HI Amanda:  Sorry about your Dad.  I am in the Boston area and have heard of no special facilities anywhere in the states for this disease.  It seems to be available overseas but not here.  Even though my mother was diagnosed when she was in the hospital, her neurologist has yet to rule out Alzhiemers for her and treats her as such, though acknowledging the WKS.  Probably because they need to CYA (cover their butts) as the symptoms are so similar and all as a result of frontal lobe damage.  I would guess that is the case in your situation. They don't want to rule anything out.

My mother's doctors did provide me a note however saying that she had dementia (which covers all areas, stroke, Alzhiemers and WKS) which you should be able to use.  He is probably a danger to himself and others.  Has he been tested by a neuropsychologist?  They will test intelligence, memory, etc and will be able to measure deficits.  The testing takes a full day.  I would highly reccommend that.  My mother was tested twice.  The second time was a year after the first test to measure for additional loss to possibly rule out Alzhiemers.  While they will never rule it out, their words were that her results were "consistant" with Korsakoff's.

My understanding to be considered for nursing home care (which would be covered by insurance) you have to need assistance in at least 3 Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).   So if he is able to eat, bathe, use the bathroom, mobility, etc. they would probably reject him.  As you probably know, assisted living is not eligilble for insurance, (unless he had long term care insurance).    I think Tracy (mamachuck) was able to get disability.  Look at some back posts or maybe she will see this and respond.

I hope this helps, Take care, Kathy

I live in the United States.  Do any of you who also live here know of any
clinic, doctors, hospitals, etc. that specialize in treating or diagnosing this
disease?

My dad had a third DUI in June, head injury, all that.  Was in the hospital for
6 weeks.  Came home and immediately drank.  He's been drinking since then but
last week had a stroke.  More brain injury.  He's in some form of demented
state.  He does recognize people now but believes he's a secret agent in some
war, that some man wrestles him every day.  I'm sure you've all been there and
can guess the details of our everyday life.

Our problem is I can't get any doctors to tell us what is going on with him. 
His family doctor verified to my mom two years ago that he had WKS, but since
then refuses to speak to her, even though she's my dad's POA.  The neurologist
keeps telling us we have to observe him.  The nurses tell us he'll make a full
recovery.  He was barely functional before the stroke, so a full recovery is not
good.  If we could get some kind of diagnosis, I think it would be easier to get
him into an assisted living place or have the insurace provide home care.  I
know that they will send him home once he can walk again, even though his mind
is shot at this point.  It's such a helpless, frustrating cycle to be in.

Any suggestions on what I can request be done?  They are doing MRI's and tell us
there was frontal lobe damage from the stroke.  There was also frontal lobe
damage from the car accident and it appeared before either happened that he had
frontal lobe damage from the disease!!

In my opinion, my mom and I have finally arrived where so many of you
are....with your loved ones incompetent and in a nursing home.  For those of you
who live in the US, you understand how difficult it is to get an insurance
company to foot the bill for anything or to get disability for my dad.  Our
attorney says we need a document stating that he will never be able to work
again.  I don't believe we'll get that.  The doctors are looking at this from a
strictly stroke standpoint, not understanding that he was unable to work long
before the stroke.

Any suggestions?

Amanda
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "austin14_ra" <austin14_ra@...>
Reply-To: wernicke_korsakoff_syndrome@yahoogroups.com
Date:  Fri, 07 Oct 2005 04:48:51 -0000

><html><body>
>
>
><tt>
>Just a short note to all that replied to my posting "New to WKS" It <BR>
>is really great to have people to share experiences with and learn <BR>
>more about this disease and how others are coping. My wife is <BR>
>getting stronger physically but still has only a vague concept about <BR>
>why she is in the hospital. She is also getting very anxious about <BR>
>going home. Since this is Thanksgiving weekend here we are going to <BR>
>get a weekend pass from the hospital and see how she can get along <BR>
>at home.<BR>
>I hope this will give us a good indication if we can manage at home <BR>
>before she is discharged from the hospital. I looked at a few care <BR>
>facilities for temporary placement but there is no way I could have <BR>
>her stay there. They wonderful facilities, well staffed with plenty <BR>
>of planned activities and I don't mean this in any negative way but <BR>
>they are full of old people. There is no way that I could place my <BR>
>healthy, except for the Korsacoff, vibrant 45 year old spouse in a <BR>
>place like that. Not now and I don't think ever. <BR>
>It might be because the health care system in this country and this <BR>
>province is stretched to the max but I am finding that we are not <BR>
>getting much support or information from the medical community about <BR>
>WKS. The hospital staff, as overloaded as they are, have been kind <BR>
>and compasionate but it feels like as far as what to do next they <BR>
>don't really are not sure what to do. I have basically been given a <BR>
>list of nursing homes and told to call around and find one that is <BR>
>suitable. It is a bit disappointing.Thanks again to all for your <BR>
>support.<BR>
>Ralph<BR>
> <BR>
><BR>
><BR>
><BR>
></tt>
>
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________________________________________________________________
Sent via the WebMail system at 1st.net

Just a short note to all that replied to my posting "New to WKS" It
is really great to have people to share experiences with and learn
more about this disease and how others are coping. My wife is
getting stronger physically but still has only a vague concept about
why she is in the hospital. She is also getting very anxious about
going home. Since this is Thanksgiving weekend here we are going to
get a weekend pass from the hospital and see how she can get along
at home.
I hope this will give us a good indication if we can manage at home
before she is discharged from the hospital. I looked at a few care
facilities for temporary placement but there is no way I could have
her stay there. They wonderful facilities, well staffed with plenty
of planned activities and I don't mean this in any negative way but
they are full of old people. There is no way that I could place my
healthy, except for the Korsacoff, vibrant 45 year old spouse in a
place like that. Not now and I don't think ever.
It might be because the health care system in this country and this
province is stretched to the max but I am finding that we are not
getting much support or information from the medical community about
WKS. The hospital staff, as overloaded as they are, have been kind
and compasionate but it feels like as far as what to do next they
don't really are not sure what to do. I have basically been given a
list of nursing homes and told to call around and find one that is
suitable. It is a bit disappointing.Thanks again to all for your
support.
Ralph

Hi there to all!  I am Nora's (dulcineasmom) oldest daughter,
Beccah.  Mom has Wernicke's Encephalapathy, rather than the
Korsacoff, so my experience is a bit different. As you can read from
her responses here, for the most part, she is still "with it".  From
my perspective, there seems to be no, or very little, of the
confabulation, and she can function on her own with a bit if help
from us.  So, many things here, I cannot quite fully understand, as
I haven't dealt with in the capacity that all of you have.  But, I
can tell you this, with the alcoholism. . I can't tell sometimes if
the urge to drink is gone from my mother or not.  And, honestly,
because I am not with her every day, I don't know how much she does
drink, if any.   But, whether or not she drinks, or even wants to, I
don't think the fear (or the memories) ever really go away.  I've
taken her out to dinner a few times, or to listen to a band.  If she
orders a drink, the hair on the back of my neck raises up.  I don't
see the alcoholic behavior in her like I used to, but the fear of
that returning is rather daunting at times.  Mom already mentioned
Alanon.  I was involved in that growing up, and can attest to the
great wealth of knowledge and support that resides there.

Austin, between the alcoholic tendencies, and the memory loss,
leaving your wife unsupervised is probably not a good idea. Home
supervision, I would think, would be good, so long as the caregiver
understands the disease. From my research, neither Korsacoff's or
Enchephalapathy can be cured, but some of the symptoms can be
controlled.    From my experience and knowledge of alcoholism, the
desire to drink cannot be cured.  It appears to me that the effects
of the Korsacoff's are so large that the desire to drink is simply
lost in the whole mess. . With those who are not in the advanced
stages of the disease, thought, you almost have to fight both
battles; alcoholism and korsacoff's. . .

Ok, thats enough. . I really don't mean to get on a box, and I'm by
no means any kind of expert. . I just wanted to share my
experience. .  Hang in there. .

Beccah

  --- In wernicke_korsakoff_syndrome@yahoogroups.com, "austin14_ra"
<austin14_ra@y...> wrote:
> My wife is 45 years old and has been drinking more than she should
> for many years now. Any efforts to convince her to stop were
> fruitless and she always insisted that she was drinking less than
I
> thought.Also because she was self consceous of maintaining her
> weight she was always a light eater so consequently was not
getting
> proper nutrition. About two weeks ago she started saying strange
> things and things that were out of context. I took her to our
family
> doctor and later that night to emergency at the hospital. I
couldn't
> convince either doctor to admit her to hospital so the next day I
> went again and told our family doctor that I wasn't going to take
no
> for an answer and she was admitted. They now have determined that
> she has Wernicke Korsacoff Syndrome and have her taking B1, B12
and
> Folic acid as well as good nutrition. Her body is getting stronger
> every day but she has profound short term memory loss and is
> exhibiting the confabulation and other symptoms that are
> characteristic of Korsacoff's Syndrome. We are remaining hopefull
> that some of the syptoms will subside and that some of her memory
> will come back but either way soon she will need to be moved out
of
> the hospital.I am wondering if it is feasible for me have her come
> home if I hire a live in care giver to watch her while I am at
work?
> So far I don't mind the confabulation and short term memory loss
and
> I know I could live with that but what I am really concerned about
> is that she will continue to be on the hunt for a drink. We have
> removed all the alcohol from the house and have taken away her car
> but I am afraid that she may go to any lengths to find a "little
> something" and that would mean she would walk out of the house
and,
> based on how she is now, wouldn't be able to find her way back.
Does
> anyone know if a person with Korsacoff's can be cured, or
> controlled, of the urge for alcohol? I just can't see putting her
in
> a care facility right now unless it is a short term situation
until
> she can get as healthy as she can and break the addiction before
> coming home. Is this a realistic expectation?

-Hi Austin,

Sorry about your wife.  It must be very worrying and upsetting.

My dad has Kors and has been in home for over 2 years.  I agree with
what has been said previously.  You have to take it a day at a time.
It takes a while to know how much damage has been done.

Some people cope very well and can do things for themselves with
prompting.  The worry is that if they are left alone they may forget
they have put the cooker on or go out and not know how to get home.
They can be a danger to others living near them.

My dad too very rarely mentions drink and he hasn't had one for three
years.  However, he has replaced drink for cigarettes.

My dad needs 24/7 care but there are different degrees to this
disease.  Whatever you need to know, just ask, we will be happy to
help as things come up.

Take care

Ann

My wife is 45 years old and has been drinking more than she should
for many years now. Any efforts to convince her to stop were
fruitless and she always insisted that she was drinking less than I
thought.Also because she was self consceous of maintaining her
weight she was always a light eater so consequently was not getting
proper nutrition. About two weeks ago she started saying strange
things and things that were out of context. I took her to our family
doctor and later that night to emergency at the hospital. I couldn't
convince either doctor to admit her to hospital so the next day I
went again and told our family doctor that I wasn't going to take no
for an answer and she was admitted. They now have determined that
she has Wernicke Korsacoff Syndrome and have her taking B1, B12 and
Folic acid as well as good nutrition. Her body is getting stronger
every day but she has profound short term memory loss and is
exhibiting the confabulation and other symptoms that are
characteristic of Korsacoff's Syndrome. We are remaining hopefull
that some of the syptoms will subside and that some of her memory
will come back but either way soon she will need to be moved out of
the hospital.I am wondering if it is feasible for me have her come
home if I hire a live in care giver to watch her while I am at work?
So far I don't mind the confabulation and short term memory loss and
I know I could live with that but what I am really concerned about
is that she will continue to be on the hunt for a drink. We have
removed all the alcohol from the house and have taken away her car
but I am afraid that she may go to any lengths to find a "little
something" and that would mean she would walk out of the house and,
based on how she is now, wouldn't be able to find her way back. Does
anyone know if a person with Korsacoff's can be cured, or
controlled, of the urge for alcohol? I just can't see putting her in
a care facility right now unless it is a short term situation until
she can get as healthy as she can and break the addiction before
coming home. Is this a realistic expectation?

----- Original Message -----

From: austin14_ra

To: wernicke_korsakoff_syndrome@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Saturday, October 01, 2005 8:16 PM

Subject: [wernicke_korsakoff_syndrome] New to Korsacoff

My wife is 45 years old and has been drinking more than she should
for many years now. Any efforts to convince her to stop were
fruitless and she always insisted that she was drinking less than I
thought.Also because she was self consceous of maintaining her
weight she was always a light eater so consequently was not getting
proper nutrition. About two weeks ago she started saying strange
things and things that were out of context. I took her to our family
doctor and later that night to emergency at the hospital. I couldn't
convince either doctor to admit her to hospital so the next day I
went again and told our family doctor that I wasn't going to take no
for an answer and she was admitted. They now have determined that
she has Wernicke Korsacoff Syndrome and have her taking B1, B12 and
Folic acid as well as good nutrition. Her body is getting stronger
every day but she has profound short term memory loss and is
exhibiting the confabulation and other symptoms that are
characteristic of Korsacoff's Syndrome. We are remaining hopefull
that some of the syptoms will subside and that some of her memory
will come back but either way soon she will need to be moved out of
the hospital.I am wondering if it is feasible for me have her come
home if I hire a live in care giver to watch her while I am at work?
So far I don't mind the confabulation and short term memory loss and
I know I could live with that but what I am really concerned about
is that she will continue to be on the hunt for a drink. We have
removed all the alcohol from the house and have taken away her car
but I am afraid that she may go to any lengths to find a "little
something" and that would mean she would walk out of the house and,
based on how she is now, wouldn't be able to find her way back. Does
anyone know if a person with Korsacoff's can be cured, or
controlled, of the urge for alcohol? I just can't see putting her in
a care facility right now unless it is a short term situation until
she can get as healthy as she can and break the addiction before
coming home. Is this a realistic expectation?

---

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.7/112 - Release Date: 9/26/2005

My wife is 45 years old and has been drinking more than she should
for many years now. Any efforts to convince her to stop were
fruitless and she always insisted that she was drinking less than I
thought.Also because she was self consceous of maintaining her
weight she was always a light eater so consequently was not getting
proper nutrition. About two weeks ago she started saying strange
things and things that were out of context. I took her to our family
doctor and later that night to emergency at the hospital. I couldn't
convince either doctor to admit her to hospital so the next day I
went again and told our family doctor that I wasn't going to take no
for an answer and she was admitted. They now have determined that
she has Wernicke Korsacoff Syndrome and have her taking B1, B12 and
Folic acid as well as good nutrition. Her body is getting stronger
every day but she has profound short term memory loss and is
exhibiting the confabulation and other symptoms that are
characteristic of Korsacoff's Syndrome. We are remaining hopefull
that some of the syptoms will subside and that some of her memory
will come back but either way soon she will need to be moved out of
the hospital.I am wondering if it is feasible for me have her come
home if I hire a live in care giver to watch her while I am at work?
So far I don't mind the confabulation and short term memory loss and
I know I could live with that but what I am really concerned about
is that she will continue to be on the hunt for a drink. We have
removed all the alcohol from the house and have taken away her car
but I am afraid that she may go to any lengths to find a "little
something" and that would mean she would walk out of the house and,
based on how she is now, wouldn't be able to find her way back. Does
anyone know if a person with Korsacoff's can be cured, or
controlled, of the urge for alcohol? I just can't see putting her in
a care facility right now unless it is a short term situation until
she can get as healthy as she can and break the addiction before
coming home. Is this a realistic expectation?

--- In wernicke_korsakoff_syndrome@yahoogroups.com, Kaye Wood
<apollo210c@y...> wrote:
>Hi Kaye,

Sorry to hear things are tough just now.  I know how you feel was in
exactly the same position a few months ago.  Luckily dad had behaved
and they gave him another chance.  However a new manager has come in
and there hasn't been any incidents since.  I knew it the the manager
who could not cope but hey that's in the past.

I know all about the budgeting thing too.  I don't know where i'd be
if dad did not get Disability.  My dad is smoking 350 cigs a week.  I
am lucky my sister is an air stewardess and she can get me them
cheaper but if she didn't I could not afford to buy them.  What they
are left to themselves is a disgrace.  If dad did not get Disability
he would only have around £20 per week.  You could spend that in the
blink of an eye.

You said in your prev post that you dad was in a home, is he still
getting access to drink?

I share your concerns about being sent home with care plans, it would
be very difficult and probably put even more pressure on you.

I hope things go ok at the review, you never know it might be ok, will
keep my fingers crossed for you.  Let us know how you get on.

Take care

Ann




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>
>
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Hi Mary,
I believe that sundowners syndrome is increased
agitation, increased negative behaviour and increased
activity later on in the day and through the night. It
is linked to dementia/alzheimers and is believed to be
linked to 'overtiredness'. Apparently the tips are to
make sure the person is well rested (?) and limit
outings/activities to the morning time. Im not sure
how realistic doing the above would be. Good luck and
sorry I haven't got anything more useful to say.
Kaye
--- mjpcrp@... wrote:

> Hi.  I have a question about the "run-up" to a full
> blown diagnosis of  WKS.
> My husband, 56, is an end stage chronic alcoholic
> and he frequently  exhibits
> many of the elements of WKS but if he stops drinking
> for a few days the
> symptons seem to recede.  Once, when it was really
> bad, the hospital he was  in
> told me that he had Sundowners Syndrome, is that a
> term that is familiar to
> anyone?  I am trying to convince him that he is
> headed for disaster but he  has
> that "Peter Pan" attitude: if he's not dead or
> disabled yet, it's not going  to
> happen. Doctors are alarmists, etc.  I have heard
> that an  alcoholic ceases
> to mature in his thought process at the age at which
> he began  drinking
> heavily.  In his case that was 14 years old so now,
> decades later,  I find that he is
> often emotionally stuck at that very immature age in
> his  ability to make
> realizations and decisions about his well-being.
> Most of  the posts that I read
> on this website relate to care givers that suddenly
> are  confronted with a
> diagnosis after it is too late to reverse the
> damage...in  my case I am trying
> desperately the ward off what I fear will be the
> inevitable  conclusion.  Any
> support or information would really be appreciated.
>  Best wishes - Mary
>




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Hi to all the new members.

I just wanted to say that this is normal (asking to go home).  You
know that Kors sufferers repeat everything and in some cases can't
remember what they have said just a few seconds before.

It can be very distressing for us carers, but I don't really think
they are aware of where they are. What I mean by this is that if we
were away from home for any period of time we would miss it, but I
don't think it is the same for Kors sufferers.

I am speaking from personal experience.  My dad's kors is very
advanced, I know he remembers his marital home which he hasn't lived
in for some 10 years.  He never mentions the other two addresses he
has stayed in since then. My dad has long term memory but no short
term memory.  Dad has frontal lobe brain damage and this affects the
short term memory.

Hang in there, it will get easier.

Ann

Hi Ann,
Glad your dad is doing ok
I'm on countdown to my dads review meeting which is a
week on Thursday. Think they are planning rehousing
with a care package that he will cancel as soon as he
can, he is drinking more and consequently spending
over his weekly 'allowance' so borrowing money weekly
which I am having to pay back. I've given up the whole
budgeting idea, I no longer have the energy!
I am not sleeping, not eating and waiting for next
week to come for the enevitable to happen.Maybe I'm
looking on the negative side of this but its pretty
hard to see the positives at the moment...
Kaye
--- sellick_67ecw <zedwan_@...> wrote:

>
> How is everyone doing, site has been very quite over
> the last month.
>
> Nothing new to report at my end.  Dad is doing ok,
> long may it continue.
>
> Thinking of you all
>
> Ann
>
>
>




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To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo!
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--- In wernicke_korsakoff_syndrome@yahoogroups.com, Nora <
> Hi Nora,

Sorry your not feeling too good.

Hope the "fog" clears soon!  Take care of yourself!!

Ann
> ---------------------------------

How is everyone doing, site has been very quite over the last month. 

Nothing new to report at my end.  Dad is doing ok, long may it continue.

Thinking of you all

Ann

My husband was diagnosed a little under 2 monthes ago
so I am new as well. He was in the hospital for 42
days and was placed in a nursing home 2 weeks ago. He
too asks me to come home all the time and does not
understand why he is there.
I understand your feelings of guilt as I feel the same
way. But the only thing you can ask yourself is if you
could do anything better than you are and the answer
is probably no. The social worker at the nursing home
assures me that he is being looked after and that even
when he gets upset he can forget about it and be fine
in a matter of minutes. I on the other hand cannot
forget. Could you care for your mother any better than
the nursing home and even if you could at what cost to
your own life? You are doing the best thing you can
and that is all any of us can do in any situation.

Michele

--- chella3174 <chella3174@...> wrote:

> My mom has just been diagnosed w/ this problem 3
> weeks ago and I
> haven't had a lot of time to research the disorder.
> She is for now
> residing in a nursing home and I feel tremendous
> guilt everytime she
> asks when she can come home and when I leave.  Can
> someone who has
> been through this reasure me that I have done the
> right thing?  I
> haven't had much of a relationship w/ her for quite
> a few years
> because of her alcoholism but there is no one else
> to take care of her
> so it is left to me and I would like to hear from
> anyone who has been
> in my position.
>
>
>
>
>





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How is everyone doing, site has been very quite over the last month.

Nothing new to report at my end.  Dad is doing ok, long may it continue.

Thinking of you all

Ann

-hi Chella,

My dad has Korsakoff's and has been living in a nursing home for 2.5
yrs.  There are different degrees of this condition and it depends on
how much brain damage there is.  Some people can function with
assisted living and others need 24 /7 nursing care.

My dad falls into the latter one.  It will be tough in the beginning
but with the right help and right medication it will get better.

Feel free to ask any questions that come up.  Where do you live?

Don't feel guilty about not being able to care for your mum it
generally needs a lot of nursing and you are still there for her.

Good luck and keep posting.  We will be glad to help!

Ann

My mom has just been diagnosed w/ this problem 3 weeks ago and I
haven't had a lot of time to research the disorder.  She is for now
residing in a nursing home and I feel tremendous guilt everytime she
asks when she can come home and when I leave.  Can someone who has
been through this reasure me that I have done the right thing?  I
haven't had much of a relationship w/ her for quite a few years
because of her alcoholism but there is no one else to take care of her
so it is left to me and I would like to hear from anyone who has been
in my position.

-hi lynn,

This is a difficult one, it is nice your aunt has so many people
looking out for her.  I think you need to explain to your cousin how
you feel and try and make her see that you want to help also.

On the other hand people can be greedy when it comes to money and
sometimes you see other sides to people.  Give it time and see how
things pan out, if you go in all guns blazing you may regret it.

Time will tell, people usually show their true colours.

Hang in there

Ann

Does anyone have issues with relatives behaving
strangely when it comes to care of the WKS sufferer
and control of their care?

A cousin and I are disagreeing on the care of our
aunt. I am feeling shut out of her care. I have tried
several times over the past few months to arrange for
my aunt to visit me via a free transportation service
provided by the city of New York called
"access-a-ride", and my cousin holds the keys to that
service and she won't share it (There is an ID number
you must have to book a ride). My cousin has started
bad-mouting me to my aunt, in some cases outright
lying.

There is the matter of my aunt's money. This cousin is
being treated to a cruise with her whole family and my
aunt. I am starting to doubt my cousin's motives for
the first time -- it is disconcerting.

i think i am being shut out of my aunt's care on
purpose. Is this stuff common? What to do?

--- wernicke_korsakoff_syndrome@yahoogroups.com wrote:

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>
> There is 1 message in this issue.
>
> Topics in this digest:
>
>       1. Re: Alcohol Withdrawl
>            From: "winko51"
> <for-wink-dickey@...>
>
>
>
________________________________________________________________________
>
________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 1
>    Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2005 03:29:24 -0000
>    From: "winko51" <for-wink-dickey@...>
> Subject: Re: Alcohol Withdrawl
>
> Michele,  my 52 year old husband was diagnosed with
> WKS two years
> ago.  I too could not believe that he must go in a
> nursing home.
> Since I have two young children (now 5 and 9) the
> social worker at
> the hospital convinced me to put my husband in long
> term care
> because it would be too difficult to care for my
> husband full time
> and my children.  I agreed to place him knowing that
> if he improved
> I could get him released to home easily.
>
> He has improved a lot.  When he left the hospital,
> he was
> incontinent, unable to walk without assistance and
> had just
> relearned to feed himself.  He had no short term
> memory and
> confabulated constantly.  Whatever he saw on the
> television became
> what he personally experienced that day.  He too
> asked for his
> mother who died several years ago and told me his
> father (who is
> also dead) came to see him. At the time he was
> diagnosed, the
> doctors told me that most of the accute symptoms of
> withdrawal
> usually resolve in 5-7 days.
>
> He can now take care of himself with reminders about
> personal
> hygeine.  His short term memory fluctuates-some days
> it seems as
> good as mine.  Other days he can't remember much
> about the past day
> or week.  He has chronic hepatic encepalopathy which
> means he has
> high levels of amonia in his blood which adds to his
> confusion and
> memory difficulties.  Although he has improved a lot
> since his
> diagnosis, he still has the need for a level of care
> that I cannot
> give him at home.  Like many of the WKS sufferers I
> read about on
> this board,  he has little interest in much outside
> his room.  He
> watches television and "looks at" the newspaper.  He
> does not want
> to socialize with any of the "old folks" in his home
> and often does
> not even want to leave the home to join our children
> and me on an
> outing.
>
> So,  consider that your CL husband could improve
> much or none over
> the next year or two.   Also consider that if you
> place him in long
> term care,  he can always come home if he improves
> enough to be more
> self sufficient.  Good luck to you.  The first year
> after my
> husband's diagnosis was very difficult for our
> family.  We learned a
> lot we never wanted to know.  The second year has
> been only slightly
> better than the first.  Denell
>
> --- In wernicke_korsakoff_syndrome@yahoogroups.com,
> "cinnmic"
> <cinnmic@y...> wrote:
> > My common law husband has just been diagonosed
> with Korsakoff's
> > syndrome. He has been in the hospital for over 2
> weeks now which
> means
> > he has not had a drink in that time.
> > He is extremely confused and becoming very
> agitated. I have been
> > advised to place him in a nursing home as the
> doctors do not
> believe
> > he will improve to a point of being left alone
> without full time
> care.
> >
> > Could part of his current state be alcohol
> withdrawl? The confusion
> > and confabulation seem to have gotten worse in the
> last few days.
> > I would just like to be sure I am doing the right
> thing by placing
> him
> > in care.
> >
> > Michele
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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>
>
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Best, Lynn



__________________________________
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
http://mail.yahoo.com

Michele,  my 52 year old husband was diagnosed with WKS two years
ago.  I too could not believe that he must go in a nursing home.
Since I have two young children (now 5 and 9) the social worker at
the hospital convinced me to put my husband in long term care
because it would be too difficult to care for my husband full time
and my children.  I agreed to place him knowing that if he improved
I could get him released to home easily.

He has improved a lot.  When he left the hospital,  he was
incontinent, unable to walk without assistance and had just
relearned to feed himself.  He had no short term memory and
confabulated constantly.  Whatever he saw on the television became
what he personally experienced that day.  He too asked for his
mother who died several years ago and told me his father (who is
also dead) came to see him. At the time he was diagnosed, the
doctors told me that most of the accute symptoms of withdrawal
usually resolve in 5-7 days.

He can now take care of himself with reminders about personal
hygeine.  His short term memory fluctuates-some days it seems as
good as mine.  Other days he can't remember much about the past day
or week.  He has chronic hepatic encepalopathy which means he has
high levels of amonia in his blood which adds to his confusion and
memory difficulties.  Although he has improved a lot since his
diagnosis, he still has the need for a level of care that I cannot
give him at home.  Like many of the WKS sufferers I read about on
this board,  he has little interest in much outside his room.  He
watches television and "looks at" the newspaper.  He does not want
to socialize with any of the "old folks" in his home and often does
not even want to leave the home to join our children and me on an
outing.

So,  consider that your CL husband could improve much or none over
the next year or two.   Also consider that if you place him in long
term care,  he can always come home if he improves enough to be more
self sufficient.  Good luck to you.  The first year after my
husband's diagnosis was very difficult for our family.  We learned a
lot we never wanted to know.  The second year has been only slightly
better than the first.  Denell

--- In wernicke_korsakoff_syndrome@yahoogroups.com, "cinnmic"
<cinnmic@y...> wrote:
> My common law husband has just been diagonosed with Korsakoff's
> syndrome. He has been in the hospital for over 2 weeks now which
means
> he has not had a drink in that time.
> He is extremely confused and becoming very agitated. I have been
> advised to place him in a nursing home as the doctors do not
believe
> he will improve to a point of being left alone without full time
care.
>
> Could part of his current state be alcohol withdrawl? The confusion
> and confabulation seem to have gotten worse in the last few days.
> I would just like to be sure I am doing the right thing by placing
him
> in care.
>
> Michele