When I was a drinker, I was a heavy drinker.
When I first quit, I experienced this miserable condition.
Then, the second time I quit I tapered off over about 7 days.
It worked and it stuck.
Good for you. I had a doctor tell me it’s way way way more dangerous for a heavy drinker to quit cold turkey (they could actually die) than for a heroin addict to quit cold turkey (they will not die). The heroin addict may whine and moan and sound like they’re dying, but it’s perfectly safe to quit. Not so alcohol.
A nurse told me one of her patients, in the hospital for a simple gallbladder operation, hadn’t told his doc about his alcohol use, and after the operation he became violent and threw a full water pitcher at her. She said if the man had just told his doc about his alcohol use, they have stuff they give them, vitamins and drugs and he would have been fine.
I did not know this level where even death could occur. What I thought was that simply going “cold turkey” was miserable and that all it was.
I am truly sorry your body gave you similar fits.
You are truly a man for breaking free. I am happy for you.
The deadliness of the DTs have been known for many decades - this article acts as if it’s a new discovery.
When I decided I’d had enough and would give AA a try, I weaned myself over 10 days to ensure I wouldn’t embarrass myself in public by going “spastic”. Been sober for almost 38 years - 10 Sep will be the 38 year mark. No longer attend many meetings because being sober has become the “norm” for me - but I do remember many salient points from the Big Book and from what some folks shared at meetings over the years - and watched too many die young because they couldn’t stay away from the booze.
My wife (ER/trauma doctor) makes sure they keep lite beer at the ER.
Far better approach to the shakes than any drug.
The only problem is it tends to disappear.