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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Reggie BoStar on November 5, 2005, at 16:18:46
Hi,
I take Antabuse, 250mg daily. Since starting the medication, I've been experiencing chronic low-grade fevers, abdominal cramping, and a number of skin irritations: itchy crotch rot (or something like it, anyway), itchy scalp with dandruff, soreness and irritation of skin on fingertips, chapped/irritated lips, itching on abdominal skin.The fevers are really running me down. My MD says that I'm probably recovering from a long term intestinal virus, but this is going on two months now !!!! I'm sick and miserable all the time. There HAS to be a better way to stop drinking. What good is Antabuse if it makes you feel WORSE than a hangover???!!!???
HELP !!!!
Reggie the Itch
Posted by verne on November 6, 2005, at 23:12:15
In reply to Antabuse side effects - skin rash, fever?, posted by Reggie BoStar on November 5, 2005, at 16:18:46
Reggie,
I couldn't take antabuse at all. I experienced adverse reactions after eating foods that were supposed to be safe. After nearly every meal, my heart would pound, I'd get sweaty, and I'm sure my blood pressure went up. Oh yeah, and I'd usually get a severe headache.
I hope you can convince your doctor to prescribe something else.
Verne
Posted by ClearSkies on November 7, 2005, at 6:22:08
In reply to Antabuse side effects - skin rash, fever?, posted by Reggie BoStar on November 5, 2005, at 16:18:46
Perhaps ask for Campral, relatively new to the US market. It's been prescribed in Europe for 10 years and it helps to stop the cravings for alcohol. My p-doc had suggested it to me earlier this year, but I wasn't ready to admit that I needed it until August. I have been able to stay sober since then, a record for me.
Posted by Reggie BoStar on November 8, 2005, at 1:11:21
In reply to Re: Antabuse side effects - skin rash, fever? » Reggie BoStar, posted by ClearSkies on November 7, 2005, at 6:22:08
Hi ClearSkies,
I've been working on the booze problems for many years, so I'm well past the stage of admitting that I need something like Antabuse or Campral. I like the sound of Campral because having to take Antabuse and still have cravings is a PIA, even without the weird side effects I'm having. Making those cravings go away would solve a lot of problems for me.I'm glad it works for you. Sounds cool !!
Later,
Reggie BoStar
Posted by Reggie BoStar on November 8, 2005, at 1:42:20
In reply to Re: Antabuse side effects - skin rash, fever? » Reggie BoStar, posted by verne on November 6, 2005, at 23:12:15
Hi Verne,
Your experience definitely sounds like the list of reactions that supposedly occur when the wrong things interact with Antabuse. I sure know that Head & Shoulders bothered me, probably because of the Cetyl Alcohol in it, and all I did was wash my hair with it.Back in the "12 step" group you posted another reply in which you suggested that you could avoid going out of the house by having deliveries, etc.
Again, I'm nothing close to a psych person of any kind; but that sure does sound like hardassed case of social phobia. It's too bad you've run out of rope with professional psych people in your area, because that sort of help may be the thing you'll need. I hope your daughter finds time to encourage you to walk more.
When you talked about moving somewhere else, you hinted that such a move might be difficult since you have so much trouble just leaving the house.
Sounds like you might want to try the old-fashioned "one day at a time" approach with moving. In this case, try forgetting about the move. Why take something like that on in your mind right now, when you don't have to? Just concentrate on what you'll be doing today and don't bother yourself with anything that will happen sometime later - such as a relocation. Today, all you have to think about is maybe going for a short walk - or maybe not. That's all.
One of the things I learned when I was first dealing with my alcoholism was that we tend to project into the future a lot, and worry about what will need to be done at some later time. If we keep on doing that, a simple task that needs to be done today can mushroom into a huge monster of a job that's so intimidating we can't handle it without booze. The kicker is that the "monster" is all in our minds. The simple task we were going to do on that particular day is really all we ever needed to concern ourselves with.
Forget about moving. If you do it eventually, you'll do it; but it's not something you have to worry about now. Just go for a walk if you feel like it, or wait for your daughter to show up to give you a hand.
Give yourself a break. "Take it easy".
Later,
Reggie BoStar
Posted by verne on November 8, 2005, at 18:04:32
In reply to Re: Antabuse side effects - skin rash, fever?, posted by Reggie BoStar on November 8, 2005, at 1:42:20
Reggie,
Thanks for the thoughtful post. I've been living in next week, next month, and next year and consequently get overwhelmed in the present.
I spend so much time thinking everything to death I don't get around to doing anything. I think about a walk and rather than just go out the door, I think about it from every angle. I finally conclude that there's no direction I want to go.
I hope my daughter can help get me to a park for a couple long walks each week but it's looking like she won't have time. I'm thinking about trying a walk in the early morning hours. I'm only 4 blocks from the trailhead to some park trails but I really dislike the walk to get there - dogs, no sidewalk for a stretch, traffic ....
Since I have no social life I can't find like-minded people who drive to the park to walk. I know there are groups that meet every morning.
I gave up driving because of the same social anxiety. I can't deal with the other drivers and traffic in general. I'm also hypervigilant and tend to exhaust myself driving. Anyway, if I were driving, I could at least get to a lake or park.
Your reminder to get back into a day at a time really helped. I'll try to get back more in the moment, not worry about the big plan or picture. Try, at least, to get a certain amount of exercise every day, meditate, do a little yoga, and read (as opposed to computer games and tv).
I did cancel my subscription to a game site (pogo.com) this morning, hoping to replace it with healthier activities. I've been meaning to start the Skills Training Course for Borderline Personality Disorder. I have both the manual and the text. I also have some spiritual reading I would like to do.
I guess there's hope.
Verne
Posted by Reggie BoStar on November 8, 2005, at 19:31:17
In reply to Easy Does It » Reggie BoStar, posted by verne on November 8, 2005, at 18:04:32
Hi Verne,
I got into two hobbies that have helped me focus on something besides myself:Genealogy: this can be done either by getting out the door and going to local genealogy libraries, town halls, cemetary offices ("grassroots genealogy") or staying home and going online to sites such as rootsweb.com. Rootsweb.com is good because it has a free search service that can connect you with other folks who have posted large family trees on the site.
Model Railroading: I'm just getting started on setting up a HO scale railroad. You have to be careful with this one - it can cost a lot of money depending on what sort of layout you select. I chose "Wild West", which is pretty costly. The modern train sets and accessories such as buildings, people, scenery, etc, are much cheaper. This can also be done either by getting out to a local hobby shop (they're all over the place), or staying home and going online to sites like Walthers.com, Bachmanntrains.com (retailers), or Nmra.org (resources). Bachmanntrains.com has a free forum ("ask the Bach-man") which has helped me a lot.
Anyway, those are some ideas. I play each one as the day goes, staying home and working on the PC or getting out to visit libraries and stores. When I started I took it VERY slowly and worked on only one at a time. Then, as the days went by, I let each activity pace itself. I'm NOT thinking at all about an end goal for either one, just enjoying each one in the moment. It's the only way I can do it.
Obviously I've made some progress, or I wouldn't have so much to say about it; but I didn't plan any of this. It just happens this way if you don't think about it beyond one day at a time.
Later,
Reggie BoStar
Posted by ClearSkies on November 8, 2005, at 20:40:48
In reply to Easy Does It » Reggie BoStar, posted by verne on November 8, 2005, at 18:04:32
> I've been meaning to start the Skills Training Course for Borderline Personality Disorder. I have both the manual and the text.
>I just finished reading that the other day!! Bought it months ago and couldn't bring myself to crack the cover.
Aren't coincidences so cool?ClearSkies
> I guess there's hope.
I feel that there is, Verne.
Posted by verne on November 9, 2005, at 7:59:19
In reply to off topic » verne, posted by ClearSkies on November 8, 2005, at 20:40:48
Must mean we are on the right track. My new age friends would say it has the "support of nature" or something like that when people arrive at the same place, thought, idea, plan independently of each other.
I had been planning to do several projects at once. This involved a schedule and planning months ahead. (maybe hire a secretary) Reggie suggested one project at a time - a day at a time, which I think will help me actually do something.
Now, my "plan" amounts to 1. Get out the door for a walk. (even if it's around the block) 2. Focus on one project for that day. This won't mean flipping from one project to another every day since I will only have two on the stove at a time. One on the frontburner for that day and another on the backburner. Now I need a planning committee for the stove use.
At some point I would like to be in shape enough to write every morning. A couple projects involve research for a book - fortunately I have most of the material on hand since I'm trying to cut back on the internet.
For now, the projects on the short list are the BPD course, QiGong, Egoscue Method, reading the entire Bible in the New Living Translation (much easier going than King James) and other pet projects that involve language like figures of speech and metaphors.
A note about the Bible. I think one mistake someone in recovery might make is to study it to death. I mean the copious notes and highlighting, bible study meetings, and furious notekeeping. I just want to read and meditate on it - especially the New Testament. No agenda, just take a swim.
I don't limit my spiritual reading - that is, if I were reading in the first place - to the Bible. Some of my favorites are the Upanishads, Gita, and anything by Eknath Easwaran. Hope to read more buddhist literature too.
I'm back to being overwhelmed and think I'll form several planning committees ( ? that spelling doesn't look right. oh well, when in doubt, double all the consonants) and put all my projects in abeyance.
I'm trying to go for a walk. Guess I need to go through my pre-walk procedure - should be done by tomorrow.
Verne
Posted by ClearSkies on November 9, 2005, at 8:38:28
In reply to Re: off topic » ClearSkies, posted by verne on November 9, 2005, at 7:59:19
Verne, keep your walk shorter than you think it "needs" to be. Down to the end of your street and back. A 2 minute trip. Would that make it more manageable? It's not necessary to go on a walkabout on the first try :-)
You should see me try to get all my groceries in one go! Heaven forbid there is someone else standing in the aisle in front of me, because I will just skip it altogether.
Re: writing, I email a Daily Page, written off the top of my pointy head, to a good friend each day. I don't write it to get a reply, but to get the words out of my brain. I don't read the emails I have sent, but delete them immediately, Just purge them out of my system. It's really cathartic and can be a creative exercise.
ClearSkies
Posted by AuntieMel on November 9, 2005, at 9:34:36
In reply to Re: off topic, again » verne, posted by ClearSkies on November 9, 2005, at 8:38:28
About grocery stores. I usually take a crossword puzzle book, or lately a sudoku (my new addiction) book with me. I work on it while I'm waiting in line. It helps with the boredom - and other anxieties. I keep the books with me at all times so if I need to wait (doctor's office, whatever) I have it available.
I don't do boredom.
Posted by AuntieMel on November 9, 2005, at 10:40:12
In reply to Easy Does It » Reggie BoStar, posted by verne on November 8, 2005, at 18:04:32
I know you have trouble with AA meetings. I think I would have a lot more trouble in a small town myself. I've lived in them and it's virtually impossible to stay anonymous or keep your business to yourself.
Have you thought of online meetings? I've just googled 'online aa meeting' and there's slews of them.
these might be good places to start
http://www.recovery.org/aa/#onlinemeetings
http://www.aa-intergroup.org/directories/chat_english.html
At least one - AA Pioneers Group uses web cam so it's like a face to face meeting in a way.
AAOnline.org has 26 meetings a week.
Posted by verne on November 9, 2005, at 12:20:43
In reply to Re: off topic, again » verne, posted by ClearSkies on November 9, 2005, at 8:38:28
Thanks to you and Reggie's encouragement I made it out the door. At first I aimed for a drugstore about 14 blocks roundtrip. I took the easy back way on less trafficed streets.
Before I knew it, I pushed on to another destination and wound up walking 41 blocks - in a little over an hour. Perhaps, I pushed it too much because I nearly upchucked at the midway point.
On my return trip I walked along a busy stretch of highway - a pedestrian's nightmare - and then down a long busy street with no sidewalks. I won't repeat that mistake but it's like living in New York. Once you've done that, you can live anywhere. Now quiet walks on residential streets won't scare me.
I can't thank you two enough for encouraging me. I was paralyzed. I remember thinking, what's the use taking one walk when it will take hundreds to get into shape?
Once I let go of all the other walks (and zillions of miles) I was able to just put one foot in front of the other. Not to "get into shape" but to just take a stroll.
Verne
Posted by ClearSkies on November 9, 2005, at 14:49:20
In reply to My first Stroll in awhile » ClearSkies, posted by verne on November 9, 2005, at 12:20:43
I don't know if you're a huggy person or not, but here goes:
(((verne)))
Posted by verne on November 11, 2005, at 17:41:04
In reply to Re: My first Stroll in awhile » verne, posted by ClearSkies on November 9, 2005, at 14:49:20
Thanks for the support and encouragement. I like hugs but in real life, I get hugged about once a year - although I used to hug my daughter every day.
Now that she's twenty, we hug a lot less. After all the pitch battles over school and whatnot, neither one of us wants to hug first and I've become suddenly neurotically shy about it.
But during the last year we've grown a lot closer and I've learned to back off with my expectations.
Evening of the 15th day.
Verne
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