Trying to get a message out there-please read.

Musefan

Hi All,

I have seen in recent days some threads about suicide and depression which no doubt help individuals as can read the experiences of others. I hope in posting here, that I might help an individual look out for family members or themselves as this seems to be a very active forum on boards.ie.

Coming from a culture such as ours, it is almost a sad inevitability that we know someone or are connected by family to an individual who struggles with alcoholism. I won't get into a debate on whether drinking is a coping mechanism, addiction, disease, whatever. What most people will agree on is that it can be one of the most damaging experiences for the family and individual involved. However there is a horrible side of drinking which I have recently been affected by. Wet brain, or Wernike-Korsakoffs. It has been four months since my father who is relatively young, was diagnosed. He cannot remember anything for a span of more than two minutes and is now permanently in a nursing home. We have not lived with him for a long time, and now we are responsible for a grown man, who was once extremely competent, owned his own business and was respected in his community.

Wet brain has a very high fatality rate. It begins with confusion, disorientation and lapses in memory. Without treatment it can progress to severe memory loss with little or no chance of recovery. You will not retain any new information, and as a result you are completely incapacitated.

Many of the professionals I have dealt with over the last four months have said they noticed a huge spike in the amount of patients presenting with wet brain. They are getting younger and younger. Wet brain results from a lack of nutrients-typically the alcoholic will binge drink and not eat. Treatment involves huge amounts of vitamin B.

What is sad is that it is totally preventable. My father resisted going to the hospital one week before he was admitted (unable to walk, eat or talk properly). When he resisted going, he was fully capable. One week later he was totally dependent.

I would never ask anyone to begin caring for an individual with alcoholism. Relationships with alcoholics are extremely difficult and harrowing. What I do ask is that you just keep an eye on your loved-ones (or unloved ones) for any small lapses in memory, concentration or for confabulations (making information up). They could be in the early stages of wet brain. Notify a medical professional immediately. Advise them to eat properly when they are on a binge, and if you feel that you yourself may have a problem with alcoholism, take a vitamin B supplement.

There are far worse things than death. Suspended animation and complete dependence is by far the worst imaginable reality I have encountered, except for my family, it was simply unimaginable. We never thought this would happen, but it did and if we had known what to look for, we wouldn't be enduring heartbreak now, and my father would have a normal life.

Thanks for reading.

brummytom

Thanks for sharing your experiences, as terrible as they must be for you. It was very informative.

ColeTrain

Fair play to you for posting that and all the best to your Dad.

Smidge

I commend you for posting something that is very personal.
I had never heard of "wet brain" before.
Education is always beneficial!

flanum

new one to me. thanks for the info and thoughts and wishes to your father and family. good luck.

SuperInfinity

Strange to think that people in the western world still suffer from devastating nutritional deficiencies. And how many smaller ones that cause mild brain atrophy year after year go unnoticed?

NegativeCreep

At school we used to call each other 'wet brain' when we said something stupid. Had no idea it was an actual disease. You learn something new everyday.

Thanks for the post op and all the best to your dad!

poeticseraphim

BUMP

Musefan

Thanks for reading the info above. I have been making it a personal mission to make people aware of this illness! As far as I know if you have bulimia or anorexia you may be at risk also.

madamab

Hi musefan

I know this was an old thread but I bumped into a friend today who I have not seen for many years and she informed me that her sister has this syndrome and is currently in hospital while they look for a nursing home that will take her. They have had fair deal approved and some nursing home will not have her at all whilst others have very old residents. I was wondering if you have any advice on this whatsoever with your experience.

Thanks so much

AB