withdrawal symptoms?
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 1
withdrawal symptoms?
Just to start im not looking for medical advice, just advice. I am seeing my doctor this week.
So for the last two years or so I have been drinking rather heavily. It started off as just 3 nights a week having maybe 2 bottles of wine a night. Now i am at the point where im drinking up to a bottle of vodka straight 2 or 3 nights a week and about 1-2 bottles of wine on my "hungover days".
Lately when im hungover i have been experiencing muscle spasms in my sleep where my head will jerk a couple times on the pillow and my arms and legs jerk or tense up. Im quite concerned that this may be withdrawal seizures, but i dont know because i've never actually experienced a seizure before. They only last about 5 to 10 seconds.
Has anyone else experienced this? I am going to get a referral from my doctor for detox, just looking for other peoples experience.
So for the last two years or so I have been drinking rather heavily. It started off as just 3 nights a week having maybe 2 bottles of wine a night. Now i am at the point where im drinking up to a bottle of vodka straight 2 or 3 nights a week and about 1-2 bottles of wine on my "hungover days".
Lately when im hungover i have been experiencing muscle spasms in my sleep where my head will jerk a couple times on the pillow and my arms and legs jerk or tense up. Im quite concerned that this may be withdrawal seizures, but i dont know because i've never actually experienced a seizure before. They only last about 5 to 10 seconds.
Has anyone else experienced this? I am going to get a referral from my doctor for detox, just looking for other peoples experience.
Forum Leader
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 16,945
Welcome Car93, glad you have made the choice to quit and I think seeing your doc is a great first step. Regarding the symptoms, you really need to speak with a doc about them. There really is no "normal" when it comes to withdrawal - and while the spasms you are having could be related to quitting, they also might not be. It would be irresponsible for us to tell you one way or the other for your safety.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,645
I experienced all kinds of weird symptoms while detoxing. At the end, I couldn't handle it and I would end up in the hospital or at a detox facility after every binge.
I can't go back to that state. The solution for me is 100% abstinence from alcohol.
I can't go back to that state. The solution for me is 100% abstinence from alcohol.
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 8,674
Glad you are seeing your doc. The only way to get better for real is to stop putting alcohol into your body, and for me I can say that the recovery/detox/symptoms process took a good bit of time. I was very sick. It is different for everyone but spasms, night sweats, all kinds of things can be common.
Be honest with your doc- you can make this your last quit.
Be honest with your doc- you can make this your last quit.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Dublin, Ireland.
Posts: 739
Withdrawal symptoms, while caused by the same thing, vary wildly.
That's a serious amount of booze you are putting away- I really hope you tell the doc the true extent of your drinking. I only say that because strangely, some people tend to dilute (excuse the pun) the facts.
Best of luck, and if things get out of hand, you might consider going to the hospital if you feel you can't wait for your appointment.
That's a serious amount of booze you are putting away- I really hope you tell the doc the true extent of your drinking. I only say that because strangely, some people tend to dilute (excuse the pun) the facts.
Best of luck, and if things get out of hand, you might consider going to the hospital if you feel you can't wait for your appointment.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,909
Not trying to scare you, just relating my experience. I would highly suggest getting a medical opinion and not going solo on cold turkey.
Seizures from acute alcohol withdrawal are nothing to play around with. I had one and almost impaled myself through my eye socket on a wrought iron fence. Got an ambulance ride to ER, IV's in the arms, the whole bit.
Luckily my wife (an ER nurse) was with me at the time. I was trying to walk off the jitters when all of a sudden, out of the blue, no warning, no nothing, down I went. I have since learned that the seizure could have killed me if I hadn't received immediate help.
Seizures from acute alcohol withdrawal are nothing to play around with. I had one and almost impaled myself through my eye socket on a wrought iron fence. Got an ambulance ride to ER, IV's in the arms, the whole bit.
Luckily my wife (an ER nurse) was with me at the time. I was trying to walk off the jitters when all of a sudden, out of the blue, no warning, no nothing, down I went. I have since learned that the seizure could have killed me if I hadn't received immediate help.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,645
Originally Posted by nez 
Not trying to scare you, just relating my experience. I would highly suggest getting a medical opinion and not going solo on cold turkey.
Seizures from acute alcohol withdrawal are nothing to play around with. I had one and almost impaled myself through my eye socket on a wrought iron fence. Got an ambulance ride to ER, IV's in the arms, the whole bit.
Luckily my wife (an ER nurse) was with me at the time. I was trying to walk off the jitters when all of a sudden, out of the blue, no warning, no nothing, down I went. I have since learned that the seizure could have killed me if I hadn't received immediate help.
Seizures from acute alcohol withdrawal are nothing to play around with. I had one and almost impaled myself through my eye socket on a wrought iron fence. Got an ambulance ride to ER, IV's in the arms, the whole bit.
Luckily my wife (an ER nurse) was with me at the time. I was trying to walk off the jitters when all of a sudden, out of the blue, no warning, no nothing, down I went. I have since learned that the seizure could have killed me if I hadn't received immediate help.
But I could never do it. I always ended up at the hospital. Luckily I never had a seizure, but I am certain I was close.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 292
Originally Posted by Car93
Lately when im hungover i have been experiencing muscle spasms in my sleep where my head will jerk a couple times on the pillow and my arms and legs jerk or tense up. Im quite concerned that this may be withdrawal seizures, but i dont know because i've never actually experienced a seizure before. They only last about 5 to 10 seconds.
But at the end of the day, I don't think it really matters though...you've obviously concluded that you have a problem and it's great that your taking control of the situation and getting medical help! Best of luck to you!
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,439
Hi Car 
I'm glad you joined us.
I hope you'll see your doctor - it's the only way to get real peace of mind.
I suffer intermittently from restless legs and hypnic jerks - not sure if thats the same as what you're writing about or not.
D
I'm glad you joined us.
I hope you'll see your doctor - it's the only way to get real peace of mind.
I suffer intermittently from restless legs and hypnic jerks - not sure if thats the same as what you're writing about or not.
D
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