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Complications of alcohol poisoning

Hello,

I was reading a thread about the irreversible brain damage that alcohol poisoning supposedly causes.
I've experienced severe alcohol poisoning, so I would like to know if you think damage to the brain could've occurred in my situation.

Back in 2007, I was rushed to the ER after a night of binge drinking. I had just turned 16, I was an inexperienced drinker and didn't know my limits.
I had half a bottle of vodka over the span of 2 hours (9pm - 11pm), and a third the following hour (11pm - midnight). So about 0.8 liter of 45% vodka over a period of 3 hours.
To make matters worse, I was drinking on a virtually empty stomach.

Before I could finish the bottle, I fell unconscious in the middle of the street. Two of my friends drunkenly dragged me off the main street by my feet.
They slapped my face for 20 minutes, but I couldn't be woken. I was throwing up all over sizeable amounts of sick while completely unconscious.
They finally called an ambulance, which apparently took 45 minutes to get to the scene and rush me back to the ER.

I woke up around 8am, after 7 hours of beauty sleep. I was still intoxicated and the room kept spinning. I noticed a needle in my arm, I think they gave me drips, and some thing on my finger which monitored my heartbeat.
A nurse came, this happened in a foreign country so I didn't get all of what she said, but I understood that I had been diagnosed with acute alcohol intoxication (alcohol poisoning), that I spent the night in a vodka-induced coma and that I could've died.
I think she said my blood alcohol content was 500 or .50.
They kept me under observation all afternoon, tested my urine, and I had to call my parents to pick me up.
After that, I had the most awful hangover for a week.

I've read that one isolated incident of extremely heavy drinking can provoke damage to the brain or brain shrinkage, the causes are lack of oxygen, dehydration, or hypoglycemia.
Given my high BAC, empty stomach and young age, how likely do you think it is that I inflicted some damage to my brain that eventful night? Could the damage be exposed by brain imaging (even 7 years later)? If damage occurred, is it permanent or can I recover?

I'm at peace with what I am today, but this question has always made me anxious, especially because my studies are cognitively demanding. I would really be grateful if you took some time to give me some of your input.

Thanks!
3 Responses
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3200158 tn?1386592717
  i woudlnt worry too much about isolated  incidents, course uu  liost a few brain cells, but its the long term drinking that does the real damage....for wat its worth..........kk
Helpful - 0
7052683 tn?1392938795
Hi Obisibisa,

Interesting Question. This happened 7 years ago and you say you are "at peace with WHATyou are today"?  What are you today? Still drinking? and How are your grades or your career going? If there is brain damage and you are functioning sober and successful...well I would think that would be all you need to know. But you could always go to a Neurologist to be tested.
Helpful - 0
6726276 tn?1421126668
So, now is 7 years later. Do you still drink?  
Are you in University so can measure,for example grade point average?
Med Help also has a Brain Forum & you may find more answers there.
Helpful - 0
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