Health issues and treatment

[jcabk]

I have a few questions regarding my brother's health and his ability to go to treatment. Here is a brief history - we only receintly discovered how poor his health was. He agreed to go to a 28 day program - he went through 3 days of detox and was sent to the program. After 2 days they were concerned about his mental status - he was forgetting things and wandering around and in general really confused. They sent him back to the medical floor were they treated him for DT's for about 5 days. He then went back to treatment for 5 days when he decided he wanted to come home for Christmas - he did and the program will not take him back until his mental status is clearer. We are now going to take him to a liver specialist to see how much damage has been done. What options do we have for treatment at this point. He has agreed to do what ever it takes to get and stay sober. Will treatment work when he is this phyically ill - should we wait until he has seen some doctors - he has not had a drink in over 3 weeks. I do not want him just sitting around waiting for doctors appointments - can we treat the physical and addicted mind at the same time? Thanks for your help.

[vicki_20055]

As an RN in mental health and substance abuse I think that the alcohol can cause mental changes or vice versa. But it sure cant hurt to be in treatment no matter what health issues he has from drinking. Sometimes mental changes clear with medication and abstinence but for sure have a doc check him out. If he has drank for a long time he can have a highammonia level and that can cause mental changes. And it takes some time to go down and even with that there can be some permanent mental damage. They have some good info on the Mental Health board here. Hope he gets better.

[jcabk]

Thanks for you help, i will check out the mental heath boards.

[GuyBlakeKett]

I agree with Vicki that treatment at this point can only be to the good. Even if right now it only means (while you're waiting) to get your brother regularly to local AA meetings.

pulling for you -

Guy

[kickjunk]

I believe that not only treatment will not hurt him, but it is the best option at this point. Alcohol and drugs have different affects on people just depending on each individual's body chemistry. It's hard to say when he'll get out of the fog, but I know for me I hard withdrawls for 3 months. I literally felt myself going insane. My roomate in rehab got better after one week and we were using about the same amount. Again, just different body chemistry's. I hope the best for you and your brother. It sounds like he's ready to get sober. Good luck