What to expect.....

[Knight6666]

I am a 31 yr old male who never smoked, never abused drugs but fooled around with alcohol in high school, abused it in college, and now drink 3-5 drinks a night after work on a regular basis. I am not drunk after those 3-5 drinks, but pleasantly buzzed, and dont allow myself to break that threshold. On weekends, like many, I go out and drink way too much, sometimes leading to a 2-day hangover. It is my 2009 resolution to cut down but am concerned since I have been a problem drinker for about 14 years, I will be going thru some major physical withdrawal. Is this true? Should I ween down? How bad and how long can withdrawal usually take? What can I expect? (this is just a thought at this point-am not going to attempt anything until i speak with my dr) Just trying to gather info. Thanks!

[boogieman]

i'm just a professional drunk. do anything long enough and you can't help but get something out of it. i had to beat my head against the wall for a while to soften it up so some of this stuff could sink in ;) stick around--this has been a great resource for me.  gm

[elizabethII]

Congratulations! It seems to me, after hearing and experiencing a lot of horror, that your break with alcohol went smoother than normal. I agree- go get checked by a Dr. Besides they are going to tell you what a great thing you did, and it will be a nice appointment. Go get some applause.
And. . .
Boogieman- you seem SO knowledgeable about Recovery. You must have spent a lot of time advising and helping. Thanks for sharing your info with knight and also me, the reader. I just got here. And have to go through withdrawal in the next 48 hours, darn it.
Slipped again. Well, I'll pick myself up and start over.
Thanks everyone for being here

[boogieman]

if you aren't experiencing the shakes, cold sweats, and are able to sleep, you are probably about through the physical part. however the mental/emotional agitation such as craving can linger for some time. for that you would still be best off consulting a competent physician and/or aa in your area.   gm

[Knight6666]

I guess suffering with a cold/flu and being in bed for 3 days might have actually been a blessing in a sense. The symptoms I experienced definitely were not withdrawal, at least I dont think they were. Everyone at work was sick the week before Xmas, so i expected it. Now that I havent had a drink in 3 days (not even NyQuil), maybe I should keep going and hope for the best. I was just concerned with the nightmare stories associated with quitting and withdrawal. At this point, I would rather have a drink or 2 per day to avoid that.
So, it sounds like I might be OK for the meantime. What can I expect from day 4 on out? Any other symptoms besides craving?

[boogieman]

hi. you are probably ok. the cold/flu symptoms are not typical of alcohol withdrawal. if you've gone this long, the worst is probably over with. the most severe effects of alcohol w/d are a response of the nervous system becoming conditioned to being sedated on a regular basis. so when you remove the sedative, the nervous system essentially goes into shock as it is still trying to compensate for the alcohol that is no longer present. this is why people have tremors and insomnia among other things as the brain is in a state of hyperactivity that ordinarily would be countered by the alcohol. in the more advanced cases, this hyperactivity can manifest as seizures and even intense hallucinations as the brain is starting to re-normalize its chemical makeup. it still would be a good idea to get checked by your doctor for any related issues. take care,   gm

[Knight6666]

gm--thanks!  I have been sick with a sore throat and head cold for the past 3 days. Today is the first day I have felt better. Besides the sore throat and all of the lovely symptoms that come with a head cold, can I expect to get sick all over again?  I havent had a drink in 3 days now, so shouldnt i be in trouble physically due to withdrawal? ever heard of someone not going through withdrawal? thanks again!

[boogieman]

hi. if you consumed alcohol daily for a length of time, you could very easily have developed a tolerance resulting in withdrawal symptoms. the severity varies according to the individual as well as the amount and frequency consumed. the symptoms can last from a few hours to several days in duration and can range from nervous agitation and insomnia to seizures and cardiac arrest. consulting with your doctor is the best thing you can do---just be honest with them and they should be able to minimize the worst of the process with medications. take care---gm