Wet brain!

[Tazman53]

We had a speaker Friday night that at first I thought he was drunk, but slowly I realized the man was in the early stages of wet brain. He was sober for 3 years and his story held out hope to anyone seeking recovery that it is possible no matter how far down the scale we have gone.

[RufusACanal]

Thanks Taz!

[barb dwyer]

Very frightening the first few times you actually SEE it, isn't it, Tazzie?

[miss communicat]

no matter how far down the scale we go, there is always hope of restoration.....

[Astro]

Bur for the grace of God, there go I!

[justanothrdrunk]

I used to have a neighbor about whom I wondered if he wasn't drunk most of the time or had wet brain or something like that.

Turned out he had had a stroke some years ago that affected his speech and other faculties.

What about the speaker convinced you it was wet brain, other than the obvious years of alcohol abuse?

[miss communicat]

Originally Posted by justanothrdrunk

I used to have a neighbor about whom I wondered if he wasn't drunk most of the time or had wet brain or something like that.

Turned out he had had a stroke some years ago that affected his speech and other faculties.

What about the speaker convinced you it was wet brain, other than the obvious years of alcohol abuse?

thats interesting...when I came into AA recovery I was so beat down and polluted that my counselor deemed me to be unemployable and that I had had possibly more than one small stroke.

I just kept on not drinking, praying, listening, serving, attending, learning, growing, praying, listening, sharing, serving, not drinking, and healing and here I am today. not quite so unemployable, with a new employer in fact.

There are those who might've said i had wet brain. But I dunno. I was too fogged up to know what anyone said.

[Tazman53]

Very frightening the first few times you actually SEE it, isn't it, Tazzie?

He is the first sober one I have seen, he was not frightening really, he was inspirational, I did find it sad that he had lost so much before he got it. He had moments where you could tell the type of man he had been before.

What about the speaker convinced you it was wet brain, other than the obvious years of alcohol abuse?

Well he would slur his speech about half the time, he was incapable of maintaining a subject for any length of time, he was all over the place in what he was sharing, he had a very difficult time simply expressing himself. It is very hard to describe.

What he had was a happiness in the simplest of things he was now capable of doing, he was very proud that he had almost passed his GED, he missed passing by 2 points and he smiled and said he will be taking it again soon after taking some more refresher courses.

One of the things he shared that sobriety had brought him was the ability to get help with his diabetes, he spoke of getting his feet washed and how since he has the right size shoes to wear now he does not get the sores on his feet any more so he can walk.

He really did bring home to us the phrase:

no matter how far down the scale we go

along with "There but for the grace of God go I."

This man shared HOPE!!!!! He showed us all that the simplest and smallest things that many of us take for granted in our own sobriety is a true gift for many that they would never have had with out AA and God. He made a statement which stuck with me:

God saved my butt,

AA saved my @ss!

[laurie6781]

Here's a pretty good explanation of "Wet Brain" from the Betty Ford site:

"The term wet brain refers to a very real condition known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. This chronic brain syndrome is caused by long-term alcoholism and is accompanied by a triad of symptoms: 1) mental disturbance; 2) confusion, drowsiness and paralysis of eye movements; and 3) ataxia or a staggering gait. A primary cause for this is a thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency due to severe malnutrition and poor intestinal absorption of food and vitamins caused by alcohol. The person with wet brain acts much like the Alzheimer’s victim with loss of recent memory, disorientation with regard to time and place, confusion and confabulation, or telling imagined and untrue experiences as truth. If wet brain is identified in its early onset, an infusion of thiamine (B1) may help. Unfortunately, there is no recovery from Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Therefore, it is one of the most tragic consequences of alcoholism."

As you can see, if caught early enough and an infusion of thiamine is given the doctors can reverse or stop the symptoms from going further. Of course, the alcoholic has to have stopped drinking.

I was privileged to be able to visit with some of the patients at the VA Hospital in Northridge CA that would be there the rest of their lives, who took alcoholism to a new low, and lived, if you can call it living. Some could no longer walk, many were like a 4 or 5 year old with adult physical problems, and some just laid there totally unaware of their surroundings. Made quite an impression on this alcoholic.

I came so close to being a 'wet brain'. It was certainly a motivator for this alkie to keep working on me and work through those steps, so I could start Living the steps.

I would suspect, Taz, that even thought this gentleman's share was "he was all over the place in what he was sharing, he had a very difficult time simply expressing himself. " that the whole experience for you and others at the meeting was very inspirational.

J M H O

Love and hugs,

[Tazman53]

I would suspect, Taz, that even thought this gentleman's share was "he was all over the place in what he was sharing, he had a very difficult time simply expressing himself. " that the whole experience for you and others at the meeting was very inspirational.

Your suspicion is spot on, the man had the message and he shared it, it was not in an organized manner, but he got the message across, his eyes were not right as you shared Laurie and he did have a staggering gait. His face did not look right, but his smile would not be denied. This man moved me and many others.

Laurie I certainly hope you nor anyone else thought I was degrading this gentleman, I certainly was not, he is a shining example of what the program and a HP can do.

[fraankie]

"but slowly I realized the man was in the early stages of wet brain........."

of course, you are a
md?
phd?
doctor of psychiatry?
lawyer?
indian chief?
shoemaker?

and during a 15 to 20 minute qualification,
1 hour meeting
you didn't daydream, look out the window, maybe not listen to every word he said because you had other things on your mind (who's the newbie in the 2nd row?),
no break, no "hee, i got to balance my checkbook when i get home",
and
you were able to diagnose this chap, very astutely, i might add, with the Merck Manual diagnosis under the heading / index of "wet brain"
and
as per your education / experience / documented degree / diploma as an AA fellow
who follows the steps / traditions / big book / sponsor / spirituality / honestyopenmindenesswillingness of "the program"
not to mention numerous "i respect your sobriety" after the meeting quirps from the babe on the left
found it necessary / helpful to others / rewarding / informative / cute
to go home
access sr.com and post on the world wide web
how "you" slowly I realized
that the person trying to carry the message
(albeit, anononynmmousnoosy, ((always have trouble with that word, why couldn't it be "alcoholics incognito?")) )
is a wetbrain

gee, i needed to know that
i'm sure we all need to put someone down to feel better
thanks for gossipng about another member of the fellowship
and
in a sense, disgracing him anonymously


best
fraankie

i don't know
i usually go to a meeting
sit, share, listen, help,etc
and
then
give the speaker a handshake
and
a positive comment
"thanks for sharing"
not considering to take his inventory
or access his medical records
they are private
out the door as i

[miss communicat]

whoa there fraankie,

taz is asking questions, learning, as we all are.

that was harsh.

[Rob B]

Here's a suggestion, write some inventory if Taz's post disturbed you so much, the irony is, you have called him out on the very same behavior you have just demonstrated. We are all mirrors, the ugly I see in you is actually a reflection of the darkness that still dwells within me.

[Tazman53]

Fraankie slow down, take it easy.

Do you see one single place where I put this man down?

No!!! This man is a miracle.

As far as me diagnosing him.............. no I didn't, I listened intently, I did not stare out the window nor scan the room for newbies the entire meeting.

Part of his "How it is now" talk was how he was in a special home "Christ House" in DC which is an assisted living facility for those with long term problems due to drug addiction and alcoholism. I spoke to both him and his sponsor for about 20 minutes after the meeting. His sponsor commented on how amazing the guy was even though he was in the early stages of wet brain.

His sponsor volunteers once a week at "Christ House".

No I did not make an assumption about the man here, I shared what my thoughts were honestly.

Fraankie I challenge you to reread my entire post on this gentleman and then come back here and if I put this man down I want you to quote it to where I can make amends to the entire board.

Fraankie here are a few quotes from my post, if I am putting him down in any manner I would like you to tell me where?

He was sober for 3 years and his story held out hope to anyone seeking recovery that it is possible no matter how far down the scale we have gone.

Did that put him down?

he was not frightening really, he was inspirational,

Boy that is a put down!!!!

What he had was a happiness in the simplest of things he was now capable of doing, he was very proud that he had almost passed his GED, he missed passing by 2 points and he smiled and said he will be taking it again soon after taking some more refresher courses.

Was this a put down?

This man shared HOPE!!!!! He showed us all that the simplest and smallest things that many of us take for granted in our own sobriety is a true gift for many that they would never have had with out AA and God.

Fraankie was that a put down?????

the man had the message and he shared it,

Put down?????

his smile would not be denied. This man moved me and many others.

Yea that statement right there was really deragotory!!!!

he is a shining example of what the program and a HP can do.

Another harsh put down.

Fraankie and others, I apologize for the above, but sometimes when your face gets slapped it is very hard to simply turn the other cheek. I am hurt that my command of the english language is so poor that any person could not see that I admire this man for his recovery, I doubt very seriously I could have taken it to the point he did and then be able to recover, he is a better man then me!

[tkdan]

Hey Taz, good post. Helps to see no matter how far we've gone down this program can bring us back from the brink of death.
At my very first meeting a guy read how it works and I remember thinking to myself this is great this guy is drunk at an AA meeting. About a month ago he showed up at my home group with a sponcee he was taking to meetings. Both times I seen him he shared of the hope of the program. Both times he shared that it is the steps of AA that has kept him sober for nine years. The first time I seen him when I realized he was not drunk I felt sorry for him, the second time I seem him I envied him for the peace he had found through AA.

[Tazman53]

The first time I seen him when I realized he was not drunk I felt sorry for him, the second time I seem him I envied him for the peace he had found through AA.

You know Dan I felt sorry at first for this man, but as I listened to him talk I like you envied the serenity and joy the man had.

You know Dan I find Strength and hope in every recovered alcoholic, but for some reason I find more hope and strength from people like this man, this man accomplished what so few of us do, AA helped him snatch himself straight out of the jaws of death, I was headed where he went, I doubt if I would have been capable of doing what this man did.

[fraankie]

"........I apologize for the above......."

you find it necessary to apolize
i don't
pardon me for asking
but who has time for protracted commentary on this?

[gravity]

Originally Posted by Tazman53

I find Strength and hope in every recovered alcoholic, but for some reason I find more hope and strength from people like this man, this man accomplished what so few of us do, AA helped him snatch himself straight out of the jaws of death, I was headed where he went, I doubt if I would have been capable of doing what this man did.

It's people like this gentleman that I find inspirational and admire so much. In my life, I have seen people overcome such severe adversity. They are just regular people like me but they are my true heroes. And for him to share his story to help others is something else. Thanks for the post Taz.

[navysteve]

We moved up here to PA back in September, and went to our third meeting here not knowing anyone ( a familiar place for me) The speaker was slurring her speach, had trouble maintaining her balance, I was sure she was drunk. me and my girlfriend were shocked!!

Then it came out, she was a wet brain with four years sober. She was partially blind and had several seizures as well.

So much for my judgement. But on the subject of taking inventories, my Big Book tells me its ok to do exactly that, heck we read it in every meeting I go to. But hey, I sit in the back of the room many times too, and refuse to buy into meeting rhetoric that doesn't add up to my Big Book.

Great post Taz. I love watching people like that even though it is sad to see how far some of us have to fall

[daydream]

Taz, let it go. You're not the first person who has been attacked by someone looking to pick a fight and you won't be the last. Don't stoop to his level. Thanks for sharing.

[Tazman53]

daydream I am way beyond letting folks live rent free in my head for any length of time, I said what I had to say and I have moved on.

[bigredme]

It is my belief that if more high school kids knew about wet brain and could actually SEE a person suffer with it, fewer would even start drinking. I had never even HEARD about such a thing happening until I was 27...and in rehab. I was in with a very large, wet brained man who kept falling over like a tree. He stood something over 6'6 and approached 400lbs. he was massive and COVERED with bruises from these falls. he mental capacity was not much beyond a late elementary schooler. It was frightening and sad. I'd always though that if he could attend some high school assemblies, it might do some kids some good.
Most people are completely unfamiliar with this consequence.
love to all...over and out
bigredme

[fraankie]

"...........But on the subject of taking inventories, my Big Book tells me its ok to do exactly that,............"


well, welcome to lala land
4841 days and 18 hours, 41 minutes, ........seconds
in recovery
thousands of meeting
and
i mean thousands of meetings, phonecalls, meetings after and before the meetings, maybe 114, no 117 let's go for coffe after the meetings with my fellows, dozens of "we are about to know a new freedom...."
as in i have memorized portions of the big book, etc
i have never read, or heard anything near that


pardon me for asking
can you PM me
with the actual text in the big book that says that
edition number, page, paragraph
an