The symptoms no one's heard of
Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Colorado
Posts: 39
I had a red rash (hives?) that would jump from arm to arm for the first few months of sobriety; never figured the cause. Also had intense pain on the inside of the wrists and trigger finger on one finger. All cleared up with time.
It took 10 months to finally sleep through the night, but I abused myself profusely the last year of the 44 year drinking career. Also struggled with memory and finding words to communicate.
It took 10 months to finally sleep through the night, but I abused myself profusely the last year of the 44 year drinking career. Also struggled with memory and finding words to communicate.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 221
Oh god yes it's disgusting but I can relate to the smell. I would shower/bathe sometimes twice a day and stink again straightaway as the toxins were desperately trying to escape every pore in my body. I thought I would never smell normal again.. disgusting.
Auditory hallucinations were a big one with me.
Mortal terror.. waking up as the withdrawals were kicking in and feeling that hideous sense of impending doom and terror like everything in my entire body was screaming and vibrating inside.
Trouble focusing my eyes - feeling like I couldn't focus on anything. Knowing everything that was happening around me but feeling like I wasn't here if that makes sense?
Trying to eat something for the first time in a week and shaking so much I kept missing my mouth.
Looking in the mirror and not recognising myself - strange look on my face like my eyes looked dead behind them. One of my last withdrawals I remember looking at myself and thinking I'd given myself wet brain. I felt like I looked like a had brain damage from the look behind my eyes.
Bloody scary stuff!
Auditory hallucinations were a big one with me.
Mortal terror.. waking up as the withdrawals were kicking in and feeling that hideous sense of impending doom and terror like everything in my entire body was screaming and vibrating inside.
Trouble focusing my eyes - feeling like I couldn't focus on anything. Knowing everything that was happening around me but feeling like I wasn't here if that makes sense?
Trying to eat something for the first time in a week and shaking so much I kept missing my mouth.
Looking in the mirror and not recognising myself - strange look on my face like my eyes looked dead behind them. One of my last withdrawals I remember looking at myself and thinking I'd given myself wet brain. I felt like I looked like a had brain damage from the look behind my eyes.
Bloody scary stuff!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,408
Originally Posted by Ayers 
I love this thread. bewailing our wierd woes.
Hayfever - yes - sneezing bouts that went on for hours. I drank wine.
Stabbing pains all over, sometimes in my head - yes
Salivation in the first couple of weeks - yes
But I've had quite a few opposites too.
Never constipation. To the contrary .... normal now - thank goodness
No dreams - whereas before quitting I had the most vivid, exhausting dreams
Very sensitive feet after sitting with them raised -- sore soles, goes away after walking a couple of steps - but it is really extremely sore, especially my heels.
Sore hands - feels like I have used a Jackhammer for hours - upon waking.
My ring fingerbecomes "locked" - it is called Trigger finger - now also starting
in the other hand
And no ED - because I'm a girl - haha - but it must be extremely uncomfortable and embarrassing - hope it rectifies with time .
Hayfever - yes - sneezing bouts that went on for hours. I drank wine.
Stabbing pains all over, sometimes in my head - yes
Salivation in the first couple of weeks - yes
But I've had quite a few opposites too.
Never constipation. To the contrary .... normal now - thank goodness
No dreams - whereas before quitting I had the most vivid, exhausting dreams
Very sensitive feet after sitting with them raised -- sore soles, goes away after walking a couple of steps - but it is really extremely sore, especially my heels.
Sore hands - feels like I have used a Jackhammer for hours - upon waking.
My ring fingerbecomes "locked" - it is called Trigger finger - now also starting
in the other hand
And no ED - because I'm a girl - haha - but it must be extremely uncomfortable and embarrassing - hope it rectifies with time .
yes the hands and feet have suffered this terrible pain in my knuckles. I worry that it's arthritis but it makes no sense. They were fine and then all of a sudden it was like I aged 30 years in two days. :O
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,408
Originally Posted by doda
I had a red rash (hives?) that would jump from arm to arm for the first few months of sobriety; never figured the cause. Also had intense pain on the inside of the wrists and trigger finger on one finger. All cleared up with time.
It took 10 months to finally sleep through the night, but I abused myself profusely the last year of the 44 year drinking career. Also struggled with memory and finding words to communicate.
It took 10 months to finally sleep through the night, but I abused myself profusely the last year of the 44 year drinking career. Also struggled with memory and finding words to communicate.
I do recall that back when I was "in the cycle of moderating" I would get these subtle quivers in my fingers. It was never tremors or shakes. It was more like my circulation was feeling out of wack. Maybe it's just happening on a more intense scale now that I haven't been feeding the beast.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: South Africa
Posts: 1,535
Evening WaterOx.
I haven’t read the whole thread so my apologies if the following slightly peculiar ones have already been mentioned, but on quitting I had tinnitus (ringing in one or both ears) for a day or two, as well as a metallic taste in my mouth. Both resolved completely within a short while.
I haven’t read the whole thread so my apologies if the following slightly peculiar ones have already been mentioned, but on quitting I had tinnitus (ringing in one or both ears) for a day or two, as well as a metallic taste in my mouth. Both resolved completely within a short while.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Lakeside, Arizona
Posts: 1,138
Originally Posted by yinzer
The rage. A few weeks in, I was mad as hell and biting the head off of anyone who came near me. Thankfully, that stage didn’t last long.
And there’s the sugar craving, which still hasn’t gone away.
And there’s the sugar craving, which still hasn’t gone away.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,408
Originally Posted by CaptainHaddock
Evening WaterOx.
I haven’t read the whole thread so my apologies if the following slightly peculiar ones have already been mentioned, but on quitting I had tinnitus (ringing in one or both ears) for a day or two, as well as a metallic taste in my mouth. Both resolved completely within a short while.
I haven’t read the whole thread so my apologies if the following slightly peculiar ones have already been mentioned, but on quitting I had tinnitus (ringing in one or both ears) for a day or two, as well as a metallic taste in my mouth. Both resolved completely within a short while.
I haven't experienced much taste change but as I've mentioned I have experienced an almost burn-like feel on the tongue. Sort of a cross between dehydration and a burn. First time it ever happened made me worried I got gave myself diabetes but all testing showed normal.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 205
I had heart palpitations very frequently towards the end of my drinking. They’re gone now.
Some random ones I remember: Next day after drinking I’d frequently get thigh cramps at night. I’d also sometimes have difficulty focusing on the words when trying to read a newspaper.
Some random ones I remember: Next day after drinking I’d frequently get thigh cramps at night. I’d also sometimes have difficulty focusing on the words when trying to read a newspaper.
No Dogma Please
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: SoCal
Posts: 2,562
When I was withdrawing from alcohol and Klonopin it sounded like there was a trio of flutes following me around to my right and just behind me.
I did a medical detox for my last withdrawal, so the symptoms were blunted, but I had this weird hobbling gait and could barely walk.
I did a medical detox for my last withdrawal, so the symptoms were blunted, but I had this weird hobbling gait and could barely walk.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,408
Originally Posted by AtomicBlue
I had heart palpitations very frequently towards the end of my drinking. They’re gone now.
Some random ones I remember: Next day after drinking I’d frequently get thigh cramps at night. I’d also sometimes have difficulty focusing on the words when trying to read a newspaper.
Some random ones I remember: Next day after drinking I’d frequently get thigh cramps at night. I’d also sometimes have difficulty focusing on the words when trying to read a newspaper.
How long did you have them for?
Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: London
Posts: 172
God I had so many wierd symptoms it was scary some things I can remeber are.
I would be in bed trying to sleep and it would sound like a bomb went off and I would jump up in shock and panic.
Strange music that would be ringing in my ears
nearly falling asleep and then feel like I can’t breath and run to the window gasping for air.
hyper ventilating non stop
wooden leg feeling that would spasm on its own.
Paranoia that the police was coming to arrest me.
not being able to swallow food properly and feeling as if I would choke to death
Feeling like I was going to choke on my own saliva
feeling hyper sexually aroused
there was a lot more but these where the weirdest.
I would be in bed trying to sleep and it would sound like a bomb went off and I would jump up in shock and panic.
Strange music that would be ringing in my ears
nearly falling asleep and then feel like I can’t breath and run to the window gasping for air.
hyper ventilating non stop
wooden leg feeling that would spasm on its own.
Paranoia that the police was coming to arrest me.
not being able to swallow food properly and feeling as if I would choke to death
Feeling like I was going to choke on my own saliva
feeling hyper sexually aroused
there was a lot more but these where the weirdest.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 102
I don't know if it is weird or mentioned but I have a lot of tension in my jaw. My knees pop like crazy and they hurt bad. I feel like an old man. I grunt and groan. My ears hurt but I think that is from snorting stuff my whole life.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,408
Originally Posted by Hercules
God I had so many wierd symptoms it was scary some things I can remeber are.
I would be in bed trying to sleep and it would sound like a bomb went off and I would jump up in shock and panic.
Strange music that would be ringing in my ears
nearly falling asleep and then feel like I can’t breath and run to the window gasping for air.
hyper ventilating non stop
wooden leg feeling that would spasm on its own.
Paranoia that the police was coming to arrest me.
not being able to swallow food properly and feeling as if I would choke to death
Feeling like I was going to choke on my own saliva
feeling hyper sexually aroused
there was a lot more but these where the weirdest.
I would be in bed trying to sleep and it would sound like a bomb went off and I would jump up in shock and panic.
Strange music that would be ringing in my ears
nearly falling asleep and then feel like I can’t breath and run to the window gasping for air.
hyper ventilating non stop
wooden leg feeling that would spasm on its own.
Paranoia that the police was coming to arrest me.
not being able to swallow food properly and feeling as if I would choke to death
Feeling like I was going to choke on my own saliva
feeling hyper sexually aroused
there was a lot more but these where the weirdest.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,408
Originally Posted by Robert88
I don't know if it is weird or mentioned but I have a lot of tension in my jaw. My knees pop like crazy and they hurt bad. I feel like an old man. I grunt and groan. My ears hurt but I think that is from snorting stuff my whole life.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Europe
Posts: 440
Originally Posted by CaptainHaddock
I haven’t read the whole thread so my apologies if the following slightly peculiar ones have already been mentioned, but on quitting I had tinnitus (ringing in one or both ears) for a day or two, as well as a metallic taste in my mouth. Both resolved completely within a short while.
And extreme sensitivity to both light and sound. I'd jump at the slightest noise. I'm lying there in my bed, in mental pain, while hearing the hospital staff outside of my room, laughing for whatever reason. I wish I could laugh with them.
... not to mention, in addition to the anxiety making the ceiling tiles crack & the shaking. Holy....
I'm not out of this yet, but I just hope next time I detox, they won't put me in room 2026 (that's where the sun 'shines' right into the room...) Too bright. I'd rather have a room across the hall.
My sister's 19th birthday is in 10 days, and I am a mess. darnit.... What do you buy as a present for 19 year old girls? Gift cards?
Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: London
Posts: 172
Originally Posted by WaterOx
That does sound very stressful. Has all of that passed now? How long did most of it take to go away?
Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 18
Originally Posted by WaterOx
Yeah I've had heart palpatations every day since I relapsed last summer. It's been 2 months since my last drink and they still haven't gone away. The doc seems to think it's all fine, as testing shows it's nothing to worry about- but I've never had them like this before.
How long did you have them for?
How long did you have them for?
I started getting PVCs when I was about 23, well before drinking was a serious issue for me. Some people just have them, and have to learn how to deal with it. For me it took probably about 10 years before I finally stopped caring about them. It got to the point where I was sure every night that I would die in my sleep. I had been to a few different cardiologists over the years, had EKGs, electrocardiograms, physical stress tests, chemical stress tests, holter monitors, you name it. Always the same result, don’t worry about it the doctor would tell me. Some people just have them for no apparent reason and in my case they are benign. I wasted a lot of time worrying about something that I shouldn’t. I probably spent every night for that last year hoping tonight was the night I’d just sleep forever because the stress of dealing with PVCs was overwhelming and in complete control of my mindset.
Once I accepted they were benign and just put trust in the docs it got almost 100% better that very day. Not the PVCs, but the stress they caused just vanished. And even if they were wrong and I was gonna just die, it wasn’t really living if all I was doing was worrying about death. As I type this I’ve been dealing with bigemini all day, which means every other beat is a PVC, and I just don’t care because I know it’s harmless.
So, if you have gotten checked out by a specialist and they say it’s nothing to worry about, really try to not worry. I know that’s easier said than done because I’ve been there. I wish I could get back all that time I wasted fretting over it and just skip straight to trusting my doctors.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
