Aa
when is his liver going to give up?
Hello all. My husband - the 44 year old alcoholic who won't acknowledge it - with acloholic liver disease, cirrosis, swelling, jaundice and a weird smell on him even though he showers because he itches like crazy. Looks awful, very pasty coloured, papery skin on legs, bruising, freezing cold all the time. It's a beautiful day here in south Wales (UK) and there he is in several layers, a great big fleecy jacket and wooly GLOVES!!! I'm in a sun-dress.
He has hepatic encepholepathy (I always spell it wrong, sorry), and won't take his medication properly. He is also back drinking Guinness. He was out of hospital for a day and he's back on it. He is staying with his mother tonight and I've just spoken to him on the phone and he is very negative, was rambling has obviously drank today and was slurring terribly. I was told another drink could kill him. That was 2 weeks ago. He's been drinking up to 5 pints of Guinness a day for over a week. I'm at the end of my rope and don't know what to do. Any advice and although I know it's hard to give a time scale but does anyone have similar stories of relatives/friends and how long did they last? Love nana xxx
He has hepatic encepholepathy (I always spell it wrong, sorry), and won't take his medication properly. He is also back drinking Guinness. He was out of hospital for a day and he's back on it. He is staying with his mother tonight and I've just spoken to him on the phone and he is very negative, was rambling has obviously drank today and was slurring terribly. I was told another drink could kill him. That was 2 weeks ago. He's been drinking up to 5 pints of Guinness a day for over a week. I'm at the end of my rope and don't know what to do. Any advice and although I know it's hard to give a time scale but does anyone have similar stories of relatives/friends and how long did they last? Love nana xxx
Thanks Pickles. I've decided not to go abroad even though Spain is only a 2 hour flight. He was a bit grumpy this morning and bathed the dogs at 5am (!!!!!) - but cheered up a bit and we went swimming. I spent a big part of the day with him but then had to go to work. He's had a fair few to drink and has started getting the pain in his back and legs again which was the start of his deterioration last time.
I l in the UK and we don't have the programme (we spell it different to you in the USA!) you mention but I will look on youtube and get back to you with my thoughts.
Take care Pickles - lots of love xx
I l in the UK and we don't have the programme (we spell it different to you in the USA!) you mention but I will look on youtube and get back to you with my thoughts.
Take care Pickles - lots of love xx
Hi Jill. If your husband is deteriorating that rapidly, maybe you shouldn't go too far. You could, however, spend some quality time by going on local trips, maybe a picnic?
Are you familar with a U.S. tv show called Intervention? It's very popular and has been on for several years. Some of the addicts are alcoholics, some are drug users. Some are permanently recovered, some recorer and relapse, but there's only one case where the addict has died. I don't make it a practice of telling people how shows end but I think you should be prepared and watch it. Below is a link to youtube. You'll have to watch it in 5 sections, but there's no commercials. It might give you some idea of what to expect.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=intervention+lawrence&search_type=&aq=f
Please keep us posted and know we're with you in spirit and love.
Are you familar with a U.S. tv show called Intervention? It's very popular and has been on for several years. Some of the addicts are alcoholics, some are drug users. Some are permanently recovered, some recorer and relapse, but there's only one case where the addict has died. I don't make it a practice of telling people how shows end but I think you should be prepared and watch it. Below is a link to youtube. You'll have to watch it in 5 sections, but there's no commercials. It might give you some idea of what to expect.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=intervention+lawrence&search_type=&aq=f
Please keep us posted and know we're with you in spirit and love.
What would I do without you all to 'talk' to I don't know. I agree in a way with Pickles (love the name btw - one of my beloved cats is called Archie-Pickles), about enjoying him while I can, because that was my first thought, but after today I'm now inclined to take Grace's advice.
I've been on an outing today to a primate sanctuary with my daughter and little grandson. It was such a lovely day and I was really chilled out. Primates do that to you. The eye contact is all I need. Anyway, I spoke to Byron a few times during the day but when I picked him up from - yes, you've guessed it - the pub, with a pint of guinness in front of him, he'd obviously spent the day quaffing.
He was in a bit of a sombre mood and said he'd had a conversation with an acquaintance who heard he'd been in hospital and gave him some story about how they'd all heard he was given 48 hours at most (true), and that I was very upset and so were the girls (my daughters from my first marriage), and that we were all worried sick. All this is true but because he is in complete denial of the seriousness of his condition he started blaming me for telling people he'd been in hospital (he was in at the end of June so all this has been spoken about weeks ago). there was no reasoning with him at all and because he hasn't been taking his medication properly he's obviously deteriorating.
His liver decompensated Grace, and he had the encephalopathy and yes, he's one of these people who has refused help even though he pulled through after me being told that he would most probably not live. But he doesn't accept it at all and thinks (or so he says) that it's all a load of bol****. Personally, I think he knows deep down but is too scared to admit it. Every night I think he's not going to wake up and when he goes out in the morning because he won't stay in the house I think I'll get a phone call from the police or something. I am going to make an appointment to see the doctor next week to have some idea of what I should do. I'm definitely not taking him away now. He started getting quite belligerent and it's only because I didn't react that there wasn't a major scene. I managed to persuade him to come home and he's gone straight to bed in a sulk and that's the best place for him. I hope he stays there all night. But he wouldn't eat anything and hasn't all day or taken any of his meds. I'll keep an eye on him tonight in case he's ill. Chances are he will be. Thanks for listening my friends. I value all this so much and my best wishes and loving thoughts are all with you for whatever is going on in your lives. Jill xxx
I've been on an outing today to a primate sanctuary with my daughter and little grandson. It was such a lovely day and I was really chilled out. Primates do that to you. The eye contact is all I need. Anyway, I spoke to Byron a few times during the day but when I picked him up from - yes, you've guessed it - the pub, with a pint of guinness in front of him, he'd obviously spent the day quaffing.
He was in a bit of a sombre mood and said he'd had a conversation with an acquaintance who heard he'd been in hospital and gave him some story about how they'd all heard he was given 48 hours at most (true), and that I was very upset and so were the girls (my daughters from my first marriage), and that we were all worried sick. All this is true but because he is in complete denial of the seriousness of his condition he started blaming me for telling people he'd been in hospital (he was in at the end of June so all this has been spoken about weeks ago). there was no reasoning with him at all and because he hasn't been taking his medication properly he's obviously deteriorating.
His liver decompensated Grace, and he had the encephalopathy and yes, he's one of these people who has refused help even though he pulled through after me being told that he would most probably not live. But he doesn't accept it at all and thinks (or so he says) that it's all a load of bol****. Personally, I think he knows deep down but is too scared to admit it. Every night I think he's not going to wake up and when he goes out in the morning because he won't stay in the house I think I'll get a phone call from the police or something. I am going to make an appointment to see the doctor next week to have some idea of what I should do. I'm definitely not taking him away now. He started getting quite belligerent and it's only because I didn't react that there wasn't a major scene. I managed to persuade him to come home and he's gone straight to bed in a sulk and that's the best place for him. I hope he stays there all night. But he wouldn't eat anything and hasn't all day or taken any of his meds. I'll keep an eye on him tonight in case he's ill. Chances are he will be. Thanks for listening my friends. I value all this so much and my best wishes and loving thoughts are all with you for whatever is going on in your lives. Jill xxx
My husband has had episodes of encephalopathy from his drinking and it sounds to me like that is one of the things going on with your husband. Seeing things and the confusion are symptoms of that. I can't remember if you said your husband had been hospitalized with encephalopathy or not.
Anyway, personally there is no way in the world I would go away with my husband if he was drinking and having issues such as confusion and seeing things that are not there. I can understand your need to get away and try to enjoy some time with him before it's too late, but I'd hate to think of what predicament you'd be in if he ended up hospitalized in another country. Not only that but in the condition he is in now do you really think either of you would enjoy the time away?
Is your husband getting any kind of follow up or treatment with a doctor or is he one of those that refuse to get help? Sorry I can't remember. If he is seeing a doctor on a regular bases call the doctor and ask what to do for him and the confusion, etc. he is having. I know my husband takes Lactulose daily.
Best to you,
~Grace
Anyway, personally there is no way in the world I would go away with my husband if he was drinking and having issues such as confusion and seeing things that are not there. I can understand your need to get away and try to enjoy some time with him before it's too late, but I'd hate to think of what predicament you'd be in if he ended up hospitalized in another country. Not only that but in the condition he is in now do you really think either of you would enjoy the time away?
Is your husband getting any kind of follow up or treatment with a doctor or is he one of those that refuse to get help? Sorry I can't remember. If he is seeing a doctor on a regular bases call the doctor and ask what to do for him and the confusion, etc. he is having. I know my husband takes Lactulose daily.
Best to you,
~Grace
Hi Jill. First, I'm heartbroken for you and all the others in the world in your position. It's terribly painful watching anyone you love die, regardless of what they're dying from.
Like you, I'm not an alcoholic but was married to one for many years. He got sober and THEN we divorced because his recovery was so awful. However, if I had still loved him and he had ended up in your husband's condition, I would definitely have taken him away for a holiday. Enjoy and love him while you can.
Like you, I'm not an alcoholic but was married to one for many years. He got sober and THEN we divorced because his recovery was so awful. However, if I had still loved him and he had ended up in your husband's condition, I would definitely have taken him away for a holiday. Enjoy and love him while you can.
Well it's getting worse. Don't have a clue how much he's drinking but he is now noticeably 'tight' which I've not seen him like before. Slurring more and getting confused and seeing things again. I was going to book us a week away in the sun but I don't know if it would be a good idea. Part of me thinks it would be nice to get away with him on what will probably be our last holiday together but I'm worried he'll collapse or something while we are away. Spain is not far away for us (a 2 hour flight). He'll drink, but he drinks anyway so what's the difference. I just think we could get away before he gets any worse. Or am I being daft? Be grateful for some thoughts on this . . . jill xx
You are reading content posted in the Alcoholism Community
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
