That's great news about your exam!! That must be a real relief. I do combine paracetamol (same as acetaminophen, correct? brand name tylenol) with Tramadol as it's my understanding they potentiate each other. I get the 50 mg. dose and break them in half, and take high dose tylenol with it.

Yes, it is no fun getting off of Tram. I will have to have a talk with my GP next time I am in there about alternatives. I haven't even looked into Neurontin , Lyrica or any of that stuff, but that may be an option. The moodiness is manageable, but of course I would rather not take anything, quite honestly. That doesn't seem to be an option for quite a while.

Yes, they are the same thing. Zaldiar is a combination of 325mg acetaminophen and 37.5mg tramadol - so that might give you a guide, but it's good that you are already aware of the mutual reinforcement.

As for Neurontin/Lyrica etc. well, take about moody. ;) FWIW, I tried it, it did nothing for me, they are anti-depressants with all the ups/downs that come with them, and I think they were forbidden in court to continue to say it works for neuropathy. (and cause run-on sentences ;) ) Also: no better result than placebo. That said, you never know, we all seem to react differently, and I know there are people who swear by it/are helped by it. I'm sure Mrs.D. will correct me if necessary?

I do understand the ambition to not take anything, trust me. I want to be as sober as possible too since I didn't only fell for alcohol but also xanax, back then. But tramadol is relatively "benign"; my doc said that if I can manage with it, I should count myself lucky, compared to what some people need to just get by. Somehow that made me feel slightly less worried. In the mean time I keep working to live as healthy as reasonably possible, without becoming a freak, and follow the news for potentially better treatments/medications.

PS: aren't drummers always moody? ;) :D

As a rule, most drummers probably are, as far as I can tell. I did read an article that said they were more intelligent as a group, but I find that extremely unlikely.....I am glad you mentioned your experience with those other meds, I am very leery of them but don't know anyone personally who has taken them. I sure don't like what I read about their side effects. Your doc sounds like a good one, I know mine seems to be a lot more concerned about Tramadol than he was a few years ago. I think many of them share this new found conservatism with it. I had a knee problem , then a back problem, and I have used the stuff as needed for years. I suppose he doesn't want me long term with the Tram, but I get by on about 125 mgs on most days, which seems pretty darned moderate to me.

I had a bout with alcohol and I did have PN at the end of it. It has all but disappeared now. :winky:

I had the same experience as Wiix.

Wiix and kiwi, care to provide any additional details? how long did you have it, how long did you drink, did you take supplements, how long since you abused? stuff like that would be helpful to those of us who don't see the needle move much.

It came upon me about 15 years into drinking. I continued to drink another 5 years even though it was getting worse. When I stopped it took quite a few years to go away, but it did. I have no signs of it now except when my feet get cold or my Potassium/Magnesium are low. A supplement a couple times a week takes care of that.

Thanks so much, Wiix, very encouraging.

Newstown, my history is essentially the same as Wiix's.

My NP was confined to my hands, with some tremor as a bonus - both have gone away now - I am seven years sober and counting.

I spent some time as a voluntary patient in a private psychiatric hospital, partly being monitored during change-over from one AD to another and partly taking the first steps in dealing with my addiction.

When I was there my psychiatrist (who is the boss of the hospital) prescribed thiamine, which I took for a few years. With his approval (I am now on a "care and maintenance" basis with him), I stopped but make sure that I eat in a healthy way.

I have been sober now close to 25 years.

Thanks so much for posting Wiix and Kiwi, I know a lot of folks who follow this thread will appreciate your comments.

This is something that I want ALL to see. It just does not simply "go away" if you stop, the body has to rebuild itself from years of abuse.

But, the best part of that is the sign of HOPE that we all need to keep the abstinence going to reach that goal :)

Good job Wiix!

Feedback Please!
 

Hello I am new here and am hoping for some feedback on some symptoms I am having. I have been 13 years a heavy drinker and smoker of cigarettes and quit both 25 days ago. I got the proper meds from my doctor for the alcohol withdrawal so no issue there. About 16 days into my detox I was having general tingling in my left foot and hand. That wasn't much of an issue because I read about potential withdrawal symptoms and that was included. Here is where it got weird for me and has continued up to day 25 today. I started getting these rushes of numbness in my left foot, hand and lips all at once that would last for maybe 10 to 15 seconds. When it first happened it scared the you know what out of me because I thought I was having a stroke. So off the the ER I went and they did blood work, chest xray, EKG, CT of head and neck, echocardiogram of my heart and neck and a MRI with contrast of my head and neck. All came back negative and they ruled out stroke or TIA's. Ok great I'm not dying... Well here I am six days later and some days I don't have this rush of numbness at all other days I am having it 1 to 5 times or more. Nothing particular brings it on. I can be walking, stand up to quick, playing with my dog or nothing at all. It's a very odd sensation when it happens and it also brings on a bit of anxiety because well... its just weird! Has anyone on here experienced anything like this? If so please share with me your experience so I don't feel like I am going crazy. (Also, I actually went back to the ER today because it was happening pretty frequently and they checked everything out again and told me they believe I am suffering from Alcoholic Neuropathy. Again any feed back or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. God bless.

Chris

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

Did the doctor put you on Antabuse to help you stop drinking?
If so, this drug causes neuropathy, so you are going to have to consider stopping it.

When people stop alcohol after years of heavy use, lots of symptoms show up suddenly. These may have been hidden by the sedative effects of the alcohol, or are an adjustment to having a different method of metabolism in order to digest carbs. Many people giving up alcohol then develop sugar cravings for a while until this adjustment to a different metabolism happens.
Alcohol metabolism is different than food metabolism.

We have a long thread, with several posters here who have neuropathy and have gone sober. On the thread is support, discussion of how alcohol damages nerves, and suggestions for supplements to aid healing.

You are welcome to read and join if you like:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread104096.html

No not antabuse just a benzo to deal with the withdrawal.

697 days! Not even a sip. I was in the same boat as icehouse, .34 BAC when I went to the hospital. Pancreatitis with complications from alcohol withdrawal. 15 days in the hospital and 7 of those in ICU. It's amazing how you can build a tolerance. I have had an EMG and NCV as well. It's not that bad if you haven't had it and need it. I am on 450mg of Lyrica without it I can't walk very far. I also want to comment about "the itch". I have had it and it does feel like it's inside. It was on the bottom of my foot. I was driving and had to pull over. It's happened a few times. I have also started taking fish oil and I am getting ready to order some Benfotiamine. I love to see the posts of how people get better. Hope. It keeps you going!

Okone1, 697 days is awesome!

Well done :).

"How much drinking does it take to produce PN?"
 

Just in looking for comments made by Dr. Wise Young on PN, I came across this factoid I thought some of you might like to read. This is from a section in Medscape and discusses how much drinking produces PN.

"The diagnosis is based on accurate history of prolonged and excessive alcohol intake, clinical signs and symptoms, and electrophysiologic testing. Behse and Buchtal suggested that a minimum of 100 mL of ethyl alcohol (3 L of beer or 300 mL of spirits) per day for 3 years will precipitate the neuropathy."

I don't know about the crowd you ran with, but that amount is very modest in my experience. Scary stuff. How stupid that life. Also, apparently many (if not most) drunks will , if tested, show abnormal scores on all the nerve tests but may very well be asymptomatic. In other words, they never know it. Just thought this was interesting....

Wow, if I am converting correctly, that means for awhile there, I was drinking around 19 oz. of vodka per day, which is about double the 300 ml you are speaking of. (I was going through about one 1.75 liter bottle every three days. Did I convert that right???)

Yep, that's about the math, Wanna. Isn't it amazing? I suppose it is a minor consolation that a lot of your friends also have PN, they just don't have any symptoms. I don't mean that to sound as bad as it does. ;) I guess I mean, I am glad my friends, those of whom would probably have abnormal test results but have no symptoms, are not affected, but I wish they knew how dangerous it is and how lucky they are and how they oughta stop yesterday.

Yeah, I get what you're saying, and you're right, I have lots of friends who have been daily drinkers even longer than I have (20+ years, I'm sure). One of them in particular told me "Oh, just see a doctor and they'll fix it." She's in denial!

1492 days sober.

Well, it has come to the point where I don't even bother with the numbers anymore, except when to post on the 2nd of the month, right here.

I am dealing with a woman right now who had over a year sobriety, but felt that her "Higher Power" had removed her addiction. So, she had just one beer.

Now, she is back living on the streets, lying, stealing and slandering those who helped her back up the last time. It is our fault she relapsed of course. We in recovery know that when you relapse you fall harder and farther than the last time.

I don't know how many more falls she can take before death.

But, on a good note, I am now employed FT as an Employment Specialist working with ex-offenders. :)

See, sobriety pays off!

Congrats on the job Icehouse, that's a great step forward!

As for the other story... less so. Tragic and sadly all too common. It doesn't work like that, the addiction doesn't go away. Deep down, she must have known that, no?

Nobody ever goes "OK, I'm no longer addicted, so I'll start with what some non-alcoholics do, and not have a drink for a year or two".

That is awesome Icehouse - congratulations on both 1492 days and your job :)!

This is not her first date with relapse, so I am pretty sure that deep down she knew.

When she comes back to the Centre I am going to see if she will accept a mental health evaluation.

Uh Oh...One Vodka Later...Now What To Do?
 

Well, it has been a year since I even had a sip of alcohol. I have been feeling better so decided to "test" the waters with one vodka soda last night. Here I am at 6:30am and my feet and legs are tingling and heavy. I feel lousy. I am constipated, bloated, sick to my stomach, dizzy, and extremely fatigued.

What is the best thing to do now besides not even try to have one drink anymore? I need to function! Dumb, dumb, dumb. Of course I doubled up on my vitamin cocktails this morning, especially the Bs. I will hydrate heavily.

Any other ideas? Will this take another year for me to be back at the same level of healing?

Thank you all

I very much doubt one drink will have any lasting effects. You may well feel bad for a week or so, but I don't see any mechanism whereby a short exposure to alcohol could erase all the progress you made. So, not repeating the experiment would be the best bet, but I think you already know that.

Try not to stress about it too much either, as that would only make things worse (the effect stress has on my PN is staggering). You tried, it didn't work out, dust off and keep going. :)

Any other health problems?
 

Did anyone have other health problems related to alcohol that resulted in the discovery of alcoholic neuropathy? I had pancreatitis and severe alcohol withdrawals. I was in the hospital for 15 days, 7 in ICU. It was not until I left the hospital and quit drinking that I noticed the symptoms that turned out to be PN. Do you really think alcohol kept me from having any symptoms? I wonder. It would be treated the same and I can't have alcohol nor do I want it, so I am not sure it really matters. I haven't had any improvement and I am closing in on two years without alcohol. I had every test possible and nothing was found. It's frustrating and sometimes it makes me wonder if there is something else I am missing or should do beside just quitting alcohol and adding a few supplements. Tired of the pain, but really enjoy being sober!

Hi cat1234

A year alcohol-free is a great achievement - well done :D !

Apart from that, I agree with what Wide-O wrote.

While I was spared the additional symptoms you had Okone, I also have had no improvement with nearly two years of (mostly) abstinence. I did quite knowingly drink beer for a time at the one year mark, but returned to abstinence as my symptoms just continued to degrade gradually. It is indeed frustrating and I think it is important to keep up the sobriety and be glad for the good health we otherwise have. I admire reports I see of progress, but it is important to note that response to sobriety and abstinence is highly variable. I also keep an eye on the encouraging research being done on this condition. But there is nothing on the near term horizon (as far as I know) so I try my best to live a full life and not think about this crap any more than necessary.

Thank you. Yes I do feel even worse today but it is reassuring that it will subside. So I will try not to think about it and enjoy a good night of sleep as a side effect of this exhaustion!!

2 years!!!
 

Today is 2 years sober! Not a single sip! Thanks to everyone in this thread for sharing their stories and for the many words of encouragement. I plan to be around for long time and look forward to many more years of sobriety. It's kind of cool that I can now say "I haven't had a drink in years". :)

That is a great achievement Okone1 - well done :D !

Yay! Congrats on 2 years..!

What is "PN"?

Peripheral Neuropathy

Icehouse. I picked up on your thread this morning, over here in Blighty. I, like you, have been a heavy drinker for twenty years, (though you are now 4 years sober I presume, and for that I doff my cap to you sir). I have suffered with all the symptoms you have described in your thread, aswell as excruciating night cramps. Another, more disturbing effect of alcohol withdrawal I have suffered from are full blown epileptic type fits. I am told that these have occurred because I have stopped drinking with immediate effect one day, from drinking over a litre of vodka, plus red wine for long periods on previous days, sometimes for periods of up to a month. I have been hospitalized several times, and locked up countless times. The strange thing for me is that I can go weeks without a drop, and then for some unknown reason, BANG! I'm on a three week binge. Alcohol has taken everything from me, job, girlfriend, home, friends.

Right, thanks.

You really should be so proud of yourself Icehouse. I only registered this morning, with the intention of researching this very subject, and I have been reading this thread all day, and for you to have turned your life around in the manner in which you have is not only admirable, its **** outstanding! As for the running, the day I see a jogger with a smile on their face, then i MAY consider it!
For me, walking is not an issue, I probably do 30-40 miles per week, so I guess I'm lucky, and should nip this in the bud before it becomes an issue.
I do though, have the constant tingling in the hands, and down my back. Blood tests on the 5th October, then I'll go from there.
Keep up the good work mate, your a warrior!

Well, I hate to disappoint, but the running thing never happened. I got a slight wobbly type jog for a short time, but that sucked rocks. Now I just hop in my kombi and enjoy the drive :D

Thanks for the kind words, and yes, I am just over 4 years now.

The tingling will most likely go away with time, but don't put a date on it or your mind will battle your body. Just let it happen.

Good luck on your journey, and I will be here if you have any questions :D