Cramps

[tonyniceday]

Hi

I've just got to day 2 and had very bad cramps and stomach ache last night and "twitchy legs" as well. This is not my first attempt at going sober and I've not experienced these symptoms before. Anyone got any advice?

Also I know I will hit a trigger later today which is unavoidable - any advice on how you get through that without succumbing - I've already got thoughts of how I could have a drink but this time I REALLy don't want to give in!

Any help appreciated

[NoSugar]

Even though it sounds crazy, this has solved the leg cramp problem for me and several others I know: Why Does Soap Soothe Nighttime Leg Cramps? - The People's Pharmacy.

If you were to suddenly become very ill, you would be able to avoid what you know is going to be a triggering event. In my opinion, becoming sober is important enough to lie if you need to. If you're not comfortable doing that, perhaps eat a lot before you go, immediately get an AF beverage in your hand, and don't let it go!

Your head is clearer now - you can make the better choice before you go and stick with it. Your addicted, lizard brain is no longer calling the shots (literally!).

[aihfl]

I still have the twitchy legs and I'm nearly two months in, but it's not as bad as it was in the first week. The reason alcohol withdrawals happen is that GABA, which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter decreases, because alcohol takes its place, but levels of glutamate, which is an excitatory neurotransmitter, are abnormally high in an alcoholic so that the brain can continue to function in the presence of all that alcohol. When the alcohol is taken away, the brain goes into overdrive, therefore the insomnia, the twitching legs and everything else that goes with alcohol withdrawal. Day 2 was always the worst for me.

As for the trigger, you're super-duper newly sober. I would really reconsider your decision to take this on. You're still in acute withdrawal. If you had maybe a week, yeah, I'd say follow NS's advice. But I would really think hard about whether or not this is something you want to do.

[tonyniceday]

Well it's now after midnight so I got through day 2!

The trigger thing is actually uncontrollable because due to work commitments my wife goes away one night a fortnight and that was tonight so I'm not just home alone, but we own a restaurant which I run so I have my own bar which is well stocked and, as my sister said to me earlier today, it's like having to lose weight when you own a sweet shop!

Anyway, got through it with determination and baclofen!

Happy Monday guys - this will be day 3!

[JackieClaire]

And up to day 3, from what I've seen, Tony. :welldone:
A question............are you drinking enough water.............when I gave up drinking I forgot to drink.......an odd cup of coffee here and there but no water............funny I never forgot to put wine in my glass though...........I'd advise more water with a squeeze of lemon.

Get some thiamine( Vit B1) down .............I used to suffer from tingley toes and fingers and it was all down to thiamine deficiency

Alcohol-use disorders: diagnosis and management of physical complications | thiamine-deficiency | Information for the public | NICE

Magnesium, bananas, if appetite's a problem..........small and often............don't worry it will come back.

And yes as mad as it sounds putting soap in your socks when in bed (although not the most alluring look) really helps. I'm having to walk miles in my job and leg cramps have been a nightmare.........soon as I started the soapy sock its a thing of the past.