Questions about alcoholic in hospital and what next?

[questions]

My Dad is an alcoholic and has been for years.

Hes currently in hospital following health problems brought on from the alcohol abuse.
The hospital have sedated him (partly due to him being virtually phobic about hospitals but also, I imagine, to keep him there whilst he undergoes tests and treatment).

My concerns are what will happen when he leaves hospital. My Mum thinks the hospital said that he is on medication that would make him ill if he drank now but what happens when he comes out? He could refuse to take it.

He may be over the physical cravings/dependency by then I suppose (please correct me if I'm wrong BTW) but mentally surely thats a greater problem.

Does anyone know what hapens with alcoholics in this situation? How can the family help.

Thanks

That is such a hard situation, and you have my sympathy.

Can you speak to his doctor to find out your father's current health and future prospects? Could the doctor also advise on what medical support might be available? I think it also might be valuable to speak to Al-Anon.

You could join alanon which is support foir familkies

he will probably have a community psychiatric nurse or social worker

It will be hard work if he is resistent to change..

Is he having help in hospital or is it treatment of the effects of the alcohol

Thanks for your replies.
I'm a bit confused with whats happening at the hospital -Mum isn't the sort to ask them lots of questions ("I don't want to bother them" etc) so I'm only hearing what they've said to her when they happen to be around during her visits.

I can't get to visit often (due to location/small children/visiting hours clashing with school pick up etc) -don't think they'll give info over the phone.

I think the help hes getting medication wise is to combat the alcohol withdrawal and then hes having tests and physio for the related health problems.

Was hoping that someone would know what happens to alcoholics in hospital ( eg. meds. given and their effects, liklihood they'll help him stop etc)

My knowledge is that they address the immediate health issues that put the person in the hospital, and then medicate to deal with withdrawal. Does he think he has a problem? Do you think he wants help? Would he cooperate with any treatment?

My sisters were sort of like your mum - ie anxious not to offend, but not really understanding of what went on medically, how to proceed/what the options were. Can you make an appointment to discuss your df's condition (either via phone or in person)? I did, and then ended up "directing" my mum's treatment long distance. Should add, that it was in America, so am not familiar with support on offer from the NHS.

earlybird -yes he knows he has a problem and wants help but whether or not he actually chooses to see it through is another issue (been in similar situation before but ended up drinking again)

Good idea about making an appt. to discuss with medical staff.

Was your mums situation to do with alcohol? (If you don't mind me asking -please don't feel you have to answwer)

Also, when the medication to deal with withdrawal stops what sort of state is he likely to be in?

Will he automatically still want to drink -its the physical/mental addiction/craving thing that I can't get my head round.

they can give them tablets to take - antabuse were the ones my mum had - theoretically, they shouldn't be able to drink on them. It makes them ill - however, as you have said, they can choose not to take them. If they take them and drink, it can make them very ill.

There's also some sort of implant that does a similar thing (but I don't know its name).

I'm out for most of today but can post some other info later if you like.

Thanks foxinsocks that would be great -I just don't know what i want to know at the moment IYSWIM (hence the name "questions"). Got to do schoolrun now.

Thanks everyone.

Please add anything you think might help.

Well...yes, both my parents were/are problem drinkers. Dad died 20 years ago (though it was from cancer and not drink), and Mum is still alive.

I spoke in depth to her doctor (several times), and each time made a list of questions/took notes of answers. It's alot of information to take in, much of it is unfamiliar, and your emotions will understandably be all over the place. I think it's also good to have notes to refer back to so that you can recall things completely and accurately as you try to figure out the best way forward.

Mum has been in hospital several times. Each time we have had some sort of treatment program in place before she left the hospital so that she didn't simply go home to the same situation. She's had rehab, she's had outpatient counselling, and also some physical rehab/exercise to get her health/strength back. I think the change in routine was valuable, as was the fact that she was forced/expected to be someplace. It gave her a different kind of focus/purpose/schedule.

I also got her doctor to prescribe an anti-depressant so that she might not feel so sad/lonely etc, and therefore would hopefully not feel the urge to self-medicate via alcohol.

It's really hard, and we still deal with problem episodes as she seems to eventually slide back into old bad habits. Do you have siblings or other relatives who can offer help/support?

Does your mum drink? Does their socialising revolve to some extent around drinking? Just trying to think what support your mum can be in this situation, as she is the one who clearly will be dealing with it daily.

Thanks for that Earlybird -it sounds really tough, especially as you're having to deal with it from afar.

My Mum never drinks, never has done apart from a rare glass of sherry at Christmas. I have a brother but he isn't nearby either so not in a position to help much.

Good tips about the ADs -I think that might be an idea for my Dad. I can't see him going for counselling or anything like that (hes of that age and view that its all nonsense etc).

Hi questions -

I used to work on an acute hospital ward where alcoholic patients were admitted from time to time.

The medication your dad is on is probably to stop him going into "DTs". I'm not a dr or pharmacist so can't give you any advice about his medication unfortunately.

You really need to speak to ward nurse or his hospital dr to see if they can refer you to hospital social worker who can help with planning his hospital discharge. Medical team may also be agreeable to referring him for Psychiatric input (pref from a team that specialises in addiction problems if there's one nearby).

A lot of the options open to your dad will depend on his outlook on his drinking and if he is motivated to addressing this - not sure what's available in your area eg rehabilitation schemes or community visits from addiction specialists but hospital staff may be able to advise.

You could help your dad by saying you will support him through any treatment and encourage him to be honest re the extent of his drinking with the hospital staff as admitting there is a problem is part of the the battle.

Wish you and your family all the best and I'll keep watching this thread in case i can help you with anything.

BTW if you are a relative the ward staff and social worker should be willing to speak to you on the phone especially if you explain the distance issue.

Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences with me. You've all given me a lot to go away and think about.

Initially I think I need to speak to the hospital and find out (either over the phone or in person if needs be) what meds hes on, what hes being treated for, what steps have been taken or will be taken to help and support my Dad in giving up the alcohol etc. We need to have a plan in place for when he leaves hospital to help him, and my Mum.

Thanks again. Mumsnet is so great in these sort of situations.

(PS -forgot to say earlier that I am a namechanger as I don't want to be recognised for various reasons)

questions - how are you and your family doing?

foxinsocks - thanks for your kind words. I didn't know your story either, and I'm so sorry. It helps to be able to share here, and to know how others have coped with these difficult and upsetting situations.

Thanks for thinking of us Earlybird.

Well Dad is still in hospital although he has been moved (yesterday)to a smaller community hospital nearer to home which will be easier for Mum. Also we are likely to find it easier to get information as theres fewer staff and they know all the patients and families really well.

Dads had various scans, xrays etc -basically they are showing that his alcohol abuse has damaged various nerves affecting his mobility badly so hes getting physio for that.

They have gradually reduced and stopped the meds that dealt with seeing him through the alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

The worrying thing is though that hes very confused and, at times, quite aggresive (verbally) in his manner. Mum mentioned this to the Drs in the first hospital but they were quite dismissive saying it was probably the change of surroundings as at home it was familiar so he wouldn't have been confused. He never showed any indication of this at home. Shes mentioned it the staff at the new hospital and they are going to look into it -they say the meds shouldn't be causing it though.

When I was talking to Mum tonight I likened it to what my Gran (Dad's Mum) was like at the start of her dementia and Mum agreed that she had thought the same. Hes getting confused about where he is, is talking about places and people from the past as if its here and now and then next minute is aware of where he is and asks after grandchildren.

Whatever happend we've been told he will be in for weeks and will need a lot of care when he comes out (due to lack of mobility) but the GP and hospital staff have been excellent at reassuring Mum that every effort will be made to get help, support and carers in.

Its a long, hard slog as so many of you know

It is really sad but an accute hospital treats alcoholics like this.
Physical exam - diagnoses problem plans treatment sometimes will ask for psychiatric input however only if mental illness is present. Addictions and personality problems do not come under the psychiatric remit.
Whilst the pt is being treated in hospital for their comfort and to avoid nasty alcohol withdrawl symptoms a reducing dose of librium is given over a few days.
The dr. treats the patients's medical problem then if medically fit and safe regardless of alcohol problem discharges them home. They maybe followed up by the drugs and alcohol team in the community but this is not available everywhere. They will be back in the care of the gp.
If your dad asks for rehab the gp can refer him for a place but the waiting lists are long and the criteria strict.
The best support you and your family can get is from alcoholic support groups because the NHS really has very little to offer.
Nobody can make your father do anything he doesn't want to do so i'm afraid the ball is really in his court.

I'm in a similar situation , my 53 year old mum is currently in hospital I took her to a & e 2 days ago because she had a really bad chest infection and breathing was bad as she has asma , I know she drinks most days has done for years I've always tried to help etc and she's always hidden it etc and wouldn't listen won't go into it too much anyway doctor at hospital did ecgpassword.
and admitted her to ward saying should b in 2-3 days to clear infection up she's on oxygen etc . I went to get her some things from her house and found bottles and bottles of vodka and cider all empty and hidden i knew she was bad but I didn't know it was that bad , she's lost a lot of weight in the last couple of weeks , hasn't been eating and just looks terrible so weak and fragile, I was there today and she was talking rubbish and seeing things that aren't really there it was quite scary ,she's in no frame of mind for me to even talk about drinking yet as shes not with it.I'm going to hospital tomorrow and ask to speak to a consultant as I want them to know everything not just treat her for a chest Infection, sounds bad but I want them to keep her in I'm thinking the longer the better to help her, just hoping they do