I'm watching him wither away
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: somewhere kentucky
Posts: 7
I'm watching him wither away
My AH has been on vacation this week of course you know what that means last week he was home sick (back problems) yeah, anyway he has been drinking his every waking hour for almost two weeks. He hasn't been eating just drinking whiskey and beer the last couple of days he has just taken the bottle and put it beside his chair so he doesn't have to get up so often.
He used to be a big muscular man now he is just skin and bones. He never eats on the weekends and through the week just eats enough to get by. Today he got up out of his chair and his body started jerking and he fell down and had to crawl back to his chair and his bottle. So I guess what my question is what could be causing the jerking its really scary.
He has a physical every year and all of his test come back good, though I don't see how. He has been a very heavy drinker for 30yrs. at least. He is almost 59 now.
He used to be a big muscular man now he is just skin and bones. He never eats on the weekends and through the week just eats enough to get by. Today he got up out of his chair and his body started jerking and he fell down and had to crawl back to his chair and his bottle. So I guess what my question is what could be causing the jerking its really scary.
He has a physical every year and all of his test come back good, though I don't see how. He has been a very heavy drinker for 30yrs. at least. He is almost 59 now.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 5,075
His tests could come back good because his doctors are not ordering ones specific to alcohol addiction. Is the doctor aware of his intake?
Have you talked to your doctor about it? There are many physical reactions to alcohol and asking an expert is probably the best way to go.
((()))
Have you talked to your doctor about it? There are many physical reactions to alcohol and asking an expert is probably the best way to go.
((()))
Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Lake Luzerne
Posts: 1,786
Could be toxic but he could have induced some seizures. If he has to crawl he needs to go via ambulance to the hospital. Alot can happen in a year. I find that doctors are honest but some results aren't shared with others, especially when it is addiction related. If that happens again, I'd call an ambulance.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: somewhere kentucky
Posts: 7
His last bloodwork was done about 6 weeks ago. No I havent actually seen his lab report the only thing he told me was that his triglycerides had dropped low (63)
I've thought about talking to his dr. but I've been kind of hesitant about it because I tried to talk to his last dr. and he said he didn't want to be involved in a "he said she said" situation.
I've thought about talking to his dr. but I've been kind of hesitant about it because I tried to talk to his last dr. and he said he didn't want to be involved in a "he said she said" situation.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: state of confusion
Posts: 351
My husband has suffered a number of health problems recently after almost 30 years of drinking and I have learned a some surprising information as a result.
Your husband's problems sounds like they could be neurological. Low B vitamins are very common in long term alcoholics due to their inability to properly absorb vitamins and poor eating habits. My husband was eating well at the time he developed neurological vision problems but yet he still had almost nonexistant B vitamin levels that can cause numerous neurological problems throughout the body. It took his neurological eye specialist 3 weeks of expensive tests before he just ordered a simple blood test for vitamin levels-and discovered the problem. Checking for vitamin levels is not part of a normal blood test and must be requested. The low B vitamin problem was easy to solve ... he didn't have to stop drinking even though it was the best choice ... all he had to do is take vitamin supplements ...especially B vitamins like thiamine and it can brought levels up to normal and his condition improved while still drinking.
Simply taking B vitamins can possibly improve and prevent many serious health problems alcoholics develop. Do a web search on B vitamins and alcoholism and it is amazing all the problems that occur because of this. However this past year my husband has now developed has liver problems-he recently found out instead of gaining fat in his expanding belly .. he had in fact been collecting up to 50 lbs of pure fluid in his abdomen. We are awaiting test results, but this most likely is a sign of serious liver damage. Again, I was unaware that a large belly in a formally slender person could indicate serious liver problems for an alcoholic. His doctor knew his history and had seen his large firm stomach but never suspected it was related to a liver problem-until we told him how much weight he was gaining and that his legs were becoming swollen.
It is amazing how much we don't know, including doctors .. about the many health problems that can occur with years of alcohol abuse.
Your husband's problems sounds like they could be neurological. Low B vitamins are very common in long term alcoholics due to their inability to properly absorb vitamins and poor eating habits. My husband was eating well at the time he developed neurological vision problems but yet he still had almost nonexistant B vitamin levels that can cause numerous neurological problems throughout the body. It took his neurological eye specialist 3 weeks of expensive tests before he just ordered a simple blood test for vitamin levels-and discovered the problem. Checking for vitamin levels is not part of a normal blood test and must be requested. The low B vitamin problem was easy to solve ... he didn't have to stop drinking even though it was the best choice ... all he had to do is take vitamin supplements ...especially B vitamins like thiamine and it can brought levels up to normal and his condition improved while still drinking.
Simply taking B vitamins can possibly improve and prevent many serious health problems alcoholics develop. Do a web search on B vitamins and alcoholism and it is amazing all the problems that occur because of this. However this past year my husband has now developed has liver problems-he recently found out instead of gaining fat in his expanding belly .. he had in fact been collecting up to 50 lbs of pure fluid in his abdomen. We are awaiting test results, but this most likely is a sign of serious liver damage. Again, I was unaware that a large belly in a formally slender person could indicate serious liver problems for an alcoholic. His doctor knew his history and had seen his large firm stomach but never suspected it was related to a liver problem-until we told him how much weight he was gaining and that his legs were becoming swollen.
It is amazing how much we don't know, including doctors .. about the many health problems that can occur with years of alcohol abuse.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
