Medical detox - handhold please

[SignalLoss]

I have had a physical assessment and am seeing a doctor tomorrow to discuss medication requirements. I am motivated to stop, but also scared. Anyone with experience of this? Thank you.

I don't know much about it, they will probably give you something so that you don't have a seizure or something. But well done. That is a fantastic start to go to the GP. You will need all the motivation you can get. Post your thoughts here if it helps.

Hope it goes well for you today op

Thanks for the replies. I saw the doctor yesterday who said that my blood results were ok, which is more than I deserve- daily drinking for 5 years. I’m doing a five day detox, Librium for 3 days along with vitamin injections. Then need to decide if I want protective meds going forward.

How much were you drinking op?

Well done, must've taken alot of courage to go to the doctor's. You're in safe hands now, hope it goes well for you.

A bottle of wine a day, sometimes a bit more and a few gins. Detox starts on Monday. The nurses have been great and really positive.

I think it depends on the gin amount, but the bottle of wine a day is very common, I’m surprised that level needs a medical detox. But it would explain why your test results are fine.

I think that the length of time I’ve been drinking is a factor, and that I’ve struggled with tapering. I’m hoping a complete reset is what I need.

Yes, but Librium is for acute alcohol with drawal which this is far from. Do you also have anxiety?

Yes and high BP.

The injections are quite uncomfortable, please manage it and you will get a massive benefit
We give 5 consecutive days worth
Good luck OP 💐

@Peonyfun I think just to clarify in case others read this and think 'oh right a bottle of wine is common so I am fine' a bottle of wine per night is approx 70 units per week. Add in the few gins and you are probably talking about 100 - 120 units per week depending on how liberal the pour. It is a HUGE amount of alcohol for anyone to consume.

@SignalLoss I am not judging what so ever! I used to have a bottle of wine most nights along with a few vodka's. Honestly I think a lot of it is luck that your bloods are fine. I haven't had the vitamin injections, be warned I've heard they can hurt so maybe take some paracetamol. Have lots of sugary foods/ drinks on hand too. Your body will be massively missing the enormous amount of sugar it is used to from the alcohol.

It sounds like you have a supportive GP which is a huge help. Mine is fantastic, I'm very lucky.

How are you doing @SignalLoss? I hope the Librium covered any withdrawal and you're sleeping ok x

@alco thanks for your post, the last thing I need is anyone minimising my situation. I have paracetamol and chocolate at hand!
@VoldemortsKitten thank you too for checking in. I’m due to start the meds later this morning and will update.

Good stuff, stick with it. You might have very strange dreams for a little while. But really that is probably just your dreams coming back, you prob haven't had them for ages because of alcohol fog so they will seem vivid.

I am trying to remember the first time I got sober, I think it took about 2 weeks to feel pretty good. Eating nice food and really enjoying it was such a pleasure. I eat like a horse! I wasn't eating properly for ages before. So try to have some good meals over the next few days. It was winter when I did it so had good hearty things like cottage pie/ chops/ curry/ casserole. And all the chocolate I could possibly every want. Strangely I lost a load of weight and 2 dress sizes (not that, that is the important part of stopping drinking)

Are you working the next few days?

Hi OP, just wondering how you were able to arrange this - is it NHS or private? NHS do not help in my area - just refer to a charity that has a poor reputation.

That's great @SignalLoss I will be thinking of you. Just feel safe that the tablets will be protecting you from anything too bad and do whatever you need to do to get through these next few days. I couldn't eat much for the first couple. I did find that going to bed earlier helped, also reading MN to get myself out of my own head. It's bloody brilliant you've got to this point of addressing it and sorting it out. All of us who have walked this path before are silently rooting for you.

So day 1 is done. After the first Librium I felt pretty spaced out and slept for a hour or so. My bp was very high but had dropped a bit by the second nurse visit in the afternoon. The rest of the day was ok, just a bit lethargic with a headache and thirst. I couldn’t really concentrate on tv or reading, so pottered about and dozed.
I slept ok, woke up once with sweats but got back to sleep and slept pretty soundly. Felt a bit groggy this morning but that’s easing off. The Librium dose drops today, so I’ll see how it goes.

@iamnottoofatiamjusttooshort The Pabrinex injections are indeed painful and I have a lovely purple bruise to prove it! They have suggested a course of three for now.

@alco i have this week off work and the house to myself during the day. My appetite is fine so far, I’ll likely manage to put on weight!

@Redburnett my gp referred me to the addictions team who offer home detox. The whole process was quick and straightforward. I hope you can access a service if you need to.

@VoldemortsKitten thanks for the encouragement, I appreciate it.

Day 1 done and onto day 2.

That is so fantastic that the nurse comes to your house!

The sweats are nasty, just my experience but I'd have 1 more bad sweaty night then be over that bit.

It sounds like you are on a lot of librium but that will hopefully make things easier for the beginning.

Pottering around is good, don't try and do anything too strenuous. Lots of rest is what you need. It's good you have the house to yourself to chill in the day at least.

I love listening to audio books. Have done for years. They don't need to be anything to do with detox. I like listening to all sorts of things. Maybe in a few days when you are feeling better you can go for a walk and listen to an audio book.

How are you doing @SignalLoss ?

Thinking of you, hopefully the night sweats will be abating soon x

Are you doing home or hospital detox? Home, you generally have a worker come in at least a couple of times where you have to do a breath test before they give you a script for the drugs, any alcohol & no drugs.

Day 2 Done ✅ I felt more tired and slept a few times, but still slept at night. Woke once with sweats but not as bad as the previous night. Also very thirsty and drank over 4 litres of water during the day. I was a bit weepy in the evening and wasn’t sure why really. The nurse said it’s common as we are unconsciously grieving a friend who has been there a long time to both celebrate and commiserate which I suppose makes sense.

Day three today and I feel more positive. BP now back in a normal range, but less appetite. Kept fairly busy pottering around. The Librium finishes on Friday, but should still relieve any anxiety over the weekend, although I do wonder how I’ll be next week.

Thanks to all of you for checking in . It really does help as only DP knows I’m doing this.

@Nat6999 its a home detox with visits twice daily, going down to one a day from tomorrow.

Hope today went well. Sorry I didn't see your message.

You will be a bag of emotions of a while. For me anyway I know alcohol masked a whole range of my feels for years, happy/ sad I had a few drinks so when I stopped drinking I had to learn how to deal with my own emotions

How were you today? Some people like to journal how they are feeling? Not much of a one for me personally.

Hey good on you OP - keep going!

@Peonyfun Dangerous post, common does not equal okay. A bottle of wine a day is alcoholism.
OP you are amazing 🖤 I'm proud of you.