My Son In Law is an alcholic, and has been to hospital. He is 43 and to add to this problem, the Dr.said his heart was enlarged and beating extreamly fast. Now I know if he doesn't stop drinking he will die. His liver function last count was 35%. I just found out he has been drinking since he left the hosp. He is the father of my 2 grandsons, he works everyday, I don't know how! He is a good husband and a great father. If he weren't I would tell you. I'm here asking for info on this large heart problem, and what will happen to him if he doesn't stop drinking. I love him like he were my son, and his children will be devistated if something happens to him. They are 7&3 years of age. I will be greatful for any advise anyone would share with me. I'm at a loss, I know he has to want help first, before he can get help. I think he is in denial and doesn't think he has anything wrong with him, due to the fact he works everyday. Thank You So Much for listening.
2007-09-03 07:59:19 · 9 answers · asked by Patches 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
I think you should take him to a psychiatrist (a pain taking job), but He is the correct person to counsel with. He is too young, to listen too take any crude advise. Just be polite, as he already has a damaged liver, and right ventricle and left ventricle too.
I am sorry to read about the children. I wish I could do anything.
Wishing you every success, may God be with him and his entire family.
2007-09-03 08:24:55 · answer #1 · answered by Dr.Qutub 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
There is many things involved in your statement about your
Son in law.
Hyper or Dilated=enlargement
Cardio=heart
myo=muscle
pathy=disease
tachy=fast
cardia=heart
hepato=liver
I am letting you know what this terminology means so
when you read this link, you will know what it stands for.
It sounds like your son in law may have:
Alcoholic Dilated Cardiomyopathy with tachycardia.
This link has an explanation of what it is and will take
you to other links throughout the article to learn more about
it.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001105.htm
He may also have cirrhosis of the liver. This is where the
cells of the liver die and the function that the liver once
did, to keep the body healthy, also declines. Alcoholics
are known to have this disease. It is the number one
cause of cirrhosis. The problem is that people can
be walking around with this disease and not even
know they have it until it is too late. You said he only
has 35% liver function...to me, (I'm not a doctor so take
it with a grain of salt), it sounds like this is a definite.
Here is a link on that also: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/cirrhosis/
Alcoholics have a true hurdle to cross. The hurdle
is trying to overcome the addition. The best place to
do this is in a detox program of the hospital. The doctors
will give them medications to help them deal with the
horrible side effects of getting off this toxin. The shakes,
hallucinations, and other things can be too much than
a person can handle and the easy way is to just take
another drink so they can go away.
There is also a condition known as
Cardiac cirrhosis that occurs because of heart failure
with or without alcohol...this is a little info on it.
Cardiac cirrhosis. Cardiac cirrhosis occurs when prolonged, severe right-sided congestive heart failure leads to chronic liver injury and inflammation and the formation of scar tissue in the liver (fibrosis). A heart in this condition cannot handle the venous circulation, causing blood to back up in the body’s major veins. Eventually, the liver becomes engorged and swollen.
Alcoholics that stop drinking when the only thing that is
wrong with the liver is inflammation of the liver cells, can
heal and get better. Once the cells of the liver die, they
form scar tissue inside the liver that blocks the
nourishment and oxygen from getting to the healthy cells
and they can die also. The death of the cells are known
as cirrhosis. The doctor can try to slow this down and
can sometimes stop it from advancing, but there is no
cure for it. It can lead to the place where a liver
transplant is necessary. To be placed on the transplant
list, a patient has to be free of alcohol for a period of
6 months. Then they will go through a long evaluation
process of many tests and seeing different doctors.
A liver transplant can cost 100,000's of dollars and you
have to have the best insurance to cover it.
No one, but the patient themselves, can make the decision
to stop drinking and no one can make the decision for
him whether he will have a liver transplant, if one is needed.
I'm sorry that I cannot give you something good to think about..
It can be very frustrating to watch someone ruin the life he
has left. They don't see the big picture ahead of him.
This is a picture of someone with cirrhosis and ascites (fluid build up)...patients in the last stages of this disease look
like this: a walking skeleton with a belly that looks like they
are carrying triplets. Maybe if he saw this...and knowing
that the liver is very important and its functions, and also
with his heart conditions...it might be a wake up call.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://depts.washington.edu/physdx/images/ascites_pt1sm.jpg&imgrefurl=http://depts.washington.edu/physdx/liver/index.html&h=200&w=144&sz=13&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=ATkQMOYDSvq-8M:&tbnh=104&tbnw=75&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dascites%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG
Best Wishes
2007-09-03 13:48:54 · answer #2 · answered by abijann 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What type of medication is he taking? Many people walk around with enlarged hearts and don't even know about it. It really depends upon WHY it is enlarged. Most of the time a fast heart beat can be regulated with beta blockers (a type of medication), if it won't counteract anything else he may be on. I would have to have more information regarding his condition in order to be more specific with you.
2016-05-20 03:58:33 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The tachycardia alone can lead to a heart attack, the reason for the enlarged heart need to be explored. It could be something other than the drinking. Too often if there is a substance abuse problem doctors will not look further for the origin of a problem, but sometimes it is something other than the abuse.
If you think about it rapid heart beat would be slowed by his drinking - making him feel better while drinking. Then the dehydration that follows a night of drinking would make it worse and he would feel worse... Before anything else that tachycardia needs to be addressed or his drinking will be physically reinforced by the signals from his own body.
2007-09-03 08:10:24 · answer #4 · answered by Alicia M 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
He is certainly an alcoholic, as evidenced by the fact that he continues to drink in spite of the effect that it is having on his body. Although it is difficulty to diagnose a condition without all of the information, it sounds as though he is developing a condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy, which can be a result of alcohol abuse. Although this is not the result of coronary artery disease or a "heart attack" per say, it can result in congestive heart failure, abnormal heart rhythm, and possibly even death. Getting his drinking under control is vital, although this most likely will not repair the damage which has been done already. If he stops drinking, he may slow or stop the progression of this condition.
2007-09-03 08:27:27 · answer #5 · answered by Mike M 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am going to say something to you that will offend you, but is very important for you to understand: your son-in-law is NOT a good husband and father. A man who is drinking himself to death is not at all concerned with his wife and family.
He is a functional alcoholic---and the "functional" does not make him better or worse than any other drunk. He needs help just as badly as a homeless wino or a prostitute who sells her body for her drugs.
He is killing himself.
It's not a matter of "if" something happens to him. It's a matter of WHEN.
You cannot make him get help, but you can push the envelope so that he's ready to accept help before it's too late. You may have heard that alcoholics need to hit bottom---but those who love them can help raise his bottom.
He's in dire straits. I'd seek the help of a professional interventionist for this.
I'm really sorry your family is facing this--I know my response is horribly blunt, but I have been in your shoes, and could have used blunt a time or two in my life.
(The one thing to always remember is that even when you think all hope is lost, you can be very happily surprised. I have been.)
2007-09-03 08:13:54 · answer #6 · answered by noxcuses4me 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sorry about this problem. I understand it's affecting the whole family, and I sympathise with you in caring about your son-in-law.
He may be a good father in many ways. He may even want to stop drinking, but cannot. This is something that he has to commit to. Yes it might save his life if he stops drinking.
One thing you can do is write or print out what you wrote in your question (leaving out the part that makes it a question!), and give it to the guy so he knows you really care about him.
If he is willing to go, have doctors send him to Rehab program.
For support with your end of this problem, go to Al-anon meeting. Your daughter might need it too.
Regarding his heart disease, it could be one of many things (Cardiomyopathy is caused by different things, and has different manifestations). Fast heart rate is related to the heart problem, but heart problem could be caused in large part by the alcohol.
It sounds cold, but make sure they have an insurance policy both on his health and life. One has to be aware of these things when children are involved.
/
2007-09-03 10:08:00 · answer #7 · answered by Monty45 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Small amounts of alcohol cause a drop in blood pressure, but with increased use, alcohol begins to increase blood pressure into a dangerous range. High levels of fats circulating in the bloodstream increase the risk of heart disease. Heavy drinking results in an increase in heart size, weakening of the heart muscle, abnormal heart rhythms, a risk of blood clots forming within the chambers of the heart, and a greatly increased risk of stroke (due to a blood clot from the heart entering the circulatory system, going to the brain, and blocking a brain blood vessel). As for his liver problem I will refer you to this site which will give an lengthy and informative explanation of cirrhosis of the liver and the function of the liver, cirrhosis contributes to the heart problems.
2007-09-03 08:22:20 · answer #8 · answered by kerrbear 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Having more information about the enlarged heart will not be helpful. Because it's the alcoholism that is killing him. Usually an enlarged heart means he has or will develop congestive heart failure. Alcohol is very bad for congestive heart failure. Some people think that alcoholism contributes to CHF.
2007-09-03 08:34:23 · answer #9 · answered by nochocolate 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋