Botticelliii
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I was bent over crying this morning due to my hands cramping so bad I couldn't open them. I've got bananas and am sipping juice but I'm shivering and pouring sweat. Thankfully I'm not alone and have a way to get to the hospital if I need to.
CrisprCAS
Doctor. Get one. Now. DTs can kill you.
hoofbeatsandsnowflakes
Alcohol withdrawals are one of very few that can kill you. Take this seriously. Your blood may not remember how to blood properly.
ExplainsTheReasoningBehindHowHeVotes
Upvoted in hopes you talk to your doctor. You're not a medical professional and you need one to give you advice on how to get started. I 100% understand that going to the doctor costs money in some countries and that can cause hesitation. But you already know your underlying condition and trying to quit cold turkey CAN kill you, so you already know there is the risk of death on the line. Money isn't worth anything if you're dead. may you find peace in this life stranger. peace.
monkeybasketball
Please go to the hospital and detox safely.
Ilikestyx
I'd say go to the hospital now - good on you for taking the first step!
mercbrit
I have given up drinking for good. I now only drink for evil.
steamingbowlofdonkeyschlongs
Licensed medical professional here. Alcohol withdrawal can kill you. Go to the ER!
DocBeeblebrox
Good on you, but DTs are not worth the risk, please seek assistance
DrivingTheBus
I'm adding my voice as a professional, asking you to go to the ER or call a detox center ASAP. You can seize and die as long as 10-14 days after stopping alcohol. I'm proud of you for taking this first step! Please stay around to take the others.
msar4
Hey man, I've been where you are. It's ok to ask for help. You can't just quit cold turkey if you're truly addicted to alcohol. I learned this when I just stopped drinking and then hours later got cold sweats and shakes. I needed a drink. I needed to taper off instead of simply stop. It's hard enough to quit, please get some help or your best intentions will end up killing you. You can do it.
TheUglyGuy
It really sucks going through that, but the other side is much better. I quit almost 40 years ago and still remember.
SharkDoctor
please go to the hospital. it gets worse before it gets better and they have the ability to make you a lot more comfortable. i went to the hospital for my last detox and i didn't get sick at all and i've been clean ever since. good luck, please be safe.
SursieMetzger
I am absolutely rooting for you to build a better future for yourself, better health and a better mindset. But a clinic may be your best bet. My fear here is the potential for seizures due to sudden withdrawal. For people who’ve heavily relied on alcohol for while, seizures can set in during drying out period and I’d hate for something worse to happen because you’re trying to better yourself. Im wishing you the absolute best of luck!
Sarshrimp
Please find some medical supervision, if you can't because of money or what have you, find someone to help you maintain a tapering schedule. Decreasing the amount you consume over time is safer.
HeyWatchThis
If you're addiction is bad enough that you're having DTs, then quitting cold turkey on your own probably won't stick without additional support/treatment. Also, like everyone else is saying, it could kill you.
HeyWatchThis
I wish you the very best and only success. Get some help and kick some ass.
incendras
Cold turkey killed my uncle within 2 weeks of stopped h, go to a clinic if the dts are that bad.
eppykaze
Depending on how much you drank having a drink may be advisable. It's rarely a good idea to cut out something complete in one phase. Getting used to a lower amount of alcohol can help make quitting more successful in the long run.
neospor1n
That’s what I was thinking “take a shot, it’s okay to not go cold turkey when cold turkey may kill you”
thepunchline710
DT from alcohol can very easily kill you. You need to get help doing this. But in other news, congrats.
annonymouse211
Heyyy quitting alcohol cold turkey can kill you. Go to the hospital please.
eddbrowne
Many chemicals and drugs need a slow taper to avoid lasting harm.
sapphsquatch
Hospital, to echo everyone else. My brother tried to cold turkey last summer and the DTs were so bad he was hallucinating and combative, they had him sedated for several days. That shit is dangerous.
Tumescentpie
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelsan_Ellis Please don't quit alcohol without medical attention.
RCE127001
Go to ER, don't wait. Call 911, you don't need insurance. They will IV a benzo (probably Ativan) and get you some IV fluids. If you're throwing up a lot and sweating profusely, and can't keep down a beer or mixed drink, or your hands, feet, or facial muscles are cramping, or you're getting "prickly" sweats, it's too late for home treatment. 911 now. Be honest with the EMTs or FD and your PA, RN, or DR. It's not embarrassing.
RCE127001
I want to add that I skimmed your post comments and didn't notice you mentioned your hands cramping at first. If that happens, you're on the edge. Not a huge deal on it's own, but it's bad. A common reason is build up of carbolic acid. Where I work (US) we teach the "whup!" Sharp intake of breath through the nose, ~5 second hold, slow ~10 second exhale through the mouth. Best done sitting forward with elbows on knees or upright sitting position.
BobTheWeak
Quitting alcohol cold turkey can kill you. I am no medical professional, but it sounds like you went too much, too fast, and created a bad situation.
Goldfinger1964
Bravo on quitting. You may want to know that alcohol withdrawal can kill you. See a doctor. Keep on!
Orzufancylad
Imo, you should go to a clinic for help on this rather than cold turkey if you are having bad withdrawals. You can seriously hurt yourself like that, but I hope you do well regardless.
Usernamepeenwastaken
Yes this! Remember you want to quit drinking but your body does not know that.
RoombaTheAssaultVacuum
My dad actually died from the withdrawals. They got so bad his body went into shock and he had a massive seizure. The first wasn't what killed him but he lost much of his motor function and cognitive thought. The second seizure from withdrawals took his life.
lumpybeanburito
Our SIL died from withdrawal. Its no joke. By the time her boyfriend realized it wasn't just a fever and bad shakes and called an ambulance it was too late. She never woke up and infection and organ failure followed over the next week. No one knew she had been drinking that hard for that long.
iwantthepinkbook
People die every year from alcohol withdrawal.
PithyCommentBelow
You can do more than hurt yourself. You can actually die. Definitely seek help.
LostInTheZone
This is the right answer. I have a niece who is a heavy drinker. She is in the hospital now with extreme pancreatitis on morphine for pain as well as insulin. Recovery is a process and there is no need to do it alone. Doctors, AA, family..... recovery is a process and not something you need to do alone.
somethingstupidandclever
Oof. That was me 7 years ago. I unfortunately did it alone. Just never was too close with my family. No reason. Just very aloof people. It happened twice. First time the doctor said "never drink again" and i didnt listen. The second time was worse even tho it was just a beer or two that set it off. Almost died. Never. Drink. Again.
LostInTheZone
Stay strong my friend you've got this.
Sasurau
Rehab or ER. I'm dead serious. As dead serious as the phrase "dead from alcohol withdrawal." DTs are nothing to fuck with and can kill. Good luck to op.
NotSomoneElse68
DTs can kill you. Get fluids and Ativan. It's going to be hard enough. I've gotten Alcohol detox protocol from the ER twice before (15? years ago).
MileysVirus
I've heard gabapentin(sp?) will help also.
NotSomoneElse68
It is an anti-seizure medicine and it provides relief. It's kinda like an almost opiate optionfor people who can't take updates opiates. But Ativan is more immediate relief and much more closely related to alcohol thus protecting better against specifically alcohol withdrawal.
MileysVirus
True, I was in a group program, and many of them said it helped with cravings. Ativan works better for immediate stuff but it also can be somewhat addictive so don't go too long using it
NotSomoneElse68
I mean, Ativan withdrawal can kill you, too.
pauli133
I support your decision to stop drinking - but get some medical support! This isn't the 60s, you don't have to physically suffer like that.
Reredi
if they're in our good ol' u.s. then price is gonna be a factor.
ScottPerri
nah it's the 2020s where going to the hospital now will bankrupt you.
Asadsadsadclown
Drug withdrawal will make you want to die, alcohol withdrawal will actually kill you. Always seek medical advise when quitting, especially with alcohol
spookyu
In Afghanistan we (medical) had to keep a bottle of shitty vodka under lock and key because you weren't allowed to drink there but alcoholics still get deployed because it's often unrecognized, they'd usually show up with DTs and it was medically indicated (titrate them down) because it can absolutely kill ya. I do not envy OP or anyone dealing with this, damn near wound up there myself at some low points, I hope for the best for anyone going through it.
Jasonreissue
drug withdrawal can kill you too. source : i was hospitalised after going cold turkey on benzos. always seek medical advice when quitting.
ZoidbergIsGreat
I think they were referring to opiates. All receptor sites that have been blocked off by the opiates open up during withdrawal which = severe pain. You'll feel like you're dying but the alcohol or benzo withdrawal is the one that will kill you.
Jasonreissue
i’m sure they weren’t clear at all. i just felt like i should clarify as ‘drugs’ is quite vague - just incase someone made the mistake i did. there was zero help for me from medical professionals coming off benzos until it was nearly too late! even then the doctors didn’t know what xanax even was. for the record heroin was easier to get off due to medical knowledge and resources available.
ZoidbergIsGreat
I worked at a detox center for a couple of years. You should have been on a benzo taper regimen. I'm very sorry that you went through that
ThePunishersVengefulBrother
Glad you didn't die. :)
Jasonreissue
thanks mate. appreciate that a lot right now
FeloniousMonk13
As an ex opiate addict, 10+ yrs clean, I really encourage you to seek assistance thru medication. I doubt I could have done what I did without methadone. Don't put your yourself thru unnecessary suffering, please. And know that I'm sending you support, peace and love.
oxygenisnotfree
Congratulations!
Pervaroo
I'm not a medical expert, but is it possible to get to a hospital in time if the symptoms are already that severe? That all sounds very serious.
FoxKing37
No. The biggest danger is a fatal seizure. There won’t even be time to call 911 at that point.
bluestemrocks
IV hydration & supplemental thiamine to prevent brain damage
RCE127001
I am, and it's usually possible (seizures at about 30 minutes to 4 hours before Ictal symptoms, which is the "actual" seizure itself). This is called prodrome (or prodromic). That's your window for getting to an ICU. If you were to survive to the POSTictal phase, you're probably ok, but they come in waves, and a recent postical episode may simply be the next prodrome, leading often to a much more severe Ictal phase.
RCE127001
Basically, if you think you're having a seizure, you aren't. BUT YOU ARE ABOUT TO! Go to the hospital and be embarrassed later for bothering us; I'd rather have it that way.
korndogg83
Sure, benzodiazepines will quickly relieve the worst of withdrawal symptoms.
DocWino
You don’t give benzodiazepines for alcohol withdrawal. At least no place I’ve ever worked.
ScrotusFezziwig
Sure do
korndogg83
It’s standard practice. Diazepam and oxazepam are most commonly used here (Germany). Where have you worked and which medications did they use for withdrawal/DTs?
DocWino
We give Librium which is a benzo, my bad. I’ve never seen serax here.
Samerious
Ativan is a Benzo and as far as I am aware that's par for the course.
ZoidbergIsGreat
Not always. We used mostly diazepam - half life is much longer which is nice
ZoidbergIsGreat
Wat? CIWA protocol and treatment of withdrawal of scores higher than 10 is 10-20mg diazepam prn. I've also seen Ativan used depending on liver function labs. What are you guys using?!
OmenJones
DTs are dangerous. Go to ER. Story time: When I was in AA, we had a guy show up obviously in the grip of DTs. Old timers suggested a course of action: drive him to ER, but stop and get him a pint of something hard first, so he won't seize and die while he waits. We did just that.
smashole
SlightChungus
Real talk here folks this is how extreme dt can be for heavy heavy drinkers. I wasn't this bad but the shakes will be something Ill never forget.
Teneksi
I had one day where a hangover just vanished, but then kept going. I experienced a few flashes of red light and a recurring feeling that something horrible was about to happen, which my brain assigned to random objects: praying traffic got moving before the pickups for sale in the lot next to me started up of their own accord and flattened me. Acknowledging that it was paranoia only felt worse. I had always heard of dangerous behavior and hangovers, but learned about withdrawal the hard way
lukavago13
and the migraines, and the blurred vision, and the cramps, and the just sheer *terribleness* of everything.
rowanem33310
Muscles feeling like jello
bobadrew
Old AA guy I knew took a Big Book, baseball bat, and a bottle of wine when he would meet someone new that was trying to detox.
canibFrank
Was very involved in a closely-related 12-step group a few years ago. The alcoholics that were part of the group had some scary-ass stories to tell. As scary as this one. "Take him to the ER but get him a pint so he doesn't die." Fuck!
tweedyone
One of the few drugs available that the detox itself can kill you.
VonZinzer
Did it turn out OK?
OmenJones
It did.
Nalianna
Fuck yeah!
nubblebun
Thank you for doing that. Thank you for telling us about it so that we know what to do. And most of all congratulations on beating your demons every day.
VonZinzer
Thanks for telling us!
pad125
What are DTs? They sound a bit shit
nemocares
Neurotoxins mostly work by either dialling your nerve signals up or down from where they should be, alcohol does the latter. But over time the body can learn to compensate for alcoholism by dialling up the baseline nerve signal. If you then suddenly remove the alcohol, well, the body can't dial things back down again fast enough and sobriety hits you like a stimulant overdose. This can be fatal.
supervillainsevilmoustache
A big killer is salts in your cells get depleted and replaced with fluid. Cold turkey and even minor nutrients, the cells in your brain can uptake salt faster than releasing fluid. The brain cells swell up and kill you. Extremely abbreviated version of the science
Nalianna
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirium_tremens
FormerlySable
Delerium tremens—the shakes, with a side of hallucinations.
SploogeMcDuck316
So Thats what the beer 'delirium' is named after?!
PalaverQuader
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirium u can have a delirium without the tremens
TotallyNotVillain
Yes: https://www.delirium.be/en/beers/delirium-tremens