Detox on your own?

[WTFtaken]

I've always been a drinker. Started out with beer and that was my drink
Of choice for many years with an occasional mixed drink. I'm 40 years old and have been drinking since I was a teenager but started drinking heavily around my late 20's. I was always an afterwork drinker, I would be fine
And even checked myself every now and then by going for up to a week without a drink with no side affects. Well I lost my job several months ago and whiskey became my drink of choice. It got to the point where I would wake up in the morning and start drinking and go back to bed, wake up and
Drink intill bedtime at nite. Recently, if I don't have a drink I
Shake uncontrollably, I have a dull pain on my right backside of my abdomen, chest pains, feel like I'm weak and have no energy which all goes away of I have a couple drinks. I don't have insurance or much money, is there a formula for "weening" your body off alcohol without serious health risks?

[crash2323]

From what you are describing, I also believe you should go to the emergency room.  Call an ambulance if you have to.  It doesn't matter whether you have the money or not.  They have to take you and they have to treat you.  Detoxing from alcohol can be the most dangerous detox of all and should be done under medical supervision--especially if you are drinking as much as you say you are.  There are also ways to get detox paid for if you can't afford it.  A county fund payed for my stay entirely.  I also drank very heavily and shook constantly if I didn't have enough alcohol in my system.  If you go to the hospital, they may have you talk to a social worker and they can help you set up detox or decide what to do next.  If you do not go to the hospital, call your local counseling or crisis center and find out what to do and what is available to you.  Again, don't worry about the money.  There is a lot of help out there.  When you get the immediate alcohol related problems under control, consider talking to someone about the loss of your job.  That had to be a very depressing experience and from what you say, allowed your drinking to become worse.  Please take some immediate action to help yourself.  Let someone else take care of you for a change.  Your future depends on it.  May God be with you.

[crazykid29]

Thank you so much for telling my story. I definately can relate to what you are going through right now, and I need to remember that today to stay sober. What it was like.

So right now you are at the point where you can't live with alcohol, and you can't live without it. It's an ugly place to be, but there is hope to get better and resume responsible living.

I definately wouldn't try detoxing at home.. this can be VERY dangerous. When I got sober, I was like you.. I didn't want to go detox so I kept drinking for a long time just to avoid the detox. I finally decided that I couldn't live like this anymore and I checked myself into detox. I had to go to the hospital for about a day before detox would even take me I was in such rough shape. I was in detox for about a week, and was taking a couple medicines but still felt horrible - it's a miserable experience any way you put it.

You say that you can't afford to go detox, my question would be how can you afford NOT to? Your life IS worth it.. and life does get so much better without the alcohol. Best of luck to you, and I mean it!

[boognell]

You should go to the ER and for the right abdominal pain, this could be your liver. They have to treat you regardless of ability to pay. Tell them how much you drink. You are experiencing "delerium tremens" or dt's, when you are shaking and feeling horrible until you drink. This can be fatal. Please take care of it as soon as you are able.

[rod44]

Detox should be done under medical supervision. The physical withdrawals last for a few days but can be quiet nasty. The mental and emotional after-effects of heavy drinking can also be nasty. I know that I could not have stopped without help and would advise that you speak to your family doctor and get to a support group meeting like AA for starters.


best of luck, keep us posted on how you are doing :)