanne Johnson
Physical and Mental sickness had taken its toll on me. I was stressed out professionally and personally. Between being overweight and having a lack of sleep I was not able or willing to finish my work. I would show up to work late or return to the office and try to sleep and return back to my route. Because I was drinking daily and in poor health, I was finally told to go St Paul’s Hospital on July 6 2008.
I had waken up early one Sunday morning in pain after a few hours of sleep. Drinking was no longer easing my pain and I could not fall back to sleep. Watching TV was not helping. So I thought if I could talk to someone from health services it might help. I spoke with with the on-call nurse and she said that I had to go to hospital right away; she had to talk me in to doing it. So I called and went outside to wait for the ambulance. I did not want to wake anyone up. I was still in denial of how serious it was.
I was taken to Saint Paul’s Hospital by an ambulance and as I was been admitted, I got the dry heaves. The doctors had done some tests and taken some X-rays. I was seated in the waiting area for the results. It as the longest day of my life. I thought that it was late in the afternoon but then I found out it was only about 10 am. The doctor said that I should have seen a doctor sooner about my condition and was upset with me. He said that I may need surgery and the that my pancreas was swollen, that more tests would be need to be taken, and that I would have to stay in the hospital.
I was given meds to help me with the pain and deal with alcohol withdrawal. On the third day, I went for more tests and was on standby. They had stopped giving me meds for my anxiety. About 3:30 I had a panic attack, so I notified the nurse. She said that I would have to wait till the on-call doctor arrived. An hour later she said that doctor approved some meds for me.
I was released Wednesday afternoon. My sister Lisa picked me up and drove me home. My friend of 30 years, Gail, had found out that I was in the hospital and came to visit me. Gail and I worked and partied hard together in our past. The stories that we could tell are good, bad and funny.
Gail was clean and sober for years by that point. After telling her what happened, she asked if I was DONE and if I would be interested in going to a 12-step support group with her. I said that I would like to go to a meeting with her. She was happy to hear that I was willing to check it out. She took me some weeks later to an evening meeting of a 12-step fellowship.
I started going to meetings and completed the steps and after that things got better. I met someone and she worked as a nurse, which was very helpful to me. She went with me to doctor visits and helped me overcome my fear. I had four operations in a five month period after I was over two years sober. I am a displaced meter reader and returned to the mail room of the company, where I work today.
My family has been supportive in my recovery. I did not go to treatment, just went to 12-step meetings. I have not relapsed so far and it has been a roller coaster ride. I just held on to my seat and reached out for help during difficult times. I have returned to photography and like to help out in the kitchen, like to do the prep work. I am a movie buff and love to go to the theatre, movie in the park and also drive-in theaters.
On January 6th I celebrated 7 1/2 years of recovery, taking it one day at a time. I just sold my house, and I am starting a new chapter in my life and looking forward to it.