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Avatar universal

Drying out......

Hi everyone! Does anyone here have any knowledge of what it's like to quit drinking "cold turkey?"
My husband has been drinking (beer,) for about 15 years! When I say drinking, I mean...at least a 12 pack a day (& more on weekends!) He smokes a couple packs a day, & breathes in a lot of exhaust fumes (mechanic!)
He just had his yearly physical, & his blood work came back bad ! His dr. said he has to quit drinking now.... (something about a number that's over 100.) He doesn't have hepatitis (yet.)
He promised to quit (cold turkey,) after all the beer in the house is gone (couple days left!)
My question is...can he do this by himself after so long, or will he HAVE to go to rehab? He has had 2 past dwis', where he was Forced to go! I worry because 4 of his siblings committed suicide, & I don't want him to be next!
Thanks for any help you can give me!
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Avatar universal
I'm really scared for him because, one day last week, he was off helping his father put a roof on a house. He only drank his Mt. Dew (beverage of choice, while at work,) & didn't have any beer ! Would you believe he got the shakes, & didn't feel well? That was just the end of ONE DAY!
I will take what you guys told me to heart, & follow your suggestions! I will let you know how he makes out....thanks a bunch!
Helpful - 0
216878 tn?1196037520
I would listen to Caitlin..She is so right! It can be fatal! Please look into your options and talking with the doctor would be the best place to start. When my husband was in rehab for his drinking, he learned so much from that whole expeirence and shared alot of it with me when he got out. It is a scary thing, definately nothing to mess with.

Hope
Helpful - 0
260012 tn?1199892117
I remember hearing in nursing school that alcohol is the only drug that you can actually die from during withdrawls.  I have seen many patients go through hell during D/T'd (Delirium Tremons).          It only occurs in people with a history of constant, long-term alcohol consumption. Delirium tremens (and alcohol withdrawal in general) can be fatal. Mortality can be up to 35% if untreated; if treated early, death rates range from 5-15% (got that info. from one of my nursing books).  I would suggest he speak to his MD about treatment programs.  This is nothing to play with.  We on this forum are mostly addicted to pain pills.  Withdrawl is HELL, but not life threatening.
Caitlin
Helpful - 0
216878 tn?1196037520
It is much more dangerous to quit c/t from alcohol than it is from pills. It could even been life threating.

I have never been a drinker, but my husband did. He went through so much pain when trying to quit c/t. He ended up going into rehab for 3 weeks and got clean. He didn't want to go there, he is the "manyly" type and don't think he ever needs help. (Typical man thing  Lol) anyway, he will have to be careful. Some people can actually do it c/t and be fine with it, and some can't. So just watch him very carefully, and if you seem him sweating alot, and pacing the floors, and not sleeping and any other kinda weird things, then you will prob. have to convince him to go to rehab or talk to a dr. about another kind of help. Just remember, it is much more dangerous than quitting pills than it is alcohol.

My email is on my profile page, if you need to talk about anything in private, plus i can give you alot of other advice on this. I have been around alcohol alot in my life and have expeirenced alot of people quitting it as well, so i do know alot about that. At least i will try to help...

Like you, my husband only drank beer (nothing hard, ever) and has been a drinker for 15 - 20 years.

Feel free to ask any questions you have...

Good Luck
Hope
Helpful - 0
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