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UserRB7 Asked July 2019

Alcohol should be the number one question on the list. Why is no one mentioning the damage he is causing to his body?

I go to Al-anon two to three meetings a week I even facilitated meetings. My husband doctors never shared the impact drinking had on his kidneys, heart or mobility. The health professionals come to the house to work with him they have to step over the bottles and yet they do not mention anything about the damage he is causing to his body. What is wrong with this picture?


I am shocked!

Upstream Aug 2019
My parents have been taking Benzos for 30+ years and drinking heavily for 20 years. Both have a long list of nasty side effects from all of this, but the doctors are more than happy to just keep referring them to other specialists to try to figure out "what is wrong". No, it's not cancer, you don't need a chiropractor, and physical therapy ain't gonna help.

Countrymouse Jul 2019
Morven, what discussions have you had with your husband's health care team?

Are you able to be frank with them and say "he's drinking this much alcohol, how much of a problem would you say that is, and what would you advise me to do about it?"

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Countrymouse Jul 2019
The question is:

"Why is it no medical person addresses the acholoh that has played a major role in why my spouse spent about 10 days in the hospital and was returned to the hospital for another about 10 days. Now there are health persons coming to the home and they witness empty bottles sitting in the bedroom and they act as if they are invisible."

Morven's husband is 71 and has a range of issues including anxiety and depression.

MargaretMcKen Jul 2019
Second, there is lots about alcohol on the site. At the top right hand side of the screen is another blue tab called ‘Care Topics’. If you click on that, you will get an alphabetical list of topics. Scroll down a little way and you will find ‘Alcohol Abuse’ with articles, questions and discussions to look at. You may find what you want there, and if not you can ask your own question as described in the last paragraph. Best wishes, Margaret

AlvaDeer Jul 2019
If we don't know that smoking and drinking to excess and taking drugs are dangerous behaviors to our well being I am not certain where we have been all our lives. Al-anon teaches basically that the person living with an alcoholic has two choices, one being staying and one being going. No one can help the addicted but the addicted themselves. But I know I am preaching to the choir here.

Isthisrealyreal Jul 2019
I think we all know that drinking is detrimental to our health, why are you upset that the doctor didn't tell him something that everyone knows.

Not trying to be rude, you should be mad at your husband. Not the doctor or anyone else for that matter.

anonymous896861 Jul 2019
It’s not the doctor’s responsibility to police your husband’s drinking. The only one that can help your husband stop drinking is himself... right?

Please forgive me if I’m mistaken but I’ve heard the “you didn’t cause it, you can’t cure it... “ saying often attributed to Al-anon members.

Have you asked his primary doctor for assistance in determining if your husband has an alcohol problem and for suggestions to treat if a problem exists? What does your alanon group suggest?

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