Alcohol Detox: Methadone Facts

Question: How long do symptoms from alcohol detox take? i have been feeling a lot of strange symptoms the past few days.?

(Posted by: on 2009-12-13 05:42:13)

I would sit around and watch TV and drink beer for four or five hours a night. I did binge drink while watching football all day long on Sundays and then try to recover on Monday night by having a few more. There were times where I would wake up really late in the day and manage until evening. Than I would drink five or six more a night. Maybe I would take two days off a week at most. Anyway, the other day, this being the holidays I got really depressed and stayed drunk from Saturday night to Tuesday night. On Wednesday I woke up at noon and tried to get through the day. But felt horrible. I was not sick to my stomach or anything like that, but did not want to eat anything. In the evening i manage a small meal. I did not have a headache. Just felt like crap. That night I had three small cans of beer, because I felt disorientated and very uncomfortable and thought if I just had a little compared to what I had drunk the three days before that it would relieve the symptoms a little bit. It didn't really. The next day I still had the shakes and the chills and the sweats. I thought, "What the hell have I done to myself? " I could hardly sleep. I have fallen asleep well past 5am for the past two nights. Most of my sleep has been off and on from midnight to 5am and then I will sleep until 9am then lay down for a nap fro around 1pm to 3pm. I think tonight might be better though. I hope anyway. There is one more thing thats bothering me. Whenever I drank a lot before, I would usually feel physically normal by 5 or 6pm. But since I have stopped I feel a little unsure of myself when I turn my head or walk. I can walk fine, just I feel a little uneasy about it it initially. Not like I could just run down the street like before. My vision seems to be a little strange, when I go to get up or turn my head. I don't get dizzy, just feeling off visually. After a nice large dinner tonight, I felt a little panicky and just not right after my meal!. The feeling is like I am still a little drunk visually. I can see fine, just things seem off a bit. I am feeling a little better now (an hour and a half) after dinner. I did some weight training yesterday. It felt good, so I thought I was going to be okay this morning, but the same odd feeling returned this morning and has been there throughout the day, most of the time when I walk. It is like I am unsure of myself. Does that make any sense? How long will this feeling last? How do I get rid of it for good, FAST? What is the reason for it? Is insomnia part of detox and how long does it last? I am feeling a bit strange visually because of the detox? I am committed to not drinking anymore. I have confessed to my friends that I have a drinking problem. I don't want to touch it anymore and feel extremely confident in not going back that way again, Not even a beer will touch my lips, EVER. I just want to feel normal again. I now greatly appreciate being sober. Are these my symptoms normal? Please do not reply to this if you are not 100 % trying to be helpful and know what you are talking about. No "YOU ARE DYING " or other childish and or hateful remarks please. It is very unwelcome and you may need the same help some day. So, please have sympathy towards us and be serious. We could be one of your loved ones, who you would never want to harass. Thank you for your kindness. RN Thanks for your answer. That sounds very helpful. What about the feeling that I have with my eyes? RN Thanks for your answer. That sounds very helpful. I am going to do my best and get this monkey off my back. I have never felt so horrible in my life. One question what about the strange vision when I am walking or I turn my head? the feeling of being a bit visually unstable? Do people complain about that, too? LIke being off center a bit?

Posted by: indiechick on 2009-12-13, 07:27:29

Here's a link about delirium tremens: https:/ / health.google.com/ health/ ref/ Delirium+ tremens DT's as we would call them in the hospital is what happens to a lot of people when they start detoxing from alcohol. It's not fun, but it should be over before too long. You're having it a little bit better than some do. I used to work on a unit where we specialized in liver and kidney ailments and we'd get people all the time who were diagnosed with some sort of liver dysfunction after being an alcoholic for awhile and were sent to us for treatment. The would come up to the unit still under the influence of alcohol and acting "normal " (normal for them is being a little buzzed). Then the alcohol would start to wear off and they'd go batty. There was one guy who was a really cool guy, a college professor in fact, and he just went crazy for a few days. Completely off his rocker. Then after 3 or 4 days he was back to normal. Drying out isn't fun, but it won't last forever. I suggest checking out some AA meetings. It will really help to be around supporting people. Good luck!

Posted by: raysny on 2009-12-13, 08:14:51

You see you're developing a problem, so you're doing something about it. Great! The symptoms you describe are pretty normal. Stopping before it becomes more problematic is the wise thing to do. Don't listen to people who tell you you NEED to go to AA, the vast majority of people do what you're doing, quit or learn to moderate on their own. Many people, especially younger people, end up in AA and become convinced they are alcoholics and start behaving like they are. "Another estimate is that at least 50% of alcoholics eventually free themselves although only 10% are ever treated. One recent study found that 80% of all alcoholics who recover for a year or more do so on their own, some after being unsuccessfully treated. When a group of these self-treated alcoholics was interviewed, 57% said they simply decided that alcohol was bad for them. Twenty-nine percent said health problems, frightening experiences, accidents, or blackouts persuaded them to quit. Others used such phrases as "Things were building up " or "I was sick and tired of it. " Support from a husband or wife was important in sustaining the resolution. " Treatment of Drug Abuse and Addiction — Part III, The Harvard Mental Health Letter, October 1995.