Recap hubby has Decompensated Alcohol Related Cirrhosis, Ascites, Peripheral Neuropathy, HE, some small lymph nodes in his lungs and a bit of jaundice. Hubby has been a heavy drinker for 20+yrs, his go to drink is cider. In January he had his first face to face appt with Hepatology, he was told that he has to stop drinking or he probably only has 2 yrs left. He was referred to alcohol nurses to referred him on to addiction charity. Unfortunately hubby was not fully engaging with them, so they have discharged him from their programme. During this time Hubby cut his consumption to from 6+ cans a day to 2 or 3 cans a day. His liver blood test improved loads too. However I think that gave hubby the green light to carry on so his consumption went up again over the last 8-10weeks. Hubby has cut his consumption the last two days to 4 cans per day.
Hubby is on a whole load of medication including Rifaximin, Lactulose, Spiro, etc. Hubby is not taking the Lactulose as the one time he did take it, he had severe diarrhoea so refused to take it again. However hubby daily empties his bowel 3 or 4 times each morning and constantly has Imodium type products in his pocket. Hubby has also been complaining of tender/sore breasts the past week or so. I think that might be to do with the Spiro??
This month hubby has had a 24hr ECG and an echocardiogram. He has a telephone appt 4/5/21 to get the results. Hubby has had another appt arrive for a repeat CT scan later this month. Hubby has his liver specialist tel appt 29/7/21.
Hubby says he is sleeping much better at our new house, so the insomnia, seems to be minimal. His food intake is still minimal though, but his weight seems to have balanced out to about 9st. His moods swings are all over the place still, but the low mood seems to have subsided for now. He is enjoying his new workshop and potters around down their doing little projects.
Our close family have all been talking to hubby about their worries about him not being around if he carries on drinking. He tells them all not to worry as he is not going anywhere yet and he seems to think that he has at least 10yrs left in him!! Denial !! Extended friends and family have suggested that I leave him or kick him out, but I cannot do that, as he would just move in with one of our daughters and there is no way that I am going to let that happen. They are in their 20's and do not need the burden of their alcoholic dad living with them and their partners.
Hubby has just been accepted for P.I.P. and also has been given a Blue Badge. I am now his official carer, not quite what I was expecting to be doing at 51yrs old!!
My main concern is that hubby is still driving and I am not sure what to do? He drives about 10mins down the road to Sainsburys to buy his cider, as I refuse to buy it for him. I have told him that I don't think that he should be driving, after reading posts on here, but he says he is absolutely fine. I am worried about his reaction, as his mood is very up and down. I drive whenever I can. Nobody has told him that he should not be driving apart from me? I am thinking about contacting his GP and Liver Specialist, but I am dreading his reaction if he finds outs that I have contacted them?? Plus what do I do then, as he will want me to drive him to the shops to buy his cider and I still have to live with him day to day. Maybe that is me being a bit selfish, but I would then also become his chauffeur? I feel like I am stuck between a rock and a hard place?
