Oh man, I just replied to a post for someone on there fourth day sober, with similar questions ...
Sounds to me like you haven't gone a day without alcohol in quite a while ... Personally, I've detoxed myself a number of times in the past and it's a real b_tch ... actually very dangerous in fact ... of course I knew I was smarter than everyone else so I went ahead, HeeHee ... almost died, several times ...
Detox is experienced a little differently with everyone ... depends on your basic health and what you drank, how much you drank, and how long you drank ... Here's what you can typically expect: After about 12 hours without drinking alcohol, the blood-pressure starts to get high and your pulse rate will also climb ... it's not unusual to get jittery and start sweating ... after 24 hours, your blood pressure is usually out the roof and pulse is sky high and will not slow down ... THIS means that SLEEP will be damn near impossible too ...(for me?, this continued for days ... ergo the risk is extremely high of having a 'stroke' ... ergo the recommended doctor's care ...) ...
It is also typical, to find it near impossible to drink out of a regular glass(shaking so bad) and I also found it hard to get food into my mouth during this period ... I did not have the strength to even 'brush' my teeth, my tongue was cottony white and could not taste anything ... well, actually, everything tasted like 'cardboard' ... I also had to have help walking ...
OKAY, if you're not convinced to go see a doctor about this and still insist on doing this yourself, ... you need to have plenty of juices and 'gator-aide' on hand ... crackers and chips and peanut butter, etc. ... Also having sweets close by will help curb the sugar withdrawals from no alcohol ... trust me, you'll want the sweets close at hand, LOL ...
You need to prepare for a lot of 'irrational thoughts' to cross your mind ... It will probably help to stay 'on-line' and chat with whom ever you can for the next few days ... at least til your thoughts become 'rational' again ... Ha!
Sorry, but this was like a trip to Hell for me ... like I've told a few people that told me to go to Hell ... No thanks, I've already been there and really didn't care for it, LOL ... Like an old country song said ... When you're going through Hell, just keep on going ...
Then by all means, start going to meetings ASAP ... We are usually only successful when we 'help' each other ...
You WILL be in my prayers, God Bless, Pappy
-- Edited by Pythonpappy on Thursday 24th of May 2012 01:14:10 PM
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
I live on the Jersey shore. Memorial day weekend is a huge party. I have made the decision to stop drinking and take this weekend and detox
I am not new to the 12 step program. I'm an addict and totally buy into the disease concept. I just wanted to say that cause in most AA meetings we don't talk about drugs so if you are an AA Nazi, cut me some slack. I am not here to talk about drugs but just wanted to let you know, they are part of my past.
My Story
I got clean and sober January 30th, 2004. I completed a 6 month (long time right) inpatient program. Not to minimize but it was court ordered. I also completed Intensive Out Patient also court ordered. I had a sponsor, I went to meetings, I worked steps.
2007, my work was booming. I was making big money and everything was great. All my legal troubles were over. I had mended all relationships and life was good.
It was around this time I got tired of programming. Slowly my meeting count went down to zero. I stopped calling my sponsor and definitely was not working steps. Soon after, I rationalized that alcohol was okay, it's legal and it wasn't my drug of choice.
Fast forward to today. I have been an everyday drinker for the past few years. I have substituted alcohol. Again I rationalized that holding down a job, drinking only when done with work and thinking to myself, "hey, your not broke after blowing all your money on drugs".
Detox
I have read up on detoxing from alcohol but would like some feedback. Up until this week I was a functioning alcoholic if there's such a thing. What I mean is I suffered no withdrawals cause I was able to wake up and go to work, put in a 9 hour day. As of this past Saturday I have not returned to work. Today is Thursday so for the past 6 days I have been drinking more then usual. I have never detoxed from alcohol. My drug of choice previously was not physical but mental. This is my concern.
To put it out there, I have drank about fifth a day the past 6 days. I am not checking in anywhere and will detox from home. I have a few friends to check on me. I read where benzo's help but I'm not looking to drugs again. Would love feedback but please send constructive not negative.
Pappy, first and foremost I want to say thank you for your reply. It really meant a lot to me. Your feed back has been noted and exactly what I was looking for. Gator-aid, lots of food including sweets. I have made a list of meetings over the holiday weekend. God willing if I am feeling up to it I will drag my @ss there.
I will update the thread, good or bad but I really think that it will be good. I want this so bad
Im only three weeks sober, but before this last three weeks I was drinking a fifth a night every night for months on end, not a sober day for prob 5 months. I went cold turkey at home, wife was always with me, but it honestly was not that bad, shakes sweats and sleeping was a bi*ch, for the first week, slowly but surely they all subsided. I started seeing a therapist, who used to work outpatient programs, she said what I did was dangerous, stupid, and irresponsible. She stated I could have died easily and without worning. Achohol with drawl is the worst to go through, in regards to dadnerous, herion and other drugs maybe more physically enduring but not life threatening.
Thanks ... I hope it helped ... AND I just wanted to say that 'when the pain of drinking starts to out-weigh any pleasure, then we've had enough and become WILLING to change' ... Yep Willingness is the 1st step up the stairway to sober living ... You said : I want this so bad ... That means you have become 'willing' ...
God Bless, Pappy
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Thanks Flipper and gr8 job on the 21 days sober! I am a bit worried about the detox. Be that as it may, I have weathered worse. God willing I will get through this.
Welcome to "MIP" William. A drug is a drug no matter how you define, so you're safe here with us, okay. You can still enjoy the weekend though, kinda like the rest of us; all you have to do is replace the alcohol/drugs with something more concrete -like more family time or whatever. Once you get a real taste of this sober life -more than just a couple days I mean- you'll enjoy life that much more, we guarantee it. So stick around and enjoy the company/weekend, sober. Welcome, once again.
I can't figure who would ever give you negative feedback on what you shared - Sounds like a sincere plea for help and a desire to get back in the program. I applaud you. I suggest going to meetings through all of this. Don't just sit in bed. I was going to meetings by day 3 sober and had people and phone lists to call in case of emergency. If you are determined to do this at home - don't do it alone and call 911 if you get alarmed by anything you are experiencing. I drank a ton of water and sweated a bunch - that was about it. It was done with by 6 days. I too was told similar things that Flipper stated - It is dangerous.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Hey William! Welcome.. I have 9 days sober and just went through the detox/withdrawal thing myself. I too did it at home and it was not pleasant and kinda scary..at certain times I wondered if I should get my ass to hospital. My drinking usually began with a few vodka drinks then a a bottle or two of wine.. This was on a regular for quite some time. I stopped cold turkey. The "symptoms" I experienced were
sweats that felt feverish, periodic numbness on right side through arm and leg, nausea, shakes, headache, pounding heart. I also slept for the better part of 3 days. I found that taking a good multivitamin and an added b vitamin supplement helped a lot, Gatorade or smart water w electrolytes, lots of fruits veggies and protein like eggs or peanut butter help. Also try to stay away from too much sugar, refined flour or caffeine as these will mess w blood sugar levels that are already outta wack from booze. Your body is probably lacking nutrients from recent drinking and eating healthy foods will help you feel better. Lots and lots of water.!!! Best of luck!
Watch out for too much sugar ... I forgot, but HONEY is a great substitute ... the bees have already digested the sugar so it's not got the big impact on blood-sugar as the refined stuff does ... Actually, in the very early AA days, it was common for them to detox by drinking milk w/honey ... I know, I know, the very thought of that makes me gag too ... they used to say, if the milk & honey makes you 'throw-up', don't worry, we've got plenty ... LOL ...
How you doing so far??? ... We are all here pulling for you ... (I started my weekend off with a meeting tonight ... loved it)
God Bless, Pappy
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
You are far more disappointed in yourself than we are ... just keep coming back ... took me a while ... King Alcohol had me chained down pretty good too ... takes a lot to break the chains ... and some of us die trying!
Hang tough man, Pappy
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Ya it is. That's were going to meetings, sharing, the fellowship of A.A. and the steps come in. The 1st step is tough but keep coming back it gets easier.
