Joshua14

By the way Erik congradulations on 10 sober years!

ErikT

My symptoms on a scale from 1-10 were probably a 9 or 10 but don't we ALL think that at the time? Nobody WANTS to feel like that. I was feeling symptom free pretty much immediately from the moment I went into the emergency room at the hospital because of the medication. The doctor told me that had I not come to the hospital, and if I survived the process at home....then I would probably go thru hell for about 4 or 5 days. And just so you know....if you do it at home....the 3rd day is the worst. The 2nd day you may think to yourself..."hey this isn't so bad"...but then that 3rd day hits and holy crap.....all I can say is ...don't do this to yourself....go to the E.R. That's what they are there for. Doesn't have to be what you are in for if you try it alone.

Joshua14

No I know that it can happen to me, I fully realize that I am not 10 foot tall and bullet proof. I am starting to worry about what I've gotten myself into, but am wanting so bad to ' ditch this demon'.

Joshua14

What was the worst physical portion of the withdrawal?

ErikT

The point you get to where you think you are slipping into insanity.

ErikT

The only way ive ever been able to describe it to anyone who has asked was this.....you get this feeling of impending doom. That's where Delirium Tremens begins. Most people who get a little shaky say "oh I have the DT's" That's not the DT's. Delirium means 'delirious' ....having to do with the brain almost turning on itself. The 'tremens' part refers to the uncontrollable shaking. Once you've gone into Delirium Tremens you could be in BIG trouble. That's when panic hits. What most refer to as 'anxiety'. Its actually a HUGE panic attack that hits you. Then the fact that you are panicing, makes you panic even more, making it so much

ErikT

making it so much worse.

ErikT

Drinking just enough to taper yourself may ease your symptoms, but, that alcohol isn't replenishing the other things your body needs to recover.....its actually making those things worse. Drinking enough to ease the symptoms doesn't replace vitamins...or potassium, or electrolytes, or folic acid, or thiamine and it just makes you even more dehydrated. When I went to the hospital and told them I was there for alcohol withdrawal, they immediately put me on a IV sodium chloride drip

ErikT

it wasn't long before they had me on a potassium drip and giving me folic acid pills. They then started giving me Ativan for my shakes and panicking. The doctor told me the worst thing an alcoholic can do, is try to detox at home. You just don't have the resources you need to do it safely. You don't have all the vitamins and fluids ( to the level needed ) at home.

Joshua14

Was this your 'third day' that you said was the worst? It does sound like a nightmare.

ErikT

The 3rd days I refer to were the times I tried to do it on my own. And yes...it was the worst. But...like I said...when I went to the hospital....I was able to bypass most of these symptoms because I was getting the medication I needed. During my hospital stay....the worst thing I could complain about was my messed up sleeping patterns. All the other stuff....the shakes....the panic....seizures....they controlled all that. My point is that I didn't have to suffer.....and I knew that if ANYTHING went wrong...I was in the RIGHT place. Being at home...if something goes wrong...you still have to get to the hospital....if you even can. Atleast going to the ER...you are already there if something goes wrong. You just don't have the resources a hospital has to get you to that safe point. All tapering does is prolong the suffering. Even if you are successful...you haven't replenished any of the things your body needs.

ErikT

What usually happens to those who try to detox or taper at home is simple. In the very beginning of "tapering" they don't feel THAT bad....so they make their decision to go it alone based on the way they feel at that given moment. They don't realize that in a matter of hours...its going to be 100 times worse. So what happens is ...they white knuckle it for a while and it gets SO bad that they just want to end the suffering....so they just start drinking to get right. But all they have done at that point is put off the inevitable. If they ever really want sobriety, they are going to HAVE to go thru it. And that's where the hospital comes in.

tootsl1

Hi Joshua, just checking how you are doing?

Joshua14

Thanks for asking, today was not terrible. Rough yes. But not terrible. I slept about two hours last night, not expecting much more tonight, but good news is I was not drunk or buzzed last night or tonight either. Yes I did drink this evening, but I am not feeling any effects from IntoxIcatIon. Been monitoring blood pressure and pulse rate.

Will keep you posted. But my atittude tonight is good although tired from little sleep.

I called my general practitioner today and didn't get great responses. I hope this doesn't come to going to the er as I really cannot afford to repay that.

But through the unusual feeling of sobriety I have started making knives again and have a little hope.

Will post again later tonight or tomorrow.

ErikT

Drinking is only going to make things worse....I hope you reconsider

Joshua14

Making it worse by postponing the worst of the withdrawal? Or something else?

ErikT

Both.....like I said before....continuing to drink (or taper) just wards off symptoms....symptoms you eventually go thru....and you aren't replenishing all the vital fluids and vitamins and potassium your body needs.....

ErikT

I just don't want you to suffer