heachaches

[skinny cow]

Hi all. Been struggling (as usual) and can only manage a few af days at a time.

what is your experience with headaches when stopping drinking? when do they come (like on what day) and how long do they last? They really kill me!

[42cat]

heachaches

Hi, Skinny. I love your avatar.

I usually only got headaches if I consumed more than the "usual" drinks the evening before. Drinking a lot of water before bed, overnight, and in the morning usually helped keep them away, plus taking an Advil (ibuprofen) or two overnight or first thing in the morning, and eating something.

When I stopped drinking and went through some withdrawals, etc., I never did really get a headache. I had lots of other ugly symptoms, but oddly enough a headache wasn't one of them - thank goodness.

Hope yours isn't too bad.

[Gold]

heachaches

I get a headache at day 3 or 4, and generally feel funny headachy. This time (which is the last time) I've taken paracetamol to get rid of the headache.

I'm hoping that tomorrow, day 6, the headache will have gone.

[Boss.man]

heachaches

OMG I'm the opposite. I get headaches when I drink. Since I'm mostly AF now, I hardly ever use a painkiller.

Reasons I've found for headaches:

1. When drinking, your brain gets dehydrated. The brain lives in a very delicate bowl of seawater and is very sensitive to any sort of hydration change. If your body as stasis built with alcohol as part of it, there will be hydration issues as you go AF. Drink water. Also keep an eye on salts and electrolytes.

2. Low blood sugar; if your body is not processing food right, and your glucose levels drop, you get a starvation headache. Usually you can tell this one because you will be very low energy at the same time. The easy way to cure this is to eat something with carbs, some bread or cereal, this should start moderating symptoms within 20 minutes or so. Day 3 or 4 are key days for your body to switch off of using alcohol byproducts for energy and back on to food energy.

3. Sinus headaches can happen almost any time due to allergies, food allergies, bacterial or viral infections.

4. Headaches can indicate clots, bleeding or other brain problems. So don't ignore them completely, particularly if they persist without cause or get worse without a reason.

That's what I know so far...

[gyco]

heachaches

hi cow,you ever try to take food from a dog when its eating,thats what your brain feels like,you ever see the commercial with the eye and the tongue arguing,the brain comes out and lays into them both,i beleive the same happens when you take AL from your diet,my dear over the last while ive checked my calender,i put a check mark for days sober and x for the ones i messed up,very few x s this year try it it mt work for you,use the 24 hour clock,no more no less, i wish you well i no the struggle gyco

[Heavenly]

heachaches

I got the withdrawal headaches around 3-5 weeks and then they went off ... just took painkillers, drank lots of soft drinks or water or squash and sat it out .... patience I suppose and don't give in and drink because of headaches please ?

[Changed1]

heachaches

skinny cow;678082 wrote: Hi all. Been struggling (as usual) and can only manage a few af days at a time.

what is your experience with headaches when stopping drinking? when do they come (like on what day) and how long do they last? They really kill me!

I used to get them on day 3. I usually never made it past day 3. Now I don't get them anymore, just super depressed. Wish I had more to share, but maybe taking it easy and just going through the headaches you'll be able to come out on the other side?

[42cat]

heachaches

Changed1 .. Good point ... I mean, even though the symptoms of withdrawals can be pretty yucky, sometimes it can also be good to go through them .. maybe even write down how you feel .. and use that as a learning tool, to keep you away from alcohol in the future.

I have to admit, if my withdrawals hadn't been so yucky, the experience wouldn't have had the same effect / impact.... I never EVER want to go through that again.... and mine weren't even as bad as some I've read about.

[skinny cow]

heachaches

my headaches get totally blidning from about day 3 and they stay there. it is a lot like when you quit drinking coffee. The thing is, taking pain killers (over the counter) does nothing to allleviate them and that coupled with the irritablity and jumpiness sends me over the edge.

sigh.

i HATE AL.

[42cat]

heachaches

Skinny, those headaches sound brutal. Do you think that if you went to your doc, or a clinic doc, and asked for something stronger for your headaches (with or without telling him/her about the drinking), maybe you could get something a little stronger that might help the headaches?

I have heard how bad migraines can be (never had one, thank goodness) ... and they do sound horrible. I hope you find something to help yours.

[My New Beginning]

heachaches

Hi Skinny
You said that yourheadaches are 'blinding' and that over the counter pain relievers don't work. I'm wondering if they are migraines? I did have headaches and leg aches that usually started on day 2 or 3. Now that I'm on day 12 all the aches and pains are gone. That must have been my withdrawal. Maybe you should see a doc about them. In the meantime, like others have said a lot might be due to dehydration which can really make you ache all over. So drink plenty of plain water all day long. I hope this will help you. I hate AL too. He's a destructive bastard.
Take care