A confession to make
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Join Date: Feb 2015
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A confession to make
No, I did not relapse. But I did relapse during the start of the lockdown as many of you know. I didn't drink everyday, but binged plenty. Well something happened this time that scared the heck out of me. I gained about 20 lbs and retained a ton of fluid. My heart rate would not slow down, but blood pressure was very high, I would not urinate at all, then urinate all night. My ankles and calves were huge (edema). My eyes were always red and I would get out of breath easily. It was awful.
Well, I got some prescription diuretics and that helped but what really helped was quitting drinking and starting working at a physical job. I've lost all the weight and water. That little episode scared me because I didn't know if my organs were failing. Should have went to doctor.
Current status: awesome. all aspects of life are good right now.
Well, I got some prescription diuretics and that helped but what really helped was quitting drinking and starting working at a physical job. I've lost all the weight and water. That little episode scared me because I didn't know if my organs were failing. Should have went to doctor.
Current status: awesome. all aspects of life are good right now.
No, I did not relapse. But I did relapse during the start of the lockdown as many of you know. I didn't drink everyday, but binged plenty. Well something happened this time that scared the heck out of me. I gained about 20 lbs and retained a ton of fluid. My heart rate would not slow down, but blood pressure was very high, I would not urinate at all, then urinate all night. My ankles and calves were huge (edema). My eyes were always red and I would get out of breath easily. It was awful.
Well, I got some prescription diuretics and that helped but what really helped was quitting drinking and starting working at a physical job. I've lost all the weight and water. That little episode scared me because I didn't know if my organs were failing. Should have went to doctor.
Current status: awesome. all aspects of life are good right now.
Well, I got some prescription diuretics and that helped but what really helped was quitting drinking and starting working at a physical job. I've lost all the weight and water. That little episode scared me because I didn't know if my organs were failing. Should have went to doctor.
Current status: awesome. all aspects of life are good right now.
So glad you came out of that Jeff. Very scary. A year ago today I had all of those symptoms and many many more unpleasant ones involving all sorts of awful things. I got to a point that I knew I wouldn't pull out of it unless I stopped. My early sobriety was "easy" because the daily physical rewards were so stark. But I appreciate your post as a reminder of what awaits if I drink again.
I am glad you're ok now Jeff.
I think it can be tough for men of a certain age to go to the doctor - and it shouldn't be.
If our wives or children was sick we'd drive them to a doctor. If your pet was sick you'd go to a vet - but we sometimes don;t apply the same standard of care to ourselves. Crazy.
D
I think it can be tough for men of a certain age to go to the doctor - and it shouldn't be.
If our wives or children was sick we'd drive them to a doctor. If your pet was sick you'd go to a vet - but we sometimes don;t apply the same standard of care to ourselves. Crazy.
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: MN
Posts: 8,704
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: MN
Posts: 8,704
Some more good news to report. My eyes have been red for a year, it had gotten really bad and I thought I needed glasses. Went to eye doctor yesterday and my vision is fine. I have severe dry eye. Got 4 different meds for it. I started yesterday morning and my eyes already feel better. Its such a relief.
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Glad to hear that you are doing so much better on many fronts, Jeff. I had a milder version of a water retention / heart rate / BP episode you described in the OP during my own relapse in 2016 - scary indeed. I never saw a doctor about it so never found out what was causing it. Also have a tendency for eye redness, back into my childhood. Of course drinking made that much worse (in different ways) but mine was also traced to what the eye doc diagnosed as "tear film insufficiency". He also said perhaps I made the predisposition worse for myself when I was using Visine daily, for years, to combat the constant bloodshot eyes caused by drinking. I never made the connection to Visine, but it makes sense with the compound that constricts blood vessels - apparently we can get used to it and it makes the problem worse long-term. I stopped using that completely, now I only apply simple saline-based artificial tears occasionally when I feel my eyes are dry or they are visibly red. I get that even more from staring at computer screens typically >6 hours a day at least (that's what I do for work). My eye dryness is kinda mild so no need for prescription meds, but not a good mix with alcohol for sure.
Keep up the good work
Keep up the good work
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