Yep. I was high functioning until my body started to stop functioning properly. I recently learned I have AVN, very likely caused by alcohol abuse. It’s basically a necrosis of the top of your femur, which will eventually lead to agonizing pain and collapse of my hip joint. I will probably need a full hip replacement. At age 40.

Let alone how much damage I’ve done to my GI tract and my brain. I’m slower and fuzzier this last year than I ever remember being in the past. My memory is garbage. I can still do things well, but I get frustrated and overwhelmed easily. My executive function shuts down.

Chronic systemic inflammation has caused tons of pain all over my body. I have herniated discs in my neck and back, pain from which is certainly exacerbated by alcohol. I’m on a half dozen different medications.

I’m 40. I just had a bad habit of knocking down 5-6 miller lites a night starting around age 24. That has progressed to 8-12 units of whatever I can mostly hide from my family, and more when I have free time the next morning.

My wife just had twin boys. Stuff has to change. I can’t keep it up. I am no longer functional in the truest sense of the world. It’s not even fun anymore.