Any doctors around? Is this level of drinking unsafe to go cold turkey from?

[ashamedashamed]

Posting for traffic.

I'm really embarrassed to admit this. I've had a drink problem for a few years now. I think it's due to very severe childhood trauma I experienced. My brain is always in hyperarousal so I feel I 'need' a drink to calm it and obviously I like the fuzziness.

I usually keep somewhat of a 'handle' on it. Like no drinking before 8pm and no more than 60 units a week. Yes I realise 60 units a week will sound like a huge amount to most people and that I don't really have a handle on it, but I don't feel I can stop completely that terrifies me, so I try control it best I can.

I had some news about the perpetrator of the trauma 2 weeks ago and I've been drinking 20-30 units a day since then. I don't even get really drunk. I know this cannot continue. My eyes and skin are all red and dry, and as soon as the alcohol leaves my system I get sweaty, feel hot flashes like sunburn, headaches and get nauseated. I don't normally get this on my usual amount.

I'm aware I've done this to myself. I want to at least cut down to the 60 units I've been on for years.

I'm going to my support bubble household tonight.

I absolutely cannot go to my GP or anything about this. I don't feel I could do that. They know about my PTSD and I'm getting treatment starting tomorrow for that and have counselling already.

Is it safe to cut down from 20-30 units a day to 9 units immediately? Or does it risk DTs? Given I've only been drinking the higher amount for 2 weeks.

You need to seek medical help. Don't let the perpetrator of your trauma win. What ever they did you must seek counselling and leave it in the past were it belongs don't waste the rest of your life, health and looks on them.

Please see your gp, pp's are right, ss are only interested in removal if children are neglected, abused or in danger of these.
You are caring for your dc well under the circumstances, let people help you, please, for all your sakes.

@MintyMabel - at what point did I say tapering was easy? It's NOT easy, the point of tapering is to gradually withdraw and reduce seizure risk.

It's not meant to be a jolly. Tapering CAN be very, very difficult for some, but that doesn't mean it's not a viable option.

Other posters on this thread, who have experience of alcoholism, have suggested tapering/gradual reduction.

What's YOUR experience?

@Lepetitpiggy,of course AA can help the OP now!! It is exactly what we do!! I have been sober since May 2003.I se a GP advised cutting down on the Alcohol gradually,what dangerous advice! Tapering NEVER works for an Alcoholic,although it can work for a heavy drinker,big difference between the two.The medical profession know so little about Alcoholism.

@ashamedashamed,feel free to message me privately I can talk to you,there are thousands of AA meetings on Zoom now,literally 24hours a day,all over the World.There is a Facebook page where meetings are posted,35,000 members on it currently,you are not alone.

Tapering CAN be very, very difficult for some, but that doesn't mean it's not a viable option.

This is why it needs to be under supervision. She is a single parent with two children in the house. They need support through this and not their mum having seizures etc when they're alone with her.

@NerrSnerr - I totally agree that supervised tapering is the safest option, for all concerned. It can be incredibly difficult to taper alone.

My annoyance comes from the fact that a few posters are rubbishing tapering as a safe course of withdrawal.

Well done for recognising something has to be done, op. Change is so difficult so please don't try to do it alone. Reach out to AA and realise you can do this, and you can have support. The very best of luck

480Widdio Sun 01-Nov-20 19:52:02
@Lepetitpiggy,of course AA can help the OP now!! It is exactly what we do!! I have been sober since May 2003.I se a GP advised cutting down on the Alcohol gradually,what dangerous advice! Tapering NEVER works for an Alcoholic,although it can work for a heavy drinker,big difference between the two.The medical profession know so little about Alcoholism.

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That is NOT what AA do at all. They do not support people through medical detox. You know this if you are a member of AA. They support people wonderfully, but in sobriety. There is no medical function to them. The OP is at a point where she needs medical advice (and ideally real life medical support). Tapering is the safest option for many people, exactly as the GP who posted suggested. Exactly as others working in addiction services have suggested. If you see my earlier post I describe my own experiences of a medically supervised taper through my GP and Addiction Services. My level of drinking was pretty much exactly the same as the OP's is right now. I am 6 years sober.

Are you suggesting that the OP goes cold turkey? Surely not. What was your experience please, if you don't mind sharing it?

@BeautyGoesToBenidorm, your advice and experience re. tapering is sound in my experience.

Thank you! I was trying to think of a way to say this
AA is for later

Op
20 units a day - so like 2 bottles of wine?

If you really can't face gp - start reducing. By a glass a day . So pour the first glass away . Open wine , pour first glass down sink, drink rest .
Reduce by a glass each day using same method . Pour it away first - then drink rest . Gradually reduce .
When at around 10 units a
Day , take time off , can you get any sleeping pills ? It will take about 3 days to feel ok , and sleep . After that it gets easier .

I would contact your local substance misuse service for advice - they will be able to ask you the right questions to know whether it's safe for you to gradually reduce or whether you would need medicine to help you detox and more supervision - this doesn't mean that you would need to go to an inpatient setting. Please don't go cold turkey.

Your GP would often just refer you to your local service for support anyway. The workers and doctors at your local service are the specialists in this area. Don't be ashamed - the stereotypical 'alcoholic' is far from the only person they will support and they will treat you with respect. There's no shame in seeking help. It's hard to recover on your own.

It also doesn't mean your kids will be taken into care. They may talk to you about what family life is like at home to check that they are ok.

Hi OP, I haven’t read the thread but I just want to say that I am so proud of you for wanting to improve your situation. Much love

Also, AA isn't for everyone - it works very well for some, and is actively unhelpful for others.

@BeautyGoesToBenidorm

at what point did I say tapering was easy? It's NOT easy, the point of tapering is to gradually withdraw and reduce seizure risk.

It’s not about it being easy or not, it is about anyone having any kind of presence of mind after 11 glasses of wine.

What's YOUR experience?

That asking someone to decide, when already well drunk, to not have another is highly unlikely to be a success.

As others have said, it needs supervision.

alcoholchange.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help-now

OP 💐.

It’s really positive that you are posting and seeking help. AA are open 24/7 and Drink Aware will be open in the morning. I’ve attached a link above. Both are anonymous (use a fake name if they want a name to call you) but they are not linked to your GP or SS, so no need to worry about that. Please seek help from professionals.

I don't have any advice RE your question I'm afraid, I just wanted to say a huge well done for wanting to tackle this. I'm sure with the right help and advice you'll do great battling this. Good luck!

Hi, sorry I disappeared, we went to our support bubble households and I didn't want to open the thread in front of them.

I didn't drink at all last night .

Aside from some of the sunburn-skin feelings and sweating, nothing else has happened so far.

I didn't sleep well at all but I feel great today, and my skin looks a bit better. No headache, dehydration, exhaustion, kidney pain that I've been having the last 2 weeks.

I did call the GP this morning and got a call back, she gave me diazepam and vitamins and put in a referral to a service. I asked her if she was going to refer to SS and she said not at this point due to the ages of my DC and that I have supportive family (my sister is a social worker). I guess I was worried they'd take them away, but when I look at it realistically - and not in all or nothing thinking that my PTSD brain likes to do - I realise they wouldn't at their age and with it being 'just' the alcohol. I don't mean that flippantly though.

Thank you so much for all the supportive messages, I've read them all.

Re their father, he has been an alcoholic the whole time I've known him. He doesn't work, but is otherwise 'functioning' I suppose. No he doesn't live with us. When we were together I barely drank and I used to feel the dread when he came in, and the can opening sound. He's never violent but can be loud and nasty in drink. I really don't want to do that to my DC. I used to 'just' drink after 8/9pm and 'only' a bottle and it didn't affect them, but this day round drinking I've been doing very recently, must scare and worry them. My family and their dad's are full of alcoholics to varying degrees of functioning or died from it.

Does anyone know if I'm out of the woods for DTs, hallucinations and seizures yet? My last drink was 4pm yesterday. Not taken any diazepam yet because I've never taken it before and need to collect youngest (I don't drive, they could walk themselves but I always collect). Right now just a little sweaty, but is 48 hours the time for that?

I can’t advise on the journey from here as I have no idea. Lots of the posters here will have great advice on staying safe while you do this.

I just wanted to say that I’m glad you posted. It’s good to hear from you and how bloody brave you are to be embarking on this road. Please let the smart women on here help you

Op, is there any way to spend tonight also in your support bubble? It seems you don’t drink when others are there, but drank before you went.

Could you do another evening there? Remove all temptation?

WELL DONE!
Calling your GP is a brilliant step! You are doing really well x

Hi OP, I think you're really brave, and bloody well done. Re. seizures - when I went through my own (hospital) detox, I fitted on day 3, in spite of being pumped full of benzos. Just so that you're aware and keep yourself safe.

Great suggestion from Bluntness re. spending time with your support bubble - would it feel OK for you to tell them what you're going through at the minute? (apologies if I've missed that they already know)

Thanks everyone .

Unfortunately I can't spend tonight there. They don't know, but even if they did I doubt I could go there tonight. We will hopefully go at the weekend though.

I'm not sure if I should take the diazepam later or try without. Do seizures etc come on suddenly? Or would I start feeling worse and so have prior warning?

No advice, but good luck. Be strong and be well, keep asking for help, keep posting here, and don't give up on yourself. You are worth fighting for, and your children will be so grateful and proud when you do this. I respect you for your courage in up to this.

How are you feeling now? If you’re in the Uk you’ve now been 23 hours without a drink?

How do you feel physically and mentally?