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My husband has been a functional alcoholic in denial for >30 years. One month ago he suffered a seizure which the dr's said was due to alcoholism. He was in the hospital for 2 weeks and went through the physical withdrawal there. We have been home now for 2 weeks. His cognitive skills are greatly impaired, speaks only in a whisper, is not interested in anything, is begining to display some bizarre behaviors such as trying to eat non-edible things, and rages in a great deal of anger much of the time, fatigues easily but doesn't sleep well-has restless sleep for an hour or more, then wakes up. Please help. Are these things part of alcohol withdrawal or could there be something else going on with him? Any help or links to resources regarding his mental/cognitive abilities will be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much, you can probably tell that I'm getting desperate. Pam
Hi Pam, Welcome! I haven't heard of this behavior, but alcoholism manifests different symptoms in different people. Is this something you can ask his doctor about? Did his treatment center or hospital tell you what to expect? Is there someone you can ask about his specific behavior? Keep coming to al-anon - it's likely one of us has experienced this in their loved one. You're right to reach out for help. Please keep coming back. take care ---Jill
Thanks for the replies. The doctors that treated him for the seizure and withdrawal are not our regular doctor. I'm taking him to the doctor that we have used for 25 years and try to get some suggestions and another evaluation from him. I witnessed the "seizure" but couldn't tell if it was a seizure or a stroke. The doctors at the hospital did CT scans and said no stroke and ruled it a seizure. I've seen other alcoholics have seizures and usually they were fine the next day. This is all so confusing and bewildering to me. I've taken a 30 day leave from my job to deal with him, but have only got 2 weeks left. Then I have to go back to work to save my job and my sanity (if I still have any) I've got to find out what is causing this and when if ever it will end. If not I'll have to seek some kind of placement for him. I have been married to this man for 32 years and must confess I have been an enabler. I have always covered for him at work and with his friends. I haven't told them the truth about what caused this seizure and hospitalization. They don't understand why he isn't getting better. THe biggest part of me screams that I should tell them the truth but the protector in me says to just keep quiet. Any suggestions on that? Thanks Pam
Time to tell all to family and friends pond . they don't need to know all the nitty gritty stuff but that he is an alcoholic and has suffered a seizure yes. As enablers we continue to save thier butts and usually at our expence we end up looking l ike the idots and they come out smelling like a rose , thanks to our efforts to share what is really going on in our homes.
I hope u consider going to Al-Anon meetings f2f they wil help you alot to understand what your dealing with , this is a disease and it is progressive . Have u shared with your family doctor about his drinking? time to fess up and get some help for your family. With drawls are nasty things and yes they do have seizures and strokes ocassionally. Halucinations are also common. As his behavior is now so unpredictable , stay safe and don't hesitate to get help for yourself. Louise Toll free number for info in your area is 1-888-4alanon lines are open 8am - pm monday thru friday please call
Have you updated his doctor with the symptoms he's showing? That would be my first step. Attempting to eat non edible items could be a sign of a lot of things from dementia (alcohol related or not), alztiemers, halucinations etc. I would definately check with his doctor on this.
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Kathy S --
~*I trust my Higher Power that I am exactly where I am supposed to be in my life today.*~
The first doctors who treated him were not our "family doctor". I took him to our regular doctor yesterday who had several more tests done, including a brain MRI. Our doctor seems to think he has had a stroke rather than a seizure of any kind. I sure hope they find out what this is soon or I think I may just go crazy. The only good thing about this is that he hasn't had a drink for 31 days, and hasn't asked for one. Please pray for me, every day is a new nightmare. Pam
This sounds very similar to what I have been going through.
My husband suffered two definate seizures - he had not stopped drinking - they were from drinking so much alcohol and not drinking other liguids or eating.
At first in the hospital, he was dazed as expected, then seemed fine.
Now, at home, he is being very bizarre. Sometimes he can't talk - only gibberish which is a sign of a possible pending seizure. Although that hasn't happened lately.
He's telling friends that I'm mentally ill -that I lent a large sum of money to a friend - and even before the seizure was meeting with his sons to arrange leaving all of our funds to them. He's taken our joint funds out of the bank and I think put them in an account in his name.He told my daughter, his step-daughter since she was 12, that he had taken the money out of the bank so that they could get married.
My daughter is in the midst of a divorce as well - also an alcoholic, not drinking right now but still insane.
My husband was going to pay for her divorce but now that he has realized she won't run of with him, won't. Luckily, someone else will.
As soon as she get's divorced. I'm going to.
Not only is my husband an alcoholic, I don't think he's ever cared about me since day one.
Never marry a man who's 1. an alcoholic or 2. you have to tell "fish or cut bait" referring to getting married.
I think I'd prefer mountain bikes.
I definately would prefer to have a bunch of mountain bikes.
You know, I was thinking today - don't you think these doctors when they look at these cat scans and mri's can tell that there is something wrong???
I saw my husband's mri and even I could tell there were big problems - my mother had a very rare degenerative brain disease called Pick's Disease - it looked very similar to my husbands mri.
There were huge gaps between the sections - think of a cauliflower with big gaps.
Nobody told me to expect a thing - they did tell me to take him to other doctors.
But, he thinks HE"S fine and won't go! Now he's drinking until a minimum of 3:30 am to 6:30 am.
Wakes up, haves a cups of coffee and 3 hours latter is drinking again.
What did I do? I'm thinking of contacting an attorney to sue the doctor and get a divorce.
I've got to find out what is causing this and when if ever it will end. If not I'll have to seek some kind of placement for him. I have been married to this man for 32 years and must confess I have been an enabler. I have always covered for him at work and with his friends. I haven't told them the truth about what caused this seizure and hospitalization. They don't understand why he isn't getting better. THe biggest part of me screams that I should tell them the truth but the protector in me says to just keep quiet. Any suggestions on that? Thanks Pam