What does dying from alcoholism look like?

[Anonymous]

I have one close relative who died from complications of lifelong alcoholism; he died of esophageal cancer. The booze quite literally ate away his esophagus. Another relative is slowly succumbing to the adverse effects of alcoholism; a dry drunk for years, he has obliterated the speech center of his brain and has alcohol related dementia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not to hijack but I'm a drinker. I drank all the time, wouldn't consider myself an alcoholic just a heavy drinker that drank everyday. After watching the finale of Shameless and seeing Frank throwing up blood and reading this thread, I have been sober for 9 days and still counting

CONGRATULATIONS! One day at a time!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I was surprised to see this thread bumped. As an update, MIL's boyfriend is still holding on. He's in the hospital quite frequently (in 2012, was in the hospital every month, sometimes twice or more) and is still on the liver transplant list.

I can't remember if I posted this earlier, but his son also somewhat recently died of a drug overdose, and his other son is also an addict. Very sad to see how it runs in the family.

It can take longer than you'd expect My uncle had liver failure, ascites, esophageal bleeding and was diagnosed as terminal, but it took several years for him to finally die.

OP here. Egads. He'd been told maybe 2 years ago they thought he had 6 months to a year left, but I guess they were wrong.

[Anonymous]

My father is in hospital at the moment because of the final stages of alcoholism, he cant swallow and has been put on nil by mouth. Hes been through detox 2 yrs ago but started again. He has no bowel or bladder control and his teeth seem terribly black. Are there any signs to look out for when they are at near death? He also has alcoholic dementia now.

[Anonymous]

My father died 7 years ago at age 82 after drinking for nearly 60 years. When I was growing up, he usually drank between a liter and two liters of vodka a day. It amazes me that he lived as long as he did.

Miraculously, he was sober for nearly 18 months before he died, the longest stretch of time of sobriety of my lifetime. He was hospitalized in the ICU for pneumonia and multiple organ failure, in and out of consciousness for days, and doctors decided to do dialysis on him to see if supporting his kidneys would help. Not only did dialysis support a return to function of his other major organs, but somehow, it cured his craving for alcohol. Pretty much entirely. And his days in the ICU, in and out of consciousness, took care of the worst of withdrawals and DT's.

The amazing thing is that we were working with him on writing a living will before he was hospitalized, and he was leaning toward declining dialysis. Now, we are SO grateful that it gave him a new lease on life. It was tough -- he had to go to dialysis for 3-4 hours a day, three days a week, and the rest of his body was still pretty close to death for those 18 months. But, in my mid-30's, I got to have a relationship with a sober dad for my first time ever. It has given me great peace. It has also helped me to begin to forgive him his years of drinking. A biochemical change in his body released him from the prison of his physical dependence on alcohol, and it made me realize that it was not all a matter of lack of willpower or lack of love for us that kept him drinking.

I share this story only with the thought that if there are other folks on here who are caretakers of elderly alcoholics, if you are offered the option of dialysis for your loved one, please consider taking it. My dad's nephrologist said he had one other elderly alcoholic patient whose alcoholism was essentially cured, too, but otherwise he had never heard or read of the phenomenon. It could be just a fluke. Or it could be something that could bring you an opportunity to have a brief sober relationship before your loved one's death.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This all sounds horrible.

How much alcohol, over how long a period, would someone have to drink to get to this point?

I worry about my own alcohol consumption sometimes. About two or three times a week I will have around 2 glasses of wine, sometimes 3 glasses. So, typically I'm drinking anywhere from 4-9 glasses a week.

I think the current scientific consensus is that you should drink at least 7 glasses of wine a week. One a day.

IOW, no, you are not going to die.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This all sounds horrible.

How much alcohol, over how long a period, would someone have to drink to get to this point?

I worry about my own alcohol consumption sometimes. About two or three times a week I will have around 2 glasses of wine, sometimes 3 glasses. So, typically I'm drinking anywhere from 4-9 glasses a week.

My suggestion is to go to several Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Dont judge AA by your first meeting, just go as a visitor, and check out several different ones. They are all different, and you may hear some things you identify with, or not. Good Luck!

Shame on you for not telling PP to check with their doctor before they stop drinking. Quitting "cold turkey" could be deadly for someone who is a steady drinker like this.

[Anonymous]

I know a 55 year old male who drinks about 13-18 cans of beer every evening. Been doing it for years and years. Heavy smoker to. How long can he do this? Would he have to go to a facility if he ever wanted to stop?
When he gets his next annual physical, what tests can I encourage him to get? What kind of doctor should go to? He thinks that as long as he keeps his weight in check, he's ok.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like he qualifies for hospice. They will help treat his symptoms and prevent so many hospitalizations. He will likely get weaker, have more confusion, swelling, become more jaundice (yellow), possibly agitated/restless, eat and drink less and less, and eventually will be bedbound and non-responsive before death. Everyone is different though. Watch the Gone from My Sight video on You Tube by Barbara Karnes, RN. She will take you through the dying process months, weeks, days and hours to death. Hospice is available way before the last days of life, they can really help support your family to get the best quality care, quality of life, and prepare for death do that it is peaceful and happens as much on his terms as possible. Sending positive thoughts, it's such a painful thing to go through...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This all sounds horrible.

How much alcohol, over how long a period, would someone have to drink to get to this point?

I worry about my own alcohol consumption sometimes. About two or three times a week I will have around 2 glasses of wine, sometimes 3 glasses. So, typically I'm drinking anywhere from 4-9 glasses a week.

My suggestion is to go to several Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Dont judge AA by your first meeting, just go as a visitor, and check out several different ones. They are all different, and you may hear some things you identify with, or not. Good Luck!

Shame on you for not telling PP to check with their doctor before they stop drinking. Quitting "cold turkey" could be deadly for someone who is a steady drinker like this.

[Anonymous]

While I am very sorry to hear about all of your experiences, they sound unimaginably rough, I also thank you for sharing them. I have a problem with alcohol and pretty elevated liver enzymes. I really don't want to live this lifestyle or the fate that comes with it, and these stories are really a wake up call.

[Anonymous]

While I would say I was drinking maybe 6 standard drinks a night or more for the past few years it was only recently that I realized that I'm on a bad path. I'm taking a month off to see if I can figure out whether I can do it socially only. If not then I stop altogether.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can damage or destroy your relationships through booze long before you inflict permanent physical damage on yourself. Dying of alcoholism isn't from drinking a few glasses of wine a day, it is drinking a couple of bottles a day.
This is an empirical question and there is good evidence on this. Moderate to heavy drinking increases your risk from certain cancers, but lowers cardiovascular risks. The tipping point is after more drinks than most on this board would consider acceptable.

[Anonymous]

my boyfriend died in 2007. when I met him in 1996 he was drinking vodka straight from the bottle but hiding it pretty good. I gave himultimatum and he went to rehab after stoppoing for 2 long island ice teas on the way. the next morning he vomited and ruptured his esophagus was in intensive care for 4 months then had to re-learn to walk and eat and stregnthen up in a rehab hospital. AFter getitng his stomach re attached he was clean and sober for 10 years. In 2006 he came home with a 6 pack of beer and it was less than ayear before he died in his sleep. he reverted to drinknig vodka stragiht 1 fifth at a time. His new enabling lady friend was buying it for him. I struggle to this day with grief. He was a sweet man. and at a loss how to stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:my boyfriend died in 2007. when I met him in 1996 he was drinking vodka straight from the bottle but hiding it pretty good. I gave himultimatum and he went to rehab after stoppoing for 2 long island ice teas on the way. the next morning he vomited and ruptured his esophagus was in intensive care for 4 months then had to re-learn to walk and eat and stregnthen up in a rehab hospital. AFter getitng his stomach re attached he was clean and sober for 10 years. In 2006 he came home with a 6 pack of beer and it was less than ayear before he died in his sleep. he reverted to drinknig vodka stragiht 1 fifth at a time. His new enabling lady friend was buying it for him. I struggle to this day with grief. He was a sweet man. and at a loss how to stop.

So sorry to hear this, pp.