jklivin

Ok, so I have been trying to determine if my symptoms are alcohol withdrawal or pneumonia. When I research both, my symptoms seem to point more towards pneumonia, but this could be my denial senses kicking in. But when I research alcohol withdrawal some things just don't add up. The biggest one is the "SUDDENLY stop drinking". I am not a heavy drinker but a steady one, and by that I mean 3 or 4 beers a day in the span of 3 or 4 hours. I generally sip beer, no chugging. Occasionally on weekends I will have a shot of brandy or 2. So, WITHOUT stopping my "normal" routine, I all of a sudden come down with these pneumonia symptoms.. chills, shortness of breath, fever, sweating, chest pain etc. That has lasted for 8 days now. I will admit I did not know what was wrong with me therefore I drank to try and feel better but that did not work. Long story short, I haven't had even a beer in over 5 days now but still have these symptoms. Is this alcohol withdrawal or pneumonia? Does anybody have any ideas?

sugarbear1

see a doctor

jklivin

One thing I would like to add here is, I don't really miss the beer all that much in this short period of time,no cravings going on. I generally had a beer out of boredom.

Fandy

Exactly, how can you expect an accurate dx from us?

Dee74

regardless of the cause - chills, shortness of breath, fever, sweating, chest pain are nothing to fool with.

Please - see a Dr as soon as you can.

D

jklivin

fair enough.. thanks!

jklivin

Ok,thanks Dee!

Fandy

Often when the weather changes, lots of viruses seem to come out. There is a big stmach flu going around my office too.
congrats on stopping the beer

lilgolden73

Pneumonia is at its peak right now....I have had lots other patients with that, Copd and many other breathing related illnesses...best to see a doc asap!

jklivin

Thanks everyone, I made an appt today and hopefully see what is wrong with me soon.

Orbea

I had pneumonia in one lung and pleurisy in the other. Did not show up on X-ray, but did on CT. W drinking your immune system is working not at peak. I got the pneumonia shot last year bc I did NOT want to go through that again.

ErraticEuphoria

Let me pull your chart. See A DR, they're both potentially dangerous if you leave them unattended.

FreeFall

Definitely see a doctor!!

I had a friend who was an alcoholic that contracted strep throat. The booze had worn her body down so much she had nothing to fight it with and she passed away at 38. Alcohol robs your body of vitamins and minerals which it needs to function. That should have been my wake up call, but it wasn't, it took about another decade for me to wake up. A second friend's major health scare due to alcohol complications did it this time.

Orbea

Well? Update?