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.