Alcoholism stinks

[NMDemDist2]

to make a long story short, our neighbor of 9 years always had a drinking problem. we knew all the signs in this man 10 years our junior. his wife left him about 6 years ago and he just drank and drank. managed to keep his State job somehow, but every time we saw him we could see he was getting worse and worse.

we found out last night he had a stroke or heart attack on the freeway offramp and has been in a coma for the last 2 months. he was in his early forties.

last time I saw him his skin was turning yellow and he was thin as a rail.

this disease stinks.

[vademocrat]

1. Yes, it does - it's a vicious, nasty disease

This makes me cry & makes me so sad, yet feel grateful that somehow, someway I found recovery and am able to keep this wretched disease at bay. My first sponsor used to tell me that I definitely have another drunk in me but there's no guarantee of another recovery. It's stories like this that remind me what is still waiting for me "out there".

I'm so sorry that your neighbor wasn't one of the lucky ones. :hug:

[KitchenWitch]

2. I hate hearing stories like this one

But I do need to hear them.

How terribly sad.

[demosincebirth]

3. When the skin turn yellow thats the sign of jaundice. It appears

in the latter part of the disease with cirrhosis of the liver, along with, sometimes, persistent fruit flies. Seriously. The disease does stink (no pun intended).

[NMDemDist2]

4. yes, DH and I both said it appeared his liver was giving up. we think

he probably stroked out from withdrawals on his way home from work

it's horrible what this disease does

[NMDemDist2]

5. update

I saw his dad and stepmom come by the house yesterday.

he's awake and working on re-learning how to walk etc from a stroke (I suspected a stroke, cuz that what happens to us alkies)

I told his mom how sorry I was to hear, she said yes he'd been battling high blood pressure and I said "Yeah, the drinking probably didn't help" and she said "You KNEW?, that's what caused it, but we aren't telling most people, it's just easier not to have to explain"

I told her I was 14 years sober and we were neighbors, that of course I knew. we then discussed recovery for a while

anyway, he's due home in a couple weeks, I told her to let me know if I could help. I hope he makes it to recovery but :shrug: who knows?

poor bastard

[KitchenWitch]

6. Wow - a very sobering story indeed

Thanks for the update

[CountAllVotes]

7. my condolences to you

I lost my cousin to a stroke - age 53. He drank a lot, I know that much. Sickening disease this is no doubt. I have my own story of course. Perhaps some day I will share it with you.

CountAllVotes

:kick:

[NMDemDist2]

8. no condolences needed, he is a neighbor not a family member

or dear friend.

and he is home now, I went by and checked on him yesterday.

"How's the not drinking man?" says I

"Hey no problem. I'm cool" says he

he's terrified and thinking his life is over. hope he reaches out to us, I've left the door open for him......