Still feeling lousy
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: kenner, la
Posts: 25
Still feeling lousy
:wtf2Why don't I feel normal. It's been 23 days since my last drink and yet I still get dizzy disoriented and am very tired. How long is this going to last? I know I may have trouble knowing what normal feels like but it has got to be better than this. Why do I feel so frightened? I am trying to eat and rest properly but something just doesn't feel righ? Any suggestions?
Philippines/Canada
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 454
Well of coarse i will suggest see your doc for a little check up, but for me i didn't start feeling human for about 45 days. My liver also had much repair to do and this all takes time. Don't be afraid, the roller coaster is normal. 
Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 12,136
Are you familiar with PAWS symptoms? Google it if not and you may get some comfort knowing that what you are experiencing is normal. PAWS is the acronym for Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome.
Hang in there - yes, it does get better!
Hang in there - yes, it does get better!
Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: some where / no where
Posts: 1,019
Welcome to SR Mad1nola
I just want to echo what has already been said: Seeing your doctor is a very good idea. I suggest that you be honest with your doctor about your drinking and the symptoms you are feeling.
PAWS is normal, and it can be hellish. Hang in there. Do you have friends in recovery that you can speak with? Do you have support? Quitting can be rough for a while...but it will get better with time. I know for myself, I find this phrase helps me: "this too shall pass".
23 days is a great accomplishment. I hope you'll keep at it, and use this website for support and help. Many of us have been through similar struggles. We can get sober and stay sober together. You are not alone.
chip
I just want to echo what has already been said: Seeing your doctor is a very good idea. I suggest that you be honest with your doctor about your drinking and the symptoms you are feeling.
PAWS is normal, and it can be hellish. Hang in there. Do you have friends in recovery that you can speak with? Do you have support? Quitting can be rough for a while...but it will get better with time. I know for myself, I find this phrase helps me: "this too shall pass".
23 days is a great accomplishment. I hope you'll keep at it, and use this website for support and help. Many of us have been through similar struggles. We can get sober and stay sober together. You are not alone.
chip
Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Lake Tahoe CA
Posts: 1,098
Hi Mad1nola...
No suggestions or advice to offer. I am only to day 4 myself. 23 days seems awesome to me. Don't know about you, but I was drinking myself sick to try and feel normal for a long time. I would struggle to stay sober and do it for a week or two or three and then bring myself back beyond down and start the cycle all over again.
I have trouble posting and reaching out. The other night in the midst of some horrible withdrawals I impulsively clicked on chat. Lucky for me there were people there that were more then willing to help me get through the night. They did. I'm so grateful.
I also found myself going through some drama last night with my oldest son who is a pain pill addict. It got ugly both physically and emotionally. Again a member here helped me an incredible amount letting me know she was here for me. I got through the night, stayed
sober, found the strength that I needed to and even went to work today.
My point in my rambling is to ask you reach out. Just do. Keep posting, and talking and get to know these fine people on this forum. It is a great start. I hope someday soon that I will be speaking with a lot of sobriety and experience, rather than a wish and a prayer...get me through the next few hours!
No suggestions or advice to offer. I am only to day 4 myself. 23 days seems awesome to me. Don't know about you, but I was drinking myself sick to try and feel normal for a long time. I would struggle to stay sober and do it for a week or two or three and then bring myself back beyond down and start the cycle all over again.
I have trouble posting and reaching out. The other night in the midst of some horrible withdrawals I impulsively clicked on chat. Lucky for me there were people there that were more then willing to help me get through the night. They did. I'm so grateful.
I also found myself going through some drama last night with my oldest son who is a pain pill addict. It got ugly both physically and emotionally. Again a member here helped me an incredible amount letting me know she was here for me. I got through the night, stayed
sober, found the strength that I needed to and even went to work today.
My point in my rambling is to ask you reach out. Just do. Keep posting, and talking and get to know these fine people on this forum. It is a great start. I hope someday soon that I will be speaking with a lot of sobriety and experience, rather than a wish and a prayer...get me through the next few hours!
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
Here is a link to the PAWS info
Post Acute Withdrawl - Relapse Prevention Specialists - TLC The Living Center
For me....by 3 months into AA recovery
I was back in both mental and physical health.
Keep moving forward....you too can recover.
Post Acute Withdrawl - Relapse Prevention Specialists - TLC The Living Center
For me....by 3 months into AA recovery
I was back in both mental and physical health.
Keep moving forward....you too can recover.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 14
I feel lousy too. The worst part today is this hollow, empty, sick feeling in my stomach. I can't tell if it's because I miss vodka, or because I really miss the people that came with it- the ones I had to cut loose to try and fix myself.
Life the gift of recovery!
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Home is where the heart is
Posts: 7,061
Originally Posted by kpr27 
I feel lousy too. The worst part today is this hollow, empty, sick feeling in my stomach. I can't tell if it's because I miss vodka, or because I really miss the people that came with it- the ones I had to cut loose to try and fix myself.
The danger comes in when we start to forget the pain that drove us to quitting in the first place and let our minds concentrate on the "good" feelings and "good times" alcohol gave us. For me there was a period of time in my life where alcohol did represent "good times" and "good feelings" but I continued to try to get those times back well after alcohol stopped working for me. I spent over 15 years of my drinking career trying to find those "good times" again. Once the bottle turned on me there was no going back, I was only able to get glimpses of those times but never could quite get there.
I went through a grieving period when I stopped, I grieved the fact I could not drink like my normal drinker friends. I grieved for the inability to find those "good times" again. I grieved for all I had lost during my drinking: time with family, monetary items, friends, joy, and most of all myself.
I don't know if this makes sense or not but it seemed applicable to your situation in my eyes.
Om, Aum, Ohm...
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Punxsutawney/Pittsburgh
Posts: 4,797
Alcohol takes a toll on the body. I remember being hauled in after a post-drinking collapse and getting the most painful shot of my life -- vitamins, to shock my system back to some semblance of health. I was 20 years old.
Maybe time to see a doctor?
Peace & Love,
Sugah
Maybe time to see a doctor?
Peace & Love,
Sugah
Follow Directions!
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Fredericksburg, Va.
Posts: 9,730
First of all congrats on the days sober.
Second it is a really good idea to see a doctor and tell the doctor the WHOLE truth about how long and how much you drank and how long it has been since you quit.
Daily multi-vitamins and a B Complex vitamin daily will help, along with making sure you are drinking plenty of water and eating healthy.
Everyone is different, it took me over a month before the fog started to really clear, at 3 months sober I was thinking to myself I can not feel any better then I do now, my liver enzymes were back to normal, my liver was no longer tender and the swelling was going down. Well every month for over a year I kept noticing either physical or mental improvements and I still do.
As lovingseren said "It took a while for us to get sick, it will take a while for us to get better."
I will add, be patient, Time takes time, this to shall pass.
Second it is a really good idea to see a doctor and tell the doctor the WHOLE truth about how long and how much you drank and how long it has been since you quit.
Daily multi-vitamins and a B Complex vitamin daily will help, along with making sure you are drinking plenty of water and eating healthy.
Everyone is different, it took me over a month before the fog started to really clear, at 3 months sober I was thinking to myself I can not feel any better then I do now, my liver enzymes were back to normal, my liver was no longer tender and the swelling was going down. Well every month for over a year I kept noticing either physical or mental improvements and I still do.
As lovingseren said "It took a while for us to get sick, it will take a while for us to get better."
I will add, be patient, Time takes time, this to shall pass.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: NY
Posts: 179
I'm 76 days sober and I still get tired very easily. I do feel much better than I did at 30 days though. I got upset the other day and said I thought I would feel better by now. I had a group of 4 people in recovery rolling with laughter, they said they understood the feeling but it will take some time. It was suggested to me that I pray for patience. Congrats on the sober time!
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