Its been about 60 hours since my last drink i think. Prior to that i was blacked out for maybe 8-10 days. Dont remember much at all. Probably drank over 5 gallons of hard liquor in that time. Before this bender ive probably been averaging 4-10 drinks for a little more then 10 years. Im aged 27. The shakes are managable but a few hours ago i had a pretty gnarly muscle spasm in my arm and hand. Could this be part of the anxiety attacks I've been having? Has enough time passed to not worry about seizures? And trust me people. I know if i dont get sober I'll probably die. Sobriety for life is my goal. When the shakes slow and my speach is normal and my pouring sweat and anxiety slows Im starting a few programs.
Wow! Next time around get ahold of your doc and at least get some benzos to help you out. That's a rough ride, pal.
I'd suggest you check out the medical support options for post detox. Are you UK or US?
US. So healthcare for me isnt too much of an option unless its dire. A friend stocked me up with some vitamins she said theyd probably give me in the hospital. Dont think theyve helped. On the bender i only ate once so im sure thats added to the issues.
Ya, you need an Ativan! Been through what you're going through, including the blackouts.
At 72 hours, I would say your good, but of course I am not a doctor and everyone is different, I can only speak from what I have been through. Try to get an Ativan, drink some chamomile tea, as much water as you can handle, and little bits of food.
Thanks. Ive been working thru a lot of fruit and juices.an atavan sounds great but no way of getting one
Alcohol withdrawal can be deadly due to the siezures, so that rates as dire. Really, next time around just get someone to take you to emergency or call 911.
Take the thiamine if nothing else, but if there's a b-complex, take some of that too. Too much b-complex makes me sluggish, so if it has 1000's of percent RDA of the b vitamins, perhaps one every 2nd or 3rd day, but the thiamine (b1) is very important. Others may come in with some additional recommendations, but it sounds like you're past the worst part. Do try to get some food down, or even some gatorade, broth, easy stuff.
I hear you saying that you're aiming for sobriety and I hope you get there. Detox and abstinence doesn't have the best success record so a "Plan B" might well be in order. If you can manage to stay dry, maybe with some social support (AA, SMART Recovery, secular non-12 step, etc.) then roll with it.
There are meds to help you stay in control after detox. Campral is one of them. The Sinclair Method is one you can use if you feel you're about to break abstinence, not while you're abstinent. Take some of the money that you're going to save on drinking and try to track down a doc that knows about these meds and how to use them. Again, if you can manage without, so much the better. But if you start drinking again, you may well accelerate beyone your prior drinking levels, so you want to be ready to tap your doc and quash it fast.
That being said, congratulations on kicking the bottle to the curb. Do you have some more time to rest and take care of yourself? You've been through quite a trial.
You can just go to a walk in clinic, tell them what you're experiencing and they will def perscribe you one. But I know what its like to not want to leave the house while withdrawling.
Why no healthcare? Obamacare?
thanks. Havs b complex, zinc, and some random multivitamins. I have a list of AA and NA meetings near by. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to leave the house without anxiety attacks to get that started. Im unemployed ar rhe moment so thankfully I can submerge myself in those. I'll definitely look into those other programs. Thank you very much!
You betcha and good luck.
Campral is a med you take a few times a day while you're dry, takes a couple of weeks to kick in and it kills your drinking triggers. The Sinclair Method is outlined here, since you're abstinent it's not going to be of immediate use, but it would be good to know the principal behind it just in case you need such an option in the future:
https://patient.info/health/sinclair-method-for-alcohol-use-disorder
That covers a couple of the meds that are available for after detox. If you can manage with AA/NA (SMART Recovery might be something to check out too), you're good to go, but if you find yourself relapsing in those programs (which many do), be ready to move on to your next option.
I Hope you're feeling much better tomorrow. If the panic attacks are still a problem, maybe look for some L-theanine. Some pharmacies might have it, but I'm fairly sure a health food store would. It doesn't work for everyone, but when it does, it gets stellar marks.
Drew I'm from the bay area and just moved up to the great white north of Warshington. This forum helps and has gotten me through a lot of crazy things. I'm exactly 10 years older than you and I know what you are going through and I'm sorry bUT you are moving forward. I landed once in the ER and once again 2 and 1/2 months ago when I moved up here. Listen to the advice here and it will help. Fluids,food, vitamins,and keeping yourself busy can help so much. Talk soon.
Hi I can't advise on the various treatments etc. The worst times l find are when you have nothing to do. To break this habit is hard, keeping yourself busy helps to take your mind off the demon.
Go for it.
Wow! Good for you. I never had withdrawals that bad. Sounds really rough. Keep going and I really have nothing else to add since I agree with what everyone else wrote. Just want to show my support and wish you luck. You can do this!
Smile ☺
Welcome!
I believe the muscle spasms are from dehydration.
Drink plenty of fluids..you are really not out of the "seizure" danger zone yet until past the 3 rd day..Usually the 3rd day is the worst danger...which you are at in this moment.
I would say from experience..that 27 is young and hopefully and possibly you will not have a seizure....I don't have any medical information for the reason I think you will not have a seizure...except for my personal experience.
For years and years...AND YEARS...I have drank tremendous amounts. I did not experience seizures during withdrawals until the last 2 years....and I have been to the hospital at least 7 times in the last 2 years due to drinking and wanting a medical detox...only ONE TIME out of those 7 times did I have a real seizure.
I had brain trembles prior to that...the shaking, the muscle freezes...but the seizures never came...I did have hallucinations....probably 4 out of the 7 times...I was told it is very RARE for seizures to occur...but very possible based on the amounts I was drinking (and you were drinking).
I will also tell you from experience....i think that by Day 5...you will just start feeling better and for me the anxiety did not lift totally for about 2 weeks..but did ease up after the first week...(I think we bring much of the anxiety on ourselves with all the worry we have during the first few days of recovery...like are we going to make it? are we going to have a seizure? should I have gone to the hospital? am I ever going to feel better again?).
I'm glad you have a plan...I'm glad you found us...and don't give up on sobriety..put as much effort into it as you did drinking...all the work we do to keep drinking is ridiculous...life gets easier sober....
Congrats on 3 DAYS!
Thank you! Thst makes me feel mucb better. I have a friend who had seizures due to a brain tumor and the description sounds rather similarly scary. But i already have came to the conclusion Im my own worst enemy.
Thank you. This means a lot. This js the hardest thing ive ever done. All the support really brings tears to my eyes.
Thank you.
Thank you. Ive landed my self 4 times in the ER on drug overdoses. This doesnt even compare.
hi dREW. I am joining late and the other have given brilliant advice..take advice from your doctor and this seems very very serious..i cannot really advice you since I was never blacked out for 8 to 10 days and had to work, drive etc and could not have done that AND my wife would have found out....keep trying but the suffering, sweating and dizziness is horrible!! best of luck to you! Robin
Hope your feeling better.