i want to stop!!!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: uk
Posts: 2
i want to stop!!!
hi, in new on here, have been reading other posts and love this site. I tried to go cold turkey last week and thought i was dieing had to call an ambulance, i didnt say what id done ( i know stupid ) since then ive been to a alcohol and drugs resource centre who have told me i carnt just stop and need to cut down ( ive cut down from nearly 1 litre of vodka to half a litre ) but i want to stop i dont want to try cold turkey again without medical help, but they wont give me a referral, ive been to by doctor who has sent a letter to my local nhs detox hospital. I just phoned them and they said i can get in if i get referred from the resource centre who wont give me a referral until i go there and find the reason why i started drinking and cut down, they say this is the only way to make sure i dont go back to drinking, which makes sence i guess, but i know im ready now, i just want to stop but im being told to drink which makes so sence. Also by doctor said she isnt allowed to give me a perscription for anything to help with withdrawal symptoms. Ive phoned private rehab places but at £2.500 is out of my league.
anyone had the same experience as me?
anyone had the same experience as me?
Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: basking ridge, nj
Posts: 37
Hi DV, SAme boat kinda
I so want to stop as well. Very scared of detox/withdrawals. I'm going to start tonight and see how bad I get over the weekend. Hopefully will get through ok. once on the otherside though I fear so much too...
God bless you and my thoughts are with you..
God bless you and my thoughts are with you..
Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Michigan
Posts: 758
It sounds like you certianlly need to find another centre that's for sure. If they are telling you that you can't stop and just to cut down then its sounds like they don't have much experience with recovery if you ask me.
As much as your drinking just stopping cold turkey could be dangerouse without some doctors care. I was drinking about the same as you when I stopped and I managed to come through it okay, but not going to a doctor first was probably not the smartest thing I have ever done.
I would go back to your doctor and explain to him that you can't afford to go to somewhere that costs £2.500 but that your serious about getting sober. Most doctors can offer some sort of advice on a place to go where it ethier wont cost as much, or they can point you in the right direction to get some sort of financial aid if need be.
Do you have any AA mettings in your local area? if so then not only will that be a good step in the right direction, but its free and some people there I'm sure would be able to give you some help as to a place to detox that might not be as much as the one you looked into.
Steve
As much as your drinking just stopping cold turkey could be dangerouse without some doctors care. I was drinking about the same as you when I stopped and I managed to come through it okay, but not going to a doctor first was probably not the smartest thing I have ever done.
I would go back to your doctor and explain to him that you can't afford to go to somewhere that costs £2.500 but that your serious about getting sober. Most doctors can offer some sort of advice on a place to go where it ethier wont cost as much, or they can point you in the right direction to get some sort of financial aid if need be.
Do you have any AA mettings in your local area? if so then not only will that be a good step in the right direction, but its free and some people there I'm sure would be able to give you some help as to a place to detox that might not be as much as the one you looked into.
Steve
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Portugal
Posts: 104
Hi and welcome!
What a frustrating situation!
I don't have any specific advice to offer but I want to wish you all the best in your recovery! It sounds like you are determined which is fantastic!
I did want to ask though - Did you go to the resource centre a second time, with your doctors referral and the fact that you have cut your drinking in half over the past week? If you take all that and really have a search about why you think you started drinking, continued drinking and why you are ready to stop, and tell them that as well. And tell them you are willing to go to AA (if you are of course).... If they still refuse you the referral then I am really baffled as to who would be eligible.
I imagine they just don't have the resources to accomodate every remorseful drunk with a half hearted attitude so if you show them you really mean it - and you do really mean it - then hopefully if you are lucky you will get to go to a nhs detox facility.
Of they don't refer you maybe go back to your doctor and speak with him/her again as to what other options you have.
I wish you all the best - good luck! and keep us posted!
I'll be thinkin of ya!
What a frustrating situation!
I don't have any specific advice to offer but I want to wish you all the best in your recovery! It sounds like you are determined which is fantastic!
I did want to ask though - Did you go to the resource centre a second time, with your doctors referral and the fact that you have cut your drinking in half over the past week? If you take all that and really have a search about why you think you started drinking, continued drinking and why you are ready to stop, and tell them that as well. And tell them you are willing to go to AA (if you are of course).... If they still refuse you the referral then I am really baffled as to who would be eligible.
I imagine they just don't have the resources to accomodate every remorseful drunk with a half hearted attitude so if you show them you really mean it - and you do really mean it - then hopefully if you are lucky you will get to go to a nhs detox facility.
Of they don't refer you maybe go back to your doctor and speak with him/her again as to what other options you have.
I wish you all the best - good luck! and keep us posted!
I'll be thinkin of ya!
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
Welcome to SR and our Alcoholism Forum....
I don't know about medical resources in the UK
but some of our members who live there
will likely be along to share with you.
Please see if there is information on this link
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org....r/videoh.shtml
I also know the local AA members in your area
can give you practical advice...
They are there to help struggleing alcoholics.
Hope you will stay here with us
and all my best with your quitting....
I don't know about medical resources in the UK
but some of our members who live there
will likely be along to share with you.
Please see if there is information on this link
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org....r/videoh.shtml
I also know the local AA members in your area
can give you practical advice...
They are there to help struggleing alcoholics.
Hope you will stay here with us
and all my best with your quitting....
Last edited by CarolD; 05-01-2009 at 10:42 AM. Reason: Typo Corrections
Into the light ....
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Florida
Posts: 12
I'm going through a simular situation but due to my insurance. My insurance says that I have to attend and "fail out" of outpatient treatments before they will pay for anything requiring hospitalization. But I did the outpatient about a year ago and then relapsed. The outpatient program won't take me back (they let me in last time even though it's normally a court ordered thing so I guess I have to break the law to get in again *sighs* they don't want to make an exception again for me)and I have to have "failed out" within 6 months of requesting rehab or detox. They really do seem to make it impossible!
Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 106
I'm sorry about your last experience. It sounded pretty awful. Generally I would say it's best not to go cold turkey as it really is very bad for you not to mention scary and horrible.
You need to be monitored if you have a physical dependency on alcohol when you stop or it can be dangerous.
I live in the UK and I know how crappy some advice you get is. My Doctor suggested I cut down which is nonsense to alcoholics. If we could cut down we wouldn't have a problem at all! It's a shame that some professionals still don't know this.
But that doesn't help you right now.
You could take yourself to A&E or an emergency care centre over the bank holiday. I understand that sometimes they are unsympathetic to us a client group but the GPs surgeries will be closed and you could use this to your advantage.
Try and talk with the doctor there. Mention that going cold turkey made you really unwell and you've heard it can be dangerous if not fatal just to stop but you really want to as it is making you so ill. You might find that they may give you some medication to help with withdrawals. If you can add another complaint (such as gastritis etc.,) all the betterthey might even admit you for some treatment if they think you're unwell. But please do try and get to an AA meeting as well. There are online lists of meetings for the UK.
Alcoholics Anonymous. How to find AA in England. The meeting list
Check in with us here too and the best of luck to you!
You need to be monitored if you have a physical dependency on alcohol when you stop or it can be dangerous.
I live in the UK and I know how crappy some advice you get is. My Doctor suggested I cut down which is nonsense to alcoholics. If we could cut down we wouldn't have a problem at all! It's a shame that some professionals still don't know this.
But that doesn't help you right now.
You could take yourself to A&E or an emergency care centre over the bank holiday. I understand that sometimes they are unsympathetic to us a client group but the GPs surgeries will be closed and you could use this to your advantage.
Try and talk with the doctor there. Mention that going cold turkey made you really unwell and you've heard it can be dangerous if not fatal just to stop but you really want to as it is making you so ill. You might find that they may give you some medication to help with withdrawals. If you can add another complaint (such as gastritis etc.,) all the betterthey might even admit you for some treatment if they think you're unwell. But please do try and get to an AA meeting as well. There are online lists of meetings for the UK.
Alcoholics Anonymous. How to find AA in England. The meeting list
Check in with us here too and the best of luck to you!
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
hmmm....
In the US the Salvation Army has many
free programs for alcoholics.....includeing de tox facilities.
They have been dealing with active alcoholism for years
and have an excellent reputation for assistance.....
This may not be the way they do things in the UK
I simplly don't know.
I do think anyone interested should check out Sally.
In the US the Salvation Army has many
free programs for alcoholics.....includeing de tox facilities.
They have been dealing with active alcoholism for years
and have an excellent reputation for assistance.....
This may not be the way they do things in the UK
I simplly don't know.
I do think anyone interested should check out Sally.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 88
detoxvirgin -- I was in a VERY similar situation 3 weeks ago where I could not afford in-patient detox and my doc would not prescribe a benzo that would allow me to detox at home (which I have done many times). In fact, my doc told me KEEP DRINKING until I could medically detox with a benzo.
I drank a liter of vodka per day and tried cold turkey, but the physical and mental pain was too much -- and too dangerous.
In the US, we have specialists for addiction called "addictionologists." These are usually MDs that had their own addicition problems at one time. I went to see one here in Atlanta and she prescribed Xanax for me to medically detox at home. This was very inexpensive compared to any in-patient detox program.
If you drink a liter per day (as I was), your body is very dependent on the ethanol. You are at highest risk during days 3-5.
Seek out a psychiatrist that treats anxiety or an addictionologist that treats addiction. Both can prescribe benzos. I think this is the cheapest and safest way to go.
Best of luck and keep us posted.
/RHN
I drank a liter of vodka per day and tried cold turkey, but the physical and mental pain was too much -- and too dangerous.
In the US, we have specialists for addiction called "addictionologists." These are usually MDs that had their own addicition problems at one time. I went to see one here in Atlanta and she prescribed Xanax for me to medically detox at home. This was very inexpensive compared to any in-patient detox program.
If you drink a liter per day (as I was), your body is very dependent on the ethanol. You are at highest risk during days 3-5.
Seek out a psychiatrist that treats anxiety or an addictionologist that treats addiction. Both can prescribe benzos. I think this is the cheapest and safest way to go.
Best of luck and keep us posted.
/RHN
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: uk
Posts: 2
its me again
thank you for all your posts, still in the same situation got no referral drinking about half a litre of vodka ( but drank more over the weekend ) raineydae you said in your post its mad to tell an alcoholic to cut down if we could we wouldnt have this problem... so true, i just want help but not getting it, really dont know what to do next.
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