yesterday was two weeks since my last drink...im29yrs old and i can't remember going two straight weeks w/out alcohol since before i was 15... for the past 7 or 8 years...i literally had a glass, a mug , or a small soda bottle consisting of vodka and diet ginger ale no more than five feet from my lips. i felt naked and scared to death w/ the thought of god forbid running out w/out back up. They know me by first name at all the local wine and spirits...anyway, like i was saying from the moment i woke up to the moment i went to sleep (and sometimes in between) i was drinking. i was such a lucid drunk no one (except some friends) had a clue.
ill spare u all the rest and bring u till today...two weeks ago i stayed at my parents house...i felt really funky when i woke up, sweaty but freezing, and kind of like my muscles kept tensing up...next thing i new i woke up in the er, not knowing where i was, what day it was ect. it kills me to think what i did to my parents who found me in my room not knowing if i was dead or alive. i spent 5 days in the hospital hooked up to iv's of saline and iron. i believe everything happens for a reason cause, as much as i new what i was doing to myself, tomorrow was always another day.
my withdraw since i got home from the hosp. has been almost unbearable. i've gained weight for no reason (oh and i've had an eating disorder for the past 16 yrs) so the weight gain thing is freaking me out. i feel like i have bugs crawling under my skin,which makes me unable to sleep, im anxious, ect.ect.like i said its been two weeks, when will my body be mine again? i will say this i will never pick up a drink again even if only to never feel like i do right now...thanks for listening...
ill spare u all the rest and bring u till today...two weeks ago i stayed at my parents house...i felt really funky when i woke up, sweaty but freezing, and kind of like my muscles kept tensing up...next thing i new i woke up in the er, not knowing where i was, what day it was ect. it kills me to think what i did to my parents who found me in my room not knowing if i was dead or alive. i spent 5 days in the hospital hooked up to iv's of saline and iron. i believe everything happens for a reason cause, as much as i new what i was doing to myself, tomorrow was always another day.
my withdraw since i got home from the hosp. has been almost unbearable. i've gained weight for no reason (oh and i've had an eating disorder for the past 16 yrs) so the weight gain thing is freaking me out. i feel like i have bugs crawling under my skin,which makes me unable to sleep, im anxious, ect.ect.like i said its been two weeks, when will my body be mine again? i will say this i will never pick up a drink again even if only to never feel like i do right now...thanks for listening...
I drank heavily for only about 8 months(about a liter of 100 proof/day), but I knew I had a problem, and constantly told myself I needed to quit, but could never do it. It got to the point where the alcohol did not even make me drunk, just terribly ill. My heart would pound just getting out of a chair and walking across a room. I was tired all the time. I could hardly take a drink without puking, but still I did.
I'm only on day 4, and on a very good diet. Feeling a lot better today. Symptoms like shaking and sweats, fatigue, nausea, tremors, etc. have just about stopped, but the severe anxiety attacks and depression are strong. I haven't had a good night's sleep yet. Vivid, hellish nightmares all night wake me up, and once awake, severe anxiety strikes so that I cannot get to sleep for a long while. Hopefully tonight will be better.
Good luck and God Bless to all those who are trying to quit as I am.
I'm only on day 4, and on a very good diet. Feeling a lot better today. Symptoms like shaking and sweats, fatigue, nausea, tremors, etc. have just about stopped, but the severe anxiety attacks and depression are strong. I haven't had a good night's sleep yet. Vivid, hellish nightmares all night wake me up, and once awake, severe anxiety strikes so that I cannot get to sleep for a long while. Hopefully tonight will be better.
Good luck and God Bless to all those who are trying to quit as I am.
Well I am two days into my alcahol withdrawl symptoms. shaky hands some vomiting, sweating, headaches, having trouble sleeping.
I took the last 2 days off of work because it is so difficult to function etc....
I have been a drinker all my life but in the last few months it got to be to much. Hopefully in a week I will feel better because this is miserable and I never want to go through this again.
I took the last 2 days off of work because it is so difficult to function etc....
I have been a drinker all my life but in the last few months it got to be to much. Hopefully in a week I will feel better because this is miserable and I never want to go through this again.
Why is everyone doing this cold turkey. There is medication that helps immensely with the withdrawal symptoms. They're anti-anxiety medicines and they work wonders. I can't even imagine having to go through it without the crutch.
Ask your doctor about Lorazepam or any other medication in the family of benzodiazepine drugs (Ativan is another).
I'm as amazed by the smokers who try and quit cold turkey when there are numberous FDA tested medications which make quitting 100 times easier (Zyban, Chiantix).
I've used both for quitting both (drinking and smoking) and I can honestly say it was very easy. Especially in comparison to what I'm reading here.
Ask your doctor about Lorazepam or any other medication in the family of benzodiazepine drugs (Ativan is another).
I'm as amazed by the smokers who try and quit cold turkey when there are numberous FDA tested medications which make quitting 100 times easier (Zyban, Chiantix).
I've used both for quitting both (drinking and smoking) and I can honestly say it was very easy. Especially in comparison to what I'm reading here.
Very true about the anti-anxiety meds and the Benzodiazepine family, especially Ativan. The shakes and nervousness and paranoia and fear all fade dramatically. Being experienced with Ativan, doctors will give about a 7 day supply where you are slowly weaned off of the drug. Even after heavy drinking and an all out pass out/drink rinse and repeat binge, an alcohol free week of ativan will have you feeling your old pre- drinking self, energized and in a calmer mental state. What you do after that is important, but a different thread. Also, very important to take B1 vitamins (the B vitamin with Thiamin, doctors will second this), and drink copious amounts of gatorade and water. You will heal much faster and be ready for a more permanent recovery.
If you feel up to it, exercise. Bike, run, jump rope, weights. Make yourself sweat until you are drenched (which you quickly will be) with, of course, plenty of water handy.
Best of luck to all.
If you feel up to it, exercise. Bike, run, jump rope, weights. Make yourself sweat until you are drenched (which you quickly will be) with, of course, plenty of water handy.
Best of luck to all.
Well,i've been trying since last August to stop drinking after waking up one night in an absolute spook thinkin' i was going mad.I'd tried quitting in the past without success,only to be binging for days at a time.My hangovers are not at all like they used to be.They are now filled with gloomy thoughts and severe anxiety.I've driven myself to the hospital a few weeks ago thinking i was gonna drop dead.Feelings of vibration all inside my body and going numb,blurred vision,hands curling up..Doc told me to stop drinking and drink lotsa Gatorade,Vitamin B1(Thiamine) and eat well.I'm 30 years old,and been drinkin' since the age of 13 but heavily since gettin' out of high school.I don't know the last time i've only had a few drinks.A few drinks will only keep me up when trying to go to sleep.I've always been the one who drank fast and to the point where i stop only when i've blacked out and passed out.And yes,waken up drenched in urine,More than once.I feel trapped cause i've been working as a bartender since getting out of college(not the place for one to work when tryin' to go clean).Any how, i'm in day 5 without and NYE. Having dizzy spells and waves of anxiety.I'm hoping this is not just another shot at trying to get rid of this nasty vice as a New Years resolution.No less,good luck to all whom are fighting these Booze Blues.
I'm glad I found this forum, I read all your stories and I recognized myself in many of them.
I've been drinking daily for around 9 years. At first I was averaging 4-5 drinks per night but it steadily increased and the past 6 months it was more like 11-15 every night (often that was my only dinner), more on weekends. And i'm really not a big guy (under 150 lbs) so it's a pretty massive amount for such a small body.
I know I had to quit for a long time and a couple of times managed to do it for short bursts (1 week), but not lately. Now my productivity started to be seriously affected. I was drinking so much that I'd wake up still drunk every morning, paranoid of police cars on my way to work, avoiding close contacts with people because I was told I was still smelling booze although I never drank before going to work. My life was horrible except for my few drunk hours in the evenings.
I would always try to cut down by buying a limited amount of beer but as soon as I'd open my last one, I knew it wouldn't be enough and I'd hop in my car to go get more, sometimes more than once in the same evening!
Sometimes I was so drunk, people would call me and I would have no recollection of it the next day... pretty pathetic. I hurt myself while drunk, burned myself, almost burned my home once, sleepwalked... Luckily, I never got caught driving, pretty much a miracle!! Then during the next day I would have this extreme anxiety, nasty panic attacks, severe shaking. I know my blood pressure was off the chart too.
Lately it was so out of control (my drinking and the symptoms the next day) that I finally decided to quit for good (hopefully!).
I'm completely sober for 4 full days now. I've done it by myself but I did take 1-2 benzo pills the first 36 hours (I was prescribed that a while ago for panic attacks, I only had a few left, that helped motivate me to quit drinking!).
The first day was pure hell, then as days go by, it gradually improves, especially the anxiety. I can't really sleep though, and I have these crazy dreams and nightmares. Sometimes I have these big spasms too. Morning are BAD! My hands are still shaky but not as much.
This time I feel I'm really serious about quitting. That's why I post here and I'll come back to let you know how it goes. I just really miss the feeling of drinking though. I hope that I can stay sober for a long time and eventually be able to share a drink normally with other people from time to time without relapsing and drink 15 every day.
Congratulations and/or good luck to all of you.
Chameleon
I've been drinking daily for around 9 years. At first I was averaging 4-5 drinks per night but it steadily increased and the past 6 months it was more like 11-15 every night (often that was my only dinner), more on weekends. And i'm really not a big guy (under 150 lbs) so it's a pretty massive amount for such a small body.
I know I had to quit for a long time and a couple of times managed to do it for short bursts (1 week), but not lately. Now my productivity started to be seriously affected. I was drinking so much that I'd wake up still drunk every morning, paranoid of police cars on my way to work, avoiding close contacts with people because I was told I was still smelling booze although I never drank before going to work. My life was horrible except for my few drunk hours in the evenings.
I would always try to cut down by buying a limited amount of beer but as soon as I'd open my last one, I knew it wouldn't be enough and I'd hop in my car to go get more, sometimes more than once in the same evening!
Sometimes I was so drunk, people would call me and I would have no recollection of it the next day... pretty pathetic. I hurt myself while drunk, burned myself, almost burned my home once, sleepwalked... Luckily, I never got caught driving, pretty much a miracle!! Then during the next day I would have this extreme anxiety, nasty panic attacks, severe shaking. I know my blood pressure was off the chart too.
Lately it was so out of control (my drinking and the symptoms the next day) that I finally decided to quit for good (hopefully!).
I'm completely sober for 4 full days now. I've done it by myself but I did take 1-2 benzo pills the first 36 hours (I was prescribed that a while ago for panic attacks, I only had a few left, that helped motivate me to quit drinking!).
The first day was pure hell, then as days go by, it gradually improves, especially the anxiety. I can't really sleep though, and I have these crazy dreams and nightmares. Sometimes I have these big spasms too. Morning are BAD! My hands are still shaky but not as much.
This time I feel I'm really serious about quitting. That's why I post here and I'll come back to let you know how it goes. I just really miss the feeling of drinking though. I hope that I can stay sober for a long time and eventually be able to share a drink normally with other people from time to time without relapsing and drink 15 every day.
Congratulations and/or good luck to all of you.
Chameleon
As noted, I've relapsed a couple times but have gone through withdraw three. There all terrible but this one is probably the worst I've had all the typical symptoms, anxiety, insomnia, but this time I start hearing things & I thought I saw somethings too. Wow, nothing like that has ever happened I thought I was losing my mind.
I glad I feel a lot better today. Got finally eat & she my girl. I am sick of feeling this way. There was a time I could drink & function like a normal person the next day....not anymore. Every time I pick up some vodka ...it's on. I get fueled up for a two-three week binge. Spend way too much money, have lost a career, job and two fiances because of this.
I always tell myself that I won't be that hung over the next day, but it's not like that 'cause I just pick up the bottle to try & chase that feeling away. Funny thing is that when I'm with my friends I might drink 5 beers, but When I"m alone...vodka, gin, whiskey, hell anything.
Worst thing is that I've alienated some excellent people in my life. My family is on the brink of just tossing me to the side 'cause I can't get my sh*t together. This is not the life I imagined.
None of us started out thinking we would ever feel such misery. Best luck to us all. I hope this helps someone, 'cause this site has moved me.
I glad I feel a lot better today. Got finally eat & she my girl. I am sick of feeling this way. There was a time I could drink & function like a normal person the next day....not anymore. Every time I pick up some vodka ...it's on. I get fueled up for a two-three week binge. Spend way too much money, have lost a career, job and two fiances because of this.
I always tell myself that I won't be that hung over the next day, but it's not like that 'cause I just pick up the bottle to try & chase that feeling away. Funny thing is that when I'm with my friends I might drink 5 beers, but When I"m alone...vodka, gin, whiskey, hell anything.
Worst thing is that I've alienated some excellent people in my life. My family is on the brink of just tossing me to the side 'cause I can't get my sh*t together. This is not the life I imagined.
None of us started out thinking we would ever feel such misery. Best luck to us all. I hope this helps someone, 'cause this site has moved me.
Well, quick update...
I still didn't drink since last time, it's been 8th straight days now. Things are MUCH easier now. The anxiety is pretty much gone, shaking is greatly reduced too. I would just LOVE to have some alcohol (I miss it so much!!!) but I stay strong. I just drink a lot of water and coke and eat a lot.
The worst thing is at night, I can't sleep!! I can't fall asleep until very late in the middle of the night and I wake up constantly. I have crazy dreams too. And I feel like sh*t in the morning when it's time to get up. But after 30 minutes or so I'm feeling much better. All this lack of sleep makes me lazy though, and I have no patience and I can quickly get in a bad mood.
I'll be back later with another update!
-Chameleon (sober for 8 days now)
I still didn't drink since last time, it's been 8th straight days now. Things are MUCH easier now. The anxiety is pretty much gone, shaking is greatly reduced too. I would just LOVE to have some alcohol (I miss it so much!!!) but I stay strong. I just drink a lot of water and coke and eat a lot.
The worst thing is at night, I can't sleep!! I can't fall asleep until very late in the middle of the night and I wake up constantly. I have crazy dreams too. And I feel like sh*t in the morning when it's time to get up. But after 30 minutes or so I'm feeling much better. All this lack of sleep makes me lazy though, and I have no patience and I can quickly get in a bad mood.
I'll be back later with another update!
-Chameleon (sober for 8 days now)
Chameleon: Serious congratulations are in order for your 8 days. I read this entire thread and your story was most similar to mine. Of course, everyone experiences withdrawal in different ways and every symptom should be considered serious.
I stumbled upon this site while searching for alcoholism and pancreatitis. After three months of being in intense pain, doctor's visits, multiple radiology testing, er visits and finally and endoscopy last week, I have been told that I have a problem with my pancreas that has affected my stomach lining as well as my esophagus. I am awaiting additional pathology results from the endoscopy and CT scan (I will hear this week) but the specialist told me that from the inside, I look like someone who is a long-term alcohol abuser. I finally came clean to a physician and admitted how much I drink.
I am 29, started around 16 years of age and have progressed to consuming about 7 - 10 vodka drinks each weekday night and all day on Saturday and Sunday.
Mondays at work are always the worse because I am coming off a weekend binge (oh and people tell me I smell of booze to even though I don't drink before work).
I experience a wide range of withdrawal symptoms from extreme nausea, throwing up, intense tremors, depression, anxiety attacks, hallucinations, etc. I experience some form each morning but they are worse depending on how much I had to drink the night before. Not fun. I have strained relationships and have humiliated myself far more times than I can count. This ride has not been a good one whatsoever and yet; I continue to crave and to drink regardless. Until now that is.
I am going to put myself back out there and try and stop once again. It is a painful notion to consider and I do not feel that I am strong enough but my health is being seriously affected and I now realize that I could actually die from this disease at an early age. There is so much more I want out of life. I have been with a wonderful man for 7 years and we want to get married and start a family.
I know what its like to go through withdrawal but only short-term. It's the psychological portion of the long-term I fear the most. I have taken into consideration many of the remedies people have mentioned here. Fortunately, I do have a rather prescription for xanax, so if I find that I need to utilize that medication in the beginning, I will.
Thank you to everyone who has shared their experience on this board. Now that I am finally serious about quitting again, reading all of this today has truly helped me.
Good Luck!
I stumbled upon this site while searching for alcoholism and pancreatitis. After three months of being in intense pain, doctor's visits, multiple radiology testing, er visits and finally and endoscopy last week, I have been told that I have a problem with my pancreas that has affected my stomach lining as well as my esophagus. I am awaiting additional pathology results from the endoscopy and CT scan (I will hear this week) but the specialist told me that from the inside, I look like someone who is a long-term alcohol abuser. I finally came clean to a physician and admitted how much I drink.
I am 29, started around 16 years of age and have progressed to consuming about 7 - 10 vodka drinks each weekday night and all day on Saturday and Sunday.
Mondays at work are always the worse because I am coming off a weekend binge (oh and people tell me I smell of booze to even though I don't drink before work).
I experience a wide range of withdrawal symptoms from extreme nausea, throwing up, intense tremors, depression, anxiety attacks, hallucinations, etc. I experience some form each morning but they are worse depending on how much I had to drink the night before. Not fun. I have strained relationships and have humiliated myself far more times than I can count. This ride has not been a good one whatsoever and yet; I continue to crave and to drink regardless. Until now that is.
I am going to put myself back out there and try and stop once again. It is a painful notion to consider and I do not feel that I am strong enough but my health is being seriously affected and I now realize that I could actually die from this disease at an early age. There is so much more I want out of life. I have been with a wonderful man for 7 years and we want to get married and start a family.
I know what its like to go through withdrawal but only short-term. It's the psychological portion of the long-term I fear the most. I have taken into consideration many of the remedies people have mentioned here. Fortunately, I do have a rather prescription for xanax, so if I find that I need to utilize that medication in the beginning, I will.
Thank you to everyone who has shared their experience on this board. Now that I am finally serious about quitting again, reading all of this today has truly helped me.
Good Luck!
Hi, I'm 32 and have been drinking since 17 until now, the usual progression. For the past 3/4 years heavily (4+ cans of super strength during the day and a bottle of whisky a night sometimes more). I could mention many reasons to stop, a friend pancreas is buggered he needs to have the middle removed, he's been on a drip 5 months now to get him strong enough for the op. My best friends mother is almost dead, lost my licence my job and my girlfriend of 5 years. However I just decided I'm going to stop, as I did of heroin MY OWN DECISION. I find people trying to get you to stop only pushes you further into your hole. I've seen my GP and have been prescribed CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE - ORAL (Librium) 30mg 3 times a day and 2 if awaken a night(if only I could be in a position to be awoken), under supervised detox they'll give 50mg 4 times a day. Also thiamine and Prozac. Sorry if most of you know this already. It’s been 5 days now and I've only has a few hours sleep (night mares and soaking wet beds) but feel the drugs have helped so much. I do think I'm going beat this although the thought of never drinking again FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE scares me to death. Reading your posts almost made my chuckle as its I've written it myself. Thank you for your posts they've helped me so mushhelped so much
QUOTE---- Ask your doctor about Lorazepam or any other medication in the family of benzodiazepine drugs (Ativan is another).
I thought Lorazepam and Ativan are one of the same thing, as Dieazepam is to Valium. Please tell me if im wrong, i thought ativan was no longer in use in the UK
Trying to keep my self busy to day i stumbled upon a full bottle of whisky, I paused a few minautes before pouring it down the sink
I thought Lorazepam and Ativan are one of the same thing, as Dieazepam is to Valium. Please tell me if im wrong, i thought ativan was no longer in use in the UK
Trying to keep my self busy to day i stumbled upon a full bottle of whisky, I paused a few minautes before pouring it down the sink
hi guys
i was a heavy drinker that gave up cold turkey
i was a heavy drinker that gave up cold turkey
Hey guys! What's up?!
Well I feel ashamed but I'll be honest here, I drank again, this coworker came back from vacation and brought me a bottle of expensive whiskey from the UK, I said thanks and of course I got home and drank most of it. I felt bad the next day, but there was some left in the bottle when I got home, so the next day I drank it, and i had to go get some beer cuz it wasn't enough... Anyway, so I bought too much beer last night and today i had some left, I drank it then i had to go for more... pathetic, I know, but I'll get myself together tomorrow and stop again.
I apologize for relapsing! I hope next time will be the right time! I just can't lie to you all!
Well I feel ashamed but I'll be honest here, I drank again, this coworker came back from vacation and brought me a bottle of expensive whiskey from the UK, I said thanks and of course I got home and drank most of it. I felt bad the next day, but there was some left in the bottle when I got home, so the next day I drank it, and i had to go get some beer cuz it wasn't enough... Anyway, so I bought too much beer last night and today i had some left, I drank it then i had to go for more... pathetic, I know, but I'll get myself together tomorrow and stop again.
I apologize for relapsing! I hope next time will be the right time! I just can't lie to you all!
Hey all. I'm not as heavy drinker as some on here, but I know I need to stop before it gets that out of hand. I would have 4 to 6 beers a night and am finally trying to cut down gradually as to avoid some of the symptoms people have spoken of here.
The first week was rough. Cut down to 2 a night and was having the same crazy dreams/night sweats/insomnia people speak of on here. My overall plan is to do 2 a night for the rest of this month, 1 a night in february, and sober in march.
One trick I will mention to those trying to quit is to drink sparkling water rather than reaching for a beer. The fizzyness is kinda like a beer, and it's just as refreshing. It won't help with the physical withdrawls of course, but it helps with the habitual aspect of it.
The first week was rough. Cut down to 2 a night and was having the same crazy dreams/night sweats/insomnia people speak of on here. My overall plan is to do 2 a night for the rest of this month, 1 a night in february, and sober in march.
One trick I will mention to those trying to quit is to drink sparkling water rather than reaching for a beer. The fizzyness is kinda like a beer, and it's just as refreshing. It won't help with the physical withdrawls of course, but it helps with the habitual aspect of it.