In the early hours, I woke with vertigo. It’s horrible: your head swims as though you’re drunk, or falling, and it makes you feel sick. I had it before once for a few weeks when I had a virus, and I guess it could be a virus again (my husband has been ill for 3 weeks now), but I also wonder if it’s some sort of alcohol withdrawal? I sat with it today, and managed to get on pretty well, but this evening my head feels foggy and thick, and when I bend down, or tip my head back, the vertigo returns.
Yesterday evening, I made a big old fuss around 5.30pm, stupidly and ridiculously begging my husband to have a drink, and to give up Dry January. He calmly noted that this very begging was a sign that I needed to be doing this. ‘But you used to say that it would be good to aim for moderate drinking, to abstain during the week, and drink at weekends! You used to say I could do that!’ I said. ‘I don’t think that anymore,’ was his reply. So we opened a bottle of alcohol-free fizz, and some crisps and ‘chewed the fat’ talking about something else. One of my worries about not drinking is that I will miss this time with my husband, the chatting over a drink time. But lo and behold, we were still able to talk without alcohol! And an hour later, the craving had passed, and I was fine.
And then this morning, vertigo. I’m a strong person, generally healthy, and the notion that I have been doing myself harm is alarming. I need to pay close attention to any symptoms I’m experiencing over the next few days. Day 3 has felt long, and difficult.
A Dappled Path 
Vertigo – yuk, sounds horrible but I am sure drinking would make it worse. I am so so so glad your husband seems to get it and is doing his utmost to steer you through. When you have a calm, clear and resolute moment, tell him “it’s worse than you know, I need you to be my strength just for a little bit. I need to lean on you just for a while until I can do it alone” I think your lovely husband has been trying to normalise and support you in the way he understood before. Now it sounds like he has realised the rules of the game are different and he needs to change his support tactics. Show him this if you dare or let him read your blog – is that scary? Please grab hold of his offer of support and use his strength just to get you through a short spell. I think he really wants to help his wife in any way he can.
My husband knows about my blog, and I think has read it a couple of days. Hilariously, I don’t think he can really be bothered to read much more of it – although of course he would, if I asked him to. But in truth, I prefer to keep the blog for me – and for my readers. You are right about what I should say to him: I need to grasp his outstretched hand, and be more honest about it all. Annie x
Was this your day 3? I was such a bitch yesterday and it was my day 3. Not sure about the vertigo. You will make new memories with your husband. I’m rooting for you.
Threepeat: Irritable | His Temple
http://histemple.me/2016/01/02/threepeat-irritable/
Yes, it seems Day 3 is a magnet for irritability. Thanks for directing me to your post. Annie x
Oh Annie – sorry to here about the vertigo, sounds grim. It does seem your evening turned out pretty well though, it’s great that you could prove to yourself that you don’t need alcohol to have a good chat/nice evening with your hubby (something I worry about too!). If it’s any consolation, I feel ropey today too – I’m wondering after Stacy’s comment if it’s a day 3 thing??!! I hope after a good sleep tonight that you’re feeling good tomorrow. Red xx
See also Heya Monster’s comment below, and look for her post on her blog (I searched for ‘Day 3’) – we are not alone. Annie x
See your doctor. It will put your mind at ease.
I’m glad you have enlisted your husband. He sounds like he sees the reality of things.
Hugs
My husband is a legend. Annie x
Try eating some sugar or complex carbohydrates, milk also works. You will suffer from carbohydrate withdrawal if you’ve been drinking on a regular basis, sometimes this manifest solely in the urge to eat lots of sweets, but sometimes there are other symptoms such as dizziness. I suffer the same thing every time I attempt the Atkins diet, I get dizzy, eat some green vegetables and feel better for awhile and then the dizziness returns until my body adjusts.
This info is really helpful; thank you. Annie x
Yes to going to the doctor. And don’t drink. No matter what your brain tells you, nothing is made better by drinking. You’re doing this. Keep going.
Jenn
I will. Thanks, Jenn. Annie x
Definitely go to the doctor. I got vertigo before I gave up drinking. It was horrible. My husband thought I was having a stroke. Big surprise, the first thing my doctor asked was how much did I drink? I lied of course. I have done exactly what you are doing, tried to cajole my husband into buying alcohol, and also thinking that I will be foregoing “close” moments over drinking. Remember a post you did a while ago about being mean while you drank? i was like that too. There was no “connection” when I was repeating myself over and over, not listening to my husband and trying to pick a fight! My relationship with him now, is better than it EVER has been, and yours will be too. Don’t give into to that LIE, that alcohol is some kind of romantic bond, it’s bullsit and you know it! Go to your doctor, and BE TRUTHFUL about your drinking and how you are in the first stages of giving up. Take the support and calmness from your husband, and I promise you, you will NEVER regret it. Hang in there, we’re all cheering for you xxx
Separating the reality of drinking from the romantic illusion is one of my more difficult hurdles. Annie x
Hi Annie. Happy New Year! My husband had vertigo early last year when we were on holiday. He was bedridden for a few days and vomiting. He ended up spending a night in hospital on an IV. It was terrible!! I hope you don’t get any worse.
How wonderful your husband is looking out for you. It will make it so much easier having his support.
You can do this Annie. Doing Dry January is a great start to the year. To get some sober momentum. Stay strong.
A x
Hi Angie. I’m so sorry that my comments don’t seem to work on your blog. I can’t understand it! And I’m so computer illiterate. You’re doing brilliantly, by the way. Annie x
Hi Annie Vertigo is so debilitating. However, feeling wretched in your first few days of not drinking is a good reminder of why you are choosing not to have a drink. What I loved in the early days was KNOWING that I would feel BETTER and BETTER everyday – I was on an UP trajectory and that was so empowering. My husband and I have drinks and nibbles and chats just like before – but I have Becks Blue. It won’t feel strange for long, I promise, but I appreciate it does feel strange at first. Xx
Becks Blue is Brilliant. Annie x
See your doctor about the vertigo. It is troubling, disorienting. I have Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. Your description sounds similar. Mine actually got better when I stopped drinking only because I don’t pass out with my head in a position that makes the BPPV begin. But see your Doc.
I’ve heard of that sort of vertigo. I’m glad yours is better. Thanks for the info. Annie x
Checking in, Annie. Day 3 and the days around it are some of the toughest due to the physical responses once we stop drinking. Look it up for more info – it’s a real thing. Or, I have a post called Dear Day 3ers that sums it up quick. …. Sending you positive thoughts and strength. Best to you on starting back to work – that’s so exciting! You will be great. And who knows? Perhaps it will bring some balance from another sphere of life to help with sobriety. The universe works in great ways sometimes.
Thanks so much for this. Your Dear Day 3ers post was v comforting. Annie x
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