Bob22

I really need help bad. I have been sick for about a month. 3 days ago I took a whole bottle of code medicine throughout the day. The next day I took vicodin and cough medicine throughout the day, about 12 pills in a 24 hour period. Yesterday I took about 4 vicodin, last one being at 8pm. I also stopped drinking 3 days ago because of the meds. I have been drinking my whole life, in the past 10 years about 5 or 6 vodka drinks a night, I am 47. Only going one or two days at most without drinking.

At around 9pm last night I felt like something was wrong with me. I had cold sweats, could not sleep. Every time I shut my eyes there were racing images. I did not sleep all night and felt like I was going crazy and was having an anxiety attack. I finally went to the ER around 4 in the morning. They did nothing for me, said it might be the vicodin. They did run blood work that came back fine.

I have now been home all day hoping this would go away but I still have the Anxiety, Cold Sweats, Fearful feelings I am going to lose my mind. No appetite which has never happened to me. I am really in bad shape. I have now been thinking that it may be because of me quitting drinking 3 days ago. I feel like I need to be in a hospital, but also feel that I might be able to pull through this if I could know what it is.

Any help would mean the world to me!! And I have said this before in my life, but after the way I feel now, I will never, ever drink again!!!

Is there anything I can do at home to ease this! Please!!!!

Thank you!!!!!!!!

laurie6781

There are many things that could still happen to you while detoxing.

And now you are going to be detoxing off the alcohol and the medications.

If you have no one to stay with you, please call 911 and have them take
you to the ER.

We cannot give medical advice, however,it is very important that you get
to an ER as soon as possible. Detoxing from alcohol can be deadly.

Love and hugs,

BabyJane

Go to a different hospital, tell them you are trying to detox and you need help. They will assist you - most hospitals have a psyche / addiction specialist. I'm surprised the other hospital didn't send one in to speak with you but you need professional help. Don't wait. I agree with the above advice. It is serious.

IWillWin

Bob - if I were in your position and feeling as you say I would head straight back to the hospital.

Be honest about ALL that is going on and hopefully they will help you detox from all substances safely.

Withdrawal and detox are no joke. Best of luck to you ...

hypochondriac

Did you tell them at the ER that you'd stopped drinking Bob? x

Bob22

Thank you everyone!

liv1ce

The ER is generally to figure out whether or not you have a really serious life threatening issue which unless the one you went to is really incompetent should clear you for fearing for your life. The blood work also was in balance so that is probably good.

Given that then the issue would seem to be with what you have been taking or what you have stopped taking and either way it seems like a lot.

You say that you have been drinking all your life and have 5 or 6 drinks a night. This doesn't say a lot as most of us when indicating how much we drink will undershoot it just for good measure. "A couple of drinks" can be anything from 2 to 20. Your admission also doesn't tell how strong they are. I could drink "a couple of drinks" that might be 4 to 5 but I would drink at least a fifth of bourbon in doing so.

You also indicate that you have been "sick for about a month." Sick with what? Cough medicine is for a cough and vicodin is for pain so why the mix? Sounds like something that should have been brought to a Dr.'s attention. Has it?

Either way it sounds like a chemical brew that could be giving you trouble along with possibly withdrawal from a long standing alcohol habit.

If it doesn't show signs of easing up then I would get to a Dr. that knows you if possible and he/she can guide you through it. You will need to be totally honest if you do.

By the way I also have drugged and drank myself into a few symptoms as well so am responding from experience.

Bob22

No I didn't but I just called them and told them. They really don't seem to give a dam and said come in if you feel like it. I am trying to comb down now as that seems to be the main thing right now. I never have gone to the er for anything. Thank you!

Bob22

Thank you very much for the reply liv1ce, I guess the main thing I have this weak feeling in my head and shoulders if that makes scenes. It is bringing on the anxiety. No appetite and nausea sometimes.

I would say I drink about 8 oz. of vodka a night.

I have been sick with a cold and now bronchitis. I was taking the vicodin and cold medicine together to help my cough.

Thank you again so much!!!

Bob22

The doctor did check my liver and said the numbers looked ok. I have to also say I remember have this same experience with Marijuana, I am very sensitive to it and could never smoke it. That is why I thought the drugs might be the problem. But I haven't had any drugs in like 18 hours.

hypochondriac

Try not to worry too much about it but I think it'd be good to go back to ER. If nothing else it will put your mind at ease. There is always going to be some unpleasantness giving up drinking so it may be nothing to worry about but it always best to be on the safe side x

Bob22

Thanks Hypo,

I have been looking for all the medication I have taken in the last 3 days and here it is.

1 12 oz bottle of Nyquil. 1 4 oz. bottle of Robitussin DM about 15 hydrocodone apap 5-500 (Vicodin) and advil in between.

After looking at that list I am really thinking it is the meds. My blood Pressure is staying constant. Bought the blood pressure gauge to help me get in shape about 1 years ago. (How'd that work out)

I can say this, and I have never been so serious. I am done with booze. I always say I am going to give it up someday, but knowing now that I might have to go through this is enough for me. I would rather be in a war zone. Really!

Thank you again all of you. I seem to be able to calm down a little after writing on here. Deep breathes also help.

I really don't want to go back to that hospital the way they treated me in there and the way they sounded on the phone when I called. really sad that people have to go through that. I really feel bad for people worse off then me.

Bob22

And one 12 hour mucinex.

Delilah1

I would definitely go back to the hospital and tell them everything you took, they can help with some of the physical symptoms and anxiety. They may also be able to have a counselor they can recommend.

Let us know how you are doing.

wpainterw

Bob: We're not competent, nor are we allowed, to give out medical advice. From what you tell us it sounds to me, as a layman, and from my own experience, that you may be suffering from a combination of detox from alcohol as well as various cold medications and painkillers. I cannot and should not say whether your condition is such as to warrant another trip to the ER but, if it were me, I would go, if not to the one you contacted earlier, then to another one. You can give up the booze if you really want to but as you know that takes some doing and usually requires some sort of program and help. If and when you seek further medical advice it will be no good for you, or even dangerous, unless you tell them honestly everything you have been taking and how much.

W.

Dee74

great advice here Bob.
If you feel in the least concerned, seek medical help again.

It really is the best option

D

liv1ce

I can understand what you said in not wanting to go back to the hospital. You go in there feeling scared, embarrassed and stupid and may have felt that you were treated like just another "alky" or "druggy" which isn't very fulfilling.

I think you can also see how symptoms become magnified when they rattle around inside just one head. When "spoken" so to speak in a forum like this and having someone else come back and say "been there done that" all of a sudden it seems a little smaller.

It seems by your writing that you are feeling a little more calm. That makes it easier to assess what you feel and make decisions.

It will take much longer than 18 hours for you to detox so if you are to follow through on your own just realize that. You have a lot of years to get out of your system in stimulants but also in habitual behavior. There are a myriad of symptoms that seem unique to each of us in appearance, severity and duration. I am sure that you can get a few to chip in on what they experienced. Mine were extreme restlessness, itching, sneezing, lethargy, feelings of being lost and hopeless and insomnia that didn't let go for 3 months.

That is sort of the easy part as you also will feel ready to quit now but as you feel better the beast will niggle at you to start again. You will wonder if your life can ever be "happy" or "fun" again without additional stimulus. All that will dissolve your resolve. It will seem easy to fall back in the rabbit hole again.

It is easy to quit when you feel really shiity. stick with it and it will indeed get better. That never fails. There is a really nice world waiting for you that will seem very different. Just stay with us here and we will help.

Bob22

Thanks you again everyone! I made it through the night. Hot and cold flashes. Hot and cold sweats. I sleep most of the night. My heart rate is down to 80 from a constant 90 yesterday. I do still feel heavy feeling that makes me anxious but not as bad as yesterday. My appetite is not back yet but I did eat because I feel I should?

The funny thing is, after I eat, about 20 minutes later I start to feel worse. That is what I am dealing with now.

I am hoping tomorrow brings something better.

And just so everyone knows, I am being completely honest here. I am an alcoholic but I never abused drugs. The only reason I took all these meds this past couple days was because of this cold I have been dealing with.

Thank you so much for all your support! I really need it!!!

Bob22

Just to add, I ate one egg, i white toast with butter and one glass of Orange Juice.

liv1ce

Are you still feeling that you are done drinking?