I'm Back Again But...

[BaxtersDad]

Before I left for Arizona last November, I had laid down 8 quarts of JD nuked bourbon. I was really looking forward to enjoying it, and I still may, but...last blood test when I got home in April showed elevated liver enzymes. I had been popping Tylenol like M&Ms for knee pain (bone on bone arthritis in both knees), and Doc said that certainly could account for the elevated liver enzymes, but just to be safe, no alcohol either, test again in a few months. So I have stopped both Tylenol and alcohol. Problem is, if blood test comes back good, how will I know which one it was? I know for sure I won't go back to Tylenol, and will definitely try to moderate the alcohol. Damn!

[Twisted Brick]

Do not despair, BD!

A number of years back, elevated liver enzymes dictated I clean up my act for a while too. After six weeks of no alcohol, plenty of water and a few sweaty jogs a week my liver had refreshed/repaired itself. Now that I know how well it works, I practice this little drinking hiatus annually.

Get yourself a dedicated water glass and reach for it regularly the next 6 weeks and you'll come out good as new.

After many years of skiing steep moguls and playing basketball regularly until I was 50, my knees are pretty arthritic too. Condroitin/glucosimine works wonders.

[HDNB]

tylenol and alcohol are a recipe for disaster. never, ever consume them both in the same 24 hr period.

if you need a pain killer and have consumed booze in the last day (or night before), you are much better off with advil.

neither is good for you, but tylenol is metabolized by the liver, as is booze...too much toxicity for the little guy. advil is metabolized thru kidneys, so is a safer bet.

[Bushman]

BaxtersDad send me a PM lets get back together maybe drive down together to the PNW meet & greet.

[OtisT]

Tylenol can be terrible for you even if you don’t drink alcohol with it. If you are taking Tylenol you should be drinking a LOT of water with it to help flush it out of your system.

I hope your break from both gets your system back in shape.

Otis

[6 Row Joe]

I too have had elevated levels. I also take Ibuprofen for knee, hip, and back pain. Drink a lot of water regardless and I have been taking herbal Milk Thistle. It seems to have helped.

[dieselduo]

+1 on the milk thistle

[BaxtersDad]

I appreciate all the advice. It is a little more complicated on the pain killers. Maybe TMI but I have had several severe GI bleeds in the last few years, and the doc says the only pain killer that does not aggravate GI bleeds is Tylenol. So any other pain killer is not an option. I was taking a LOT of Tylenol, and now I am off it, probably for good. I am not drinking for the time being but I don't see that as a permanent lifestyle change. I was consuming about the same amount of alcohol for years before the last blood test without elevated liver enzymes, so I am pretty sure it was mainly the Tylenol. But it looks like no Tylenol and moderating the alcohol will be a permanent lifestyle change for me.

[NZChris]

Have you tried fasting? Fasting can sort out a lot of problems as long as you don't overdo it or get sucked into some of the silly advice available on the net.

[BaxtersDad]

Have you tried fasting? Fasting can sort out a lot of problems as long as you don't overdo it or get sucked into some of the silly advice available on the net.

Have not tried fasting. That would be the trifecta! No pain killers, no booze and no food! Just kidding. I am trying to drink a lot more water. You would think it would be easy...

[BaxtersDad]

WOW! I last posted here in 2019...

I last distilled in 2018 according to my notebook. I made 10 quarts of "nuclear" whiskey with Jack Daniels BBQ chips, of which 1 precious quart remains.

Yesterday I ordered a new 3" pot still with the dial thermometer from Mile Hi to go with my old Mile Hi 8 gallon milk can. I am anxious to get going again but back in January I sustained a fractured femur during a knee replacement, so I am non-weight-bearing until some time in April. On the brighter side I have had both knees replaced and so no bone-on-bone arthritis pain.

I still have the Mile Hi 2" pot still but somehow I am a bit reluctant to put it on Craigslist or FB Marketplace!

I have a 50 lb bag of cracked corn. I need to get a bag of malted 2 row barley and some yeast.

Sadly, my 17 year old Lhasa Apso Baxter whose photo is my avatar crossed the Rainbow Bridge March 2nd. I miss the little guy like crazy.

[Deplorable]

Welcome back. Life just ain't the same without a dog around. Sounds like a top priority once you're up and able.

[Bradster68]

Welcome back

[Twisted Brick]

Sorry to hear of your loss, BaxtersDad. I bet those 17 years together made a raft of incredible memories.

There are quite a number of PNW members here. Maybe you can list your 2" still in the HD classifieds?

[BaxtersDad]

Thanks all! I REALLY miss the little guy. There will be another dog at some point to fill the hole in my heart but not ready yet. NOT going to change my user name!

[bigDave]

Hey BD, know you from the BB days. Haven't had a crawfish boil since. Sorry about your loss, and hope you overcome your issues. Still in seattle if you ever come down.