Cold Turkey Worries

[ckdeuce]

I plan to quit tonight. I am a little scared. I'm 29 years old and have been drinking what I call heavy for about 10 years. I drink 6 - 10 beer nightly, every night. I have tried a couple of time before to quit, but I would be up all night and when I did sleep a little I would have some scary feelings / dreams. Can I quit cold turkey safely? I would rather stay away from the doctor as he is a family friend and I don't want to share my secret. Am I at a risk of all the horrible symptoms including coma, death and some of the other nasty things I have read about? I am very scared. Before I wouldn't try to take a night off because I could not sleep. Now that I am aware that I am a real alcoholic I am affraid that I might not wake up if I do get some sleep. Is 6-10 a night enough to make me go through extreme detox symtoms? What should I expect overnight and into the next few days. Should I have my wife with me at all times incase somthing BAD happens. Or am I just scared way to much. Where do I stand with others? Is 6-10 a huge amout compared to others? I know I have a lot of questions, but I'm scared and any comfort or information anyone may have for me would be a blessing. Thanks and God bless.

Chris

[Kit]

Dearest Chris, please try to calm down. I don't think it's as bad as all that. I am not a doctor, but I will tell you that I am a 125 lb woman who could drink 2 entire bottles of wine a a half a bottle of scotch in one evening and I didn't die when I quit. We are all built differently, but I don't think 6 to 10 beers will kill you if you stop -- I'm almost positive (like 100%). Trouble sleeping should end and weird dreams will come to a halt too. You need to see a doctor you feel comfortable with because it sounds like you have some real anxiety going on that may not be totally connected to your drinking. A doctor may want to prescribe something to help you with those panicky feelings that you get, especially at night. So Chris, look at this as a new beginning and rejoice in your decision to improve your life. You are onto something GOOD!!!!
Love, Kit

[GuyBlakeKett]

chris -

I'm so glad you posted, and kit, thanks so much for your good reply. I agree: it doesn't sound like you'll be physically at risk by stopping drinking the amount of beer you've been drinking. I understand the anxiety, however: this is a big step, no doubt about it. But good for you for realizing you want to make it! Here's what I would do. Tomorrow when you wake up (and you will) find out the nearest AA meeting and please, please, PLEASE go to it that day or night. Listen to the stories of the people you'll hear there, and make a pact with yourself to talk to at least ONE person in the room and get a phone number. Then make a plan to go to a meeting the next day, and CALL that person.

I too am not a doctor and this is not a medical site, so I don't want to advise you about anything about your physical health. If you do feel in acute physical distress - or have other health problems you haven't mentioned that require a doctor's attention - please contact your doctor or a health clinic for a checkup asap. But believe me, whatever you're facing right now, you can get through it. A whole new and much better world is waiting. Find out about that AA meeting tomorrow, okay? And go.

Please keep posting here. We're pulling for you. YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS AND YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

very best -
and prayers -

Guy

[ckdeuce]

Thank you. I feel better already. I've been wathching TV with my wife and run upstairs to check for replies each commercial! Sad huh? No.... This is great. I was thinking about having 2-3 tonight just to help me fall asleep, but after reading your replies I think I'm going to stick with my original plan to stay away from beer tonight. Thanks to both of you, I'll keep you posted. God bless.

[MaryP]

Dear chris,
im glad that you posted this because i am having the same worries! my friend and i finish almost a handle of rum a night and the shaking withdrawls are just getting way too bad, im quitting cold turkey. im having the same problem with sleeping and all i have are nightmares, its really scary if you could give me some advice/help it would be much appreciated.
im here for ya,
mary

[Dan]

Hi Mary.
Here's a link to read about the potential dangers of alcohol withdrawal.
http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/withd.../aa000125a.htm
Congratulations on your decision to stop. Please get medical attention if you feel you require it. Withdrawal from alcohol is a serious proposition.
Good luck, and take care. The unpleasant and uncomfortable feelings will go away soon.

[MaryP]

thanks for the site. im so glad that i only have mild withdrawal, how long do you think this hell will last?

[Dan]

Originally Posted by MaryP

thanks for the site. im so glad that i only have mild withdrawal, how long do you think this hell will last?

It's different for everyone Mary. After my last bender, it took about a week before I got what I could call a decent night's sleep. The first 3-5 days were the worst, as far as physical discomfort. It does end though. Your body is reacting in many ways. The sudden abscence of alcohol is like a shock. At the same time, it is cleansing itself, which explains that special kind of sweat
Keep posting, try and keep your mind off your symptoms as best you can, and remember to get medical attention, should you feel you need it.

[jpc2505]

CK, if checking messages constantly is sad than I'm pretty pititful at the moment...lol. I had a nearlly sleepless night last night (I'm quitting a nearly daily coke habit cold turkey), and some of the best advice I recieved was lack of sleep never killed anyone. Well, I'm living proof of that today! I finally went to sleep around 4am and the alarm clock wasn't a welcome sound this morning, but I woke up feeling so proud of myself. If it makes you feel any better you won't be the only one going through some late nights this week! I'm sure you can find me cruisin on here at 3am for the next few nights. The people on here are really great and this site has already helped me through some rough patches. I'm not feeling physically outstanding today, but mentally I'm as proud of myself as if I completed my PhD today...lol.

[MaryP]

i went to the doctor and he perscribed me larazapam, my shakes arent that bad anymore but for some reason i kinda feel drunk? i dunno

[MaryP]

phd w/ a coke withdrawal..haha. sorry if that offended you. well im here for ya! i dont feel that bad about not sleeping , just as long as a get a couple winks in tonight, but the nightmares are so scary i wake up shaking. but the doc said that those should go away

[mrousseau]

After years of not admitting my drinking problem I wa hospitalized for major surgery for my back. I went through withdrawal and DTs about the fourth day. I don't remember all of it but that is what my family told me it was. Six weeks later I thought I could have wine once in a while if I was careful. Nope. Then I read how dangerous DTs can be. Now I want to attempt cold turkey again but am afraid, even though I've only been back on the wine for about 3 months. Anyone know what to try? I guess I need to level with my personal doctor. He didn't know about this as he was not the surgeon. Help.

[GuyBlakeKett]

hey mrousseau -

well, you answered your own question. You need to level with your personal doctor. From the sound of it, I don't think you'll have a physical problem withdrawing from three months of drinking wine, but I don't know how much you've been drinking, and everybody's metabolism is different. This is not a medical site - and for questions like this, you really do have to get medical guidance. However, I can guarantee that one way or another you CAN (and if you want to, WILL) get through this. I hope you'll also check out AA very soon.

We're pulling for you.

best,
Guy

[Cherokee]

How long will the physical sick side effects last when Not using. 10 days and counting.... Cocaine, both powder and rock.

[GuyBlakeKett]

dear cherokee-

It's different for everybody, but within two or three weeks you'll see a big improvement - if not before. However some of the "sick feelings" are emotional - and I hope you'll start going to Cocaine Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings to deal with those - and help you to get the support you need as you climb out of the hole. It's also a very good idea to check in with your doctor right now: for a full medical checkup and informed guidance.

Pulling for you -

Guy

[Cherokee]

Thanks

[MaryP]

mrosseu...when i withdrew i also had the dts but i was at the hosptial so i was very well talekn care of , if youre withdrawling with dts i suggest get some medical attection because its a bunch of confusion and i dont know but me personally, i thought that people were talking all around me, it sucked, but it was only for like one night and if youre with medical attention they will give you meds so that youre either so relaxed and dont care about it or you fall asleep. please get medical attention if youre going to have dts. it helps to know you have a whole staff watching you and helping you through every step. hope this helps
much luv
mary

[coffeeman]

I am a 32 year old male. I have been drinking fairly heavily since university.(about 13 years) I would say I go through about 50-60 drinks a week. I will pretty much drink anything. My problem has gotten worse since my wife went back to wark after our third child. We work opposite shifts so I am left alone at night with the kids. I am noticing that I am starting to drink more and more to be satisfied with the effect. It is for this reason that I ve decided to quit. I am confident that I can but I was wondering how long I can expect the withdrawl symptoms to linger. If by chance I go 3 days without a drink (very rarely)I can become quite agitated and nevous although I have no problem sleeping or with bad dreams. Am I too confident that I can do this? Or will the syptoms worsen after 3 or 4 days?