Friend hospitalized with alcoholism

twoton

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A friend went into the hospital on Monday with problems from alcoholism. He was really sick and unable to walk. He's been bedridden since then. He can't control the muscles in his legs and still can't walk. There's a video monitor on him so the nurses can make sure he doesn't try to get out of bed. Another friend visited him today and said he can't control his hands, and his eyes were 'vibrating' from side to side. Although his mind seemed to be functioning o.k.

I don't think it was sudden. For at least the past month he has been unable to write legibly because his hand was so shaky.

He hasn't told anyone why he's in the hospital. He says the doctors don't know what's wrong with him. We found out from his ex-wife.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Is it something that people recover from when they're that bad off?
 

Tight_N_Juicy

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I've known several people who were in that boat. Some friends, some family. None of them are still will us.

Alcohol withdrawal is the most deadly, if I'm remembering correctly.

I don't want to say "expect the worst"... I do want to suggest that if this is a close friend that you spend some time with them.
 

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A friend went into the hospital on Monday with problems from alcoholism. He was really sick and unable to walk. He's been bedridden since then. He can't control the muscles in his legs and still can't walk. There's a video monitor on him so the nurses can make sure he doesn't try to get out of bed. Another friend visited him today and said he can't control his hands, and his eyes were 'vibrating' from side to side. Although his mind seemed to be functioning o.k.

I don't think it was sudden. For at least the past month he has been unable to write legibly because his hand was so shaky.

He hasn't told anyone why he's in the hospital. He says the doctors don't know what's wrong with him. We found out from his ex-wife.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Is it something that people recover from when they're that bad off?

I'm so sorry to hear this about your friend. Like @Tight_N_Juicy said, alcohol withdrawal is one of the toughest addictions to kick. No joke.

And you have my sympathies too. It's never easy to witness a friend or loved one go through withdrawal. I witnessed it first and third hand with my sister. She's very lucky to be alive today. I think it shortened my Mother's life for sure.

Best wishes to you and your friend.
 

twoton

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Thank you @Tight_N_Juicy and @MisterB

I think you’re right about withdrawal being the most deadly. It’s one of only two I know of that is deadly. I think withdrawal from benzos can kill, also.

My cousin died of cirrhosis of the liver about two and a half years ago. His fiancée died of alcoholism a few years before that. And it probably shortened my mother’s life.

I just don’t see how a guy can go back to normal functioning after this. He’s surely going to be compromised in some way. The internet says alcoholic neuropathy can lead to permanent damage. If that’s what he has.
 

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Thank you @Tight_N_Juicy and @MisterB

I think you’re right about withdrawal being the most deadly. It’s one of only two I know of that is deadly. I think withdrawal from benzos can kill, also.

My cousin died of cirrhosis of the liver about two and a half years ago. His fiancée died of alcoholism a few years before that. And it probably shortened my mother’s life.

I just don’t see how a guy can go back to normal functioning after this. He’s surely going to be compromised in some way. The internet says alcoholic neuropathy can lead to permanent damage. If that’s what he has.

I'm so sad to hear all of this. You've certainly had your share of dealing with the fallout from alcoholism.

Please do keep us informed. And please don't hesitate to reach out here at the LPSG community if you just need to talk or vent or rant or whatever. Any way we can help. Please let us know. T

ake care and again, best wishes to both you and your friend. I hope for the best outcome for everyone.
 
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A friend went into the hospital on Monday with problems from alcoholism. He was really sick and unable to walk. He's been bedridden since then. He can't control the muscles in his legs and still can't walk. There's a video monitor on him so the nurses can make sure he doesn't try to get out of bed. Another friend visited him today and said he can't control his hands, and his eyes were 'vibrating' from side to side. Although his mind seemed to be functioning o.k.

I don't think it was sudden. For at least the past month he has been unable to write legibly because his hand was so shaky.

He hasn't told anyone why he's in the hospital. He says the doctors don't know what's wrong with him. We found out from his ex-wife.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Is it something that people recover from when they're that bad off?


Holy crap......no, I don't know of anyone who has suffered these symptoms.

When you say "Alcoholic" what, and how much does he drink? If he is of sound mind, yet the brain not communicating with muscle function sounds a bit like onset of MS to me, exacerbated or bought to the fore when intoxicated.

Does not sound like stroke, if he is not slurring speech or suffering some form of paralysis.
 

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Withdrawal from alcohol is one of the most dangerous things a person can go through, he could have a heart attack or stroke during the process. The hospital is the safest place for him.

Long term alcoholism causes permanent damage to the body and the brain. There is loss of function to executive functioning and to the limbic (emotional) centre. With a lot of work, he should be able to regain some of this back, but the older one gets, the plasticity of the brain lessens so it’s more difficult to retrain the brain.

It’s really quite sad how chronic drinking can ravage a person, but not all is lost. Relapse is his biggest enemy and what is most likely to kill him. It’s a normal part of recovery, but also the most dangerous. He needs a lot of support. He’s in for the fight of his life.
 

twoton

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I visited him today. He was in good spirits. We had a good 25 minutes or so before a couple medicos came in to do physical therapy with him. His whole body was shivering, though.

I asked him if he had been drinking a lot. He said he hadn't been. I told him I had smelled alcohol on him at work. He said maybe it had been on a day when he had been drinking the night before. (I didn't tell him that at least one other person smelled it, too)

The hospital is going to discharge him to a rehab hospital, maybe tomorrow--ostensibly so he can get PT and be able to walk and function on his own.

He's developed major, major anxiety over the past six months, year, maybe more. The doc told him his recovery will be all the harder because of it. They've got him on high doses of Ativan.

He's had all sorts of tests done and so far nothing is showing up as a cause. According to what he told me.
 

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I visited him today. He was in good spirits. We had a good 25 minutes or so before a couple medicos came in to do physical therapy with him. His whole body was shivering, though.

I asked him if he had been drinking a lot. He said he hadn't been. I told him I had smelled alcohol on him at work. He said maybe it had been on a day when he had been drinking the night before. (I didn't tell him that at least one other person smelled it, too)

The hospital is going to discharge him to a rehab hospital, maybe tomorrow--ostensibly so he can get PT and be able to walk and function on his own.

He's developed major, major anxiety over the past six months, year, maybe more. The doc told him his recovery will be all the harder because of it. They've got him on high doses of Ativan.

He's had all sorts of tests done and so far nothing is showing up as a cause. According to what he told me.

Medical cannabis is helping many people dealing with opiod/alcohol addiction.

It's worth looking into...
 

LaFemme

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I visited him today. He was in good spirits. We had a good 25 minutes or so before a couple medicos came in to do physical therapy with him. His whole body was shivering, though.

I asked him if he had been drinking a lot. He said he hadn't been. I told him I had smelled alcohol on him at work. He said maybe it had been on a day when he had been drinking the night before. (I didn't tell him that at least one other person smelled it, too)

The hospital is going to discharge him to a rehab hospital, maybe tomorrow--ostensibly so he can get PT and be able to walk and function on his own.

He's developed major, major anxiety over the past six months, year, maybe more. The doc told him his recovery will be all the harder because of it. They've got him on high doses of Ativan.

He's had all sorts of tests done and so far nothing is showing up as a cause. According to what he told me.
He’s lying to you and probably himself about how much he’s been drinking. One doesn’t go through this kind of withdrawal from moderate drinking. If he’s seeks treatment, one of the first things he’s going to have to do is be honest with himself. Then be honest with at least one other person. Being honest with yourself is harder than you think. To think that a substance has that kind of control over you, that it runs your life is hard.
 
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twoton

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I’m sure he’s lying. It’s also a problem that one of the people who’s giving me details is notoriously unreliable with facts.
 
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