my father in law diagnosed with wk last week. still in hospital,
being treated for various other, mostly alcohol related illnesses,
including withdrawal symptoms which kicked in after a couple of days
in hospital. no sure prognosis just yet because unable to carry out
full assessment until his health improves. he started
going 'downhill' after a serious fall down a flight of stairs two
and half years ago, subsequently had to stop working, and them moved
into care home(against his will) when he broke his arm a few months
ago. he is only 63 and has lived on his own for 10 or 12 years so
very difficult to get used to sharing room and with 'old people'.
when wk diagnosed and we read about symptoms, we were quite shocked
to recognise so many (just about all) and for quite a few years
already. my husband has always had a fairly good relationship with
his dad, but also very cross and disappointed with him sometimes. of
course now he feels guilty. and the fact that we live in a different
country, thousands of miles away, is not helping. we're not sure
about a lot of things at the moment. will he stop drinking? he's
unable and has been since his first fall to practice his hobbies,
golf etc what will he do all day? he has spent the last year or two
sleeping until late in the day and then meeting friends for a lunch
which would often continue until late night. more guilt, because we
all saw this happening, and maybe did not do enough to get him out
of vicious cycle? but then, he did not do much himself?
sorry, reighning in! just so glad to have found this group. will
keep in touch. any words of encouragement will be appreciated. till
later
Mari

--- In wernicke_korsakoff_syndrome@yahoogroups.com, "ibcarrieat"
<ibcarrieat@...> wrote:
>
> Beccah,
> You are one of the lucky one's. I wish my dad would stop drinking.
> He's slowly killing himself. I came to grip with that long ago.
Way
> before he was diagnosed with the WKS. He's also suffering from
> congestive heart failure. He was readmitted to the hospital on 6-
30-
> 06. From there he was placed in a nursing home. According to Adult
> Protective Services, he will never recover. I know from his
history,
> no one can say how much memory he'll regain for at least two and a
> half months. I'm not keeping my hopes up though. This is our 4th
or
> 5th episode withing almost 4 years (that we know of). He's also
800
> miles away and I have yet to see him because of my own health
> issues. I'm facing the loss of mobility in my right ankle due to a
> break several years ago, along with two failed surgeries. It may
> have to be "fused". Driving that far is tough. I rely on his nurse
> for weekly updates. He's currently in an Alzheimer's unit. They
tell
> me he doesn't belong there. That he's too adavanced for these
> patients. He still has his intellect, he just can't remember
> anything from the present, has trouble making it to the bathroon
and
> has trouble walking. I don't have the answers as to where he
> belongs. I know he cannot function on his own. Although he most
> likey would not agree. So in the meantime, we wait. Wait to see
> what's next.
> Thanks for listening....
> Carrie
> --- In wernicke_korsakoff_syndrome@yahoogroups.com, "Beccah"
> <babyonyx@> wrote:
> >
> > Carrie, FYI- my mom is "dulcineasmom", or Nora, on here.
> > Well, she quit drinking on a regular basis, but I don't know
> exactly
> > how much she does drink anymore. From her behavior, not much.
It
> > was a pretty good wake up call for her that her alcoholism
caused
> > this disease. I've heard many who suffer say if they had only
> known
> > it could cause this. . . .on and on. . We've had a diagnosis
for
> 5
> > years, but have been dealing with it for almost 7 years now. It
> > gets hard. . and there is no end in sight. . But, the truth: I
am
> > very grateful that I still have her- in whatever capacity that
may
> > be. I have friends without mothers that are my age. . So, I try
> to
> > remind myself that, as difficult as it is for me, for my sister,
> and
> > especially for my mom, atleast we still have her. . I'd rather
> have
> > her and fight this disease for the next 20 years than to not
have
> > her. . But, she is not a most extreme case, so that makes it
> > easier. . We get by. . with eachother's help. .
> >
> > --- In wernicke_korsakoff_syndrome@yahoogroups.com, carrie
> > buckingham <ibcarrieat@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Beccah,
> > > Has your mom stopped drinking? 5 years with this disease? I
> > cannot imagine going through this for that long.
> > >
> > > Carrie
> > >
> > >
> > > Beccah <babyonyx@> wrote:
> > > I am lucky in the fact that my mother has the
> > encephalopathy and not
> > > the korsakoff's part of the wernicke's. She is able to live on
> her
> > > own, but not without help. I go help her clean, have to give
he
> > > money, make sure everything in her life is in order. (She will
> > read
> > > this and not have heard part of this before).
> > >
> > > I remember when this whole thing first started. She started to
> > > hide in her room, act kind of funny, sleep all the time. At
the
> > > time, I attributed her eccentric behavior to her alcoholism. I
> had
> > > dealt with that for so long that I was almost immune to any of
> the
> > > consequences she faced from her drinking. But, the medical
> > problems
> > > started, and didn't get better. It took almost 2 years from
the
> > > point I knew there was a medical issue to the point that we
had
> a
> > > diagnosis. Every day I wonder what might have happened if I
had
> > not
> > > been so callous and opened my eyes and my mouth about what I
saw
> > > happening to her. Had I been more proactive, had I thrown a
fit
> at
> > > the doctors. . would it have made a difference? Chances are,
> > > probably not because these doctors don't usually find
wernicke's
> > is
> > > until they have exhausted any other possibility. It's been 5
> years
> > > since we got a diagnosis- the guilt hasn't gone away yet. The
> > > questions never seem to get answers.
> > >
> > > Like I said, my mom can function to a degree on her own, and
> that
> > > is my saving grace. But, the constant worrying, the needing to
> > check
> > > in on her every day. . the concerns over money and food and
her
> > car
> > > and apartment. . the concerns about her mental and emotional
> > > state. . It wears on me. I'm 26 myself, and think often that
it
> > > should be my parents going through this kind of stuff with
their
> > > parents. My mom is only 48 years old. It is not fair. But the
> > > truth is, it's my mom, and I have a responsibility to her. And
I
> > try
> > > so hard not to let her down. It is hard and I cry sometimes
that
> I
> > > want my life back. I want her to have her life back, too. .
> > >
> > > I wish I could offer some sort of advice, some light at the
end
> of
> > > your tunnel. But, the truth is I'm sitting smack in the middle
> of
> > > the United States feeling the same way you are over there. .
> Know
> > > that you are not alone. . There are those of us feeling the
same
> > > way, and hoping someone else has answers. . I am here, for
> > anything
> > > you may need. .even if it just someone to commiserate
with. .We
> > are
> > > all here. . That's why we are here. . Hang in there. It is not
> an
> > > easy road we travel, but we will get there one of these days.
> > >
> > > Beccah
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ---------------------------------
> > > Do you Yahoo!?
> > > Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.
> > >
> >
>