Giving up the drink: Day 1, the headaches.

LegacyUser

So, here I am. Anonymously, I hope.


I've been on the drink a bit more than normal in the past couple of months. I'm drinking at home most days, the only exceptions being when I need to drive the car into town and get things done. But I notice, as I write this, I have condensed these occasions insofar as possible into a few days. That way, I can stay at home, work at my own pace and have a few drinks - I euphemise; I have as many drinks as I feel like having until I fall asleep, which is usually after between 6 and 8 cans. Often, or rather regularly, I drink more than I need to and justify it based on "I have to get rid of all the drink and then I can give it up again" (and its variants).

I have indeed given up the drink often before, and always done so until my goal had been reached, whether that was my degree, doctorate or whatever. I was always conscious that drink impeded my productivity and I don't think I could have finished anything unless I had adopted an all-or-nothing approach and totally given up alcohol. I remember going back on the drink all those years ago when I got my degree results and I just didn't like it. What an awakening. A few weeks later and I was starting to like it again.

Now, however, I am older (36) with a bit more career fulfillment. However, I am also 30kg overweight, rarely exercise and usually spend my evenings on internet discussion boards after a day's work and having consumed, or being in the process of consuming, @4 litres (16 units) of drink. Apparently 5 units or more is considered 'binge drinking' according to the WHO, that's 1 litre and a bit. So, as low as that sounds, I'm definitely binge drinking on a regular if not daily basis.(http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0705/alcohol.html).


Feeling a constant awareness ('pain' would perhaps be too strong a word) of my left testicle (as odd as that sounds), I decided to give up drink today in order to give my body a break, to allow it to detox and clear the poisons from alcohol out.

I woke up and the first thing I wanted was a drink. For the first time, I realised I was disabled going around the house thinking about having a drink. I wasn't like that a month ago. It - I - was pathetic. I said today I'd stick it out, but gradually I developed this headache like I've never had. As I sat at the table drinking my water it just got worse. I know from cursory reading before that there is some medication for it, but I want to avoid prescription drugs and work this out, myself. I will do it, and I will do it quietly on my own - but today wasn't to be that day. By this evening I had gone down to the Off-Licence and purchased seven 500ml cans (I've never had spirits or the like and have no interest in strong alcohol, i.e. over 5% alcohol).

I don't feel like a failure yet because I know I really must give up the drink in order to be productive, lose that 30kg weight and avoid developing a range of alcohol and heart related diseases. Giving up drink is inevitable. My immediate target to be looking well is December 1st when I have a big celebration. Once I get going I will survive all the parties in between now and then. I've done it alcohol free many times before.


However, for now, what advice would any of you have for these initial days of giving up alcohol and surviving the headaches without going to the doctor? I have no intention of seeking counselling or any such thing because I reckon if I put things in words then it will have a bigger psychological impact on me, and my chances of success, than if I just act with the aim of reclaiming my life. Everything and every situation does not need to be defined with a psychological scar.

Any advice to triumph during this initial period would be superb. Táim an-bhuíoch díbh.

LegacyUser

Gonnamakeit wrote: »

However, for now, what advice would any of you have for these initial days of giving up alcohol and surviving the headaches without going to the doctor? I have no intention of seeking counselling or any such thing because I reckon if I put things in words then it will have a bigger psychological impact on me, and my chances of success, than if I just act with the aim of reclaiming my life. Everything and every situation does not need to be defined with a psychological scar.

Any advice to triumph during this initial period would be superb. Táim an-bhuíoch díbh.

I don't want to sound like a broken record here but from what you described I wouldn't feel right if I didn't question your decision not to involve your GP. You're talking about quite typical withdrawal symptoms which really should be dealt with in a manner that involves medical supervision. Please see your GP.

In describing your day you left out what you've done in terms of diet to help your body - what are you doing in terms of sugar replacement (it has been mentioned at AA meetings), given how much beer you regularly consume that's going to be an issue.

Liber8or

Fair play to you on taking the first step of acknowledging the problem. You have even gone so far as to make a plan to stop drinking and look forward to the results.

I can only suggest taking some aspirin for the headaches.

As for the void created through lack of drink in the evenings, you should take up a hobby or something to pass the time, then before you know it, so much time will have passed and you can head to bed.

Got an Xbox/PS3? Or do you play games on the PC? I find the hours just glide past when playing my Xbox, sometimes I even forget to eat! :P

Go for a long walk? That will help with losing the weight as well!

Basically, you need something to take your mind off drinking for long periods of time. If you start to wander or procrastinate you will find yourself coming up with excuses to drink and that will just lead you back to the start.

Set yourself mini-targets, such as - 2 Days without drink. When they have passed, say to yourself: Now 5 Days, or 1 Week, etc. You will be surprised how quickly and easily it will become to staying off it.

Good luck!

smellslikeshoes

Gonnamakeit wrote: »

Feeling a constant awareness ('pain' would perhaps be too strong a word) of my left testicle (as odd as that sounds), I decided to give up drink today in order to give my body a break, to allow it to detox and clear the poisons from alcohol out.

It is not really the advice you are looking for but I would get that checked out, assuming that it is because of not drinking is a bit naive and it's always better to be safe than sorry.

sunnyside

Nurofen/Panadol/Sopladine over the counter medication will help a lot with headaches. You should join weight watchers or similar to get some support instead of doing it all on your own.

Check up at the doctors recommended too.

Good luck with it.

LegacyUser

A cliché but one day at a time, every day/evening, tell yourself you don't want it, then before you know it, it is bed time. If you look too far ahead it will be difficult. Don't even think about tomorrow, think about today and keep on doing that then look back and a week/2 weeks may have passed.

You do sound an awful lot like me to be honest and I am trying myself. It is SO hard, it is TOO easy to nip to the shop, open the fridge.

I have exercise equipment at home so I am going to focus on losing the weight I have gained with alcohol. That should hopefully put me off drinking if I work hard at it.

LegacyUser

Dude, sugar.

Alcohol is made up from sugar, that's how we get it. You need to eat, and I mean chocolate, honey, the sweet stuff. Take some food in, with a headache pill and some water, then have a nap. When you wake up, repeat.

Good luck.

iguana

I'm sorry, I know it's not what you want to hear but you really should consider seeing a doctor. Depending on exactly how much you have been drinking withdrawal can be very hard on your body. It can on occasion be fatal. There is a good article on it here. http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/withdrawal/a/aa000125a.htm

If you are absolutely determined to not see a doctor then at least prepare beforehand by having a lot of healthy food on hand so you have a good diet while you are going through it. Also get yourself a big bottle of Thiamin (vitamin B1) as too much alcohol depletes this vitamin in your body, but replenishing it will help you recover. Also get a good multi-vitamin as you need to take care of yourself while you withdraw. Vomiting and diarrhea are common so have plenty of easy to eat food available and have more than you need as you may lose some. Also get some renatidine (Zantac is the most popular brand) as it will help settle your stomach if you need it. Peppermint tea, and ginger will also help with this.

If you take painkillers avoid Nurofen Extra, Syndol, Solpodine Max and any other pills that contain codeine as that is an opiate and can be extremely addictive. Also you may suffer from insomnia so consider herbal sleeping aids, like tablets or a hops pillow (unless you think the hops smell could make you crave beer), or an otc like nytol. You can wean yourself off it fairly easily once the withdrawal passes, but inability to sleep is one of the most common reasons that people return to drinking, so it's best to prepare for it in advance.

If you won't see a doctor consider telling someone what you are doing so they can keep an eye on you. I don't want to be alarmist but withdrawal can be extremely tough physically and you may need help and someone who can get you medical help if necessary.

LegacyUser

Thanks to all of you so far. The info was very helpful.

I learnt a lot on this thread today and put it in practice. I never even thought about the sugar content of alcohol, although at another level I was aware it was riddled with calories (a large part of the reason why I'm 30kg overweight now). I just never associated the absence of drink => absence of sugar = headaches. So, I went down and bought a big bag of Cadbury's 'Shots' which had 900 calories. Moreover, for the first day in a long time I walked by the Off Licence section and left the supermarket with my packet of chocolates (weird even visualising myself going to a shop for chocolates!), and more uncertainty than I've ever had leaving a shop.

I don't really know if the chocolates made that much of a difference. They might have for a while. But I still have the headache now at 3.40am, and it feels like I've had it all day. I certainly had it this morning, this afternoon and earlier this evening. I read that article on alcohol withdrawal and I'm still reading through the relevant links to it about delirium tremons and hallucinations, both of which seem very extreme. One actual experience of delirium tremons sounds remarkably like Christy Moore's song of the same name back in the 1980s. I can't imagine getting them, and I haven't been sweating, shaking, depressed or any of the other withdrawal symptoms mentioned, despite having been drinking a fair bit prior to this.

I went to the Doc today just to get a load of tests done, such as the Gamma-GT (sp?), blood, diabetes and cholesterol ones. He wasn't there and I didn't want to go to his replacement a few km away who doesn't know me. So I'll see him on Monday when my Gamma-GT reading should be a lot lower (it apparently looks worse if you've been drinking near the test time). I'll also get a referral to a urologist for the testicle thing but last time I was concerned about that issue I was 21 and they physically had to cut the skin around it to test it, so hopefully technology has improved a lot in 15 years. I'll get that Thiamin (vitamin B1) tomorrow, and start taking Berocca again, something I would usually do when starting a detox diet anyway.

Anyway, is there any time limit usually on these headaches? Without any medical basis whatsoever, I'm thinking that they are a sign that the mind and body is detoxing itself and that I am therefore recovering.

Victor

I've deleted some links from the last post, but please don't take it personally. I just get worried when is see lots of links in an unregistered post.

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Be careful with the chocolate. Sure, its a bit better than the booze, but try moderating things by using something with a better balance of sugars - my doctor recommended dried fruit to solve the problem of 'grazing'.

Well done so far and good luck.