I sympathize with all of you.  I am married to a 54 year old alcoholic who has alcoholic liver disease and whose mind I believe is totally not there.  My husband continues to drink 30 beers per day, repeats himself over and over, doesn't remember five minutes later what I tell him, etc.  On April 17th, our GP told him that if he didn't stop drinking, he'd be dead in 6 mos. to a year.  GP said worst case scenario is if he lives longer, cause he could just "linger on" for 3 years.  I know my husband will never stop drinking (has been in rehab and went to AA, stops only for a week at best).  I'm just really wondering how to find out if he truly  has Wernecke's or any other alcohol related illness (such as neuropathy) without him going to a dr., since he won't go to one (they always give him "bad news" as he says).  Last week I went to our GP alone to talk about my husband.  GP said that hubby could linger on, doesn't know how long, told me to say three words to him "apple, penny, chair", talk to him for 5 mins. then ask him what the words were.  I did that, hubby couldn't remember any of them.  It's hard to tell whether he can't remember anything cause he's soooo drunk all the time or if it's Werneckes.  He is also making up stories like how he had breakfast w/his boss (his boss doesn't even like him), how they all know he drinks at work, but it's ok, they're gonna give him extra time off and how they always praise his work performance.  Any suggestions from all of you would help if you can help me figure out a way to tell whether it's drunkenness talking or Wernicke's.  Thanks.  And you're all in my prayers. 

Terri