Alcohol withdrawal symptoms...
Discussion
I will have to admit I do love my drinks. I normally drink around 3 bottles of Budweiser on a normal night. I'm 30 this year and compared to say 10 years ago I believe I have cut down a lot. The most I drink now normally are during weekends (6-7 pints of strong lager or equivalent). I usually have 2-3 beers during the odd weekdays.
However, I've got a week off for Christmas and New Year and I've found myself to drink almost everyday. This time I've also drunk spirits and wine. Since yesterday I started to feel a bit ill. I've felt this before but I don't usually notice it as it wasn't this serious and I'm too busy with work and normally just soldier on.
So I did some research online. I initially suspected some form of bug but apparently what I am going through is very similiar to a mild alcohol withdrawal stage.
My symptoms include :
- confusion
- headache
- sweating when sleeping
- weakness
- nausea (but no vomitting except for that night when I've drunk too much wine)
- mild diarrhea
(never had any shakes before nor halucinations)
This has really woken me up as I've been reading of the more severe symptoms. I am very suspicious that this is aa form of mild alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
I am little bit lost at this stage and hopefully someone could offer advise or point me to the right direction. Should I just ride the symptoms out and watch my alcohol consumption in the future? The withdrawal symptoms are noticable to me once I go over my comfort zone (5 pints of lager) in a single sitting. I've noticed having 2-3 Buds are fine. Should I seek GP help? I really do not want to onto medication if it's not needed.
Has anyone else here suffered mild to moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms?
However, I've got a week off for Christmas and New Year and I've found myself to drink almost everyday. This time I've also drunk spirits and wine. Since yesterday I started to feel a bit ill. I've felt this before but I don't usually notice it as it wasn't this serious and I'm too busy with work and normally just soldier on.
So I did some research online. I initially suspected some form of bug but apparently what I am going through is very similiar to a mild alcohol withdrawal stage.
My symptoms include :
- confusion
- headache
- sweating when sleeping
- weakness
- nausea (but no vomitting except for that night when I've drunk too much wine)
- mild diarrhea
(never had any shakes before nor halucinations)
This has really woken me up as I've been reading of the more severe symptoms. I am very suspicious that this is aa form of mild alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
I am little bit lost at this stage and hopefully someone could offer advise or point me to the right direction. Should I just ride the symptoms out and watch my alcohol consumption in the future? The withdrawal symptoms are noticable to me once I go over my comfort zone (5 pints of lager) in a single sitting. I've noticed having 2-3 Buds are fine. Should I seek GP help? I really do not want to onto medication if it's not needed.
Has anyone else here suffered mild to moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms?
Quote from KIngsley Amis on a hangover:
“Dixon was alive again. Consciousness was upon him before he could get out of the way; not for him the slow, gracious wandering from the halls of sleep, but a summary, forcible ejection. He lay sprawled, too wicked to move, spewed up like a broken spider-crab on the tarry shingle of morning. The light did him harm, but not as much as looking at things did; he resolved, having done it once, never to move his eyeballs again. A dusty thudding in his head made the scene before him beat like a pulse. His mouth had been used as a latrine by some small creature of the night, and then as its mausoleum. During the night, too, he'd somehow been on a cross-country run and then been expertly beaten up by secret police. He felt bad.”
“Dixon was alive again. Consciousness was upon him before he could get out of the way; not for him the slow, gracious wandering from the halls of sleep, but a summary, forcible ejection. He lay sprawled, too wicked to move, spewed up like a broken spider-crab on the tarry shingle of morning. The light did him harm, but not as much as looking at things did; he resolved, having done it once, never to move his eyeballs again. A dusty thudding in his head made the scene before him beat like a pulse. His mouth had been used as a latrine by some small creature of the night, and then as its mausoleum. During the night, too, he'd somehow been on a cross-country run and then been expertly beaten up by secret police. He felt bad.”
I've hit it pretty hard in the last week and I honestly feel like a bag of s
t that's been kicked around. All of those symptoms above! but I don't drink much usually so I'm putting it down to that. Back on it tomorrow to make up for not going out tonight because of said sickness/arse-pee! then i'll be back to my norm..drinking maybe 3 times a month.
t that's been kicked around. All of those symptoms above! but I don't drink much usually so I'm putting it down to that. Back on it tomorrow to make up for not going out tonight because of said sickness/arse-pee! then i'll be back to my norm..drinking maybe 3 times a month. happychap said:
Hello, from your op, you may or may not have a virous. However the amount of alcohol you are consuming will in the long term start to impact on your health and daiy quality of life. You might want too start reducing your cosumption slowly. End of sermon. Happy New Year
I agree with happychap 
RDMcG said:
Sorry. That post sounded a bit wrong.
I do find the current government propoganda that everyone is an alcholic if they have a drink every day somewhat laughable. Along with all the other rubbish about what food to eat and not to eat which seems to change whenever the wind changes.
It's all about moderation in all thing. 3 buds a night is 6 units...replicate that over a week and that is 42 units a week. That's not going to kill you.
I do find the current government propoganda that everyone is an alcholic if they have a drink every day somewhat laughable. Along with all the other rubbish about what food to eat and not to eat which seems to change whenever the wind changes.
It's all about moderation in all thing. 3 buds a night is 6 units...replicate that over a week and that is 42 units a week. That's not going to kill you.
nosubstitute said:
Sorry. That post sounded a bit wrong.
I do find the current government propoganda that everyone is an alcholic if they have a drink every day somewhat laughable. Along with all the other rubbish about what food to eat and not to eat which seems to change whenever the wind changes.
It's all about moderation in all thing. 3 buds a night is 6 units...replicate that over a week and that is 42 units a week. That's not going to kill you.
which is where the 'if you drink everyday you are problem drinker' comes from I do find the current government propoganda that everyone is an alcholic if they have a drink every day somewhat laughable. Along with all the other rubbish about what food to eat and not to eat which seems to change whenever the wind changes.
It's all about moderation in all thing. 3 buds a night is 6 units...replicate that over a week and that is 42 units a week. That's not going to kill you.
while it's acknowledged that the drinking 'limits' are arbitrary at what point it stops being 'safe' and becomes potentially damaging in the long term is not clearly understood .
the other thing which makes some people feel 'safe' that they aren't a problem drinker is that they 'pass' the CAGE screening test
http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/CAGE-Questionnaire...
but CAGE is a fairly blunt tool compared to the WHO developed AUDIT screening questionnaire
http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40026159
While an intake of 40 units a week spread over the wee isn't necessarily going to trigger under CAGE or leave you susceptible to Alcohol withdrawl - which is clinically far more dangerous than other withdrawls - due to the impact on siezure thresholds etc ... it's not necessarily going to be totally benign
3 buds a night is the best average I can give. Sometimes I don't drink a drop for 2-3 days straight and sometimes (usually weekends) I would "binge" on something like 6 pints of strong lager and 5-6 double shots of spirits.
I don't think I am THAT serious an alcoholic but I will have to admit I do like a drink and just would like more opinions on this matter hence why I posted a question in a public forum. You can't go around asking people in the pub if they are alcoholics :P
When I was younger I drink way more than this but reaching over 30 now I just want to reel it in and cut down to enjoyable levels.
I don't think I am THAT serious an alcoholic but I will have to admit I do like a drink and just would like more opinions on this matter hence why I posted a question in a public forum. You can't go around asking people in the pub if they are alcoholics :P
When I was younger I drink way more than this but reaching over 30 now I just want to reel it in and cut down to enjoyable levels.
6 Pints and 5 double shots is 'professional levels'! That must be getting on for 30 units! I can't imagine drinking all that in one go. Surely that must be more damaging than have the same 30 units spread over the week?
I have a a couple of gin and tonics every day so probably getting on for 35 units a week and have done so for the last 20 years. I don't binge drink as I don't like to not remember the previous night and I like to be confident I can drive the next day. I also don't like the idea of sitting in my own vomit.
I also don't like the idea of sitting in my own p*ss in an old people's home like my grandparents did so I'll take my chances with 35-40 units a week.
I have a a couple of gin and tonics every day so probably getting on for 35 units a week and have done so for the last 20 years. I don't binge drink as I don't like to not remember the previous night and I like to be confident I can drive the next day. I also don't like the idea of sitting in my own vomit.
I also don't like the idea of sitting in my own p*ss in an old people's home like my grandparents did so I'll take my chances with 35-40 units a week.
Consider the bigger picture, you have indicated that you have in the past drank greater amounts of alcohol, and at present averaging 30-40 units a week, the recommendeed amount of units being 21 for the average male. At what point would you consider you might have, or be hedding for significant health issues which are alcohol related.
I've found myself in a very similar situation to the O.P. this Christmas. I've found myself with a load of time off and a lot of pubs / clubs right on my doorstep. I've found going for a 5 mile run sorts out the D.Ts quite nicely. However I think it will be a blessing in disguise when I return to my normal routine on Tuesday. I'm starting to get a bit of a chemical imbalance developing in the brain.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff