my friend is a long term alcoholic, but she still wont except she has a problam :( she was told over 10 years ago that she was suffering from a enlarged liver, but she has still been drinking ever since,how ever she has now started suffering from "fits" which hospital said are "alcohol induced seizers" im so worried for her but im powerless to do anything to help her as she just doesnt seem to think she has got a problam, instead she thinks im a constant moaner,or that i must be jelouse of her freedom as i only go out once a month since i married and started a family.
what she doest relize is that im petrefied of reciving a knock on my door saying she has been found dead!
I am aware that this is a very seriouse problam but i wounder if anyone can point me in right direction to read up on these latest symptoms please? i have tryed looking it up on line but all i found was "tecnical names" for abuse which imade no sence to me :(
The whites of her eyes are yellowish in color
2006-07-30 10:33:03 · 7 answers · asked by worried 1 in Health ➔ Women's Health
Thanks for all ur repleys, some of them made me cry whilst reading them even though i already knew this deep down :(
Its such a tradgic shame of a "good persons life" ive known my friend all my life shes 3 years older than me & as far back as i can remember she has allways put everyone else before her self,she has a heart of gold and even when she is drunk she still has the same way of thinking towards others "every one else comes first"
its very rare u will come across a more genuin person,and belive it or not if she was down to her last £10 and somebody with a child needed "milk or bread" for example she would give them £5 out of it without giving it a second thought regardless of if she knew them or not, so despite her drink probs she has managed to hold on to most of the princables she had b4 she started suffering from alcohal probs,she has a heart of gold and i dread the day i recive that awful knock on my door !
I know i for one will be devasted,
2006-07-31 11:31:33 · update #1
The yellowing of your friends eyes are termed as "jaundice." A person's liver detoxifies the blood and removes posions such as alcohol from the body. Since her liver is failing the toxins build up and her eyes will turn yellow. You probably have noticed her skin has changed a yellow tinge and she will probably have problems with dry, ithcy skin that has a salt like appearance to it. The toxins build up in the blood stream and they are found coming out of her sweat pores which cause the skin changes. As for her seizures, I'm sorry to say but she is on the short life trap if she refuses to stop drinking. Usually alocoholic seizures are caused when a person who drinks daily does not receive the alcohol their body relies on and the brain malfires due to withdrawls. A body can have a seizure even when a person stops using heroin, opiates, or other drugs. Seizures in alcoholics often occur when the alcohol depletes the body of needed elements such as sodium. I must say that you can be friends with her but you can't enable her. If she is not willing to change you can't change her. What a sad story-Good luck and I hope my answer helps.
2006-07-30 10:42:00 · answer #1 · answered by questionMD 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She has a cirrhotic liver and resulting liver dysfunction/failure. The seizures are probably due to the fact that her body is used to having a certain alcohol level. While in the hospital she is not being given alcohol which puts her into acute withdrawal. Withdrawing from alcohol is dangerous and starts with confusion, agitation and may progress to seizures (which your friend has). The seizures can usually be prevented by giving the person a class of drugs called benzodiazepines (usually Ativan, Valium) although a lot of alcoholics have resistance to these drugs and progress to seizures. It is possible that the withdrawal started before her admit to the hospital (I don't know her circumstances)-sometimes alcoholics run out of money and are forced to go cold turkey and end up being found in their homes seizing) Your friend is on a downward spiral and it is sad to say that she will probably keep spiraling down until she dies. Her liver is beyond repair and if she lives, she probably will not comply with her medications to maintain her liver and prevent her from having hepatic encephalopathy (brain swelling due to the fact that the liver is no longer able to detoxify the blood). I'm sorry to be such a pessimist but I see these types of people everyday. Focus energies on yourself and your family, not a sinking ship. You are not responsible for her life or her actions, ultimately that lies with her.
2006-07-30 12:11:15 · answer #2 · answered by sukditup 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're not being overdramatic here. She's in the final stages of alcohol-induced liver failure, and if she doesn't get to the hospital VERY soon, she'll go to sleep one night and not wake up. She's close to death.
The yellowing of the eyes - jaundice - is a symptom of hepatitis. PLEASE get medical intervention NOW !!!!!
2006-07-30 10:37:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you make her do something but her Dr can get her family to call the Dr she needs help i know how it is my mates the same and its just like talking to a brick wall you just need to be there for her
2006-07-31 01:48:17 · answer #4 · answered by munchie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am sorry to hear of your friends troubles. firstly they are her troubles and not yours!!! secondly the only way your friend can get help is to realise that she has a problem only then can she start the long process of getting well.
2006-07-30 11:10:50 · answer #5 · answered by cerdo f 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, you can not help her. She clearly needs help, don't allow her illness to poison your life with your family. Let her go.
2006-07-30 10:37:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know you want to help your friend, but she is doomed.
2006-07-30 10:38:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋