I have three years experience with advanced stages with
continued drinking. I have no hope to offer you, only that
I'm going through it with you. My dad is 59. He is
currently in a psychiatric hospital, the fifth one in less
than a year, not counting the two nursing homes and many
hospital stays. He also refuses to stop drinking. He also
recovers enough to not qualify for coverage and is released.
The last time he was released, he ended up on a long
drunken binge and one night was out walking, a few days
after falling in the road and refusing help, the police just
put him back in the house, anyway, he was out walking at 4
in the morning because he has no idea of times now and
thought the store would be open so he could buy alcohol, and
fell in the creek by our house (I live a block from where he
was living).

What to expect? Frustration at every level. Grief.
Saddness. To keep my sanity, I take day trips with my
husband, I get good sleep and I throw acorns. Doctors do
not understand this disease and if you find one that does,
they have no idea how to treat him. He cannot live on his
own, I'm assuming your dad is at that point, but isn't bad
enough to qualify for care. So they shuffle him around to
different hospitals, nursing homes, psychiatric wards and
eventually release him. When you finally get them to
understand the disease, (older doctors seem to understand
more) they have no treatment if he continues to drink.

Do you live in the States? You'll find that other countries
are better equipped to deal with this problem., not that
it's a help if you live here. I've found with Adult
Protective Services, their goal is to find them a place to
live, which is great, and to check on them, set them up with
insurance cards, food stamps, etc. which is also great. But
my dad's goal is to drink. Whatever it takes just so he
gets it. He goes with people to the store (taxi cab
drivers, etc) and they buy alcohol, he buys food with his
stamps and they switch. I've tried calling the cab
companies, the stores, the police. My dad has two
outstanding DUI's with injuries. THe police realize how bad
he is mentally and physically and won't charge him.

I'm sorry I'm not painting a better picture. I try to be
realistic. When this started I was desperate for someone to
tell me the truth, even if they couldn't help.

There is nothing happy I can tell you. My dad had about a
week when he was released from the psychiatric hospital in
Feb. and I made him dinner, took him shopping, played cards
with him, I have those good memories, but they right now
they are overshadowed by the pain he's caused since then.

I hope you have a support system. I have a mother, uncles,
brother, but I'm the one that everyone comes to. I have a
wonderful husband and I have this group where people go
through the exact frustrations I do. It helps.

My dad is dying. If he were to go on another binge, which
he will within days of being released, he will likely bleed
out. If he stays in the hospital and continues his meds and
doesn't drink, he'll live a little longer.

My dad can't walk, just shuffles. He can't dress himself,
shirts go on upside down inside out. He forgets to bathe.
He doesn't remember how to make coffee, how to write his
name but he does remember numbers and can hook a computer up
better than me. My dad doesn't know if it's morning or
night and will get dressed in the middle of hte night
waiting for a bus or call in the middle of the night wanting
to know what we're doing for lunch. My dad sleeps a lot.
My dad doesn't remember short term things. Sometimes he
thinks his mom is still alive. He can't control his bladder
and bowels all the time. He doesn't remember he has a
grandchild sometimes. He has had a total personality
change. He doesn't recognize long time friends
immediately.

That's what to expect. More of what you've already had and
hope for periods of rest during hospital stays.

My prayers and heart is with you. You have a long road
ahead of you. We will listen, respond, anything we can do
as a group to help you. It helps when the ones with WKS
respond because they give you insight on what's going on in
their mind as they deal with this disease.

Amanda


----- Original Message Follows -----
From: "ibcarrieat" <ibcarrieat@...>
To: wernicke_korsakoff_syndrome@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [BULK][wernicke_korsakoff_syndrome] ADVANCED STAGES
OF KORSAKOFF'S
Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2006 21:56:47 -0000

>Has anyone had experinece with the advanced stages of
>Korsakoff's? My dad was just placed in a nursing home for
>the 4th time in 3 years. Each time, he has recovered just
>enough to be released. He has no desire to ever quit ever
>drinking. We had to involve Adult Protective services. We
>are in the 2nd week of this long journey. Unfortunately,
>he also lives 800 miles away. What should we expect?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>