Side effects?

[Kazzarooney]

I decided on Sunday that come Monday I was going to change my life - eat healthy, get fit, cut down on smoking (with a view to pack in completely!) and give up the booze. Thinking back, I have drank every evening for the last 20 years apart from when I was pregnant, although I still had a few some weeks. At weekends I drink vodka and in the week it's wine, maybe voddie on Wednesday. I know I drink too much, it's such a habbit, so last night I had nothing. Easy peasy.... NO WAY!!!! It's all I could think about all night, come bed time I just lay there, then my legs started to twitch then my body startled to tingle then itch all over. Everytime I closed my eyes I could see flashing images of scary faces, like some awful horror and then sometimes it was images unfolding behind my shut eyes, I did drop off eventually and felt quite rough this morning, I'm dreading tonight tho I really want to stick to this. Has anyone else had this?

[unruliejulie]

No, i haven't but i would take this as a very clerar warning for you NOT to give up your good intentions. Try and find something else to do when you go to bed, ie read a book or watch TV. Well done on making such a momentous decision. One step at the time though. Don't try and give up smoking just yet, you just need to get the alcohol out of your system first. I don't think its a good idea having a drink every night. My husband does and i wish he wouldn't. My Dad was an alcoholic so i am always aware of pulling my reigns in if i start drinking more regularly.It WILL get easier with each night. x

[cliffsdoll]

i know how you feel, i dont drink my vice is smoking, i started when i was 12, now 48, ben trying to stop for last 12-15 years, the longest i went was 5 weeks, then i was weak minded and started again, i can honestly say i dont enjoy it anymore but know i'm addicted, i've been throuhg stopping dozens of times but cant crack it, i am thourgly ashamed but even with loads of help i'm still smokin, i have high blood pressureand have been told loads of times that i have high chance of stroke or heart attack, i want to stop but need a bloody miracle. sorry i cant help but i really hope u can give up the booze and be stronger than me, good luck.

[WendyS]

I guess your body is just starting to show withdrawal symptoms. It's a fairly well recognised fact that when you immediately give up some potent substance, whether it be alcohol, tobacco, drugs you body can react, sometimes quite violently, with shaking, headaches, dizziness, and many other side effects. The only way is to persevere until all the toxins have been removed from your body. Obviously this will be a dificult time for you, but having set your hand to the plough, try to keep up the good work. Keep your body well flushed with water (hot with a slice of lemon if you find plain old cold water boring), eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, and take a book or the radio to bed with you to help you sleep.

[lilyfrog]

well done for making the decision to improve your health. I found it a good idea to replace the alcohol and I am now really into green tea and plan my evenings around cups of it, alternativley drink diet lemonde or virgin fruit cocktails out of a wine glass to help you ease our of the habit, and definatley dont stop smoking till you can go without a drink easily.

You will also be used to falling asleep easily because of the alcohol, and if you are replacing it with a caffinated drink that will keep you awake so try to do something in the evening to wear yourself out and have no caffine a couple of hours before you go to bed.

Good Luck!

[suzi-q]

Sympathise with you - dont drink quite as much as that but do enjoy a glass of wine as Im cooking tea then a good drink on a friday night with my hubby.

I'm giving it up at the mo coz I'm on a diet and I'm going to try and stick to the no drinking in the week rule - must say its hard even when you only have one.

It symbolises the end of the day and time to relax and unwind doesnt it?

What about go for a nice brisk walk or cycle ride as the evenings get lighter. Try to take your mind off drink by replacing it with another treat instead. A magazine, lovely bath, good film or whatever. Go out and meet a friend and go for a swim. Anything.

Good luck - try and stick to your guns. xx

[Kay]

Good on you Kazza! I would agree about giving up just one thing though as supposing you give up the drink 1st you're gonna need something else to ease the withdrawal symptoms so either give up the drink or the cigs but not both together. Im strictly TT so its easy for me to say,likewise the ciggs which I managed to give up 19 years ago. Now that WAS hard! but I dont even think about ciggs these days. Good luck!

[alijangra]

Hi Kazza you are having mild alcohol withdrawal. Keep at it, it wont last long. Well done and good luck xx Alison

ps it might be worth a trip to your gp or practice nurse for a once over, heavy drinking can cause your body to become deficient in some vitamins.