Doctor ordered relapse- frustration and nightmares
Doctor ordered relapse- frustration and nightmares
So I went to the doctors and aside from having my blood pressure taken and told what would happen to me if I continued (hint: rhymes with lie). He told me somebody drinking as much and as long as me cannot just quit cold turkey, he says he can tell I'm at risk of suffering dangerous withdrawals due to my blood pressure. I needed to cut down then quit.
So that's what I did. Doctor ordered guilt free beer right? Not really. My mindset has changed, I now see a glass of beer as it is: a glass of slow poison rotting my organs and I resented every sip of it. Anyway, I had three beers last night, tonight two, tomorrow one. Only fools ignore doctors orders, after all.
I just want to get this crap out of my body now.
Last night I had a nightmare: see when I was a kid I was abused (not sexually) and the worst came when I was locked in the spare room getting the crap knocked out of me for three days straight. I remember thinking I was going to die in this room. So I dreamed about this, except this time I was doing the beating to myself. When I woke up and I thought about what this meant and realised that's what I was scared of, that using drink I was going to beat myself to death and this room was the tomb of alcoholism.
I survived once. A few more jabs that's all my body has to take: a necessary evil.
So that's what I did. Doctor ordered guilt free beer right? Not really. My mindset has changed, I now see a glass of beer as it is: a glass of slow poison rotting my organs and I resented every sip of it. Anyway, I had three beers last night, tonight two, tomorrow one. Only fools ignore doctors orders, after all.
I just want to get this crap out of my body now.
Last night I had a nightmare: see when I was a kid I was abused (not sexually) and the worst came when I was locked in the spare room getting the crap knocked out of me for three days straight. I remember thinking I was going to die in this room. So I dreamed about this, except this time I was doing the beating to myself. When I woke up and I thought about what this meant and realised that's what I was scared of, that using drink I was going to beat myself to death and this room was the tomb of alcoholism.
I survived once. A few more jabs that's all my body has to take: a necessary evil.
I feel fine today, I felt basically fine yesterday. I've had D.Ts before, I know how it feels. This isn't it. I had high blood pressure because I'm scared.
Unless I get some kind of physical reason to drink I'm not. I know my body's reactions to alcohol pretty well by this point, I've had years of practise.
Unless I get some kind of physical reason to drink I'm not. I know my body's reactions to alcohol pretty well by this point, I've had years of practise.
JMO, but it is time for a new Dr. that is more knowledgeable about alcoholism. Weaning off alcohol was the norm for decades, but we have very effective drugs for this nowadays called benzodiazepines. Benzos are addictive themselves and come with their own set of dangers, but not nearly as dangerous as telling an alcoholic to keep drinking.
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Nottingham, UK
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Here in the UK, tapering is the way to go - whether from prescribed meds or alcohol. I guess we're all different huh ?
Good luck with it Thomas- you've found an excellent site here
PS The problem with Benzos, is that an addictive personality, can just as easily get hooked on those.
Good luck with it Thomas- you've found an excellent site here
PS The problem with Benzos, is that an addictive personality, can just as easily get hooked on those.
Tapering might be 'the go' in the UK, but to be honest as an outside observer I think thats a reflection of the NHS's difficulties in coping with the size of the problem there, rather than good practice Mairie.
Just my opinion tho.
D
Just my opinion tho.
D
Just being honest Thomas but I'm not sure I'd even trust non alcohol related issues about my health to a doctor who would recommend tapering. Especially if I was told that I was going to die if I continued drinking.
There was a time when I might have even questioned if a doctor would really say that to someone. That was before my daughter confessed her addiction to opiates to her doctor who knew that she was pregnant. His reply was "Can't you just cut down a little at a time?" I was floored when I heard that one.
It shows a total lack of knowledge about the subject of addiction, a malady that causes widely spread health issues and can cause death (well, at least he's aware of that). If there's a lack of knowledge on something that causes so many health issues then what else is there a lack of knowledge of?
Time to find a new doctor who understands the seriousness of the situation.
There was a time when I might have even questioned if a doctor would really say that to someone. That was before my daughter confessed her addiction to opiates to her doctor who knew that she was pregnant. His reply was "Can't you just cut down a little at a time?" I was floored when I heard that one.
It shows a total lack of knowledge about the subject of addiction, a malady that causes widely spread health issues and can cause death (well, at least he's aware of that). If there's a lack of knowledge on something that causes so many health issues then what else is there a lack of knowledge of?
Time to find a new doctor who understands the seriousness of the situation.
Pretty much all doctors in the UK recommend tapering, they even have a helpline for alcoholics where they tell untrained staff to order you to ween yourself off. Standard practise, finding another doctor wouldn't help.
Here in the UK, tapering is the way to go - whether from prescribed meds or alcohol. I guess we're all different huh ?
Good luck with it Thomas- you've found an excellent site here
PS The problem with Benzos, is that an addictive personality, can just as easily get hooked on those.
Good luck with it Thomas- you've found an excellent site here
PS The problem with Benzos, is that an addictive personality, can just as easily get hooked on those.
a reflection of the NHS's difficulties in coping with the size of the problem there, rather than good practice
It all varies from country to country..
I really didn't mean this to be a political discussion.
I think the NHS does a great job...the doctors and nurses must be saints... but the Dr to patient ratio is the UK is pretty low - the ratio rose from two doctors per 1000 people in 2000-1 to 2.4 in 2005-6...I'm not sure of figures after that but they can't be markedly different now.
My own experience with tapering is not a good one. I think it's a historical method that been superseded by a lot of better ones...but in the end, I'm just some Joe, a layman.
Folks will either go with their Dr, go their own way, or find a second opinion, without my help
Thomas, I'm glad you're feeling ok
D
I think the NHS does a great job...the doctors and nurses must be saints... but the Dr to patient ratio is the UK is pretty low - the ratio rose from two doctors per 1000 people in 2000-1 to 2.4 in 2005-6...I'm not sure of figures after that but they can't be markedly different now.
My own experience with tapering is not a good one. I think it's a historical method that been superseded by a lot of better ones...but in the end, I'm just some Joe, a layman.
Folks will either go with their Dr, go their own way, or find a second opinion, without my help
Thomas, I'm glad you're feeling ok
D
Thomas, you said you've had DT's before and you understand how your body reacts to withdrawals as you've done it many times. I think we all understand your doctors orders too, even though some may disagree.
My question would be what are you doing other than the taper plan to make sure this is your last detox? Are you attending meetings or seeing a counselor? Debating politics or medical practices might be entertaining, bit it won't do much for your sobriety I'm afraid. What will you do differntly this time?
My question would be what are you doing other than the taper plan to make sure this is your last detox? Are you attending meetings or seeing a counselor? Debating politics or medical practices might be entertaining, bit it won't do much for your sobriety I'm afraid. What will you do differntly this time?
I think Scott was getting at what else you have in mind besides not drinking
I think it really helps to have a plan...a thought out plan of 'what kinds of things can I do to help me stay sober'.
Not trying to put the mockers on you, but when I just went with it, I usually ended up drinking again cos I had no Plan B.
D
I think it really helps to have a plan...a thought out plan of 'what kinds of things can I do to help me stay sober'.
Not trying to put the mockers on you, but when I just went with it, I usually ended up drinking again cos I had no Plan B.
D
Oh right, well next week I've taken the week off work. I have holidays saved up and time off to cope with these changes will really help, I'm also going to attend AA on Monday, as I'm working these next few days. I've started meditating and exercising, that helps a lot.
That's it really, that's my plan.
That's it really, that's my plan.
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