Hello - first post

[HubbyHelper]

Hello - first post

redhead77;1120395 wrote: :Were all the supps you bought at GNC, in pill form? Can she take them, keep them down? Why did they they let her leave the hospital if she is so sick?

From GNC I got:
- Women's multi-vitamin - B complex, Iron, Folic acid etc. - pill
- Potassium Gluconate - pill
- Liver Support suppliment - milk thistle and some others - pill
- Lean Protien shake - 25mg protien - pill

Also giving her Gatorade white label for electrolytes.

Do they have the vitamins she needs in something besides a pill?

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Hello - first post

I'm going to let someone else field the questions about the supplements and the medical stuff. Redhead is a good resource, for sure.

I'm very excited for you and understand your trepidation, but panic and fear are not your friends! (I know them well.) It helped me to remember that this is a disease. I was seeking treatment for my disease. I was taking medicine for it. I was going to get well in spite of it and because of it. Ya' know?

It's amazing that she has a doctor for the bac. Is he well aware of how ill she is?

You're doing a wonderful, wonderful thing by supporting her in an endeavor to get well, Hubby. Hang in there!

xo,
Ne

[Rusty]

Hello - first post

Hi Hubby,

I've been reading your posts and I was just wondering why you didn't let "the goon squad' take your wife into treatment since you have insurance? I'm not judging, just asking.:l I'm a natural born worry wart and it sounds like your wife is so sick that she might be in danger if she isn't in a facility where she can be treated medically.

I'm not sure how to answer your question about the vitamins/supplements, though. So sorry.

This is a wonderful place and fabulous people like Neva, Bleep, Ig, Isolde, Loop, Bleep, Brurnhilde, and anyone I may have forgotten....have valuable information here. If you're not sure what to ask, too embarrassed or whatever, just PM (private message) any of us, or ALL of us....someone will be here in a heartbeat. This thread rocks.

[redhead77]

Hello - first post

HubbyHelper;1120412 wrote: From GNC I got:
- Women's multi-vitamin - B complex, Iron, Folic acid etc. - pill
- Potassium Gluconate - pill
- Liver Support suppliment - milk thistle and some others - pill
- Lean Protien shake - 25mg protien - pill

Also giving her Gatorade white label for electrolytes.

Do they have the vitamins she needs in something besides a pill?

They do. RedT has talked about a supp she takes, at length. I recently bought it because it's powder, and not pill. It's more easily digestible (or should be in theory). It's called All One, the rice based formula. It is a multivitamin and also contains amino acids. It has a lower RDA of some of the vitamins I usually take (in pill form), but it may be more bioavailable to me, due to digestion. I figure I might be getting more, at least that my body can use.

For a supplemental protein source, I might switch over to whey protein. It is a powder. It contains lots of protein, but also tons of aminos. I didn't realize until recently, it also contains high levels of L glutamine. This supplement has been reported to be very helpful for alcoholics. I've had trouble with it in the past. I didn't know I was double doing it. I was probably taking more than I could handle, between that and the supplement.

I know you just dropped money on supps, so I am hesitant to suggest you change. Unless, of course she isn't tolerating the pills. You can mix all of this in a shake that might be palatable for her.

The milk thistle will be great for her!

[redhead77]

Hello - first post

Wait! Scratch the whey protein. It increases ammonia in some. Since she might have liver issues, and you do need to take her to a GI, I wouldn't do it. Sorry, to flip flop on you HubbyHelper. They do have protein sources in liquid or powder, if the pills don't work.

[bleep]

Hello - first post

HubbyHelper;1120335 wrote: Halfway huh. Feels a like we have a lot further than halfway to go. But I am feeling a little (ok alot) scared right now. You are of course absolutely right. I am very happy we are at this point.

One of the hardest things about baclofen for me, was discovering its very existence. Things fell into place rather neatly after that. I was amazingly grateful that a cure existed, and highly irritated that it was so hard to find! Previous to this I thought I was doomed. Don't be scared, is what I'm trying to say!

[HubbyHelper]

Hello - first post

Ne/Neva Eva;1120415 wrote: panic and fear are not your friends! (I know them well.) It helped me to remember that this is a disease. I was seeking treatment for my disease. I was taking medicine for it. I was going to get well in spite of it and because of it.
The panic comes and goes. I expect it will get better once I get my legs under me. I do remind myself alot that this is a disease. That is hard to remember on so many levels, and I am very convinced it's true. One example...my wife wanted to go to the store one afternoon and when we got in the parking lot it was clear to me she was intoxicated. I was embarrassed to take her into the store. It occurred to me later that if she had cancer I wouldn't think twice about taking her anywhere.

Rusty;1120419 wrote:
I've been reading your posts and I was just wondering why you didn't let "the goon squad' take your wife into treatment since you have insurance? I'm not judging, just asking.:l I'm a natural born worry wart and it sounds like your wife is so sick that she might be in danger if she isn't in a facility where she can be treated medically.

Hi Rusty. I was venting a little bit there, don't want make too many waves...I'm new and all. The thing is my wife is a person, not an alcoholic. The treatment widely available today for people that have this disease is not a fit for my wife. This is modern medicine tho and there are protocols and the protocols say that when someone is an alcoholic they must do xyz. The thing is, they all know that XYZ doesn't work. That isn't really a concern because it's covered. So it felt to me like a big machine whose one purpose was to affix the label to my wife and send her along for processing.
I worry too Rusty, thats why the fear and panic. If there was a facility that allowed my wife to pursue the treatment she wants (Baclofen) in a supportive environment that attended to her medical needs that would be fantastic. There isn't (AFAIK) a facilty that serves bac and Rum so it looks like it's outpatient treatment from home.

Huge apologies to the hundreds of people I just offended on numerous levels....I am the new guy tho.

redhead77;1120427 wrote: It's called All One, the rice based formula. ...It has a lower RDA...I know you just dropped money on supps

Thanks Redhead! I am learning all sorts of new things. I'll look at the all one. Whats RDA? Yea those healthy things cost money. But just think of all the money we'll be saving on Rum (sorry sick humor helps right now).

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Hello - first post

HubbyHelper;1120857 wrote: The panic comes and goes.
...

So it felt to me like a big machine whose one purpose was to affix the label to my wife and send her along for processing.
...
I worry too, thats why the fear and panic. If there was a facility that allowed my wife to pursue the treatment she wants (Baclofen) in a supportive environment that attended to her medical needs that would be fantastic. There isn't (AFAIK) a facilty that serves bac and Rum so it looks like it's outpatient treatment from home.

Huge apologies to the hundreds of people I just offended on numerous levels..

...
Thanks Redhead! I am learning all sorts of new things. I'll look at the all one. Whats RDA? Yea those healthy things cost money. But just think of all the money we'll be saving on Rum (sorry sick humor helps right now).

Morning, helper!
Time short, so bear with.
The panic? Send it packing.
The docs and treatment? Wow, what a great summation. That said, you're going to have to take affirmative action to be her advocate. You're doing great, so now worries, okay? But that would include getting her the medical tests and medicines that she needs. Educated and informed decisions make a difference in how well she'll do on bac. In addition to that, knowing that her body is working will allow you to squelch the fear and panic when it arises. How do I know? I ran off to the doc every time I freaked out. MRIs, blood tests, the works. Turns out, I'm healthy. Yay! I could eliminate my body not working as a factor in the process.
Also, you can be her advocate (and everyone dealing with a life-threatening illness should have one, from cancer to whatever) without having all of the answers. You just gotta know the questions, right? People were on a need-to-know basis re. the bac in my life. Mostly they didn't want to know! :H But my primary care doc, she had a need to know, even though she didn't approve. Lots of ways to couch that conversation...

You're not offending anyone. You can let that one go. Approaching it with a sense of humor, albeit an off color one, is a good thing. Look to some of our funnier members.

Apparently All-One tastes terrible. I ordered the flavored one or something, based on a recommendation. It's completely palatable.

Hang in, keep posting! Sorry for the lecture, that's not what I meant to say! Woop Woop! is what I meant to say. Also, we need to find Otter. His example is rather extreme but he's a hubby-helper, too.
xo
Ne

[redhead77]

Hello - first post

HubbyHelper;1120857 wrote:

Thanks Redhead! I am learning all sorts of new things. I'll look at the all one. Whats RDA? Yea those healthy things cost money. But just think of all the money we'll be saving on Rum (sorry sick humor helps right now).

RDA stands for recommended daily allowance. I tend to still use that term, but I they've changed it to RDI, recommended daily intake. If you look on the back of your wife's vitamin bottles, you will see the vitamin listed in the mg, mcg, or IU, depending on what it is. Next to this, will be a percentage of what the dose is compared to the RDA/RDI. It most likely will be called DV or daily value, but it is the same thing.

[HubbyHelper]

Hello - first post

Getting interesting

So we made a second visit to the ER. My wife had been drinking heavily since her last visit and had developed Ketoacidosis. When she was admitted her blood volume was about 60% of normal. The gave her six units of blood and the usual Ativan/Librium forced detox. This time we stayed to meet with the social worker. The social worker recommended inpatient treatment.

Her doctors have ordered her to stop taking the bac. She's drinking again and has a prescription for Librium. Calling her bac doc tomorrow. She has an appt with the GI tomorrow (third try after panic attacks right before the appt) to deal with a fatty liver (et al). She's already started saying she doesn't need to see this doctor because she was in the hospital and "they looked at that". This was a familiar line of reasoning as she took the same line last time.
Everyone expects her to go to inpatient treatment. The counselor told me to take away her access to money and to get rid of all the alcohol. Her bac doc says to let her have the rum and give her the bac...magic will happen (I haven't spoken to him since the hospitalization - he may change). Her gyno recommends a hysterectomy.
The find the rum game is a dangerous one for me as it feeds my need to fix her.
Her sister was married to an alcoholic and suggests I put her into an inpatient facility.
Non-12 step treatment options apparently aren't covered by insurance.

Thats a mouthful I know. I could use some perspective.

[christyacc]

Hello - first post

HH,

I don't have any perspective to add, however, would just like to add that I think you are an incredible husband and she is lucky to have you.

[ignominious]

Hello - first post

Hi there, have you got a tough decision to make. Pretty much baclofen therapy goes against conventional alcoholic treatment so you are unlikely to find many supporters in the current system.

If you believe, as I do, that baclofen can help then you have to pretty much take full responsibility for it. Its great that you have a Doctor on board but also likely that his knowledge of baclofen will be lacking in many areas. What he will be able to do is tell you if there are reasons for not taking baclofen due to other complications, liver, hysterectomy etc.

If your wife is compos mentis then I would leave the decision to her with a very strong recommendation to go the baclofen route. I presume that you have tried inpatient treatment before and AA with no success. I think it's best if the decision comes from her because of the SEs that will be encountered and its best to go into this with your eyes open.

Is your wife taking bac at this time and what are your plans for titration? Baclofen can put alcoholism into remission but if you complete the course it can eradicate it.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Hello - first post

Hubby,
I can only share my own perspective.
30 day inpatient treatment gave me my life back. They fed me 3 meals a day. I HAD to walk everyday after lunch. I HAD to sleep during certain hours.
This was a state run facility. There is absolutely nothing to recommend it, except that it was in a peaceful place, full of well-meaning, if beleaguered counselors.
Most importantly I couldn't drink. Period.
In my experience (and it's pretty extensive) these facilities are not horrible beyond words. They just don't work very well.
In many ways 12 step programs can offer a measure of peace. They often work for people in the short term.

Your wife's health issues are above and beyond any treatment you can offer. I strongly encourage you to find her a facility, now. Trust me when I tell you that a 30 day treatment program is better than a psychiatric ward in a hospital. And it's a much better option for the future than chronic illness or worse.

No doctor, especially one over the phone, is going to be able to care for your wife's health. She is in dire straights.

The really, really great news is that baclofen will still be there in 30 days.

The bad news about bac is that it takes a toll on the body. It affects kidneys, for sure. Blood pressure. I experienced really awful SEs, and I was able to care for myself. (exercise, nutrition, a support system, work etc...)

I'm sure there are others who would disagree, but I can't imagine why. She needs specialty medical care.

If she had cancer you might try alternative treatment, sure. Until the issue became life-threatening, and started affecting her organs, perhaps. Threatening her life. Then you might try conventional medicine, get her well, and live a long life on a macrobiotic diet designed to keep her cancer free.

I pray, rather fervently, that you'll put her in the care of the doctors. You can evaluate the rest when she's well enough to stay out of emergency rooms.

Take good care, hubby. We'll be here.
Ne

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Hello - first post

ignominious;1123777 wrote:

If your wife is compos mentis then I would leave the decision to her with a very strong recommendation to go the baclofen route. I presume that you have tried inpatient treatment before and AA with no success. I think it's best if the decision comes from her because of the SEs that will be encountered and its best to go into this with your eyes open.

Is your wife taking bac at this time and what are your plans for titration? Baclofen can put alcoholism into remission but if you complete the course it can eradicate it.

My guess is that she will continue to want to drink. And it will kill her. Alcohol will kill her.

There is only one titration protocol that has been used to stop someone who is on a life-threatening bender. The person responsible for that protocol is not here to offer advise.

Alcohol will be her death, if she does not arrest the very serious health issues she is facing.

Please. Give it 7 days. At least.
Karen

[susiesmum]

Hello - first post

Ne/Neva Eva;1123858 wrote: Hubby,
.

Your wife's health issues are above and beyond any treatment you can offer. I strongly encourage you to find her a facility, now. Trust me when I tell you that a 30 day treatment program is better than a psychiatric ward in a hospital. And it's a much better option for the future than chronic illness or worse.

No doctor, especially one over the phone, is going to be able to care for your wife's health. She is in dire straights.

The really, really great news is that baclofen will still be there in 30 days.

The bad news about bac is that it takes a toll on the body. It affects kidneys, for sure. Blood pressure. I experienced really awful SEs, and I was able to care for myself. (exercise, nutrition, a support system, work etc...)

I'm sure there are others who would disagree, but I can't imagine why. She needs specialty medical care.

If she had cancer you might try alternative treatment, sure. Until the issue became life-threatening, and started affecting her organs, perhaps. Threatening her life. Then you might try conventional medicine, get her well, and live a long life on a macrobiotic diet designed to keep her cancer free.

I pray, rather fervently, that you'll put her in the care of the doctors. You can evaluate the rest when she's well enough to stay out of emergency rooms.

Take good care, hubby. We'll be here.
Ne

Hubby, as one who walks a similar journey as you, I totally agree with Ne. I was reluctant to give my views, but Ne has expressed so well what I was thinking.
If it was me, I would be getting her into a safe environment for medical care and detox. Even though there was a lot of what was negative about rehabs, AA etc, I don't regret the attempts I made to get help for my daughter. There are some amazing, caring people there and it was all part of the journey. Taking bac has to come at the right time, and I'm not sure this is it for your wife. What are your options, really? Any 'risks' of being in rehab. are surely less than staying at home.
As a "caregiver", we don't know it all, and need all the support we can get: and be humble enough to take it.
I join Ne in praying for you that you'll get some peace and clarity.