1st time to stop drinking in 30yrs & its hell help!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: manila
Posts: 9
1st time to stop drinking in 30yrs & its hell help!
Hi all
I found this great forum thank god......
Some facts about me:
starting drinking at 16 (now 46) when my father died, drunk at least 1 to bottles of wine per evening sometimes 3 and 6 to 12 JD & Cokes.
Last august started getting bad sweats and serious panic attacks that would last a couple of days, even had to offload myself om a flight as i thought i was gonna die....
September only way to stop panic attacks was to drink my way through them
(i also smoke 40 a day for the last 10 years)
October admitted to hospital with serious panic attacks dizzyness, stopped after a week and started drinking again, every single drink caused a panic attack? pins and needles in my head, and foggy brain? could not go to busy places as it triggered attacks, bright lights and sounds scarred me to death?
travelling as a passenger in a car triggered the same?
November same then December bad again, went to see neuroligist and he prescribed alpralzam 0.5 per day. STOPPED DRINKING 8TH DECEMBER!!
Some days are great some are bad, the medication seems to work but not all the time, forgot to take one couple of days ago and was so tense I thought i was gonna have a heart attack. my chest was like a ballon about to burst
Now i noticed smoking in the morning triggers panic attacks too - and makes me dizzy? Just cannot stop smoking and drinking together?
Questions:
If the 0.5 med does no work should i take another?
I have no craving for a drink as i am so scarred it will kill me, is that normal?
Should i try to quit smoking while detoxing?
I feel fantastic on this medication, better than for many years, why?
I am so scarred of stopping the medication for fear of exploding?
Why i still get sudden attacks lasting 10 to 15 minutes even though i take the medication?
And as everyone says "how long will this last?" (I could work when i was drunk every night, no hang over apart from the odd panic attack but now I am worried people may think i am "high" on something as i am so relaxed and happy" then bang I have an attack!
Please give me some help and advise thanks..... and happy new dry year!
I found this great forum thank god......
Some facts about me:
starting drinking at 16 (now 46) when my father died, drunk at least 1 to bottles of wine per evening sometimes 3 and 6 to 12 JD & Cokes.
Last august started getting bad sweats and serious panic attacks that would last a couple of days, even had to offload myself om a flight as i thought i was gonna die....
September only way to stop panic attacks was to drink my way through them
(i also smoke 40 a day for the last 10 years)
October admitted to hospital with serious panic attacks dizzyness, stopped after a week and started drinking again, every single drink caused a panic attack? pins and needles in my head, and foggy brain? could not go to busy places as it triggered attacks, bright lights and sounds scarred me to death?
travelling as a passenger in a car triggered the same?
November same then December bad again, went to see neuroligist and he prescribed alpralzam 0.5 per day. STOPPED DRINKING 8TH DECEMBER!!
Some days are great some are bad, the medication seems to work but not all the time, forgot to take one couple of days ago and was so tense I thought i was gonna have a heart attack. my chest was like a ballon about to burst
Now i noticed smoking in the morning triggers panic attacks too - and makes me dizzy? Just cannot stop smoking and drinking together?
Questions:
If the 0.5 med does no work should i take another?
I have no craving for a drink as i am so scarred it will kill me, is that normal?
Should i try to quit smoking while detoxing?
I feel fantastic on this medication, better than for many years, why?
I am so scarred of stopping the medication for fear of exploding?
Why i still get sudden attacks lasting 10 to 15 minutes even though i take the medication?
And as everyone says "how long will this last?" (I could work when i was drunk every night, no hang over apart from the odd panic attack but now I am worried people may think i am "high" on something as i am so relaxed and happy" then bang I have an attack!
Please give me some help and advise thanks..... and happy new dry year!
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Mountain Time
Posts: 101
Manila,
I definitely can't give any medical advice, I would say many of your questions will need to be answered by your Dr.
Congratulations on over 3 weeks without alcohol! Seems like you have a very serious reason to stay sober, and I hope the support here will help.
Welcome to SR!
I definitely can't give any medical advice, I would say many of your questions will need to be answered by your Dr.
Congratulations on over 3 weeks without alcohol! Seems like you have a very serious reason to stay sober, and I hope the support here will help.
Welcome to SR!
Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Austin, Tx
Posts: 31
I would suggest getting the phone book out, looking up AA and getting to a meeting....there you will meet people who can answer your questions and find wonderful support and help for a new way of living. It will blow your mind if you stick around and take suggestions....and not drink one day at a time.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Melbourne victoria
Posts: 1,975
Hi there and welcome to SR
As has been said it would be a better idea to ask your doc re the meds.
I drank like you for 37 years and now have just over 4 years sober, and you can do it too.
i stayed sober the first few months on fear alone LOL but that was not enough .
Do you have a plan to get some support in your recovery ?
You dont have to do it alone you know !
personally I use the programme of AA, but there are many others
Whatever method you decide to use , it does take some work , but is well worth it
i wish you the very best on your journey of recovery, keep us posted cos we do care
HUGX
leigh
As has been said it would be a better idea to ask your doc re the meds.
I drank like you for 37 years and now have just over 4 years sober, and you can do it too.
i stayed sober the first few months on fear alone LOL but that was not enough .
Do you have a plan to get some support in your recovery ?
You dont have to do it alone you know !
personally I use the programme of AA, but there are many others
Whatever method you decide to use , it does take some work , but is well worth it
i wish you the very best on your journey of recovery, keep us posted cos we do care
HUGX
leigh
Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 226
Don’t Panic!!!!!!!!
Welcome to SR, its great to have you here. Most of your questions are medically related and I would discuss them with your medical provider. When I first got sober it was like a roller coaster, up and down and all around. I had all sorts of uncomfortable symptoms like manic depression and anxiety attacks but drinking only made things worst. I also felt like my next drink would be my last so I went to AA and got a sponsor. I stayed off the booze long enough for the ride to end now with outside help I can manage those other symptoms much better.
I wish you luck as well and I hope you have a safe Happy New Year.
All Good Things,
Welcome to SR, its great to have you here. Most of your questions are medically related and I would discuss them with your medical provider. When I first got sober it was like a roller coaster, up and down and all around. I had all sorts of uncomfortable symptoms like manic depression and anxiety attacks but drinking only made things worst. I also felt like my next drink would be my last so I went to AA and got a sponsor. I stayed off the booze long enough for the ride to end now with outside help I can manage those other symptoms much better.
I wish you luck as well and I hope you have a safe Happy New Year.
All Good Things,
Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Melbourne victoria
Posts: 1,975
I found this regarding AA in the Phillipines , might be helpful
"there is no Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Philippines website nor contact numbers on how to reach this group. But they are found in the PLDT telephone book. Look for “Alcoholics Anonymous”. ,
I have no idea what the PLDT book is but you might LOL
HUGX
Leigh
"there is no Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Philippines website nor contact numbers on how to reach this group. But they are found in the PLDT telephone book. Look for “Alcoholics Anonymous”. ,
I have no idea what the PLDT book is but you might LOL
HUGX
Leigh
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: manila
Posts: 9
PLDT is the fixed line telephone provider and i cannot see anything there sorry but thanks, you know this is the first time in public i have admitted my problem and seeing the response brings a tear to my eye thanks so much everyone!
Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Melbourne victoria
Posts: 1,975
AAPhilippines : AA Philippines
yaaaaaaaaay! found it ! AA Phillipine message boards
Might be helpful!
But dont leave US! LOL
HUGX
Leigh
yaaaaaaaaay! found it ! AA Phillipine message boards
Might be helpful!
But dont leave US! LOL
HUGX
Leigh
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,492
Hi Manila,
Panic attacks are really scary and I hope that the medication continues to help you. You need to ask your dr for information about the med and how it works and why you feel good on it.
There is lots of support here and I would guess that drinking is making the panic attacks worse. It did for me. I still do get them, but usually I can get through it, knowing what it is and that it will pass. When I was drinking, the panic attacks consumed me.
Keep reading and posting.
Panic attacks are really scary and I hope that the medication continues to help you. You need to ask your dr for information about the med and how it works and why you feel good on it.
There is lots of support here and I would guess that drinking is making the panic attacks worse. It did for me. I still do get them, but usually I can get through it, knowing what it is and that it will pass. When I was drinking, the panic attacks consumed me.
Keep reading and posting.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: manila
Posts: 9
i got that worried about when my panic attacks started I spent 5000 usd in the Asian Hospital near manila having everything from mri scan, heart scans, liver scans, kidney tests, diabete tests and just about any test the doctors could thing of including brain activity scans and they said I was just fine, i felt like saying you are useless! but then this december a neuroligist said simple you are suffering panic attacks through alcohol abuse, 12 usd please lol, god i was relieve to know what it was that was making me crazy.....
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