Alcohol Withdrawal

Thanks RH I try to be helpful but I have no idea what it actually feels like. Don't they have thiamine in the states then?

Regards JA

Hi RH again just been thinking back when hubby has been 'drying out' and I've nagged him a bit to take all his prescribed meds- I do feel guilty about that now from what you are saying he must have felt like cr*p 😞

Your post made me smile. I can remember that even trying to drink water or thinking about it would make me throw up! With the very best of intentions, my husband would always try and make me take my medication and would keep saying you need to eat, I'll cook you anything, you'll feel better with some food UGH!!! I've gone for three days before without any food, sips of water day l, bottles of lucozade day 2, milkshakes or complain Day 3 then soup.

glad to see your husband is getting on with campral. Like RHGB, it worked for me and in my case it stopped me obsessing over alcohol, till I realised I'd gone a day without even thinking about a drink.

I did have a few binges after I stopped taking it, but nothing like before. I now only drink socially, very rarely spirits and never alone.

Ive turned down several friends daughters hen dos, depending which friends (rather acquaintances ) were going, mainly because I don't trust myself and would not enjoy the night, or weekend with just a couple of drinks.

I feel the fear of never being able to drink again is what stops a lot of people getting help and addressing their drinking. Once I knew that I could still have a few from time to time helped greatly. For example yesterday was family Sunday lunch out. Previously I'd have had at least half a bottle of wine beforehand, gulped down a few glasses before the meal, wine with it and a brandy coffee to follow and wine once home, then spend the rest of the afternoon asleep.

good luck in your mission and do admire the way you're supporting your OH

wish there was an edit button! Should be complan not complain! Although I felt like complaining about forcing it down lol!

Hi Vickilou,

Glad you seem to be doing well.  I'm wondering if you get any withdrawal symptoms for having an occasional drink of acohol.  I tried to go back after 60days sober and even 3 drinks sent me into mild WDs for a few days.  

If you are detoxed from alcohol, with diazepam or similar, the experience is not unpleasant for most people. However if you are a heavy long term drinker and you go cold turkey, it is like hell for most people.

Yes they do. I was meaning that thiamine won't help with the withdrawal symptoms. The bit about the States, was merely to warn people that the OP wasn't in the UK and obviously their system is different. I do believe that their version of A&E will actually take people in and detox them.

Oh god JulieAnne years and years and years ago (30) my drinking was well out of control and that first 3 days of stopping was hell on earth ..I never had D'Ts but boy I can't describe the horrendous feelings of fear, unease, tremor sweats it's nightmarish ...not to mention the guilt.To keep drinking water ( if it stays down is sound advice 😷😷 .Thankfully I got thru by stopping for a long time and never ever want to go there again ..hence deciding on the nalmefene recently as the little binges that have popped up were beginning to take their toll... little beasties lol Yep there comes a time when you just can't take any more

I am sure you are doing the right things with hubby purely because you care so much ...keep chipping away xxx😍

excellent reply Nat and how hard is has been..you have been through hell and persevere..well done. You are in inspiration. Robin

Thanks vickylou. Glad to hear that Campral has worked for you too. I am still on edge and hoping hoping Campral is going to work for him. I do have a supply of Naltrexone in as a failsafe, but he has got to be honest with me. I need to know when he first picks up.

Ive never made him or tried to make him eat when he has cut down at home, it would be pointless anyway as he vomitted a lot.

Just don't want him to go thru that again. I only tried to get him to take his meds because I was worried about his brain 😶 I think he has forgiven me x

Thinking of everyone on here always x

Poor you forcing it down x

Aww thanks Nat. I certainly don't want to give someone some duff advice. I know it's silly, but I look at when the person posted and I think oh dear everyone's busy and this person is in a bad way, what can I say what can I do to reassure them? 😞 I think maybe my job has something to do with it, not that I believe people with AUD dont have capacity, 😊 its just I feel the need to reassure

I think you are brill and very reassuring to everyone you reply to JulieAnne ..Also it's I think it's great to get input from someone who doesn't have AUD .Lets face it you too have been to hell and back too struggling with hubby's addiction... so we are all on the same journey kiddo 😊

What we do as work sometimes does play a huge part in our reaction to threads .I completely get that from what I do.. Kind words mean so much to people

Sooooo is hubby ok ? xx

Thank you again Nat. Yes hubby seems ok. I try not to keep quizziing him as all that might do is remind him. Anyway he did go to an AA meet tonight, he still cant find his higher power, however, he does know the group and gets support. I know he never shares though.

The only side effect from the Campral is a lot of farting. I thought the cats were going to die of asphyxiation last night 😂

X

Ha ha ha it's a laugh minute in your house then...or is it a f**t a minute.Thats a positive move that hubby has gone to AA , good on him !

I have done AA a few times in the past but my higher power never joined me either me so it was a bit senseless ... Met some really good people but I just could never share ..I just felt really weird exposing my innermost self to strangers in a circle so it wasn't for me ...😑😥

I never found my 'higher power' either. I used to go twice a week years ago, but it didn't really help me. I'm not knocking it as it obviously helps and supports many people. I never shared either, just listened. I used to come away naively thinking I'm not that bad at all, there are far worse and heavier drinkers than me ( any excuse!)

to to be honest I found the meetings very depressing and was constantly being told I needed to go more often to benefit. Hell, twice a week was bad enough. Many would go to meetings daily, some even twice a day.

I went to one meeting to find myself sitting next to my boss from the hospital where I worked. I think she was far more embarrassed than me! Obviously I never said anything to her afterwards or to anyone else. It made personal performance interviews very quick for me, and she always gave me excellent review reports lol!

you have certainly kept your sense of humour! Farting...classic and funny! Robin

Ha ha Vickylou I think I would die a thousand deaths if I found myself sitting next to my boss at an AA meeting .This higher power is very elusive to some, I used to sit and think bloody hell I'm not like that when i listened to some of the shares .I can stop when I want to ! Who was I kidding though .They say at AA look for the similarities not the differences.Now that makes sense to me. It was also suggested to me that 90 meetings in 90 days was the way forward ..Flippin heck that's sure a bitter pill to swallow for me. ..I'm not knocking it though as I know of people who are making excellent recoveries thru A A .Not for me though I would be so full of dread if I was going to a meeting these days.I find so much benefit from the lovely people in this little family on here Sharing our stories is good for the soul

Hope you are doing ok Vickylou 😊x

Thanks Robin, everyone here has or has had their own personal hell with AUD either being the AUD sufferer or a family member / friend isolated by the disorder feeling helpless angry and scared stiff for their loved one .It's a wicked disease but at least now there is more help in the way of meds for us all. I hope for anyone who is suffering they can find their way through to a better life

Hi nat

am doing ok thanks nat.

90 meetings in 90 days, no way!!

I agree with you that this forum is far better. I've had anxiety management, CBT, ARC weekly one to one sessions with a 20 year old who knew nothing about campral. TSM or anything. I've got more help and understanding from people on here. How on earth can a drink diary help. My sessions were based on how much I was planning to drink the following week and she would write it on the diary how many drinks and on which days. The next week would be discussing what I'd drunk and if different, why? It was farsical and a complete waste of time. Unfortunately I had no choice but to keep going for a year. It was a condition of my drink driving hearing.

glad you're doing ok too.

OMG vickylou, sitting next to your boss at AA, priceless. Definately some kind of higher power at work there 😳 if you believe in that sort of thing 😇

Hubby doesn't appear to want to go to too many meetings, I know he isn't interested in the 12 steps. Well, whatever he gets out of it. I certainly don't push him like I used to. I still don't know where he really is in his mind. He isn't very good at expressing his feelings. I have learnt over the years, that it seems to be a male thing! 😁

I'm a great believer in humour. My patients must think I am the most silliest person ever, but if I can get them out of a black mood just briefly, then I feel I have scored. Many are on end of life, bless em.

He did check out the Naltrexone tabs I left on the sideboard 😁 ( I always think I am being clever, but I can see from his expression, he can see thru my tactics) in fact thinking about it, he is probably reading my posts 😌 just in case; husband I love you and don't forget it's Valentine's day soon xx

On a more serious note, I am always appalled at what AUD sufferers have to go thru and thank any higher power for people like Claudia, Paul and Joanne x ok enuff dribbling on x

A f**t a minute, deffo, Nat. We are going dancing tonight. Absolute beginners, I am sure it will be a scream 😂 x hope you are ok x

Ps just had a horrible thought-f**ting on the dance floor yipes! 😳 x

Got to keep the humour going ain't we Robin? To help us thru the blackest of days x

Well please make sure you don't give him baked beans for tea before you go! Not a good combination beans and campral 😄😄😄

my husband thought I was going weekly to AA meetings. Took quite a while for me to tell him I was in the pub next door. Not suggesting for a minute that your other half might do that. Just an example of how devious and sly AUD sufferers can be. A physiatrist once told me "if an alcoholic wants a drink, they will get one by any means and ways" I thought it a silly remark at the time, but looking back I normally found a way" very embarrassing and almost ashamed to admit even now,  years later that I once drunk a bottle of mouthwash. How disgusting is that?

Definately no beans with Campral tonight.

Yeah he has admitted to me that he has drank mouthwash too, so you are not alone there Vickylou. He has even drank rice wine vinegar ugh!

Yes, he also has gone to the pub when it should have been AA meets. That's when I used to push him to go. A bit of rebellion mixed in there with the cravings I think x

"Yes, he also has gone to the pub when it should have been AA meets."

A man after my own heart. The only good thing I've ever heard about the AA, is the 'friends with benefits side' of it.

Trust you!!

Unfortunately, there was no-one at the group I went to who I could ever remotely think of as "friends with benefits" lol!

Haha RH Friends with benefits! I did laugh when he told me, (about a year after the deed)

As I keep telling him, lying to me is pointless. I just keep chipping away x

Oh my days .. a song springs to mind here Murder on the Dance Floor,well I defo hope he doesn't kill the groove.I.m creasing up at the thought...Let's hope he can hold them in but unlikely me thinks.Have a fun time and just keep laughing , I hope hubby does too lol x x

Yes he laughs a lot more these days, thanx x

Ask him to make sure they're SBDs, silent but deadly! then move away quickly. It always cracks me up seeing people sniffing and pulling faces, trying to work out who is the culprit haha. Enjoy your glass.

Ive been married 37 years and can honestly say that my husband has danced with me twice. First time at our wedding, second time at our son's wedding. I'm very jealous, enjoy yourselves

Unfortunately, it seems, the Campral doesn't produce SBD's Ive told him he will have to leave the floor and go outside 😊 It's a non alcoholic beverage only place too, so we will be able to relax on that score x

Look online and get your hubby interested. Great for keeping fit and doing something together x

Is that the sound of disappointment in your voice that I hear?

Hey vicks - well I have heard of "sucking up to the boss" but this is a newby - hilarious and thanks for sharing - gives us a laugh when we need it.

G.x

Oh bud, I was laughing at your post and being in the pub next door until I read about drinking mouthwash.  Flip girl, you really got it bad - laughing aside now, thank you for being so brutally honest - that made me sit up and think hard.  Just did not imagine things could get so bad.

Bless you.............G x

Oh I have to reply to this vicks - SBD's are a no go for me - I go into meltdown with laughter - be it my fault or someone else.  And don't get me started on dancing with hubs, unfortunately when he has a few beers and we are out, he seems to think he is Mick Jagger - uggh - I stand it for two dances then I am off to the loo (yeah probably for an SBD). lol lol.

Sorry guys for deviating but had to be done - luv ya all x

Now I am cracking up! Mick Jagger! in the words of Nat-oh my days xx Im off now, wish us luck with the SBD's 😳 xx

RHGB it used to bother me years ago but got used to not being on the dance floor. Now I'll dance with anyone, young, single, married, men especially haha

i don't think I worded previous post very well. I sound a right cougar!! I don't chase married men, or any men. Think I'm just making it worse haha

i must have a very childish toilet humour at times Gwen. I got my 8 year old grandson a whoopi cushion and pretend plastic dog poo a few weeks ago. My son was not amused, especially as he took them to school and had them taken off him lol!

Ha ha ha 😋😋

Beat you to it - already have done that lol lol xx

Great minds think alike Gwen. I know you suffer from not sleeping. Can I ask what you do. Read, watch DVDs?

No, I understood it perfectly. It reminds me of a keyring that a lady had, that I knew in my younger days.

It said. 'So many men, so little time'.

Yes it is a pain in the preverbeal - I read, usually a light hearted mag for an hour.  I used to put on the TV or radio at random times like 1am then again 2.30am and again 3.30 to 4ish and even again at 5.  But that was a bad move and kept me too alert. 

Haha nice one! 

Love your sense of humour, keep them coming

JulieAnne how did the dancing go? Hope there wasn't any problems with wind haha!

years ago I made a decision that I wasn't going to drink again, I would remain abstainant. For the first six months, I wouldn't socialise with friends, as in going out to the pub one night, parties etc. No medication in those days. I just out of interest, wondered if you and your husband socialise a lot and if so, how does he feel watching others drinking. I actually had four sober years and started again accidentally, (well not quite true!)

i was at a party and was asked if I wanted a drink. I always drank lime and soda, had one sip and realised he thought I'd asked for wine and soda. Like an idiot instead of just leaving it I was curious to see how I felt. Unfortunately I enjoyed it and had another. The bubble burst and I was back social drinking again. I've had the odd binge here and the last 15 years or so, but nothing or nowhere near what I used to drink.

i often think would I have been better putting the wrong drink down after one sip

 

Hi Vickylou. Yes the dancing went well thanks. A couple of windy moments 😊 well hidden by the noise of the music (we hope) No sbd's 😳

Hubby always used to come home from an AA meet with the mantra don't pick up, its always the first drink. Its a great shame that one drink set you off. Just shows how vulnerable AUD sufferers are I think. He did manage to stop for 2 years tho. He says he doesn't know how he did it.

We dont tend to socialise together. Hubby doesn't make friends easily as he is quite shy. This is what started him drinking, it used to help him in social situations I believe. This was all b4 I met him.

When I found out he was a heavy drinker, we had the usual chat about drinking less etc he said to me that I wouldn't like him sober. I think that is quite sad. I much prefer him sober he is a quiet, thoughtful chap.

Problem is he never stays long enough in one job to really get to know people. Also, he gets annoyed with himself when he cannot have a drink and he thinks he is a failure, no matter how many times I tell him that it is beyond his control.

We do go out as a couple, but never with friends. He is worried that they might guess that he drinks and judge him.

He is quite isolated really. I have got friends and go out every week. This is another reason why I want him to start TSM he would be able to go out and have a drink, he does get asked. At least he enjoyed the dancing 😊 he has done tai chi and enjoyed that but they stopped doing the classes.

He has had AUD for years and in fact used to be the Manager of Odd Bins in London which obviously didn't help 😠

Campral may still be working, but I have some Naltrexone ready x

Ps to yesterdays post, yes you sound a right cougar 😂😂😂😂😂😂 daft m*re xx

Love that RH. Also like Mae West:

'It's not the men in my life, it's the life in my men'

Hope you are ok x

I know you totally have your partner's best interests at heart. But if the Campral is working, don't mention the Naltrexone and drinking.

Campral's strength is it allows people to forget about drinking and it really should be taken for six months to allow the brain to reset. Also, there is nothing wrong with giving his liver a break, it really does heal well when left completely alone from alcohol.

Yes RH I do agree, but I am scared. I want his body to have time to heal and his brain to reset. You have to understand we have been here many times before. I am trying to trust the Campral to work but it's hard x

I second that about campral, that you suddenly reach a point where you realise OMG I've not been thinking about wanting a drink. These periods during the day get subconsciously longer each time. Before you know it, a days passed and yes ok alcohol is everywhere, shops, telly, pubs but you reach an acceptance that you're fine as you are, you don't need a drink and actually enjoy a night out without alcohol . Well that was my experience of campral.

It really does heal well when left completely alone from alcohol 

?I know the liver is capable of rejuvenating itself, but doesn't there come a point where that is no longer possible? How do you know when that point is reached, apart from jaundice. What is child-Pugh scores about? You'll probably think what dumb questions, I'm probably asking the impossible here, but I've heard of Drs telling patients that the next drink could kill them, what actually happens then? Are you able to function and have a life without alcohol, or are you bedridden for ages. Sorry for all the questions, but say you had a liver scan, I had one done privately last October and it was fine. I am sounding really stupid here, but how do you know when a healthy liver becomes a fatty liver, which then becomes scarred and then cirrhosis? 

It is nigh on impossible to get hard honest info from a gastroenterologist. Partly, because they do not have a conclusive answer and partly they don't like telling someone that they have 'X' years to live. I had a fairly intense meeting with my gastro in May last year, where I think I quite irritated him somehwat, but gave up in the end.

To a certain extent, the liver will always heal, but do not conflate that with recover itself. I was jaundiced when I went into hospital, but my liver has recompensated partly. What doctors mean usually, is that if you keep drinking you will die and that most people with AUD will never be occasional light drinkers, they will always carry on as before, drinking heavily, so their only way to survive is to kick alcohol completely.

Generally you are able to function, a lot of medication needs to be taken to counteract various other issues. For example, liver cirrhosis often comes with oesophageal varices and these internal veins can burst at any time and you can easily bleed to death internally. I used to have that and still take the medication for it. There is also hepatic encephalopathy, where you can go a bit mad, because the liver does not remove the amonia from your system and it rises to your brain. I take medication for this.

One of the main problems for people with damaged livers, is that they do not seek help,they will not take medication and they do not eat properly. What is common amongst the same people, is fatigue. The liver generates energy for the body and if damaged it does not function as well and the person is often fatigued, lacking energy.

When it gets terminal, then yes, they become bedridden. Complete liver failure is a very unpleasant way to die and if that is where I was going to end up, I cerainly wouldn't wait for palliative care. Liver donors are in short supply and people who have alcohol damamged livers are not generally in the front of the queue for a transplant. In America they use the MELD score, fairly innocuous sounding until you hear it in full, Model for End-stage Liver Disease.

In the UK, as you have mentioned, we still use Child-Pugh. There is fatty liver, firbrosis and then cirrhosis, in that order. Only fatty liver is reversible. Child-Pugh is split in to class A, B and then C. There is a score in each group, giving each group a range.

I am Child-Pugh A. The words from my female radiologist last year was, 'well, your liver isn't great, but it's no worse than it was two years ago'. The only real way to tell the liver condition is to have an ultrasound, blood tests don't tell you very much. I often end up arguing with people on the liver forum, that they can't have any damage because their bloods came back fine. At which point I tell them that mine come back fine, all within range, because I don't really drink any more, but I know my liver is not fine.

I think that is all the question covered. I haven't bothered to spell check, so there's bound to be some mistakes.

Brilliant reply as usual thanks. You've answered all my questions in detail, but worded it so I understand. Never noticed any mistakes, even if there were I'd know what you meant.

Questions again, sorry. You don't have to answer if they're too personal. I know you used to like going to your local on your doorstep. Is that a no go area now. I've quite a few hen dos coming up (not cougars, friends daughters!) two I know will be more or less a pxxs up, some will be wasted before they get on the plane. I've decided not to go to those, probably cos I don't trust myself drinkwise and don't fancy sitting nursing 2 glasses of wine. I could drink a whole bottle, but am not prepared to go back or worse than I was before.

Finally, When you've drunk now at special occasions do you still feel you want another, or are you ok with what you have now. I'm not being nosey or judging in anyway. With us both having used campral, it's good for me to know your thoughts and experiences. I once considered TSM, got the tablets but never took them. Would you consider it? From what I know about you on here, I would imagine not. Your determination and will power will keep you on track

thanks again

'It really does heal well when left completely alone from alcohol'

I am listening to what you and RH are saying vicks. I am taking it one day at a time to quote AA. I really do want Campral to work for hubs. Crossing everything.

Thank you for all your advice x