Mari-

Hang in there. . Unfortunately, this is a diesease with very few cut
and dry answers. . As you read through the boards, you will see that
every situation is so very different while still being the same. .
If you read back on the string you respnded from, you will see my
post and others that saw the symptoms years before there was a
diagnosis, and didn't know enough to speak up, either. . I know
that guilt all too well. My mother does still function to a certain
degree on her own. But, she is only 48 with a lot of life ahead of
her. . All her normal activites are gone- she sleeps late, plays on
the computer, and with her pets. . The fact of the matter is that
none of us had any way of knowing what was happening to our loved
ones. . We couldn't have spoken out because we didn't know what it
was we needed to say. .

There is an extreme lack of information on this disease. . There
were a few at one time discussing ideas on education and getting the
word out about this. . I wonder if they are still trying to do so,
and how it is working. .

Take care,
Beccah

--- In wernicke_korsakoff_syndrome@yahoogroups.com, "maristimie"
<maristimie@...> wrote:
>
> 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.
> > > >
> > >
> >
>