Wow! That same thing happened to me when I was 27 years old. My husband thought my symptoms were caused by drinking too much, but down deep inside I knew something was very wrong. I finally convinced him to take me to ER and had emergency appendectomy too! Thank God your wife had the presence of mind to take you in. She saved your life!
PS. You said you didn't want to be referred again as an "alcoholic." I don't know if you have attended any AA meetings but the first thing we do is say "Hi. My name is ----- and I'm an alcoholic. I will be an alcoholic for life ALBEIT recovering alcoholic.