Hypoxia and Medicine

Am I having DT's or what?

I have been an alcoholic for 10 yrs or so and go on heavy binges (3 days straight usually) and usually without much food. Anyways, Last wed. I started drinking heavily and it lasted till fri. night when I threw up for about 5 hrs of and on. Sat. I ate and drank alot trying to recover from lost nutrients and fluids. Since sunday, I've been having a strange gnawing feeling in my solar plexus are, pains in my left arm and a BP averaging 150/95. I went to the E.R. tonight wondering whats going on with my body. They did blood tests, an EKG, and chest X-ray. The doc finally came back and said I'm having DT's and I need to just wait em out and gave me a prescription for .5 mg of Ativan. While I was in my hospital bed i kept noticing my monitor. My heart rate was VERY irregular (going from 35BPM at one point, then 45-100BPM. Up and down it went the whole time I was there and I also had a few PVC's. My oxygen saturation also kept dropping to 90 then back up to 100%. The doc. says I need rest and it'll pass. I should quit worrying and not drink anymore. Well, it scared me to say the least and I dont think he shoulda sent me home with my pulse and BP like that. What should I do? Should I take my Ativan an try to relax or go to another hospital E.R.? Can feel my heart fluttering as I write. Please give me a little info as what to do and what is possibly wrong with me. Thanks.

Public Comments

1. take the Ativan and see if you feel better like the MD said you probably are going through DT's
2. Go to another doctor because alcohol DT's are VERY dangerous and people actually die from them!!! Ativan and relaxation does not cut it (otherwise you might have quit drinking a long time ago). Try and find a real detox clinic real soon if you plan on drying out for a while. These people are specially trained to help people through this kind of thing and to also give medications required to make detox safe and less excruciating. As far as the Solar Plexus thing...Do you throw up alot and if so...does it look like coffee grounds? Alcoholism can result in Esophageal Varacies (check it out on google) it's a wearing down of the Esophogus, so bad that it can start to bleed...and yes you can die from it. They can be detected with a "scope" of the esophogus and can be repaired if caught in time.