Latest on my Alcoholic Wife
 

So after the suicide attempt last new year day and a very difficult year, she finally went to seek help about four weeks ago.

Her GGT results were 392 and an AST of 354 (I understand from reading on the net that this is high).

My problem is her Councillor.. he has told her to avoid spirits but continue to drink beer/wine. Obviously he knows his business but is this typical advice? Only reason I ask is that she is simply drinking the strongest beer/wine she can find which isnt really helping much.

Alcohol is alcohol. Get a new counselor.

Geesh.. well I guess that might NOT be a typo if the normal levels are what Anvil posted and hers are what, 10x that? Some people with pretty serious liver disease have numbers crazy like that.. but really it's pointless, she wants to keep drinking and plans to.

What's your plan?

I'm sure the posted numbers are right.
I have seen numbers 10x those. (and higher, actually in fulminant liver failure. But I digress. My lab's cutoff is around 5000.)

I agree with the others - are you sure that's what the counselor said? My EXAH could twist around psychiatrists', counselors' and physicians' words pretty easily to relay what he wanted to hear.

Hang in there.

It's hard to believe a counselor who knows someone is an alcoholic would tell them it is ok to drink beer or wine. If they really did say this I think your wife needs a new counselor.

yea....can you get that recommendation in writing? that is absolutely absurd! good luck with that counselor....mags

Thanks for the replies.

Those numbers I quoted were correct. I didn't go with her as she doesn't want me there. Her reasoning is that she is so ashamed of all the lies over the last ten years that she would rather I not know the true extent of her drinking (but my sister went in with her).

She saw him again yesterday. His advice is now clearer. He stated that the spirits are doing all the damage and rather than her simply quit, he needs to get an angle on just how much she is drinking during an average day. She has been given a chart to complete each time she has a drink. I expect this will be a VERY long road.

Sorry you're going through this.
The numbers you quoted are really high. When my RAH was diagnozed with liver cirrhosis his GGT was 1400, and his AST was not over 200. (GGT is more indicative of alcohol abuse, while AST, ALT and ALP indicate condition of a liver)

354 for AST is extremely high as far as I know, as it should normaly be 5 -40.
I'm not trying to freak you out, but maybe she should see a specialist to check the condition of her liver.

In my experience and from what I've learned her continuing to drink with such lab results can be fatal.
I'm so sorry I'm saying all this, again I don't want to freak you out, but I'd feel bad about not sharing my experience sinced I feel maybe you can benefit from it.
Also, I'm not doctor, and I'm just speaking from my experience.
Take care

Hi Sesh.. you're not freaking me out at all. Any info is great info, especially when you've been going through this for the last ten years with nothing to go on and too embarrassed to discuss it with anyone. Maybe embarrassed is the wrong word.. what I mean is that I didn't want anyone to think different of my wife.

I understand what you mean. I guess we all were there. I know I was. Holding that forthess at any expense, unwilling to admitt the foundations are crumbling...
But you're among friends now, we understand.
So make yourself at home, we'll try to help as much as we can.
Welcome

I wonder if he advised to her to drink the beer/wine to avoid severe withdrawal symptoms? I have never heard of "tapering down" working though. huh. Maybe a doctor visit is in order? Rather than a counselor?