Alcohol :: Do I Need To Detox? Max 90 Hours Without Binge Drinking
Jun 1, 2015
I'm trying to pull myself together and drastically cut down on my drinking. I've been drinking pretty much every night for about a month or two. I've been going on binges of drinking every day a week or so at a time for the last couple years, and then I would stop for a week and start over again. This has been the longest period of drinking every day. It started with two tall boys a night, and progressed to a six pack of 16ozs on the weekdays, and then heavily binge drinking one day a weekend. I didn't think that I was drinking enough to experience withdrawals if I suddenly stopped. I've done this before, and never experienced withdrawals. This time was different.
I drank heavily last Monday, and then didn't drink again until Friday night. I was very anxious, had some episodes of the shakes, and I was in a pretty bad fog. My head hurt and I was thirsty all day, I couldn't get enough water. I couldn't think, I just didn't feel right. I caved in and drank a six pack Friday night, and then yesterday was my birthday so it was just a waterfall of booze. I don't know how much I drank, but it was a lot.
I feel terrible at the moment, partly due to the nasty hangover. I'm feeling very stressed out and anxious. The shakes are starting to creep in, along with the fog. The realization that this has become a problem is giving me a lot of anxiety, I have moments where I feel like I'm just going to break down and have a panic attack. I can't believe I let myself go like this.
Anyways, given the amount of alcohol that I have been consuming, should I be concerned about DT's or seizures? I made it around 90 hours with seemingly mild withdrawal symptoms, considering. No one knows that I drink like this, I'm a closet alcoholic. I'm afraid to tell anyone, because I don't want them to know that I've sunk this low. I don't want anyone worrying about me, which is why I've come here.
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I really want to stop drinking i drink most days normally between 4-6 cans of cider sometimes i binge up to 12 though normally starting around 12pm . I cant ask for help as have already been warned if i admit to drinking more than 4 (from 7pm) cans i will have to have supervision whilst looking after my children.
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I need help to stop binge drinking before i loose my family and job?
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I'm a 26 year old male... I consumed large amounts of alcohol at age 21 (spiced rum) being ignorant at that age I ignored all of the health problems it was causing me. Besides the normal hangover I experienced stomach pain, lots of constipation, and diarrhea. I only stayed on that binge for a few months, but even 5 years later I'm having possibly serious problems.
1. Nausea! It tapered off the last couple years, but it was bad.... really bad. All day everyday. Now it's more manageable. The worst part is early morning. When I start to feel hungry I just feel like vomiting.
2. Blood in stool... Also has been getting better. Only have blood about once a month.
3. Sore eyes and dizziness.. I feel this one the most (everyday most of the day). It's hard to explain but the best way I can put it, it's really hard to focus my eyes on something. If I'm looking at someone talking to be or focusing on the road I start to feel dizzy and almost disoriented.
Treatment: I saw my doctor many times as well as others. I've had scans, endoscopies, and no one has narrowed down much. The scans came back good, blood is good, the first endoscopy showed I had h. Pylori. I took all the antibiotics (helped temporary make me feel better) but back to the same old.
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I know I suffer from anxiety (and depression and insomnia), which is partly what drove me to drink, am on treatment for same and will review things with my GP asap, but I want to concentrate on my physical health concerns. Please ignore this thread if you ONLY want to talk about anxiety.
Briefly: I was a social drinker for 25 years, occasionally drinking more than I should have (but at things like celebrations and functions).
Two years ago, I began to develop mental health problems, but didn't start drinking more heavily (self-medicating) until about one year ago, when I also started to binge drink occasionally, including twice last October. After a gap, I then restarted drinking heavily in March this year, and this became very heavy at times in the summer (80+ units per week), with occasional even heavier binges, the most recent being last Thursday / Friday (50+ units each day).
I finally ended-up in hospital last weekend with tachycardia, low blood pressure and probably alcohol poisoning. While there, I first developed a painful red/purple rash on my chest. I was put on antibiotics for this, and it seems to be clearing-up.
However, then, I quickly developed various other strange and unpleasant physical symptoms:
- numerous bruises;
- numerous pimples and red/purple dots under the skin;
- some hair loss and extensive hair-thinning;
- a spider naevus;
- red palms;
- itchy skin- skin darkening affecting the backs of my hands and genitals;
- regular, profuse sweating;
- whites of eyes turned lemon;
- brain "fog".
Some of these symptoms have reduced or resolved (eg. red palms and itchy skin), but the others have persisted.
I am eating OK, but making an effort to do so. In spite of this, I have lost about a stone in weight in the past 3 weeks. I'm also lacking in energy.
Since June, I have had regular liver function tests and other blood tests, too.
These have shown elevated enzymes, more or less in line with the extent of my drinking. In early August, after a serious binge, the AST was 96 and GGT was 121. In mid-August, AST had reduced to 25 and GGT 72. But they were higher again (though both under 100) on my admission to hospital last weekend, but had started to fall again after I was there for a few days. I have been advised that, in all of the tests, the values for other important measures were consistently normal. The junior doctor in hospital said the LFTs indicated no cirrhosis or hepatitis.
I also had a physical exam (just manual) from a GP in mid-August, and she said my liver / abdomen felt soft and suple with no sign of inflammation, enlargement or hardness.
However, given the strange and unpleasant physical symptoms that quickly developed in hospital last weekend, I fear that my last serious binge a week ago finally tipped me over the edge and into serious liver disease. Too many of the symptoms are those of cirrhosis for me to think anything else. (I've checked on the NHS website.)
I am absolutely terrified that, despite good advice and warnings, I did not take heed and my body, especially the liver, has finally been permanently damaged by the alcohol.
My main question is: can I turn things around? I have not had anything to drink since last Friday, and have no inclination to do so. I am drinking a lot of water, fruit and vegetable juices, and eating healthily. I will try to get some exercise, though I don't have much energy.
I'll see my regular GP next week, but could do with some advice and, if it's appropriate, some reassurance before then.
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I have given up heavy drinking now for two weeks. I feel dreadful , sick all day,weak itchy and unable to sleep. I WAS given chlordiazepoxide but only 8 altogether. Is it normal ? This is worse than a bad hangover. How did others feel?
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30 year old male here. So this all started one saturday night when I was binge drinking. Drank around 15 beers and woke up the next morning throwing up. But thing is I didn't have anything in my stomach so it felt like I was throwing up acid. So I drink a lot of fluids and try eating later. Around 10pm I began having some serious spasms to my stomach, shortness of breath, arms start to become numb. I visit the ER and they said it's because of acid reflux that I use to have. They prescribe Lorazepam 1mg along with some other acid reducers. I feel fine for the next 5 days eating low fat meals and avoiding coffee and acidic things. I run out of the lorazepam and the next day I begin eating and within 15 mins I start having an attack. Shortness of breath and arms numb and feel nauseous. It's been 10 days since the incident and I've had chest x rays done, blood drawn, endoscopy performed, heart beat is fine, eating healthy and taking more vitamins and minerals. Yesterday I saw my doctor and he said ruled everything out and that it could be anxiety attacks brought out by the alcohol. I thought it was funny because I've never had anything like that in my life. And I exercise, I'm not overweight, and I eat right. At the moment the only thing that keeps me without these symptoms is anxiety pills like lorazepam. What's wrong with me? The doctor said it can't be alcohol withdrawals but what could it be? I must admit I was 4 days heavily that week leading up to Saturday. Is this some time of withdrawal happening? How long before it goes away? It's been 10 days and I've gotten slightly better. But I still have the spasms and anxiety attacks. Could it have been the alcohol? I was also recovering from a cold and I'm thinking it could also be some bacteria in my stomach. Any thoughts?
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I am possibly thinking of paying for a private home detox. They have suggested it will be using valium as opposed to Librium. I was just wondering if anyone else on here had been through one?
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I've been drinking since Friday..got script today for 10 mg librium to start tomorrow morn..told i can't start now cos i'm drinking today..how soon can i take it? Want to b in work tomorrow..if i get up early and take it round 4 or 5 will it help me.
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i went to my GP this week armed with all the info on Nalmefene and asked her to prescribe it to me. Explained that I had been in touch with SMC and the NHS but all this fell on deaf ears. She admitted she was clueless about the medicine and stated that she would need to have a conversation with my Alcohol Support worker. They have since both agreed that it will not be something they are willing to prescribe as the feel I need complete abstinence and doing this gradually is not helpful.
So the idea of dropping two units daily did not go well. Within one week I came full circle. Got down to 10 units and couldn't bear the withdrawal. Stayed at that for a few days before increasing once again. My alcohol worker stated that this was a test, to see if I was able to reduce on my own, which I clearly am not at this present time.
Now I have a home detox booked for two weeks time. Still clueless on who will be my support over the first three days as all my friends have young children and family members aren't real an option due to their locality and jobs. The plan is to start Antabuse after the detox, I'm done telling them how I feel about Antabuse.
Feeling hopeful, excited at the prospect of being alcohol free, whilst very fearful and grieving at the upcoming loss of my best friend and reliant.
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I have just got through a one week detox using Chlordiazepoxide prescribed by the doctor after 6 months in counselling. I've drunk or misused substances for 15 years. The problem is as I can't sleep I'm still drinking. I'm not sure what to do next, another detox..? Bern keeping distracted so only drink in evenings after 7pm. Has anyone else struggled or succeeded at detox first attempt?
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I am a 67 year old male who had previously been drinking a fifth of straight Vodka for years and went 3 times to a clinic to detox.
I quit for many years but due to personal Family problems I started drinking heavily again about 3 months or so ago. (3- 1/2 pints of Vodka a day)
18 days ago I started self in home detox and am SLOWLY but surely beginning to feel better but not at all up to par.
I can't sleep at night and still feel woozy and unsteady on my feet! Somewhat dis oriented as well!
At the beginning of my Detox I had dark colored urine which indicated blood but a R/x of Amoxicillin seemed to take care of that and my urine is now the color its supposed to be.
I, for a few days had black stool but it has since gone away and is back to normal (?) color.
I drink about 5 bottles of water a day and sleep (or try to sleep? with a cold washrag on my head during the day and at night.
My question I guess is this:
I am on day 18 now and still feel as I described as above.
I have read for hours on the NET regarding as to how long these feelings will last and I can't find a definitive answer. Most have said that the feelings will pass after two weeks but could take 3 weeks or longer! Can someone please verify?
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I've been drinking since I was 14. I'm now 39. For most of that time I've been a binge drinker. Often, like 2 or 3 times a month, drinking till I can't remember how I got home or what I was saying or doing. Now I drink most nights. Not loads every night but I do think about drinking most days and look forward to the next time I can get melted.
Recently it's been affecting my relationship. My girlfriend has warned me that my drinking could be the end of our relationship. I love her more than anything but still I can't stop drinking. Sometimes I lie about what I've drunk or I hide empty bottles from her. I've promised myself I'll cut down or I'll just have a couple instead of loads, but it never works.
I think it's now the time to stop all together but I'm not sure I can. I have a lot of good friends but socialising with them usually involves a night in the pub and I don't think I could do that without getting drunk.
I've also been trying to stop smoking for about 10 years and haven't really managed that either! I think I have an addictive personality and not sure what to try next.
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Can anyone tell me their experiences after a one week supervised home detox?
I haven't been alcohol free for many years. The only time I had a few days wine free was when I was in hospital a couple of years ago. As soon as I got home - straight to the wine bottle! It's very scary for me looking into the future - no more wine.
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Any hints, tips for the next week. I am taking Vit B compound and Thiamine already. Nervous and anxious.
I have had Detox before and was sober for 6 months but thought i was fixed so hoped i could drink socially. I did until i went on an all inclusive holiday......huge mistake!! As soon as i got home I started drinking at home again on evenings.
Anyway.... here's to the future and staying alcohol free.........
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ok, I have struggled with insomnia and anxiety my entire adult life, hard to go to sleep, so I began drinking about 10 years ago, only from 5-9 pm a few glasses of wine, sometimes a bottle. Im being honest. I was also on zoloft for 16 years , weaned myself off about 6 month ago to see if I could function without it. I recently started having severe panic attacks on Tuesday, so I decided to start back on my zoloft, since it worked so well to control the anxiety. I know it will take weeks before I can feel the results and be anxiety free again, but something strange happened, I decided to stop drinking one night and woke up the next day with horrible tremors, nausea, anxiety, fear, so I took a half a xanax , I only take as needed which is very rare, this calmed me down, and I read some forums online about tapering off alcohol safely at home, and how to do it. so the past several days I have cut my wine down to 2 glasses, and it said switch to beer, one per hour if needed and I haven't needed that much i had a beer this am to calm my shakes down and was able to snap out of panic mode, around 4 I started feeling that anxiety again ha a beer and am fine, so my goal is to be alcohol free, and when they say taper they mean taper, if i was drinking from -9 every day sometimes 1 bottle of wine a night, I Feel relieved that I have come a long way and am safe, I know quitting alcohol cold turkey can be fatal, my doctor has agreed with me on this method, and if I get worse I can go to detox, but that is so expensive, so I'm trying does anyone out there have experience safely detoxing at home too?
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I'm currently doing a gradual reduction / detox but suffer really bad with Neuropathy (I believe it is) as it wakes me several times during the night. Can anybody recommend anything to help? I started taking a multi-vit & minerals at weekend with has the vit B, Thiamine & Folic Acid in but wondered if it will only help once the alcohol stops?
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what are the side effects with these tablets,when drinking beer,or larger,
as i occasionally like 4-5 pints,am i putting myself at risk!
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The problem is after drinking alcohol the next couple of days I suffer from really bad anxiety, to the point where I feel so down and physically sick. Sometimes I feel so ashamed and I go into depressed mode. Also the last couple of years I've been having blackouts after really heavy sessions. I keep promising myself I will never do it again but it plays a big part of my social life and I feel pressured at times. I don't always blackout but when I do, I've been told I become aggressive and start to pick arguments or fights with people. When I hear the stories I feel disgusted with myself because I'm not that kind of person, I would literally do anything for anyone within reason. I'm not alcohol dependant although 10 years ago when I was 18 I drank everyday for approximately 1 year as I wasn't in a great place. It's just that once or twice a week I have a really heavy blow out and I feel so ill for days afterwards, the anxiety is unbearable. I've also noticed that once I start drinking I find it difficult to stop once I've reached a certain limit. But I can actually take it or leave it some weeks, but then I need a blow out. I've spoke to a few close friends and one of them suggested AA but I'm not really sure if this is the right idea ? I do suffer from anxiety and panic attacks but the alcohol just makes it worse. Especially with the blackouts, I don't seem to have any pre warning with the blackouts. I can be feeling merry one minute and then I wake up in the morning with hours missing from the night. I know its easy to say just dont drink but I'm finding a big struggle to completely avoid it.
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What a nightmare alcoholism IS. I just got out of the hospital AGAIN.
This time 9 days....17 IV bags of vitamins and fluids. At LEAST 14 shots of Heparin in my stomach (they do this so you don't blood clot cause I could not move). I could not WALK, TALK, I was Hallucinating....
Heparin causes (at least on my stomach) severe bruising...my stomach is now purple. from the belly button down and all around. I had a heart monitor AGAIN...and this time oxygen.
AND this time I was asked to go the the psyche ward after the detox of 5 days. I agreed and stayed in the psyche ward for the 4 days. WONDERFUL Doctors and Nurses and AIDS....I have never been treated better in my life.
They told me their job was to keep me comfortable. SO...I was receiving 4 mg of Lorazepam every hour for 5 days....thru the IV....for faster acting relief. I was suffering so much at 2mg...that the Nurse called the Dr. in and he evaluated me and said to raise it immediately. Last Monday was HELL on EARTH for me.
AGAIN..I was told I was almost dead. I started drinking Jan 2 and called on Jan 31 for help. The rescue came and the first 2 days are very blank to me right now. But I will never forget that Monday....Hallucinating...not knowing where I was...having a "fall risk" band for the first time too. I didn't even start eating until Day 7....They said I looked like the walking dead.
Then I was leaving yesterday...I was told 100x how much better I looked and how far I had come. They saved my life once again. Or I DID by calling in on myself.
They said my BAC was VERY high...I didn't even have the energy nor the care to ask what it was because I KNEW it was high. How could it not be...again not eating all that time....just straight VODKA. All those days .
I missed the death of a loved one....I missed a court date I promised to attend with my sister....I missed supporting another friend thru a fight to get a child out of foster care....I JUST MISSED my own DEATH DATE this time...maybe by minutes...I don't know if that is true...but that is what it felt like and I was put into ICU (Intensive Care) when I first went in. Then I was moved to another floor, then another floor, then finally the psyche ward.
Please listen to me...alcohol is progressive....if you are drinking hard....try harder to stop. It does kill and I can't believe I ever ended up this way again.
The good news...I had wonderful support and care where I was, I was not treated like I was a loser...I was cared for and catered to every minute of everyday until I could function. When I finally could shower...Day 6...I was helped....I was brought my meals....I was covered in warm blankets. I felt like I was 100 years old....I could do NOTHING for myself....NOTHING until Day 6. I am doing better....Came home to my car (got rear ended) and a broken furnace....but ya know WHAT? I DIDN'T care. I am so GRATEFUL to be alive....for real.
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It has been suggested to me to drink cranberry juice to help my liver detox in hopes of having a negative alcohol screening next week.
It tastes horrible and all I could think that would make it taste better is some vodka or something....but NO...I'm going to nurse this jug I bought all day...straight cranberry juice!
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