Third day sober and feel like crap

nofuninsuds · 11-14-2006, 04:02 PM

Hi

I'm sure you've all heard my story by now. I've been drinking beer off and on for years now, had various relapses, etc. My last binge was 3 days ago when I drank 8 beers and woke up the next morning feeling sick, disoriented, dizzy, loads of anxiety and panic, electric shock feelings in my head, surreal feeling like the floors/walls were moving, crazy feelings in my head, etc. Very scary and it had been getting worse and worse over the months so that I could'nt even drink one beer with feeling absolutely horrible (like I was going to die) for several days thereafter. Alcohol intolerance I assume.

Anyway, it's been 3 days now and I feel sort of weak, fatigued, lethargic, unmotivated, sleepy, fuzzy-headed and generally "unhealthy". My stomach has also been upset, I have been waking up too early each morning and my eyes feel buggy and unfocused. I just feel like crap but my next drink could very well be a death sentence. I just can't handle alcohol anymore. I've slept on the floor for 3 days now with my dog (and I have allergies) and each morning I get up I take an Ativan ***** makes me very sleepy and lethargic too. Maybe it's a combination of things that contribute to the way I feel or maybe most of it is PAWS symptoms.

My question is this. Does what I've described above sound like normal alcohol withdrawl, PAWS or something else and how much longer before I feel well again?. Anything I can do to speed up my recovery?. I keep hearing people talking about how "great" they felt after they got sober and how they were "floating on a pink cloud", etc. I feel cheated. Where's MY "pink cloud"?. I've been sober for 3 days now so why aren't I dancing the Irish jig in the streets with a big clown-smile on my face?.

PS: I'm taking Campral in addition to Ativan and Atarax for sleep (sometimes)

- Thanks, NoFunInSuds (and NO, there IS no "fun in suds"!!)

kim4074 · 11-14-2006, 10:53 PM

You will get better your body is detoxing itself right now lots of juice and water will help you. Good luck I think you have been here b4. Plus I wouldnt mix benzos with booze as that could be you next death sentence. Good luck to you get to a meeting or an online support group. Good luck Kim

nofuninsuds · 11-15-2006, 07:43 PM

First of all, thank you for the reply.

Ok, my latest issue is this: I'm on the evening of my fourth day without alcohol and although it's been a very slow climb up that big mountain of sobriety, I have been feeling just a tiny bit better each day.

Late this afternoon was when I felt like my brain chemicals were begining to normalize and I actually began to feel pretty good and like my old self again. Then the evening came and the cravings began raging within me beyond belief. While these cravings were going on, I also felt like I was on speed. My mind was racing, I felt really jittery (as if I'd just drank a whole pot of expresso), I was talking a mile-a-minute and I almost felt like I was "racing" too fast. I wasn't sure if this was normal for people going through the later stages of withdrawal or not but I do know that about 10 years ago when I went off Xanax for a few days I felt the same way (mind racing, felt like I was on speed, like a nervous junkie wanting a "fix" real bad, etc). So is this all normal for alcohol withdrawal on day 4?.

Anyway, I took a Campral and a 1/2 mg of Ativan to calm/slow me down a little bit and now I feel like I've come back down to earth again.

So what's the deal here with me?

- Regards, No Fun In Suds

kim4074 · 11-15-2006, 10:02 PM

That might have been a little anxiety caused from the w/d's I know with the vic's I did have some anxiety and felt off keel. Thats great 4 days and hopefully tomorrow will be 5 and so on and so on. Thats great that you keep trying though. Good luck and best wishes. Kim

MsMinn · 11-15-2006, 11:29 PM

Yeah it takes awhile to get out of your system and normalize your body. I heard from an addictions counselor on Monday that it can take up to 2 years for the alcoholic brain to recover from pre-drinking days. Makes sense that your body needs to adjust. It sure sucks though doesn't it?
How long have you been taking the Campral? Does it have side effects? Is it helping with the cravings?
Hang in there...it's worth it to keep going!
Minn