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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Lisa Simpson on November 8, 2001, at 8:42:03
Hi. I would like to gain some advice/information about the relationship of alcohol consumption and seizures, and coming off alcohol completely and seizures. But I guess questions like these are inappropriate for this board, so can anyone suggest any sites they know that allow you to ask medical questions, and actually get answers back from professionals?
Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Many thanks.
Lisa
Posted by akc on November 8, 2001, at 11:09:14
In reply to Asking Medical Questions?, posted by Lisa Simpson on November 8, 2001, at 8:42:03
Lisa,
I don't know of any sites to direct you to. But I can offer some layperson's advice. If either you or someone you are taking care of is at risk of seizing while coming off alcohol (DT's) -- this is serious stuff -- my father almost died from it more than once, and I have known some that have. If a person is at risk for DTs, the best way to come down is under medical supervision -- with my dad, we were told to actually keep alcohol in his system until we could get him to either a hospital or a treatment facility. It is that serious.
Good luck.
akc
> Hi. I would like to gain some advice/information about the relationship of alcohol consumption and seizures, and coming off alcohol completely and seizures. But I guess questions like these are inappropriate for this board, so can anyone suggest any sites they know that allow you to ask medical questions, and actually get answers back from professionals?
>
> Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
>
> Many thanks.
>
> Lisa
Posted by medlib on November 9, 2001, at 4:43:05
In reply to Asking Medical Questions?, posted by Lisa Simpson on November 8, 2001, at 8:42:03
Hi Lisa--
There's a lot of info available on this subject at ASAM (but no question-answering experts):
Particularly check out the practice guidelines and the extensive links page.
One "Ask the experts" site that includes medical questions is at Scientific American:
http://www.sciam.com/askexpert/index.cfm?subject=medicine
I don't know how long it takes to get an answer, though.
Well wishes---medlib
Posted by Lisa Simpson on November 9, 2001, at 11:14:58
In reply to Re: Asking Medical Questions? » Lisa Simpson, posted by medlib on November 9, 2001, at 4:43:05
Hi Medlib - thanks for your reply. I will try the sites you suggest.
Lisa
Posted by Lisa Simpson on November 9, 2001, at 11:20:29
In reply to Re: Asking Medical Questions?, posted by akc on November 8, 2001, at 11:09:14
akc, thanks for your reply, but you have absolutely scared me to death. I've tried to come off alcohol slowly, but it doesn't work. So I wanted to try it cold turkey. Trouble is, I've had seizures in the past, the cause of which is unknown, although I nearly died from an asthma attack 3 years ago, and I stopped breathing for a while, and some doctors think that might have caused it. Someone else has suggested, however, that it might be the amount of alcohol I drink. I take medication for seizures, but I desperately need to stop drinking... and now I don't know quite what to do, you've scared me so much! Sorry, not having a go at you, I'm grateful for the warning. How did your dad manage in the end? Please tell. I can't take the time off work to go into hospital.
TIA.
Lisa
Posted by akc on November 9, 2001, at 20:52:13
In reply to Re: Asking Medical Questions? » akc, posted by Lisa Simpson on November 9, 2001, at 11:20:29
Lisa,
I did not mean to scare you, though if you have a history of seizures, I don't think you want to play around with this.
My father was an incurable drunk -- he chose not to stay sober and drank himself to death. This disease is cunning, baffling, and powerful (as they say in AA). My dad was a very smart man. Yet, he could not control his drinking. He drank so much that he bled out -- he started internally hermoraging from the alcohol and they could not bring the bleeding under control -- his heart finally gave out (after they pumped in 8 pints of blood).
I don't know your job situation, but can understand the problems with trying to get sober while trying to keep everything normal at work. And you may be able to stay safe by slowly reducing the amount you drink day by day. But alcohol is a chemical that messes with your body -- and some can tolerate better than others. You seem to have a bad history with it. You just might want to keep in mind the hospital route if you find yourself having some problems. If anything, just make sure you are not alone while you come off the alcohol so if you do have a seizure or other problem, someone can call for help.
Good luck.
akc
Posted by ChrisK on November 10, 2001, at 4:24:07
In reply to Asking Medical Questions?, posted by Lisa Simpson on November 8, 2001, at 8:42:03
Lisa,
I am an alcoholic and have a long history of stopping and then drinking again at different levels. If you are worried about seizures with your withdrawl then you must enter into a detox program at the nearest hospital or alcohol treratment center. There you will get the needed rest along with medical attention 24 hrs/day. They will be constantly checking your blood pressure, pulse, shakes, etc. If the DT's start to get to you they will give you the appropriate med to relieve the symptoms of withdrawl. I almost always had a steady supply of ATivan to fight off the shakes and sweats.
It isn't a pleasant experience but it is a necessary one. Also, I don't know of anyone who has ever weaned themselves off of alcohol the way we titrate off of other meds. Alcohol (IMO) needs to be stopped cold turkey.
Alcohol is a very powwerful drug that can do an enormous amount of damage. I'm 38 and have suffered from liver damage and heart failure over the last five years due to my alcoholism. I was in the hospital for 6 days in September with congestive heart failure because my heart had become too weak due to the excessive drinking. It was the scare that made me realize that I will not live much longer unless the alcohol leaves my life.
Please get yourself to a hospital run detox program where you can have your health monitored as you withdraw. It's a scary proposition but one you will be happy with in the future. Please do it soon,
Chris
Posted by Lisa Simpson on November 12, 2001, at 6:14:08
In reply to Re: Asking Medical Questions? » Lisa Simpson, posted by akc on November 9, 2001, at 20:52:13
Thank you both very much for your replies and your help. I think the idea of going into hospital to detox is an excellent one - it also sounds wonderful the bit about the rest, Chris! But unfortunately it's something I cannot do. I can't take the time off work, as we are really busy at present. Also, my other half, although he is aware that I drink, is unaware just how much, and would be furious with me if he knew - which of course he'd have to if I went into hospital. Taking something to keep me calm sounds a good idea - might that help prevent seizures as well? (I remember when I had my last couple of seizures, the ambulance people gave me a Diazepam injection - I was never quite sure what that was for, although I had a third seizure in hospital an hour later. Unfortunately, they weren't watching me, and I fell off the table, and acquired some pretty impressive bruises and a cracked rib, which they didn't notice at the time, and I only found out about later!) Anyhow, akc, do you reckon that Ativan is the best one? What about Xanax and Valium?
Lisa
Posted by akc on November 12, 2001, at 6:40:04
In reply to Re: Asking Medical Questions? - akc/Chris, posted by Lisa Simpson on November 12, 2001, at 6:14:08
Lisa,
On what meds to take to help, I am not one of those on PB that has the experience or knowledge to give advice -- nor would I want to in this situation. I kinda feel like I need to stay with my earlier advice and be firm in that. I hope you understand -- in my opinion, and with my experiences as an alcoholic and with alcoholic, having medical help detoxing is the safest route.
akc
Posted by Lisa Simpson on November 12, 2001, at 8:43:10
In reply to Re: Asking Medical Questions?, posted by ChrisK on November 10, 2001, at 4:24:07
Hi akc. Thanks for your advice. Just one more quickie question, if you don't mind. Of course I've heard of the term DT's, but I'm not exactly sure what it means. Is it seizure and shaking? Is there more to it? Can you tell me how long after taking the last drink would I start feeling the withdrawal effects? (Sorry, that's more than one question...!)
Thanks again.
Lisa
Posted by akc on November 12, 2001, at 21:07:30
In reply to Re: Asking Medical Questions?, posted by Lisa Simpson on November 12, 2001, at 8:43:10
Lisa,
Again, I'm not an expert on this stuff. What I have shared so far is just what I have witnessed. I personally didn't have any withdrawal problems, but I didn't drink on a regular basis and didn't have a history of seizures.
I did some searching on the web, and this web site seems to have a variety of information regarding withdrawal symptoms -- different sources of information -- one commonality is that withdrawal can be serious, and probably should be monitored. Anyway, I think you would be well served to check it out. Anything I could say I would have just gotten from it or other similar sources:
http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/withdraw/
Good luck. Be safe. Know that I am rooting for you, however you choose to tackle this.
akc
Posted by ChrisK on November 13, 2001, at 4:36:15
In reply to Re: Asking Medical Questions? - akc/Chris, posted by Lisa Simpson on November 12, 2001, at 6:14:08
Lisa,
Sorry you feel that you can't get professional help right away. A good detox will take 3-5 days but could last longer. When I detoxed in a hospital I was usually out after the 3rd full day. They won't let you out until all of your vital signs have stabilized. You need to monitor your pulse rate and blood pressure. They also watch for excessive sweating and shaky hands.
My own experience is that I start to get the withdrawl symptoms about 12 hours after my last drink. They can get really intense after about 24 hours and stay with you for 72 hours. I have detoxed myself at home several times and only as a last resort have I taken Xanax to help get me through the bad shaky periods.
The withdrawl also puts a lot of pressure on your brain as it starts to function without the alcohol. I tend to find intense anxiety problems which can also be helped with a benzo. If you have to go through it alone you may want to stay away from people for a few days because it will be very noticable to most that something is wrong. It's not an easy thing to hide, especially if you have a history of seizures.
I hope you can work this out. I'll be thinking of you.
Chris
P.S. Do it soon, it's for the best.
Posted by Lisa Simpson on November 13, 2001, at 9:54:41
In reply to Re: Asking Medical Questions? » Lisa Simpson, posted by akc on November 12, 2001, at 21:07:30
Hi AKC - thanks again for your reply, and for the link which is really interesting.
Lisa
Posted by Lisa Simpson on November 13, 2001, at 9:59:45
In reply to Re: Asking Medical Questions? - akc/Chris, posted by ChrisK on November 13, 2001, at 4:36:15
Hi Chris - thanks for your reply. I've decided to do it myself at home, and I started last night. Today I've been having some horrendous panic attacks. I hope they settle out, as they are very frightening. I just keep thinking that it will be worth it in the end.
But thanks again for your support - it is very much appreciated (as is yours, AKC).
Lisa
This is the end of the thread.
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