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    Scared Drunk

    Hello everyone. This is my first post here. It appears to be a God-send of a forum.
    About me: Nearly 36 YO male who has been drinking heavily the past 6 or 7 years. For a long time there was no obvious problem. Drinking was part of my personality. I was expected to be drinking come evening. Only those who weren't close to me frowned upon it.
    Recently, I've been experiencing some scary episodes. I've never been a pucker... always held it, even though I was liable to do other embarrassing things. Now, after a good lathering, I find that 2-3 hours after I'm awake I experience serious bodily distress. Lightheadedness to the point of feeling like passing out; angina; feelings of impending doom in general. Having to sit down frequently; difficulty breathing. My stools are quickly becoming suspect as well.
    I have searched and searched to trace the symptoms. My first theory was that is was Cardiac related, but I had a good EKG and passed a stress test.
    I tell you, this scares me to drinking! It's like I tell myself, 'this should scare you enough to at least cut back,' but as soon as I'm feeling better I go right back to it.
    Back to the symptoms, because I'd really like to know if anyone else has been through this: when I don't drink or drink lightly the symptoms go away, which leads me to believe it is not withdrawal. The heavier I drink the worse and scarier they are. Mind you, this doesn't come about until I've slept and have started a new day, which to me is really odd and something I think only another who's been there might be able to explain. My current theory is that the drinking is messing with my central nervous system. But, why now? Could my liver function be impaired or has all this drinking finally breeched my CNS?
    Anyways, my goal is to be a weekend drinker. I do need support but cannot deal with a treatment center as my outer life is on a uphill swing...I couldn't deal with the setback and I'm not really wanting to be a half-hearted twelve stepper.
    Any and all advice is welcome.:new:

    #2
    Scared Drunk

    It could be your sugar also. Drinking really messes with that and a sugar crash is very much like withdrawl.

    Comment


      #3
      Scared Drunk

      This is not scientificly based AT ALL......but I would often wake up in the middle of the night several hours after being done drinking for the night and my heart would be racing. This started about five years into really heavy drinking. That progressed to shortness of breath too - I had an EKG and it was fine. I think it takes some time for the alcohol to work its way through your system (it affects every major organ) and I think my body just started reacting to years of abuse.

      I am on day 47 AF right now after an episode of racing heart and shortness of breath that really scared me. I'm on Campral and it has been a HUGE help.
      :award:

      None of us will ever accomplish anything excellent or commanding except when he listens to this whisper which is heard by him alone (Ralph Waldo Emerson).

      Comment


        #4
        Scared Drunk

        Totally understandable roben...the physical distress from alcohol leaving the system & the hangovers are starting to take their toll on the CNS. Impact on Liver...no way to tell at such a young age except for MD & tests.

        MWO has lots of incredible information & choices of ways to overcome this. Enjoy reading & researching here & for sure ..POST

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          #5
          Scared Drunk

          :welcome: Rebenzo. If youv'e been drinking everyday for some time ???? sounds like a hang over ,withdraw combo.( your brain wants more of what it's used to, a couple more drinks & the symptoms are gone). Try obstaining for a bit and give your body a chance to recoop,when you feel healthy again. (Took me 9 days AF this time) go to you MD for a good physical check over.Have a HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR. Best of luck K.F.
          There's more to life than success. The greatest success is living well.

          Comment


            #6
            Scared Drunk

            robenzo72;248684 wrote: Hello everyone. This is my first post here. It appears to be a God-send of a forum.
            About me: Nearly 36 YO male who has been drinking heavily the past 6 or 7 years. For a long time there was no obvious problem. Drinking was part of my personality. I was expected to be drinking come evening. Only those who weren't close to me frowned upon it.
            About me - 34 YO female, been drinking heavily for 10 years.

            Recently, I've been experiencing some scary episodes. I've never been a pucker... always held it, even though I was liable to do other embarrassing things. Now, after a good lathering, I find that 2-3 hours after I'm awake I experience serious bodily distress. Lightheadedness to the point of feeling like passing out; angina; feelings of impending doom in general. Having to sit down frequently; difficulty breathing. My stools are quickly becoming suspect as well.
            I've also had some vomiting episodes (after not drinking nearly as much as it used to take for me to throw up). I've also been experiencing wicked heartburn at night, more and more difficulty breathing (although I smoke, so I'm sure that is most of it). Since you mentioned stools (ha ha), my excretory routine has also changed - I used to have constipation issues - nothing major but I was by no means "regular". For the last several months, I've been way more regular (I now have what Larry the Cable Guy would call a "morning constitutional"), and the color is consistently yellow-ish. Sorry for the TMI. :red face:

            I do need support but cannot deal with a treatment center as my outer life is on a uphill swing...I couldn't deal with the setback and I'm not really wanting to be a half-hearted twelve stepper.
            Any and all advice is welcome.:new:
            Same here - I've tried the 12-step thing several times. It doesn't gel with my personality and how my brain works. It's a great program, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't work for everyone.

            Comment


              #7
              Scared Drunk

              I had been drinking for a good part of a decade, and decided to 'quit' when I was 34 (a year ago). I have had a few drinks on a few occassions, but my nightly drinking is no longer existant.

              Just to let you know.... it was only the last two years of my daily drinking I started to experience EXACTLY what you have. I even had an EKG and the hospital said it was anxiety due to alcohol withdrawal. I suffer from anxiety normally, but when I was drinking heavily towards the end, and once I stopped my anxiety and body's tolerance for alcohol was horrible.

              Our bodies are amazing things. It is definitely telling you something. You are young, so stick around here and hopefully you can get the help you need to become well.

              Comment


                #8
                Scared Drunk

                Hi,

                I'm 33 and was drinking on a daily basis for over 10 years. The symptoms you describe are identical to what I began to experience towards the end of this period. I like the above poster can't comment on if this applies to you but it sounds very, very similar.

                It was down to the withdrawal from alcohol and initially confused me also because I could go out drinking very heavily then in the following days offset the symptoms of the withdrawal through 'topping up' over the next few days and then feel the full effect perhaps a day or two after that.

                I didn't follow these signs that I obviously wasn't doing my body any good and this culminated in a series of alcoholic fits when the light headedness took the next step. I AM NOT saying this will happen to you but I regret not heeding these signs earlier.

                Try to see if you can give yourself a couple of weeks off (a white lie of anti-biotics for a chest infection fends off any questions) and see if these problems fade and then you will be in a much stronger position to judge for yourself if it is alcohol related or you need to see your doctor again.

                I can see myself in this and really want to help. Best of luck and think about the 2 week break.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Scared Drunk

                  Thanks everyone. It's always good to hear from people who can relate. I was on the verge on starting AA again because I felt they would be the only people in the world who might be able to relate. I'm glad I found this site. I'm an internet addict anyway. Though it appears to be a womans program I hope you don't mind having some fellas in the mix. We're all human ( I think ), right? The support rally tells me that you are all inclusive. I am really liking the approach. The only thing is explaining Roberta's book to a visitor...might wanna keep that stashed.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Scared Drunk

                    Robenzo - hello! Please feel welcome as, although there are a lot of us women around, there are some great guys.... Chief, (Don), Satori, Determinator, Hippie, 12many (Dave), Xtexan (Neil) Amashed...um....heck I bet I've left out loads and hurt feelings! Sorry! But you get the drift!

                    Keep going - it's so worth it....and you're worth it!! Remember that!

                    Amashed - WELL DONE!!! It's great to see you and your amazing days notching up!

                    Keep posting Robenzo!

                    Love FMS xx
                    :heart: c: :heart:
                    "Be patient and gentle with yourself - the magic is in you."

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