Terrible withdrawal that freaked me out
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Join Date: Aug 2013
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I just got back. They kept me overnight for observation.
They did some tests, asked a ton of questions regarding my drinking behavior, how long ago I'd quit, what happened exactly. They named a whole list of possible symptoms (there are many!) and asked me to rate the intensity if I had experienced them. And how I was feeling at that moment. They did the same thing again this morning.
It would have better if I had called right away when the episode occurred because it was pretty risky. I was lucky to have gone through it without further complications.
Last night they started me on valium, which I have to take for four more days. And they gave me 50 mg thiamine pills which I have to take for 14 days.
I also have an appointment with an internist in 2 weeks who will examine me head to toe to see how well my body survived all those years of drinking. During the tests yesterday they did feel that my liver wasn't enlarged, which is at least something.
And they recommended that I make an appointment with my regular doctor regarding my reasons for drinking (avoiding reality). He can refer me to a good place to get psychological help.
I wish I'd gone to the doctor right away when I wanted to quit, but didn't know it could be this heavy. But there's this whole field of specialists out there who can help with every aspect. At least I'm making use of that now.
And... Day 5! Yay!
Thanks for all the kind words and support! It felt so good to read all the responses in this thread.
They did some tests, asked a ton of questions regarding my drinking behavior, how long ago I'd quit, what happened exactly. They named a whole list of possible symptoms (there are many!) and asked me to rate the intensity if I had experienced them. And how I was feeling at that moment. They did the same thing again this morning.
It would have better if I had called right away when the episode occurred because it was pretty risky. I was lucky to have gone through it without further complications.
Last night they started me on valium, which I have to take for four more days. And they gave me 50 mg thiamine pills which I have to take for 14 days.
I also have an appointment with an internist in 2 weeks who will examine me head to toe to see how well my body survived all those years of drinking. During the tests yesterday they did feel that my liver wasn't enlarged, which is at least something.
And they recommended that I make an appointment with my regular doctor regarding my reasons for drinking (avoiding reality). He can refer me to a good place to get psychological help.
I wish I'd gone to the doctor right away when I wanted to quit, but didn't know it could be this heavy. But there's this whole field of specialists out there who can help with every aspect. At least I'm making use of that now.
And... Day 5! Yay!
Thanks for all the kind words and support! It felt so good to read all the responses in this thread.
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: east coast
Posts: 1,711
Hey James, I was thinking about you last night and figured they had kept you. I am so so so relieved that you went and that you have the appropriate medication now. You do not have to go through this alone, we are here for you. Keep up the awesome work and congrats on day 5 
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 3,550
Thanks for checking back James. And good luck with your recovery. Give some thought to getting with some kind of recovery program. It doesn't have to be AA but it can be. A program should provide for the help of other recovering alcoholics. I found out that counseling was not enough in my case. Needed help from other recovering alcoholics. Certainly worth trying. As you see alcoholism is a dangerous business.
W.
W.
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Maine
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I'm so glad that you went and that you came back and let us know what happened. We truly are like a family and get concerned about our people
Sounds like you're headed in the right direction james! Please keep us posted.
Sounds like you're headed in the right direction james! Please keep us posted.
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Mars
Posts: 296
You know, one of the things I realized during this whole thing is that my body is sacred and that I need to treat it well. It is the one thing I need to exist on this earth. Why would I poison it?
I'd heard people say things like this before and I agreed, but it was kind of superficial. The positive thing I can take away from this whole experience is that I now fully realize that.
Whether you are religious or not. Have spiritual beliefs or not. Believe in life after death or not, one thing is true and that is to be alive here on this earth, you need a functioning body. So treat it well!
I'd heard people say things like this before and I agreed, but it was kind of superficial. The positive thing I can take away from this whole experience is that I now fully realize that.
Whether you are religious or not. Have spiritual beliefs or not. Believe in life after death or not, one thing is true and that is to be alive here on this earth, you need a functioning body. So treat it well!
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Staffordshire UK
Posts: 514
Originally Posted by james872 
You know, one of the things I realized during this whole thing is that my body is sacred and that I need to treat it well. It is the one thing I need to exist on this earth. Why would I poison it?
I'd heard people say things like this before and I agreed, but it was kind of superficial. The positive thing I can take away from this whole experience is that I now fully realize that.
Whether you are religious or not. Have spiritual beliefs or not. Believe in life after death or not, one thing is true and that is to be alive here on this earth, you need a functioning body. So treat it well!
I'd heard people say things like this before and I agreed, but it was kind of superficial. The positive thing I can take away from this whole experience is that I now fully realize that.
Whether you are religious or not. Have spiritual beliefs or not. Believe in life after death or not, one thing is true and that is to be alive here on this earth, you need a functioning body. So treat it well!
I'm glad that you're on the mend.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Or.
Posts: 109
Glad you are seeking medical help. I went about alone and after two weeks I had same type of symptoms. I thought I was out of the woods. Withdraws can last up to two weeks and PAW with drawls can last up to two years. Have a month under my belt and I feel TERRIFIC!! Hope you can also get past the acute withdraws soon. Stick to being sober and you will realize what a good life you can live sober...
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: The Deep South
Posts: 14,636
Glad you are ok!!! Good for you for going into the hospital. Hope others read this and do the same if they are considering detoxing alone. I had no idea it could be so dangerous either. And I considered myself pretty well educated on the matter.
Anyway, glad your liver isn't enlarged and that you are making it through it all ok.
Anyway, glad your liver isn't enlarged and that you are making it through it all ok.
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 3,550
James872 - you wrote "Whether you are religious or not. Have spiritual beliefs or not. Believe in life after death or not, one thing is true and that is to be alive here on this earth, you need a functioning body. So treat it well!"
I completely agree! But James, I would be extra careful in this period of early recovery, sometimes referred to as the "pink cloud", where, when one is feeling better, over confidence can be a trap for the unwary. Your body has been suddenly deprived of alcohol, which it had adapted itself to have, and now it has to switch its chemistry and physiology back to "normal". This can take quite awhile. In the interim there are likely to be parts of your brain which seek to have the alcohol restored and, unless you are extra careful you can get set up by the "Just one drink won't hurt" stuff. It'e very subtle. There is a slippery slope and it's steeper and slipperier now than you might realize. "Just one drink" can easily start the nightmare all over again and each trip to the hospital gets more risk laden. Good luck.
W.
I completely agree! But James, I would be extra careful in this period of early recovery, sometimes referred to as the "pink cloud", where, when one is feeling better, over confidence can be a trap for the unwary. Your body has been suddenly deprived of alcohol, which it had adapted itself to have, and now it has to switch its chemistry and physiology back to "normal". This can take quite awhile. In the interim there are likely to be parts of your brain which seek to have the alcohol restored and, unless you are extra careful you can get set up by the "Just one drink won't hurt" stuff. It'e very subtle. There is a slippery slope and it's steeper and slipperier now than you might realize. "Just one drink" can easily start the nightmare all over again and each trip to the hospital gets more risk laden. Good luck.
W.
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Join Date: Aug 2013
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Originally Posted by wpainterw
James872 - you wrote "Whether you are religious or not. Have spiritual beliefs or not. Believe in life after death or not, one thing is true and that is to be alive here on this earth, you need a functioning body. So treat it well!"
I completely agree! But James, I would be extra careful in this period of early recovery, sometimes referred to as the "pink cloud", where, when one is feeling better, over confidence can be a trap for the unwary. Your body has been suddenly deprived of alcohol, which it had adapted itself to have, and now it has to switch its chemistry and physiology back to "normal". This can take quite awhile. In the interim there are likely to be parts of your brain which seek to have the alcohol restored and, unless you are extra careful you can get set up by the "Just one drink won't hurt" stuff. It'e very subtle. There is a slippery slope and it's steeper and slipperier now than you might realize. "Just one drink" can easily start the nightmare all over again and each trip to the hospital gets more risk laden. Good luck.
W.
I completely agree! But James, I would be extra careful in this period of early recovery, sometimes referred to as the "pink cloud", where, when one is feeling better, over confidence can be a trap for the unwary. Your body has been suddenly deprived of alcohol, which it had adapted itself to have, and now it has to switch its chemistry and physiology back to "normal". This can take quite awhile. In the interim there are likely to be parts of your brain which seek to have the alcohol restored and, unless you are extra careful you can get set up by the "Just one drink won't hurt" stuff. It'e very subtle. There is a slippery slope and it's steeper and slipperier now than you might realize. "Just one drink" can easily start the nightmare all over again and each trip to the hospital gets more risk laden. Good luck.
W.
It's quite a coincidence that you posted this, because I just logged in to post and update about my "wonderful day 6".
I feel wonderful today, starting to feel good feelings I haven't felt since before I started drinking.
But realistically the full recovery process takes more than 6 days off-course and thank you for making me aware of that! I'll see what happens from here on out and am prepared for some difficult moments as well.
I don't have any desire for a drink fortunately. Not after what I went through. I'll take it one day at a time though and be careful.
Just wondering, what is generally considered to be the time-frame in which one gets to the point of being fully recovered, both physically and mentally?
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Join Date: Jun 2010
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James872. The "Pink Cloud" has also been called the "Flight Into Recovery". I have taken that "flight" many times (e.g. "I'm O.K. now! I'll never allow that to happen again! I'm going to quit for good!") and relapsed and crashed many times. Once I was sober for seven years and then drank for thirteen more. I guess I "quit for good" at least a dozen times. And it only got worse.
You ask about the time frame for being "fully recovered". I don't like to put it that way. Instead of "fully recovered" (my wife amazingly says "cured"- as in "Oh you took the 'cure'", the way they used to talk 100 years ago.) I think it more accurate to view it as a process of diminishing risk. And how rapid or slow that process is probably depends on the individual and other factors like whether that person is in some kind of a program, AA or otherwise. Just having counseling never succeeded with me. Counterproductive in that it led me to think that I was "doing something about it" when in fact I was just spinning my wheels. An AA agnostics group worked for me but AA isn't for everyone and agnostics meetings are not always available. I'm convinced that I needed the help of other alcoholics, not just counselors. And keep a close watch on the doctors. I once had a doctor who prescribed 100 xanax with indefinite refill privileges. Another who prescribed two barbiturates, seconal (to get to sleep) and sodium amytal (to keep asleep). Another who prescribed chloral hydrate (highly addictive and life threatening when taken with alcohol).
So watch your step. It's tricky terrain and many have fallen by the wayside.
W.
You ask about the time frame for being "fully recovered". I don't like to put it that way. Instead of "fully recovered" (my wife amazingly says "cured"- as in "Oh you took the 'cure'", the way they used to talk 100 years ago.) I think it more accurate to view it as a process of diminishing risk. And how rapid or slow that process is probably depends on the individual and other factors like whether that person is in some kind of a program, AA or otherwise. Just having counseling never succeeded with me. Counterproductive in that it led me to think that I was "doing something about it" when in fact I was just spinning my wheels. An AA agnostics group worked for me but AA isn't for everyone and agnostics meetings are not always available. I'm convinced that I needed the help of other alcoholics, not just counselors. And keep a close watch on the doctors. I once had a doctor who prescribed 100 xanax with indefinite refill privileges. Another who prescribed two barbiturates, seconal (to get to sleep) and sodium amytal (to keep asleep). Another who prescribed chloral hydrate (highly addictive and life threatening when taken with alcohol).
So watch your step. It's tricky terrain and many have fallen by the wayside.
W.
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Join Date: Jun 2010
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James872: P.S. Since my alcoholism dates back to the mid 1950's, it is likely that medical care for addiction may have improved since then. All I can say is that back in those days and even on into the 1970's the level of naivety, ignorance and lack of training was awe inspiring. A conspicuous failure was the prescription of addictive medications, often in large quantities with renewal privileges, with the mere admonition "not to drink", relying on a label to that effect on the bottle or container. As if an alcoholic would immediately achieve sobriety merely from following his or her doctor's advice. As if an admonition not to "drive when drinking" would automatically avoid all DUI's. Indeed the more likely outcome would be taking the prescription, drinking and then driving. And when the doctor learned about that the astonished response might be "But I advised you not to do that!" Imagine an alcoholic, who lies to himself and others, refraining from drink merely because the doctor told him to do that! If that were so there wouldn't be many alcoholics around because all that would be necessary would be to advise them not to drink!
W.
W.
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Join Date: Aug 2013
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@ wpainterw, it amazes me that they used to give prescriptions with renewal privileges for addictive drugs to an alcoholic! That doesn't make sense.
They gave me diazepam, but only for a couple of days and I can't renew. Diazepam is addictive as well after a while, but usually not after short-term use. And I wouldn't want it for too long anyway because it makes you mighty tired all day long.
Btw, with fully recovered I meant how long it would approximately take for my mind and body to regain normal functioning, realizing that there may be a life long addiction that stays. But all other functions, like thinking and feeling like normal again. Do you have any idea how long that usually takes?
Thanks. Your posts are very helpful!
@ cheryl178 Thank you! I wish you the best with your recovery!
They gave me diazepam, but only for a couple of days and I can't renew. Diazepam is addictive as well after a while, but usually not after short-term use. And I wouldn't want it for too long anyway because it makes you mighty tired all day long.
Btw, with fully recovered I meant how long it would approximately take for my mind and body to regain normal functioning, realizing that there may be a life long addiction that stays. But all other functions, like thinking and feeling like normal again. Do you have any idea how long that usually takes?
Thanks. Your posts are very helpful!
@ cheryl178 Thank you! I wish you the best with your recovery!
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 13,841
Glad you're doing well, James. My trip to the ER was my current "Day 1"...that was now over 4 years ago. The best part is, if you quit for good, you NEVER have to go through withdrawls again!
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