breathing difficulty
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: jacksonville, florida
Posts: 3
breathing difficulty
ever since my father committed suicided about a year and 1/2 ago. i have been drunk 90% of the time. about half way thru, probably more, i noticed i had heavy breathing, and difficulty breathing. sometimes i cough just to get a full breath through my mouth (not my nose). (not to mention extreme insomnia, which ive always had, but far worst)
i want to get sober, and a few months ago i was able to quit for about 3 weeks, but i noticed the breathing problem was still there, some problems with my brother then happened and i failed, and began drinking again.
i have been to an asthma doctor, who told me asthma doesnt just happen out of nowhere, and an MD told me it may be a combination of alcoholism and stress/panic attack.
i just need some real life experience to help me as i attempt to sober up.
i want to get sober, and a few months ago i was able to quit for about 3 weeks, but i noticed the breathing problem was still there, some problems with my brother then happened and i failed, and began drinking again.
i have been to an asthma doctor, who told me asthma doesnt just happen out of nowhere, and an MD told me it may be a combination of alcoholism and stress/panic attack.
i just need some real life experience to help me as i attempt to sober up.
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
Welcome to SR!
Have you considered seeing a lung specialist?
Also...an addiction doctor would be wise.
Please do not try to de tox at home alone.
Too much alcohol intake for that to be safe.
Take care...keep posting
Have you considered seeing a lung specialist?
Also...an addiction doctor would be wise.
Please do not try to de tox at home alone.
Too much alcohol intake for that to be safe.
Take care...keep posting
Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: fumbling towards ecstasy
Posts: 2,551
Welcome to SR, Steal. Glad you're here. First and most important, please see a Dr. ASAP about your breathing (and alcohol!) problems. We are not doctors here on SR and no one can give you advice on that. It sounds like it could be very serious so I hope you talk with a qualified professional right away!
Second, I have found that virtually every problem in my life has gotten better just by maintaining sobriety and working an honest program of recovery. I do AA and NA, but there are lots of options available to you. Physical, mental, spirtual, relationship, financial problems and on and on and on - it ALL gets better if you are willing to do the work.
Hang in there and keep coming back, k?
Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: some where / no where
Posts: 1,019
Welcome to SR, Steal.
You've come to the right place if you want to get sober. You will find lot's of encouragement and support here. You will need to do the foot work though.
Right off the bat, I urge you to see a doctor about your breathing problem and addiciton(s). If you want to get sober, you will need a medical detox.
I hope you can get sober. Please keep us posted.
chip
You've come to the right place if you want to get sober. You will find lot's of encouragement and support here. You will need to do the foot work though.
Right off the bat, I urge you to see a doctor about your breathing problem and addiciton(s). If you want to get sober, you will need a medical detox.
I hope you can get sober. Please keep us posted.
chip
Follow Directions!
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Fredericksburg, Va.
Posts: 9,730
Welcome to SR steal, you have been given some excellent advice, see a doctor about both the drinking and the breathing issues, even if they are not related, the breathing issue will be easier to resolve with you sober.
See a doctor ASAP about both issues, we are here for support, AA, NA, and other groups are there for F2F support. I drank for 40 years and am now sober and happy thanks to AA, but use what you need, just keep in mind that no program will work for any one unless they follow directions and want to be and stay sober.
See a doctor ASAP about both issues, we are here for support, AA, NA, and other groups are there for F2F support. I drank for 40 years and am now sober and happy thanks to AA, but use what you need, just keep in mind that no program will work for any one unless they follow directions and want to be and stay sober.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Walden CO
Posts: 151
Welcome, Steal. I also want to encourage you to go to the doctor about your drinking and breathing problems. My dad committed suicide 14 1/2 years ago. I hadn't thought about it in a long time, but my response - in addition to drinking, was to itch horribly all over my arms and legs. My doctor said it was a type of anxiety attack and was my way of dealing with the trauma. For about two years I scratched till I bled (and progressively drank more and more). I'm sure your doctor can help you with both problems and hope you'll make that appointment sooner rather than later.
Let us hear how you're doing. Good luck!
Let us hear how you're doing. Good luck!
Guest
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 4,580
I will echo others..please see a doctor. I will note though that a woman I work with mentioned to me just yesterday that she just saw a doctor about recent breathing problems and he prescribed stress pills.
I will also echo that fact that absolutely everything has turned for the better in my world since giving up booze and heading to AA almost 2 months ago. I think that is largely due to the fact that it is I that am changing...my perspective and ability to work thru things. I can actually note progress almost everyday in my ability to cope without the synthetic coping mechanism of booze that doesn't solve a damn thing. I wish you well....
I will also echo that fact that absolutely everything has turned for the better in my world since giving up booze and heading to AA almost 2 months ago. I think that is largely due to the fact that it is I that am changing...my perspective and ability to work thru things. I can actually note progress almost everyday in my ability to cope without the synthetic coping mechanism of booze that doesn't solve a damn thing. I wish you well....
Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Istanbul
Posts: 124
As the other said. Please see a doctor firs. If it is not related to a physical ailment then it is panic attacks which I suffer. But I endure for the sake of being sober. I know they will pas as the time goes by.
Good luck keep us updated.
Good luck keep us updated.
3yrs and struggling
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: manchester
Posts: 12
hey ryhmes...
if i was you,i would go back to the doctors for a 2nd opion, unfortunately most doctors will not take you seriously if you have told them you have a drink problem and are continuing drinking, they seem to have the 'i cant help you if you dont help yourself first' attitude.
as for as the breathing problem a guy i know had similar problems to yourself which was caused after the shock of a relationship bust up,after seeing a pyshciatrist(spelling) he was put on medication and was sorted out.i should add that this guy is not an alcoholic though.
so just to reiterate what other posters have said...go back to the doctors dewd
mp
if i was you,i would go back to the doctors for a 2nd opion, unfortunately most doctors will not take you seriously if you have told them you have a drink problem and are continuing drinking, they seem to have the 'i cant help you if you dont help yourself first' attitude.
as for as the breathing problem a guy i know had similar problems to yourself which was caused after the shock of a relationship bust up,after seeing a pyshciatrist(spelling) he was put on medication and was sorted out.i should add that this guy is not an alcoholic though.
so just to reiterate what other posters have said...go back to the doctors dewd
mp
Last edited by manchester paul; 02-07-2007 at 09:09 AM. Reason: grammar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: jacksonville, florida
Posts: 3
wow thanks for all the responses.
the next doctor i plan on seeing is a psychiatrist, i dont have insurance however, and just started calling around recently, and the last place i called wanted 160 dollars for first visit. i cant really afford that, and as far as breathing experts go i wouldnt really be able to afford that, at least until after i sobered up for a while, to see if it would be necessary
i do buy into the panic/stress thing and hopefully a psychiatrist will be able to prescribe me something to help detox with, however like someone said they often don't take you seriously as a drunk, there are a lot of bad doctors out there and i have seen at least a few of them.
the worst is when they prescribe you things that i really think they know in their minds you don't need so that you will come back in for another 100 dollar or whatever appointment, to get the next script. but im not a doctor anyways.
ive been working on my house lately and cars because typically those are things i panic about not keeping up on, unfortunately only when ive been drinking i get much done, but i figure knowing i have a lot of these loose ends tied up it will be more possible to get sober, like the last near month period i was, i had less problems in my life, and worried less, so it was easier.
thanks again ill be reading if not posting
the next doctor i plan on seeing is a psychiatrist, i dont have insurance however, and just started calling around recently, and the last place i called wanted 160 dollars for first visit. i cant really afford that, and as far as breathing experts go i wouldnt really be able to afford that, at least until after i sobered up for a while, to see if it would be necessary
i do buy into the panic/stress thing and hopefully a psychiatrist will be able to prescribe me something to help detox with, however like someone said they often don't take you seriously as a drunk, there are a lot of bad doctors out there and i have seen at least a few of them.
the worst is when they prescribe you things that i really think they know in their minds you don't need so that you will come back in for another 100 dollar or whatever appointment, to get the next script. but im not a doctor anyways.
ive been working on my house lately and cars because typically those are things i panic about not keeping up on, unfortunately only when ive been drinking i get much done, but i figure knowing i have a lot of these loose ends tied up it will be more possible to get sober, like the last near month period i was, i had less problems in my life, and worried less, so it was easier.
thanks again ill be reading if not posting
Follow Directions!
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Fredericksburg, Va.
Posts: 9,730
Steal a lot of shrinks do not like us alkies because the ones of us that are honest with them are few and far between. So many of us have gone to them for help for everything from drinking to other problems that may or may not be related to drinking, but due to many of us not telling them the whole truth, they get frustrated with us.
You may want to call your social services and ask to speak to someone there that handles drug and alcohol abuse, they should be able to put you on to someplace or someone that can give you some good medical advice. As crazy as this sounds you may want to give your AA hotline a buzz and see if they may not be able to put you on to something.
You may want to call your social services and ask to speak to someone there that handles drug and alcohol abuse, they should be able to put you on to someplace or someone that can give you some good medical advice. As crazy as this sounds you may want to give your AA hotline a buzz and see if they may not be able to put you on to something.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SC
Posts: 43
It sounds like it could be very serious so I hope you talk with a qualified professional right away!
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*cant get the Quote thing to work right now*
I dont agree with the above statement and please be careful when u read boards like these. I do advise, as have others, seeing a doc to get an evaluation.
Can u describe in more detail what u mean when u say, "breathing problems"? I myself had these for years, and they were due to severe panic disorder and just generally having a prob with anxiety, esp in social situations of any kind whatsoever.
But, things arent always what they seem. It turned out I had late-stage Lyme disease, neurological involvement, one symptom of which is anxiety and panic attacks. I got treated for severe Lyme (diagnosed by GOD!), and the panic, anxiety and all accompanying hell slowly and surely totally vanished...! It was a miracle I never thought could or would ever happen for me.
Get checked out, but dont fall into negativity. And everyone different with withdrawing off booze.. ive been a drunk for 18 years and can still quit with just some minor discomfort. Others seem to need inpatient help after only a relatively short time of boozing.
I can drink a case of beer, or 10 beers and 6 double-shot BLoody Marys, and Im a female who well, used to weight 150 or so of mostly muscle.
Or 2 bottles champagne and a near 12 pack, and get up for work pretty fine the next day. Again, everybody is different. GOd bless you.
drunk
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*cant get the Quote thing to work right now*
I dont agree with the above statement and please be careful when u read boards like these. I do advise, as have others, seeing a doc to get an evaluation.
Can u describe in more detail what u mean when u say, "breathing problems"? I myself had these for years, and they were due to severe panic disorder and just generally having a prob with anxiety, esp in social situations of any kind whatsoever.
But, things arent always what they seem. It turned out I had late-stage Lyme disease, neurological involvement, one symptom of which is anxiety and panic attacks. I got treated for severe Lyme (diagnosed by GOD!), and the panic, anxiety and all accompanying hell slowly and surely totally vanished...! It was a miracle I never thought could or would ever happen for me.
Get checked out, but dont fall into negativity. And everyone different with withdrawing off booze.. ive been a drunk for 18 years and can still quit with just some minor discomfort. Others seem to need inpatient help after only a relatively short time of boozing.
I can drink a case of beer, or 10 beers and 6 double-shot BLoody Marys, and Im a female who well, used to weight 150 or so of mostly muscle.
Or 2 bottles champagne and a near 12 pack, and get up for work pretty fine the next day. Again, everybody is different. GOd bless you.
drunk
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: jacksonville, florida
Posts: 3
taz ive considered suicide survivor group and as im very agnostic id prefer that over something like AA. i need to try it out. and you are right about being honest with doctors, if they have a negative response (which ive seen more often then nought) then they are not the doc for me.
overcomer, to explain the breathing problems is hard, but basically i can breathe regularly but for the most part it doesnt feel satisfying, like it wont fill my lungs, unless i cough and cough then breathe into my mouth, full breaths thru only my nose are rare, but do happen. particularly when i have been drinking.
when i go a day without drinking, ill become so tired that my eyes cannot remain open, but when i reach that point to falling asleep, its almost like my body will stop breathing, at which point i snap back awake, and fail to get to sleep.
ive always had insomnia issues, i havent slept properly since before i was a teenager, and since my dad passed, i have a lot of nightmares and night terrors too, which wake me up, often in a gasping manner.
i have been severely inactive as well, which i know is not good for my respiratory overall. this is something i am trying to prioritize as i used to be a gym nut before the crap hit the fan, so to speak.
thanks again for the discussion
overcomer, to explain the breathing problems is hard, but basically i can breathe regularly but for the most part it doesnt feel satisfying, like it wont fill my lungs, unless i cough and cough then breathe into my mouth, full breaths thru only my nose are rare, but do happen. particularly when i have been drinking.
when i go a day without drinking, ill become so tired that my eyes cannot remain open, but when i reach that point to falling asleep, its almost like my body will stop breathing, at which point i snap back awake, and fail to get to sleep.
ive always had insomnia issues, i havent slept properly since before i was a teenager, and since my dad passed, i have a lot of nightmares and night terrors too, which wake me up, often in a gasping manner.
i have been severely inactive as well, which i know is not good for my respiratory overall. this is something i am trying to prioritize as i used to be a gym nut before the crap hit the fan, so to speak.
thanks again for the discussion
Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: ND
Posts: 44
Originally Posted by stealmyrhymes 
...when i reach that point to falling asleep, its almost like my body will stop breathing, at which point i snap back awake, and fail to get to sleep. ...
kp
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