how do i know it is withdrawl

[ky55]

my name is kyle

  I had gottin really drunk sat. night and had been drinking 3 to 4 times a week for years. By sunday afternoon i had bad anxiety and felt like i would pass out, i havent had a drink since then and i still fell the same way. very shaky, can hold a though, and very light headed. I believe this is due to the alcohol but wanted to make sure i'm just not losing it?

[ibizan]

cool patrick!this can last up to 2 years and another thing i don't think it mentions....and i know this personally....if there is a family history of anxiety depression etc.some of us still retain a mild degree of this after 2 years abstinence.....mine is much better but i worry too much always have...my bro said he is same and just yesterday i learned that my 64 year old brother has struggled w/depression anxiety and panic attacks for years!my mom also has struggled w/same for MANY years and she was a social drinker.....just one..lucky lady!we numbed ourselves w/the alcohol and drugs for years and take that away and here are THESE brains of ours having to learn sober/clean coping skills!its quite the undertaking but well worth it i think!

[PinPinPatrick]

Oh wow thanks!  You know what I didn't know that!  I knew neurotransmitter receptors become de-sensitized with addiction, and some become sensitized... didn't know about PAWS though.

PAWS... Going to be learning as much as I can about this, I think I have this syndrome.

Thank you.

[Jacker]

Good job seeing the doctor. It took longer than I thought it would for these feelings  to pass when I quit drinking.  From personal experience, I can tell you that if you go back out to test the waters and drink in the near future, you will prolong the experience.  For me, I found that I was slightly better with each passing week.  

This is not a place where you can get firm medical answers, so stay in close contact with your doctor. But if you've been drinking for years, it takes a little while to acclimate to the lack of alcohol.  

rpoo has a good suggestion regarding the blood-work.  

[rpooo]

Good Morning,
I'm wondering when you saw your doctor did he/she run do blood work and if so what is your bilirubun-AST-ALT-platlette count and ammonia level? You can obtain a copy of your lab results from your doctors office for nearly free of charge. Are you taking anything for your anxiety?

Randy

[ibizan]

Google PAWS....Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome for alcoholism....u may find some answers here!

[PinPinPatrick]

Curious about the alcohol withdrawal symptoms... Do these symptoms last you for the rest of your life if you don't get treatment?  I thought they'd go away after a few weeks abstinence.  Just curious becaus i haven' had a drink for over a month now and wondering if I need to discuss this with my Doctor.

[ky55]

i was drinking 4-5 bays a week, mostly beer some booze mixed in. No drugs involved. its been afew years, there has beensome thimes were i would only drink once or twice a week. then some were i would drink 7 days. i would never drink during the day, but once i got off work i would start.the doc did a full blood workup an EKG and then the regular check up things lile reflexes ect...
it weird if i get side tracked with work or whatever it may be its not really there as much, i guess that is the anxiety. Hope i get through this soon!

[freenikita]

"it is just weird  cause i dont have alot of the normal symptoms, my mood has not really change, i'm not really sick except for the lose of appitite, the only thing that is really bothering me is the lightheaded feeling and the confusion. I thought it might be something wrong with my head."


at this point, kyle, all I can say (and please if anyone else has suggestions), wait and y'a know the usual: no drinking, healthy food, healthy sleep, rest, some exercise (if you can. no need to get exhausted right now) lots of water but most of all stay away from y'a know what... since lightheaded, please no climbing up ladder stuff... :) maybe keep a little journal to note any changes... if u dont mind me asking how much were you drinking and for how long? any other drugs with the drinking? and as far as the doc visit is concerned, what kind of tests did he do?

[freenikita]

thank you ibizan. clarity indeed is good stuff...

:)

have a great week-end,


nikita

[ibizan]

no offense taken dear and thank u for clarifying..i agree when u think its withdrawal get a medical opinion!

[ky55]

it is just weird  cause i dont have alot of the normal symptoms, my mood has not really change, i'm not really sick except for the lose of appitite, the only thing that is really bothering me is the lightheaded feeling and the confusion. I thought it might be something wrong with my head.
ky55

[freenikita]

Hello ky55,

I hope this finds you better. glad to hear you checked with a professional and i hope you will soon have the answers you are seeking. all the best,

- nikita

[freenikita]

Whoah, good evening to you ibizan,

Excuse me for i had no intention in offending you or anyone else. the point i was trying to make was that if ky55 does not feel good, best first to check with a doctor face to face. Then, by all means, the forums are wonderful places to exchange, learn, confide and what have you...  and it is symptoms you are absolutely correct!!!! Same in french, my native language although we spell it with an e at the end...

[ky55]

i did go to a doctor and he checked me out and said there is nothing wrong with my health, i asked if it could be this and he wouldnt really give an answer. the anxiety and those symptoms i mentioned. i dont want a drink and im just not sure what is going on.

[ibizan]

true-if one is in withdrawal they should seek medical help.there are those of us who have been sober/clean for some time here and can relate to withdrawal symptoms.We've been there with them...and its symptoms not syndromes!

[freenikita]

Kyle, it does sound like it is alcohol but if i were you, i would not rely on answers from an online forum, i would go to a doctor. U should get checked no matter what. Withdrawal syndroms from alcohol ard the most critical. Best

- nikita