When did withdrawal start/stop for you?

[EmptyGlass]

Hi there,

I have been a moderate to heavy drinker since I was 21. I am 45 now. I abstained for 2 years to conceive/be pregnant with/and nurse my child. I abstained for 1 year while losing 130 lbs because I knew my liver was stressed from the weight loss. Then I went back to drinking my normal (much less than in my 20's), which is more than the experts say is healthy for a woman.

However, I had my rules... I never had even one and then drove; I didn't start until my child was in bed or my husband was watching her. Any way some stressful events led me to begin breaking my rules about 2 years ago, but it didn't get really out-of-control until August and by Christmas I have become physically dependent where I shake so badly when I wake up I need at least a bottle of wine to function. I would keep on for the rest of the day.

I had made to decision not to buy any more of my favorites in the house and quit for awhile beginning today. I am fearful of a week long withdrawal. I woke up yesterday feeling good enough to not drink that morning. I didn't feel that great but decided to stay off the sauce. So I started a day early even though the house is full f wine. I feel even better today.

My question (after all this) is that I see that a lot to people don't even start wd until 2 days into abstinence. lately I have felt I was withdrawing and drunk at the same time. By the afternoon no matter how much I drank, I felt shakey and would throw up and have no appetite. I will go for a week without eating.

I'm hoping the worst is over for me and I will continue to improve and not all of a sudden tomorrow I am back into needing a drink just to feel normal again. My cravings aren't my worst enemy... it is that cycle of needing something to get rid of thst horrible feelings from drinking before.

Let me know your experiences please. Thanks!

[Accountable for Me]

When did withdrawal start/stop for you?

Empty, I have been at the point where I would wake up and shake, throw up and could not function at all without having a shot at breakfast. When I came off of it cold turkey in November 2006, I literally thought I was going to die. I was certain I was a prime candidate for a possible stroke. I kept drinking lots of water and took a gravol a couple of times a day. Within two days these symptoms were gone physically. I honestly think I should of detoxed under the care of my doctor. If I ever end up in that state again, I would see my doctor for help. It was scary.

You may need to see your doctor so he can help you safely come off of the alcohol. He might be able to prescribe you something. If you are feeling this severe and cannot cope you should seek medical advice.

[chrysa]

When did withdrawal start/stop for you?

I am not a doctor but I think you should see a doctor...I think you r liver is whacked, not necessarily damaged, but your enzymes are whacked so you stay sick. I think it is important that you get medical care -- these things can be dangerous...Good meds & nice good care will help you a lot..many many people do it...go to MD or emergency room..don't be afraid...you are sick

[EmptyGlass]

When did withdrawal start/stop for you?

The funny thing is that I am feeling pretty good. I have just had a complete physical and according to my doc I am in excellent health. My cholesterol is so low, it flags too low - she tells me that is no problem; my liver enzymes are mid-range and have been for years; and these are her words "you have the kidneys of a newborn.

My question is can I be feeling this good after almost 48 hours AF (given my history) and then the REAL WD will hit me in a day or 2? Has that happened to anyone else? If I can keep feeling the way I do today, I have a better shot at this than I thought.

[Breez]

When did withdrawal start/stop for you?

Usually wd is the first 24-48 hrs due to the fact that your body is NEEDING the alcohol it has been accustomed to. Perhaps this time around your wd is different because you were drinking less or switched the type of alcohol or the booze had less % of alcohol in it.

I would suspect that the worse is over and to expect a lethargic crash of some sort if anything. I know from experience that after wd I felt fine & then physically didn't want to do anything. I know that in the last 4 yrs of trying to quit-my wd from beer was easier (less alcohol %) than my usual voddy drinks.

Good luck & I hope you keep feeling better. WD sux.

[EmptyGlass]

When did withdrawal start/stop for you?

Thanks Breez, that helps a lot. It's hard enough to fight the craving without knowing that if I just had a couple it would make the shakes go away.

I think you are right that in the end here, I have lessened by a little bit and for the last few days I didn't hit any of the hard stuff. And I AM extremely lethargic... so everything you say is right on the money.

Well, I have committed to stay AF until the next to last week in June and then I will see what happens. I know it is risky, but this is the journey I have chosen.

I have started to eat more and since I am not drinking wine I am back to guzzling water... I don't like anything else. I am trying to not get complacent, I have quite a bit of wine in the fridge and it would be easy to talk myself into 2 or 3.

Thanks for your reply!

[ScoobyDoo]

When did withdrawal start/stop for you?

Empty, I haven't suffered the withdrawls like you mention, but I have suffered with alcohol all the same, and just want to lend you my support. Hang in there! I have discussed my drinking problem with my GP and she is very understanding. I really think this is the direction you should take if you haven't already. Have an open and frank talk about what you're drinking and what you're dealing with. S/he might prescribe something that will help the detox.

Scoobs x

[EmptyGlass]

When did withdrawal start/stop for you?

HI ScobyDoo,

I have talked to 2 psychiatrists, 2 PCP's and a counselor for 10 years. The problem is that I am extremely hard to medicate. Through 2 major surgeries I was given morphine and it never touched the pain, On top of that I have a malabsorptive disorder. I have seen many pills come out the other end the way they went in (scary about birth control). I have tried Zoloft, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Trazadone, and Klonopin. Nothing works... in fact I seem to get worse. I abstain while trying these meds. In June, I willl be giving it one more shot and seeing a new Psych... part of the reason I am going AF now.

Sigh... I think I will try acupuncture.

Thank You!

[Padme]

When did withdrawal start/stop for you?

Hi Empty Glass, I have this info from Joan Mathews Larson’s book Seven Weeks to Sobriety here's her site 1) Welcome to the Health Recovery Website
It is not meant as a substitute for talking to your doctor though I would encourage you to do so because in some cases quitting drinking without supervision can be lethal. Consider the following as guidelines and be honest. The first time I answered the questions while still drinking I put myself in category 2, when I sobered up I realized I really was in Cat. 3. usually a doctor will prescribe a low dose of valium for the first few days. Seizure is a big worry for long time heavy drinkers.
Take Good Care.


Category 1
1. You often have gone without alcohol for days or longer.
2. You have never suffered a convulsion while withdrawing from alcohol.
3. You experience only slight to moderate shakiness, sleeplessness, heart palpitations, night sweats, or nervousness when you stop drinking.
4. You can and do function on the job without alcohol.
If most of the responses you checked fall under this heading, you can detoxify alone.

Category 2
1. You have been drinking regularly but occasionally cut back on amounts or skip a day of drinking without severe effects.
2. You have no history of convulsions when withdrawing from alcohol (or you are taking an anticonvulsant drug like Dilatin)
3. You experience withdrawal symptoms severe enough to warrant taking time off from work to detox.
If most of the responses you check fall under heading you can detox with the aid of a friend or relative.

Category 3. I had every thing but #1 and still lied to myself (just a heads up on how we delude ourseves)
1. You have suffered convulsions during previous attempts to detoxify from alcohol.
2. You drink one quart of liquor or a twelve pack of beer daily or when binging.
3. You experience marked withdrawal symptoms when detoxifying -- tremors, heart palpitations, agitation. You may feel hyper and develop mild delirium.
4. Your blood pressure is higher than 160/100
5. Your withdrawal symptoms are so severe that you must remain in bed while detoxifying.
If most of the responses checked fall under this heading you can detox with the help of a friend, relative and medication, under a doctor's supervision.

Category 4.
1. You have major medical complications of alcoholism or a major psychiatric illness.
2. You are chronically alcoholic with a history of repeated grand mal seizures when withdrawing from alcohol as well as hallucinations or serous heart problems.

If either of these statements is true, you must detox in a hospital under medical supervision.

This is another site that speaks to withdrawals symptoms after the initial withdrawal. For me I know there are good days and bad but the initial detox is around 5-10 days depending on the severity of your drinking.
Post Acute Withdrawl - Relapse Prevention Specialists - TLC The Living Center

[Padme]

When did withdrawal start/stop for you?

Hi me again...acupuncture has been shown to be a highly effective tool when quitting alcohol. Another thing that has a high efficacy rate is EDMR. Have you tried the MWO supplements and hypno CD's?

[EmptyGlass]

When did withdrawal start/stop for you?

Thanks Padme,

I have seen the first site you talked about. I qualify for the first 2 lines in Cat 2 and part of the 3rd line in Cat 3. I am feeling better and better all the time. I will look further into the second website and acupuncture. I am intrigued by it.

I will rejoice if I manage to get a good night's sleep. That probably won't happen... there is a snoring conspiracy in my house whether I sleep in my daughter's bed, my bed w/ my husband, or my sofa which is taken over by my dogs. They also bring ticks into the house and no matter how hard I look I can't find all of them. I end up with tick-paranoia all night. For good reason too, I pulled 3 off of me today.

Thanks so much for the info. I would really like to know how people felt on day 3 and 4 and 5.

[ScoobyDoo]

When did withdrawal start/stop for you?

Empty, I felt MUCH better by day 3. Great by day 4 and simply fabulous by day 5.

Scoob

[Padme]

When did withdrawal start/stop for you?

I felt depressed but okay the first day, second day ill, 3rd day easily irritated, 4rth & 5th depressed and fluish, 5th tired and slept longer. 6th the leaves on the trees looked greener and everything looked sharper to the senses -- pretty cool day yesterday. Today; day 7 woke up feeling pretty good.

[EmptyGlass]

When did withdrawal start/stop for you?

Thanks Scoob and Padme,

I do feel like the worst is over. I have a bunch of aches and pains, but I overdid it activity-wise and knew this would be coming on. The shakes are minimal and that is my biggest problem when trying to resist when I wake up.

My cravings aren't too bad either. It's not that I don't think about it some, but I have plenty of wine here and I haven't given in. I will qualify that with a big fat "YET".

I thought I had read some posts where the real wd didn't kick in until day 2 or 3 and that scared me, so I am reassured by both of your posts.

My next goal would be to be able to sleep without sleep meds.

Thanks much!