Caffeine, Shakiness and Advice
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 56
Caffeine, Shakiness and Advice
Well, here goes....Here I am again. I lurked for years and been back and forth and had good runs of not drinking with bursts of extreme.
I guess a short summary. I am not a every day drinker, totally your binge variety. Usually in 4-6 days spans, where I drink about 750 mL of hard liquor and about a litre of wine a day, for 4-6 days, then go through wicked withdrawl and smarten up for what seems to be 4-6 weeks. This has been going on for about 2 years now (give or take longer periods of sobriety in this sort of timeframe).
I am sober 9/10 days now (depending on if you measure it from the time you take your last drink or the time the alcohol is out of your system) and the last sobering up was done in the hospital.
First few days were a bit foggy, but I think that was the valium I had. I am off the Valium (was only 3 days pre-scrip) and after I got off I felt fine. Like after day 3/4 I felt great. A bit emotional, but great.
Now, at day 9/10, I feel a bit jittery. Like I am drinking the same amount of coffee I have had at all times. Also, I notice that my hands shake a little bit. Not too noticeable, like mostly if I am using a pen, and I stop motion there is a little bit of a shake. This did not occur from day 3-now.
Is it stimulants exacerbating this? Should I cut coffee? I also read on the forum (cant remember the post) that taking TOO much vitamin B can actually make nerves shakes. I am on an "ultra" supplement for all B vitamins (my fear of alcoholics being low) but I will cut that out and see what happens now that I am sober and on a good diet.
Also, ive noticed my sex drive and motivation is kinda low. Which is a bit of a problem for a new girlfriend (long story, she went away for a few weeks, and I stupidly thought I could have some drinks and it went into a binge).
For all of you, when did your body normalize? I made it to a month before, and still felt a little bit down and low libido...I will say, we are quite active, we go on a bike ride, or fitness something for at least an hour 6 days a week. So I got a good sweat on most of the time.
Is this really a 90 day journey to let my body "normalize" to no booze? Anybody else have experience? I know the sticky at the top is "de-tox and what we did..." but it only really describes the first 14 days in most cases.
What to expect now, and how do I keep healing or even help this healing along. I hope to God I do not have alcohol neuropathy (the slight shake in the hands) and that I can normalize...
Thoughts?
Thanks for reading.
I guess a short summary. I am not a every day drinker, totally your binge variety. Usually in 4-6 days spans, where I drink about 750 mL of hard liquor and about a litre of wine a day, for 4-6 days, then go through wicked withdrawl and smarten up for what seems to be 4-6 weeks. This has been going on for about 2 years now (give or take longer periods of sobriety in this sort of timeframe).
I am sober 9/10 days now (depending on if you measure it from the time you take your last drink or the time the alcohol is out of your system) and the last sobering up was done in the hospital.
First few days were a bit foggy, but I think that was the valium I had. I am off the Valium (was only 3 days pre-scrip) and after I got off I felt fine. Like after day 3/4 I felt great. A bit emotional, but great.
Now, at day 9/10, I feel a bit jittery. Like I am drinking the same amount of coffee I have had at all times. Also, I notice that my hands shake a little bit. Not too noticeable, like mostly if I am using a pen, and I stop motion there is a little bit of a shake. This did not occur from day 3-now.
Is it stimulants exacerbating this? Should I cut coffee? I also read on the forum (cant remember the post) that taking TOO much vitamin B can actually make nerves shakes. I am on an "ultra" supplement for all B vitamins (my fear of alcoholics being low) but I will cut that out and see what happens now that I am sober and on a good diet.
Also, ive noticed my sex drive and motivation is kinda low. Which is a bit of a problem for a new girlfriend (long story, she went away for a few weeks, and I stupidly thought I could have some drinks and it went into a binge).
For all of you, when did your body normalize? I made it to a month before, and still felt a little bit down and low libido...I will say, we are quite active, we go on a bike ride, or fitness something for at least an hour 6 days a week. So I got a good sweat on most of the time.
Is this really a 90 day journey to let my body "normalize" to no booze? Anybody else have experience? I know the sticky at the top is "de-tox and what we did..." but it only really describes the first 14 days in most cases.
What to expect now, and how do I keep healing or even help this healing along. I hope to God I do not have alcohol neuropathy (the slight shake in the hands) and that I can normalize...
Thoughts?
Thanks for reading.
I had the shakes for a while too.
It did go away, not sure when. I cut back to a half cup of coffee per day for that first six months. I couldn't stand any more than that.
I really didn't feel "normal" for several months. Don't know about the sex thing, but I'm sure it will be fine.
It took probably 8-9 months before I felt completely at peace and settled. My nervous system was pretty beat up. You can do online research about how alcohol affects the nervous system.
It did go away, not sure when. I cut back to a half cup of coffee per day for that first six months. I couldn't stand any more than that.
I really didn't feel "normal" for several months. Don't know about the sex thing, but I'm sure it will be fine.
It took probably 8-9 months before I felt completely at peace and settled. My nervous system was pretty beat up. You can do online research about how alcohol affects the nervous system.
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: casablanca
Posts: 282
It would take me about a month for my body and mind to normalize. I had to give up caffeine only decaf and had to give up cigarettes anything that I would excite my already anxious heart and body had to go.Libido part. after the first month sober the thing that would raise you T levels is strength training, either lifting weights or body strength exercise such as dips, push-ups... and the sun. Testosterone loves the sun and vitamin D.as far as recovery from booze goes, I use AA( for now), AUD counseling, Rational recovery, CBT.If your case is as bad as mine, I suggest you use everything under the sun like I do.
I had to give up drinking coffee for a while after I got sober due to the anxiety. After a few weeks, the anxiety was mostly gone and I started having coffee again with no problems.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 56
It would take me about a month for my body and mind to normalize. I had to give up caffeine only decaf and had to give up cigarettes anything that I would excite my already anxious heart and body had to go.Libido part. after the first month sober the thing that would raise you T levels is strength training, either lifting weights or body strength exercise such as dips, push-ups... and the sun. Testosterone loves the sun and vitamin D.as far as recovery from booze goes, I use AA( for now), AUD counseling, Rational recovery, CBT.If your case is as bad as mine, I suggest you use everything under the sun like I do.
Interesting experience. Thank you for sharing. A month hey... yah thats usually the time things start to clear up, then I get the dumb idea that "i got this" and then its another turn on the wheel. And I have just started taking a Vit D supplement, I wont say where I live, but I am "at high risk" for always being deficient.
I am sort of doing the SMART thing, but with this COVID, I mean, its a bit more challenging...
Thank-you. Appreciate your share.
You might want to check out 'kindling' in alcoholism. This condition is a worsening of withdrawal symptoms each time the individual attempts to quit alcohol again. For me, this was a real thing. I expected to improve the same each time but it got harder each time.
You sound like me at the end of my drinkin. I was good for a liter or 2 myself. When I got out of the hospital, I shook for a good 2-3 months. It might be related to your blood sugar. A lot of us are borderline diabetic or hypoglycemic. I gave myself type 2 diabetes but got rid of it within 18 months or so of me getting sober. So you might check into that.
Caffeine is a big no no for me, but I drink it anyway. I drank too much of it for too long so my dr told me to cut it way down. So I drink 1 cup of coffee or 1-2 diet sodas a day, no more. So if i stick to that, I won't shake. If I go over that, I get insomnia and can get jittery.
Neuropathy isn't as easy to get as people think. I'd cut back on the caffeine before I assume it's neuropathy. An more times than not, with alcoholics, it's pain with intermittent numbness and not shaking.
Your sex drive will be back. Mine took a dive for awhile and then came back. Hang in there.
Caffeine is a big no no for me, but I drink it anyway. I drank too much of it for too long so my dr told me to cut it way down. So I drink 1 cup of coffee or 1-2 diet sodas a day, no more. So if i stick to that, I won't shake. If I go over that, I get insomnia and can get jittery.
Neuropathy isn't as easy to get as people think. I'd cut back on the caffeine before I assume it's neuropathy. An more times than not, with alcoholics, it's pain with intermittent numbness and not shaking.
Your sex drive will be back. Mine took a dive for awhile and then came back. Hang in there.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 56
You sound like me at the end of my drinkin. I was good for a liter or 2 myself. When I got out of the hospital, I shook for a good 2-3 months. It might be related to your blood sugar. A lot of us are borderline diabetic or hypoglycemic. I gave myself type 2 diabetes but got rid of it within 18 months or so of me getting sober. So you might check into that.
Caffeine is a big no no for me, but I drink it anyway. I drank too much of it for too long so my dr told me to cut it way down. So I drink 1 cup of coffee or 1-2 diet sodas a day, no more. So if i stick to that, I won't shake. If I go over that, I get insomnia and can get jittery.
Neuropathy isn't as easy to get as people think. I'd cut back on the caffeine before I assume it's neuropathy. An more times than not, with alcoholics, it's pain with intermittent numbness and not shaking.
Your sex drive will be back. Mine took a dive for awhile and then came back. Hang in there.
Caffeine is a big no no for me, but I drink it anyway. I drank too much of it for too long so my dr told me to cut it way down. So I drink 1 cup of coffee or 1-2 diet sodas a day, no more. So if i stick to that, I won't shake. If I go over that, I get insomnia and can get jittery.
Neuropathy isn't as easy to get as people think. I'd cut back on the caffeine before I assume it's neuropathy. An more times than not, with alcoholics, it's pain with intermittent numbness and not shaking.
Your sex drive will be back. Mine took a dive for awhile and then came back. Hang in there.
Well I do not have any pain, or numbness. But I did wake up with massive anxiety, heart rate was definitely elevated and my wrists/part of the hand was a bit tingly. That scared the **** out of me that it may be the start of neuropathy? I mean, I still have great balance, speech is fine, and as I type this, my hands have no different feeling or numbness or tingling. The "Shake" I have, definitely is exacerbated by caffeine, now that its later in the day, I feel waaaaaaay less anxious and jittery.
This gives me a lot of hope. I am hyper-emotional right now (day 10, sober) and it almost gives me tears to hear that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I will have to hang in there...
THANKS AGAIN, this forum and you people are awesome
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 56
You sound like me at the end of my drinkin. I was good for a liter or 2 myself. When I got out of the hospital, I shook for a good 2-3 months. It might be related to your blood sugar. A lot of us are borderline diabetic or hypoglycemic. I gave myself type 2 diabetes but got rid of it within 18 months or so of me getting sober. So you might check into that.
Caffeine is a big no no for me, but I drink it anyway. I drank too much of it for too long so my dr told me to cut it way down. So I drink 1 cup of coffee or 1-2 diet sodas a day, no more. So if i stick to that, I won't shake. If I go over that, I get insomnia and can get jittery.
Neuropathy isn't as easy to get as people think. I'd cut back on the caffeine before I assume it's neuropathy. An more times than not, with alcoholics, it's pain with intermittent numbness and not shaking.
Your sex drive will be back. Mine took a dive for awhile and then came back. Hang in there.
Caffeine is a big no no for me, but I drink it anyway. I drank too much of it for too long so my dr told me to cut it way down. So I drink 1 cup of coffee or 1-2 diet sodas a day, no more. So if i stick to that, I won't shake. If I go over that, I get insomnia and can get jittery.
Neuropathy isn't as easy to get as people think. I'd cut back on the caffeine before I assume it's neuropathy. An more times than not, with alcoholics, it's pain with intermittent numbness and not shaking.
Your sex drive will be back. Mine took a dive for awhile and then came back. Hang in there.
I had a look at the diabetes thing....a bit scary. So a pattern I noticed that when I "came out" of the binge is my visual acuity was poor for a couple weeks. Also, I was/am always thirsty and about the frequent urination, well never noticed that it was too frequent considering I was always having a drink of water/tea nearby.
However, these things seemed to clear themselves up in a couple weeks. I would (as I am now) super sweaty doing anything physical and be super thirsty.
Maybe it is a pre-cursor to something? I dunno. Either way, if I do not start to get more 'normal' again in a week or so like usual, I am goign to the Dr.
Thanks!
Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 137
Well, here goes....Here I am again. I lurked for years and been back and forth and had good runs of not drinking with bursts of extreme.
I guess a short summary. I am not a every day drinker, totally your binge variety. Usually in 4-6 days spans, where I drink about 750 mL of hard liquor and about a litre of wine a day, for 4-6 days, then go through wicked withdrawl and smarten up for what seems to be 4-6 weeks. This has been going on for about 2 years now (give or take longer periods of sobriety in this sort of timeframe).
I am sober 9/10 days now (depending on if you measure it from the time you take your last drink or the time the alcohol is out of your system) and the last sobering up was done in the hospital.
First few days were a bit foggy, but I think that was the valium I had. I am off the Valium (was only 3 days pre-scrip) and after I got off I felt fine. Like after day 3/4 I felt great. A bit emotional, but great.
Now, at day 9/10, I feel a bit jittery. Like I am drinking the same amount of coffee I have had at all times. Also, I notice that my hands shake a little bit. Not too noticeable, like mostly if I am using a pen, and I stop motion there is a little bit of a shake. This did not occur from day 3-now.
Is it stimulants exacerbating this? Should I cut coffee? I also read on the forum (cant remember the post) that taking TOO much vitamin B can actually make nerves shakes. I am on an "ultra" supplement for all B vitamins (my fear of alcoholics being low) but I will cut that out and see what happens now that I am sober and on a good diet.
Also, ive noticed my sex drive and motivation is kinda low. Which is a bit of a problem for a new girlfriend (long story, she went away for a few weeks, and I stupidly thought I could have some drinks and it went into a binge).
For all of you, when did your body normalize? I made it to a month before, and still felt a little bit down and low libido...I will say, we are quite active, we go on a bike ride, or fitness something for at least an hour 6 days a week. So I got a good sweat on most of the time.
Is this really a 90 day journey to let my body "normalize" to no booze? Anybody else have experience? I know the sticky at the top is "de-tox and what we did..." but it only really describes the first 14 days in most cases.
What to expect now, and how do I keep healing or even help this healing along. I hope to God I do not have alcohol neuropathy (the slight shake in the hands) and that I can normalize...
Thoughts?
Thanks for reading.
I guess a short summary. I am not a every day drinker, totally your binge variety. Usually in 4-6 days spans, where I drink about 750 mL of hard liquor and about a litre of wine a day, for 4-6 days, then go through wicked withdrawl and smarten up for what seems to be 4-6 weeks. This has been going on for about 2 years now (give or take longer periods of sobriety in this sort of timeframe).
I am sober 9/10 days now (depending on if you measure it from the time you take your last drink or the time the alcohol is out of your system) and the last sobering up was done in the hospital.
First few days were a bit foggy, but I think that was the valium I had. I am off the Valium (was only 3 days pre-scrip) and after I got off I felt fine. Like after day 3/4 I felt great. A bit emotional, but great.
Now, at day 9/10, I feel a bit jittery. Like I am drinking the same amount of coffee I have had at all times. Also, I notice that my hands shake a little bit. Not too noticeable, like mostly if I am using a pen, and I stop motion there is a little bit of a shake. This did not occur from day 3-now.
Is it stimulants exacerbating this? Should I cut coffee? I also read on the forum (cant remember the post) that taking TOO much vitamin B can actually make nerves shakes. I am on an "ultra" supplement for all B vitamins (my fear of alcoholics being low) but I will cut that out and see what happens now that I am sober and on a good diet.
Also, ive noticed my sex drive and motivation is kinda low. Which is a bit of a problem for a new girlfriend (long story, she went away for a few weeks, and I stupidly thought I could have some drinks and it went into a binge).
For all of you, when did your body normalize? I made it to a month before, and still felt a little bit down and low libido...I will say, we are quite active, we go on a bike ride, or fitness something for at least an hour 6 days a week. So I got a good sweat on most of the time.
Is this really a 90 day journey to let my body "normalize" to no booze? Anybody else have experience? I know the sticky at the top is "de-tox and what we did..." but it only really describes the first 14 days in most cases.
What to expect now, and how do I keep healing or even help this healing along. I hope to God I do not have alcohol neuropathy (the slight shake in the hands) and that I can normalize...
Thoughts?
Thanks for reading.
As far as 90 day adjustment, I have 90 days tomorrow and I'm still feeling out of it half the time. It's better than the first month certainly.
To tell you what I experienced:
1) Week one: detox and withdrawals: I went on Librium which suppressed a lot of it through week two
2) Week two-four: Coming off Librium. I felt better somewhat than week one, but I actually had panic attacks about three times a week, i.e. extreme anxiety. And, I had heavy heavy anxiety each day where I couldn't sit still at all. Insomnia. Etc. I walked some days 7-9 miles over the day to deal with it.
3) Week 4-5: I still was having anxiety waves and insomnia, with a few panicky type attacks. It had gone done a little though. I had some digestion and swallowing issues that started here, which continued for a month after. This included burping a lot, as in all the time.
4) Week 6-9: The insomnia went away mostly, at least most nights, and anxiety lessened somewhat. However, a heavy fatigue and out of it feeling set in, almost the opposite of what I had been experiencing. I slept a LOT, and was completely exhausted in the evening. I also felt a pressure around my head, aches in my shoulders and neck randomly.
5) Weeks 10-now: The swallowing and digestion issues, insomnia, etc, are largely gone. I feel less exhausted but still have fatigue at night. Also, I have the brain fog throughout where I feel spaced out, still. I have had a few hours where I feel anxiety creeping in but it's not extreme, and it's usually for much less time.
I'm hoping it continues to gradually clear up. At the rate it does, I should feel much better at 4-5 months. Praying it's so.
A lot of people though only experience such post-acute withdrawal for the first month, if they do at all. Probably a good number of people have 2-3 months of it. Some people it is longer than that.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 137
You sound like me at the end of my drinkin. I was good for a liter or 2 myself. When I got out of the hospital, I shook for a good 2-3 months. It might be related to your blood sugar. A lot of us are borderline diabetic or hypoglycemic. I gave myself type 2 diabetes but got rid of it within 18 months or so of me getting sober. So you might check into that.
Caffeine is a big no no for me, but I drink it anyway. I drank too much of it for too long so my dr told me to cut it way down. So I drink 1 cup of coffee or 1-2 diet sodas a day, no more. So if i stick to that, I won't shake. If I go over that, I get insomnia and can get jittery.
Neuropathy isn't as easy to get as people think. I'd cut back on the caffeine before I assume it's neuropathy. An more times than not, with alcoholics, it's pain with intermittent numbness and not shaking.
Your sex drive will be back. Mine took a dive for awhile and then came back. Hang in there.
Caffeine is a big no no for me, but I drink it anyway. I drank too much of it for too long so my dr told me to cut it way down. So I drink 1 cup of coffee or 1-2 diet sodas a day, no more. So if i stick to that, I won't shake. If I go over that, I get insomnia and can get jittery.
Neuropathy isn't as easy to get as people think. I'd cut back on the caffeine before I assume it's neuropathy. An more times than not, with alcoholics, it's pain with intermittent numbness and not shaking.
Your sex drive will be back. Mine took a dive for awhile and then came back. Hang in there.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 137
I had a look at the diabetes thing....a bit scary. So a pattern I noticed that when I "came out" of the binge is my visual acuity was poor for a couple weeks. Also, I was/am always thirsty and about the frequent urination, well never noticed that it was too frequent considering I was always having a drink of water/tea nearby.
However, these things seemed to clear themselves up in a couple weeks. I would (as I am now) super sweaty doing anything physical and be super thirsty.
Maybe it is a pre-cursor to something? I dunno. Either way, if I do not start to get more 'normal' again in a week or so like usual, I am goign to the Dr.
Thanks!
However, these things seemed to clear themselves up in a couple weeks. I would (as I am now) super sweaty doing anything physical and be super thirsty.
Maybe it is a pre-cursor to something? I dunno. Either way, if I do not start to get more 'normal' again in a week or so like usual, I am goign to the Dr.
Thanks!
Every 30 days you'll feel better and better! You may also be in a mental funk for a moment, too. It's a bit of a roller coaster for many. There are many variables that play here--your age, length of drinking, what you've done to your body, what you've taken (alcohol or drugs) plus more....Just know you will keep healing if you stay stopped!
Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 137
Every 30 days you'll feel better and better! You may also be in a mental funk for a moment, too. It's a bit of a roller coaster for many. There are many variables that play here--your age, length of drinking, what you've done to your body, what you've taken (alcohol or drugs) plus more....Just know you will keep healing if you stay stopped!
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 56
Yes, it does seem to go in approximately 30 day chunks. It's so gradual in between that it's hard for me to see the difference until it's been 30 days give or take each time. It's like it gets .5% better each day, which only turns into meaningful difference over a period of time.
Well, its 14 days today. I got a fitbit so I can track my resting heartrate and walking heartrate and see when it spikes (potential anxiety) and when it starts to stabilize.
So at 14 days, things are seemingly better. A bit of feeling down, and like I said before the low sex drive thing is kinda ******. But the night sweats are getting better, being thirsty all the time is starting to subside and the mental fog of week 1 is lifting...
I have slowly been getting more and more exercise, so that is helping I think.
Thanks for all the support!
Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 137
Well, its 14 days today. I got a fitbit so I can track my resting heartrate and walking heartrate and see when it spikes (potential anxiety) and when it starts to stabilize.
So at 14 days, things are seemingly better. A bit of feeling down, and like I said before the low sex drive thing is kinda ******. But the night sweats are getting better, being thirsty all the time is starting to subside and the mental fog of week 1 is lifting...
I have slowly been getting more and more exercise, so that is helping I think.
Thanks for all the support!
So at 14 days, things are seemingly better. A bit of feeling down, and like I said before the low sex drive thing is kinda ******. But the night sweats are getting better, being thirsty all the time is starting to subside and the mental fog of week 1 is lifting...
I have slowly been getting more and more exercise, so that is helping I think.
Thanks for all the support!
Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 137
With substances, I think it's understandable it takes longer than a month for the brain synapses and all that to slowly adjust to normal. I am on the patch for nicotine and have been looking at withdrawal timelines. Just for nicotine, although the more intense withdrawals are in the first week or two, some articles say it takes up to three months for the brain to fully adjust. And nicotine isn't as heavy as alcohol or other drugs.
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