Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

[nezzaboy92]

Hi everyone, I saw this site when I was researching tapering and read an old thread which was very helpful. Thought I'd share my method, seems to be working (knock on wood) and try to get some second opinions and hopefully share my ideas with others.

I have relapsed repeatedly, I'm 22 and have been prescribed librium 3 times and been in a clinic once. I've relapsed recently, not as severely as the other times, was drinking around 6-8 cans of 4-5% lager a day (around 16 - 17 UK units, not sure what that is in 'standard drinks'. Anyway, when I lived in the city the only cheap alcohol available was White Ace cider (as bad as heroin or crack in terms of damage, as some of you may know), 7.5% and 99p. Being but a poor student, I only managed to stabilise and even exacerbate my last few tapering attempts.

Having moved home to a more 'upmarket' type area, where the cheap shite isn't available and you'd be ostracised if you were seen with it, 2% carling twist is available, four bottles for ?2.50. I bought 16 a few days back, which adds up to only 9.6 units, but gives you a steady supply of alcohol in your bloodstream. Today I'm down to 12, which doesnt sound like a big step down but is 8.8 units of alcohol, or just over 4.5 pints of lager. If this is any help to anyone who's tried to taper differently and failed then hopefully it'll make a difference; my question is how long other people's tapers usually last,and whether I'm amybe going a bit too quickly.

I also suffer from withdrawal seizures and other serious symptoms very often - I'm what you might call a 'five percenter'.

Good to be here, and the thread that was a huge help to me was this one:

"For Home Detoxers - How to Taper off Alcohol.

thanks to everyone who posted in there, and it is seriously recommended reading for everybody commencing or in the middle of a taper and good luck to anyone reading this, hope this helps, peace.

[nezzaboy92]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

Couldnt post the link to the other thread btw, my post count isnt high enough. it'll come up if you search it i imagine.

[Alky]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

Given that you've stated you're prone to seizures (which also increases the likelihood of the DTs), I personally believe a non-medically supervised home taper is dangerous and ill-advised. Is someone at least with you? Someone who can call emergency services in the worst-case scenario?

[nezzaboy92]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

Usually there's someone with me, or at least close to hand. The one thing about my seizures that's slightly useful is that I can feel them coming on, gives me time to lie down somewhere manageable, lay pillows out, etc.

[Rahulthesweet]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

One of the first steps for recovery is admitting that you have a problem. You must seek medical opinion or seek advice from a rehab. I am not try to discourage rather encourage you. Once you get the right method we are all here to support you.

[YouKayBee]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

Tapering can work however the danger for alcoholics is that you are still drinking, so your thinking is still not great and the temptation and danger of going back up again is extremely high.

I know, I tried it!

[RedJib]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

If you can make tapering work for you, great (though I agree that with your seizure disorder you might want to have someone keeping an eye on the situation for the first several days). I tried to taper, repeatedly, but could not sustain it because as soon as my blood AL level reached a certain point, my internal 'off' button failed, and I'd have "just one" to get a "bit of buzz." Soon, it was a LOT of buzz.... Nope, didn't manage it, but I know others have, so you just have to figure out whether you can do it. Good luck!

[nezzaboy92]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

Rahul, I'm very aware that I've got a problem, I'm just trying to tackle it now, hopefully for the last time. Yeah there's always a danger of beginning to drink for pleasure, but with these bottles of lager, 8 of these bottles is just over two standard drinks: I think for me a lot of it was chasing the buzz before but yesterday, for example, I consumed 9.6 units, or 4.75 standard drinks. Today I've bought 8, is 6.4 units - 3.2 drinks and my 'stick' cancelling out the carrot is that it's extremely embarrasing buying beer from people I know during the week. I get paranoid about fits but it seems a good idea cutting down my drinking this way. I've always been sceptical of the 'tapering' method, but it's my only option at the moment: I can't be prescribed librium again, and I've some very important exams coming up that could genuinely determine the rest of my life.

Thanks again, and as ever, I'd love to hear your feedback.

[Alky]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

[QUOTE=nezzaboy92;1687153I'm very aware that I've got a problem, I'm just trying to tackle it now, hopefully for the last time.
So going forward, what's your plan to stay booze-free? Gotta have a plan. Just planning on "not drinking," is almost a surefire recipe for failure. A good place to start is the [url=https://www.mywayout.org/community/f11/tool-box-27556.html]https://www.mywayout.org/community/f11/tool-box-27556.html[/url].

Also, at the risk of coming off a bit blunt (and I hate to sound like a broken record), but your attitude toward the danger that seizures pose comes off as a bit casual. An extended seizure can wreak serious neurological damage. I saw someone die of one last time I was in medically-supervised detox.

[Alky]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

nezzaboy92;1687153 wrote: I'm very aware that I've got a problem, I'm just trying to tackle it now, hopefully for the last time.

So going forward, what's your plan to stay booze-free? Gotta have a plan. Just planning on "not drinking," is almost a surefire recipe for failure. A good place to start is the https://www.mywayout.org/community/f1...box-27556.html.

Also, at the risk of coming off a bit blunt (and I hate to sound like a broken record), but your attitude toward the danger that seizures pose comes off as a bit casual. An extended seizure can wreak serious neurological damage. I saw someone die of one last time I was in medically-supervised detox.

[nezzaboy92]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

Good points well made Alk.

The risk of seizures is diminished as I'm drinking small quantities of weak lager throughout the day: my record of seizures is always when suffering from an extreme case of withdrawal or during a 'bender'.

I'm seeing a light at the end of the tunnel right now. It's 11:45 pm, I started drinking my lager at 11 am. This was 11 bottles of low-alcohol lager, adding up to 0.7 units per hour if my maths is right (not a strong point of mine!) today I've had the odd dizzy spell which I've quelled with a bottle, and tomorrow I'm buying eight bottles (6.4 units - 3.5 drinks) and seeing how I get on. If I need to elevate it back to today's level, so be it, it's not a setback.

As for my plan for the future, I'm a bit too focused on the here-and-now at the moment and need to fix my physical symptoms first. Whenever I get sober I re-discover passions, and I'm blessed with very understanding and close knit family and friends, and a beautiful girlfriend who's done nothing but support me through much more difficult periods of withdrawal...(the full blown litre of vodka-a-day for X months type..sweats, vomiting, seizures etc) I've got my studies, and it's about time I reintroduced some focus and discipline.

I don't believe in regimented support groups though, just my two-cents. I don't believe a standardised system of aftercare can help as much as just accepting that I am my own person and that at the end of the day I'll stand or fall alone.

Thanks
Nez

[nezzaboy92]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

My attitude towards seizures stems from the fact that they only occur for me personally when I've been excessively drinking and suddenly stop. The tapering process protects my body from that: I had the equivalent of just under 5 beers today, was supposed to be cutting down to 3 but I didn't feel comfortable taking it down just yet.

As for my plans later, I honestly haven't thought that far ahead. I'm at the point where quitting safely is the priority; the rest comes later.

[nezzaboy92]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

Just in case anyone here feels like chipping in, and also as a little 'log' written for myself, today's been a mixed blessing. On the plus side, I cut down from 8.0 units to 7.4, (8.0 is 4 beers) but on the other hand my target was 6.4 today (the beers I mostly drink are 2%, or 0.8 units each - a good way of getting topped up without a buzz), but I began to feel shaky and slightly dizzy so I had a quick pint while I was out.

After my pint about 3 hours ago I haven't had any psychological cravings, only a slight shakiness, and I've got herbal sleeping tablets, along with the real thing, beta blockers, anti epilepsy medication, (prescribed) and I've been eating fairly well -(scrambled egg chicken, fish, brown toast, and a banana), no 'fast' food, and plenty of water and tea. As it stands I don't think I'm too far from recovery - all the boys are off to Thailand, I couldn't afford it, so that's most of my 'drinking buddies' out of the way for a bit.

Again, if anyone wants to contribute, share their own experiences, share advice, I'd love to hear back from somebody. I don't get the chance to talk alcoholism with my friends and family, find it a very difficult thing to talk about.

Peace x

[paulywogg]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

Nezzaboy,i think you've made tremendous progress! of course we are not docs and do not want to advise when the situation could be dangerous,but in my opinion you are doing great,nearly ready to just quit i'm thinking,i've tapered at least a gazillion times and as long as i get to 8 bud lites or less,i can just stop,best wishes honey

[nezzaboy92]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

paulywogg;1688485 wrote: Nezzaboy,i think you've made tremendous progress! of course we are not docs and do not want to advise when the situation could be dangerous,but in my opinion you are doing great,nearly ready to just quit i'm thinking,i've tapered at least a gazillion times and as long as i get to 8 bud lites or less,i can just stop,best wishes honey

Thanks paulywogg, much appreciated! I'm now on day X (can't remember what number!, got 9 bottles of the lager I've been using, adds up to 7.2 units, 3.5 drinks. Had to drink two in an hour earlier because I had a dizzy spell but God willing it's stabilised now.

How much is one of those Bud Lites, alcohol wise? Presuming you're in North America, don't really see 'lite' beer over here, just so I know where I stand.

All the best, don't stop believin
x