Louis Theroux

[earthpixie]

watched this last night, and in some ways was good as ascites and varices spoken about...just wondered what anyone else thought of the programme...with Theroux himself admitting drinking a fair bit..and Aurelie still knocking back cider...with her Awful 'boyfriend'.....

[angse]

Watched it very sad must have been in kitchen when Ascites came on, but yes that poor woman and that boyfriend he's a disgrace to treat a woman that way. Annette

[earthpixie in reply to angse]

man with ascites....well he saw consultant and given some statistics...then he had a drain...Louis on hand to help....and enquired if it was urine😲.....its on bbc iPlayer...

[RodeoJoe]

Yeah that boyfriend was a real nasty piece of work.

I thought it was a good documentary. It didn't really cover the liver disease part of it but that was to be expected.

So there was Aurelie who drinks every day and has done for years, but interestingly wasn't getting "drunk". It was very sad to see her own opinion of herself and that she'd given up trying to stop drinking.

Then there were those other two guys, Joe and (was it Pete?). Now that was also very sad. They had no coping mechanism, they weren't drinking all the time and had large gaps of sobriety. But when they faced not getting a job or a father dying they just drank for months at a time until they ended up in hospital almost unrecognisable.

The guy with ascities was again a different type of drinker, he was drinking large amounts and I suspect highly functioning, and yes Louis also confessed to drinking a couple of bottles of wine occasional in an evening. 

[RodeoJoe in reply to RodeoJoe]

I have to add that I really like Louis Theroux. I could see he was genuinely concerned for these people especially that Joe, and was frustrated that he had no way of being able to help them.

[earthpixie in reply to RodeoJoe]

Poor Joe...was gaunt, extremely thin...but was v scared of not drinking....like it was his security blanket....glad Louis followed up at end of programme....

[briccolone in reply to earthpixie]

I'd like to have known how bad his liver was? legs covered with bruises but then recovered?  

[earthpixie in reply to briccolone]

would have been good to find out😊...maybe a more in depth documentary would be more helpful...

[Hidden in reply to briccolone]

I do recall that his Liver tests were fine and he hadn't had a drink for 4.5 years previous to the vodka bender.

[earthpixie]

RodeoJoe  ....the man with ascites was acting like he wasn't too bothered...but I guess people may behave differently on camera....as a Louis documentary you don't really expect an awful lot about hard facts.But nevertheless he was tackling an important issue, and it was quite obvious that for some alcohol is simply self medicating, to cope.

[AdeleMalcolm]

I have to say I found it incredibly sad.  I felt both for the staff trying to help but also for the people themselves who have no coping mechanisms and who tend to drive their support network away.  The teams in the NHS must be frustrated seeing people coming back so often but with no real support once the patients leave the hospital it's hardly surprising.  I doubt that will change though and particularly now with elements of the NHS in crisis and the incumbent government , it appears, content with letting it get worse.  Just shows how important friends and family are and makes you grateful when you have that support.

[briccolone in reply to AdeleMalcolm]

yes sad but informative-should be required viewing in schools

[Hidden]

OMG that "boy friend" really showed the ugly face of alcohol, he started becoming aggressive with Louis too ! he was a total scum bag and my heart broke for that poor woman, her Liver already close to collapse and she didn't really seem to understand her condition.

I was disappointed it didn't go further scientifically, people who are drinking too much will just think they dont have to worry because they dont drink everyday or in the morning.  It should have been deeply explained how Liver disease is silent and painless until its too late.  Any regular drinker should have been encouraged to get blood tests once a year at-least.

Another thing that came to light is that Louis appears to have a drinking problem I would say, but doesn't worry because he doesn't drink as much as the people he was following.

if you read the below, is it just me who thinks Louis has a drink problem himself? not extreme, but enough the affect his health over time?

telegraph.co.uk/men/health/...

[AdeleMalcolm in reply to Hidden]

Just shows how easy it is to fall into danger zones as far as alcohol is concerned.  I'm certainly not 'holier than thou' when it comes to it but as a newly diagnosed PBCer I've cut consumption to just birthdays and anniversary (early days but fingers crossed my resolve holds!). I got the sense though that LT wasn't judging anyone and had real compassion for those he interviewed - maybe he can empathise given his own habits and more likely than not he'll see the slippery slope before he goes head first down it.

[briccolone in reply to Hidden]

It wasn't really a film about liver disease although aspects were mentioned and I wouldn't surmise that Lt has a drink problem either...he wasnt being judgemental..

[RodeoJoe in reply to Hidden]

The boyfriends behaviour was nothing to do with alcohol.  This was just an example of someone gone bad.

[Hidden in reply to RodeoJoe]

disagree, all the bravado and then turning aggressive, classic alcohol behaviour 

[earthpixie]

would say so...if he routinely drinks 10 units per day, so 70 per week..The 'boyfriend' was a disgrace and Aurelie seemed to have accepted her fate....it takes a lot to change old habits but its possible, as so many of us have HAD to change......

[LAJ123]

i have to confess - I just wanted to seek out the individuals and give them words of support tinged with advice from someone who had sleepwalked into end stage liver failure, until I  was fortunately  rescued by  by my recent transplant.  Then I remembered how until it happened I ignored all such advice.  I found the programme to be quietly informative without any pity or judgement.  As others have already pointed out, you could almost hear Louis thinking "this could so easily be me"  He had an obvious empathy and compassion.  An admirable programme that bought the occasional tear to my eye.  Jim

(Ps  Lucy is being discharged tomorrow,  her pneumonia has finally resolved after almost two weeks in hospital.  Thank you for your kind words and support )

[Katherine1962]

I wondered if the man with ascites was still drinking as he didn't seem to be on a transplant list 

[cityman62]

I like Louis and his docs are as close to 'in depth' as you will ever find on 'popular tv'.The 3 different alcohol scenarios was a good idea too.As to whether Louis has an alcohol problem as suggested by previous posters-well,that counts in probably 75% of the middle class!I always smile when a gp asks about your alcohol unit intake per week-guess who car insurers regard as the highest-risk for drink driving....Chefs and Doctors!Makes you think..