SoberinSyracuse

I'm looking for reassurance on a subject that will only be understood once I get fully checked out (part of my recovery plan).

In the last 18 months or so, my drinking increased from 3 units a day up to 10+ units a day. I gained about 20 pounds, mostly around my former washboard midsection. When I'm lying down, breathing is uncomfortable because my gut feels so bloated. My skin looks poor and my face and hair are puffy. Hangovers now include symptoms like heart palpitations and auditory hallucinations.

I'm on a medically-guided plan now to taper for a few more weeks and then enter an IV amino acid detox program. But I'm plagued with the fear, What if it's too late?

Did any of you have that fear, and how did you quiet that voice while you let things take their course?

least

I would suggest asking your doctor to do tests which can ease your mind. The longer you're sober, the healthier you'll be.

Dee74

I think almost everyone has had that fear
least is right - only seeing your doctor and running a few tests will give you definite answers.

I'm willing to bet things are not as bad as you fear

D

Anna

Yes, I was worried too. But, you don't know, so talk to your dr sooner rather than later and hopefully it will ease your mind.

JD

Only your dr can tell you for sure. But it's highly likely you'll be fine. I had pretty high liver enzymes right before and after I quit drinking. By about 75 days sober they were back to normal.

SweatyHands

I was terrified about what might be going on with my health when I checked in for detox. I was bloated, pouring sweat, I had constant high right side abdominal pains, I couldn't eat or sleep, and my blood pressure was absolutely horrifying. When I checked in, my blood tests revealed that I had alcoholic hepatitis. However, the human body is designed to heal and rebuild itself. After four days in the hospital with no alcohol and nutrients and fluid going back into my system, my liver numbers were completely normal. So, being fearful for your health is completely normal. And, your health might not be that great after years of alcohol abuse. But, if you commit to sobriety and take care of yourself, you can more than likely reverse most if not all of the damage that you have done to yourself.

Steely

Sobriety should fix all of that but you do need to see your doctor if you are having auditory hallucinations. I've had them once and it is frightening. With sobriety, good diet, exercise, life and all that jazz your symptoms will get better by the day. My thoughts are with you as I remember all too well the horror.

PurpleKnight

The human body is a great piece of kit, commit to Sobriety, make it happen and with your Drs advice hopefully all will be well!!

Hang in there!!

blueberry2015

Def see your doctor to run tests! My liver enzymes too were 4x normal levels, within 2 months they went back to normal. It is def worth getting yourself checked over to ease your mind x

fantail

Agreed. My last four withdrawals had auditory hallucinations, worse and more frightening each time. Just thinking about them for more than a second can shake me up. Horror is just the word. It was like being in a horror movie... one of the ones where there's some supernatural evil around but everyone's oblivious except the main character.

Jsbodhi

I never had hallucinations.
But I have tingling in my hands and feet that I think I got from cigs and alcohol.
It seems to be less and less, trying to quit cigs now
I'm scared I have peripheral nerve damage from the drinking.
If it doesn't clear up this month I'll go to the doctor

fantail

To the original point... I was so scared about my health that I couldn't even feel better after getting to the doctor. I had to learn how to ignore the anxiety just like I ignore the cravings etc. I just tried to repeat to myself, "I can only change this moment."

Hang in there. You're doing the right thing for your health. You can't change the past.

MythOfSisyphus

You have been given good advice. Obviously a doctor will be required to say for sure but odds are good that it's not "too late". The body has a tremendous capacity to heal itself once we stop tearing it down with drugs and alcohol. Still, if you don't stop it will eventually get to the point where it will damage you. Now is the best time to stop.