Timeonmyhands

You may have spotted my first post.... but if not (and if you have sorry for the recap!) I've been drinking for 14 years, the last five have been well out of hand - very easily over 100 units a week, all of it spirits.

I'm day 3 after quitting (though I don't really feel qualified to say I've truly quit) ... I'm struggling with conflicting advice around tapering vs cold turkey. Given I'm ok (other than nightmares) do I carry on as I am, or should I have tapered / be tapering.

Really I suppose I need someone to say cold turkey is possible, and tapering would be unnecessary (and probably a mistake??) if I've managed this far. I'm scared the weekend will come and I'll still feel groggy (I know I should expect this) and I'll use 'tapering' as a wonderful medically backed 'reason' I should have a 'few' .... when I know I can't have a just a few anymore.

Dee74

Anything is possible

I know a lot of folks have gone cold turkey and been ok...I was too... many many times....until my last detox which ended badly.

I've also known folks who tapered...and yet still went into withdrawal.

It's all so unpredictable.

That's why my general advice to anyone thinking of quitting is to see a doctor first.

D

TroyW

If you're on day 3, major withdrawals are over. At least any withdrawals that are life threatening that is. Stick with cold turkey.

If you made it 3 days, you're in the clear for seizures, stokes, heart failure, and thing of that nature.

Timeonmyhands

Thanks Dee, I suppose like a few people I've been too ashamed to see my doc. I'm hoping that I wont have any ill effects just going cold turkey and don't really want to give myself the excuse of tapering. Here today.... I know for me, it'd be an excuse to revert..... at the weekend though, my willpower isn't so good.

Timeonmyhands

Thanks Eric..... I just feel fluey and on a 'go slow', and blumming right I should after what I've put my body through. You're right, I should stick with.

Great sig quite by the way.... I think I've heard ET (Eric T) shout it at me a few times on my ipod. Love it.

Ruby2

If you've gone three days cold turkey, stick with it. Trying to taper now would only set you back to where you were when you started. I stopped cold turkey this last time but after seeing my doctor but you are well on your way. The grogginess will keep lifting. Stay stopped.

Ruby2

And well done on three days. That's great!

sugarbear1

Don't bother drinking now, the kindling effect is real. You are on your way to sobriety!!

swindon32

Sorry to say but on my day three of tapering I had 3 seizures and was given 5 minutes to live as heart rate was 187pm and bp 184/135. AND I'd had 2 small glasses of wine 4hrs previous to that happening from 2 bottles a day, down to one spread throughout the day. My seizures started at half 8pm before I could finish the bottle for tapering. They said it was because I hadn't drank enough I seizured. Get medical advice as you can seizure up to day 5. For the record I was fine the first 2 days bar a bit shaky and no sleep/appetite. On day 35 sober now after being detoxed in hosp on Librium xx Hope you're ok x

entropy1964

I'm not sure that's always true. I knew a person that had a seizure on day 5. I think in general the 72 hour rule holds as being the worst, but withdrawal is individual I think. Not trying to be argumentative

ardy

Hi kiddo... trust this old lady of Hubby going thro withdrawal and tapering.. it is totally different for every single person.. Ed went into a major stroke amost 3 weeks ago .. and in the hospital... drink lots of water .. put the signs up on the fridge with a emergence number... and if you are living with someone keep them in the loop.. for they need to know why how and if you are going to be a huge problem in less then 30 minutes.. Ed hide it from me thinking he had controll Drugs and Drink is a Terrible Mistress and she has controll of so much... also if you have a lady that you are living with ... she will go thro a type of withdrawal too.. because of love making you are giving her parts of problems that she is taking into her body... I am sorry kids .. but on my 4 bladder infection this year.. an I have found out that Ed dosed me on a regular basis with the morphine when we made love.. and now my body is screaming at me .. in a type of withdrawal... prayers you can do this .. just keep going.. love ardy

Opivotal

(((Ardy)))

Timeonmyhands, please let someone know you quit drinking, just in case.

Not saying anything will or will not happen as everyone is different. Just want you to be safe.

ccam1973

Time, I think the best advice is to see your Doctor if you have questions. That being said, I quit cold-turkey after heavy daily drinking. Some rough patches early on, but overall I was fine. I was also too embarrassed to tell my doctor until I had some sober time; not saying this is good advice on how to approach the situation though.

I would definitely let someone know what you are doing so they can check in on you periodically for the next couple of days.

Congrats on day 3. Hang in there, life gets so much better when you get your life back!

bigsombrero

Agree with others - if you've made it 3 days already without booze, please don't go back. Of course you WANT to go back to drinking, we all did after 3 days. But don't fool yourself, drinking right now will not improve your health.

If you're really worried about the health issues, see a doctor, not a liquor store clerk.

Reset

FWIW when I told my doctor I was quitting (this time around) the first thing he said was, "if you're going to stop, don't try to taper, just stop entirely."

jryan19982

I quit cold turkey. I drank daily for I cant remember how long- 4, 5 years I dont know. 6 beers on the weekdays, then weekends 12 or more. The first few days were the worst of it, but nothing I couldnt handle. But you arent me, and Im not you, so best to see a Dr. I probably should have done that, but I didnt thinking I was going to do this myself.

Carver

See a doctor.

I think that if you're on day 3 then you're doing amazingly well, and should continue if medically safe to do so

Cold turkey for me, and I've only just started to wake up without the phantom hangovers/general grogginess on day 68. The longer you go, the better you'll feel!

TroyW

Yeah, there is the odd exception, but 99% of cases will be over within the first 48 hours, once the body naturally metabolizes the remaining alcohol in your body.

thomas11

There is a possibility you are past the worst of it, but not 100%. Add me to the list of people that recommend seeing a Dr. if things get bad. And you'll know when they do. Its unmistakable.

Aarryckha

I quit cold turkey home alone from a 750mL+ a day vodka habit.

It was horrible, but I had no "complications."

I'll just echo what everyone else has really said. Let someone know what you're doing so they can check in on you and make sure you're okay. DO NOT be afraid or embarrassed to call 911 if you need to. Definitely don't start drinking again.

Congrats on getting through some rough days!